Key Concepts in Theology and Christian Beliefs

Theology

Faith Seeking Understanding

Virtues

Theological Virtues and Cardinal Virtues

Faith

Our desire for truth

Hope

Our desire for happiness (and eternal life)

Charity

Our desire for love

Cardinal

Hinge — because morality hinges on these four virtues

Faith and Reason

No — they complement each other (CCC 159)

Humani Generis

Church document interpreting Genesis and evolution

First Mover argument

There must be an unmoved, immaterial first cause of motion in the universe

Grand Designer argument

The universe is finely tuned for life, implying a designer

First Cause argument

Everything that begins to exist has a cause, including the universe

Contingency argument

Contingent things require a necessary being as their source

Divine Revelation

God's activity in the world

Sources of Divine Revelation

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition

Jesus

God saves

Christ

Anointed one

YHWH

I AM WHO AM

INRI

Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews

Covenant

Extension of kinship by oath

Incarnation

God becoming man in the person of Jesus

Apologetics

Defending the faith using philosophy, science, and history

Gospel writers

They lived holy lives, died for the truth, and have strong manuscript evidence

Trinity

Three Persons in one Divine Nature

Tertullian

Who explained the Trinity as Trinity of Persons, Unity of Substance

Person vs Nature

Person = who, Nature = what

Persons and Natures in God

Three persons, one divine nature

Persons and Natures in Jesus

One divine person, two natures (human and divine)

Role of the Holy Spirit

Connects us to the Father and Son, applies Christ's saving work to us

Church Fathers

Early successors of the Apostles

Catholic

St. Ignatius of Antioch first used the word

Church as Sacrament

It unites us to God and each other (Lumen Gentium)

Salvation outside the Church

Yes, if not responsible for lack of faith — but must accept truth if known

Jesus' description of the Church

The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth

Early Christians before New Testament

Evangelizing, celebrating Mass, performing Sacraments

Four Marks of the Church

One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic

One

Unity in teaching — end goal is unity as Christ and the Father are one

Holy

The Church turns sinners into saints, despite imperfections

Apostolic

Apostolic succession — bishops trace lineage to Apostles

Mystical Body of Christ

The Church — one body with diverse members; our actions affect each other

Heaven

The Beatific Vision — seeing God as He is

Purgatory

Temporary purification before Heaven; purification of sinful attachments

Hell

Eternal separation from God

Baptism

Form: "I baptize you…", Matter: water

Confirmation

Form: "Be sealed with the gift…", Matter: oil (chrism)

Eucharist

Form: words of consecration, Matter: bread and wine

Reconciliation

Form: words of absolution, Matter: contrition and confession

Anointing of the Sick

Form: prayer of healing, Matter: oil and laying on of hands

Miracles in John's Gospel

Signs

Sacrament

Visible sign of invisible grace, instituted by Christ

Arguments for God's existence

(1) First Cause: the universe needs a cause. (2) Design: the universe is finely tuned for life, pointing to a designer.

aut deus aut homo malus

Either God or a bad man — Jesus claimed to be God, so He can't be just a good man. If He's God, we must follow Him.

Eucharist as source and summit

It is Jesus Himself. All graces flow from it, and it is the highest form of worship.