Religion and Social Justice Study Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering Christian scripture, theology, prophets, church structure, and the history of South African apartheid and Nelson Mandela.

Scripture

The inspired word of God and the primary source concerning the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Tradition

What is passed on to the current community from ancestors in faith, starting with the apostles (e.g., creeds, treaties).

Magisterium

The teaching office of the Roman Catholic Church that holds the authority and power to teach religious truths.

Ex Cathedra

A term describing teachings of the Magisterium meaning incapable of having mistakes.

Liturgy

The primary teaching tool of the Church that repeats salvation stories and shapes personal moral character.

Exegesis

The study of texts in their original context, examining elements such as language, historical context, and genre.

Hermeneutics

The study of understanding how texts remain relevant, interpreting their meaning in the context they were written.

Matthew's Gospel

A Gospel written for Jewish Christians that introduces Jesus as the ultimate teacher and Messiah who fulfills the Jewish law, emphasizing forgiveness, lack of judgment, and community unity.

Stages of Development in Gospels

1) Experience,

2) Oral tradition,

3) Written gospels.

Q Source

A hypothetical collection of Jesus' sayings and teachings that scholars believe Matthew and Luke may have used when writing their Gospels.

Gospel of Mark

A Gospel written for Gentile Christians (non-Jews) that focuses on Jesus' actions, miracles, suffering, death, and resurrection.

Gospel of Luke

A Gospel written for Gentile Christians that presents Jesus as the Saviour of all people, highlighting compassion, forgiveness, prayer, and God's mercy.

Literal Sense

The foundation of all the four senses of scripture.

Allegorical Sense

The sense of scripture that reveals symbolic meaning and connections with Christ's work.

Moral Sense

The sense of scripture that focuses on understanding ethical and moral teachings in the Bible.

Anagogical Sense

The sense of scripture focused on the future, the end of time, and God's plan for the end (i.e., heaven).

True Prophet

A person with immense courage and direct experiences with God who speaks on God's behalf, defends the poor, and speaks for the voiceless.

False Prophet

A person who often seeks personal glory, praise, and material reward, frequently creating conflict for their own sake or serving a small vested-interest group.

Greta Thunberg

Identified as a modern-day prophet who speaks out against climate change.

Dorothy Day

Identified as an American activist who spoke out against workers' rights.

Charles Manson

Identified as a modern false prophet, cult leader, and murderer who believed he was the Messiah.

Prophetic Call

A six-stage calling process consisting of: 1) Encounter with God, 2) Introductory speech, 3) Imparting a mission, 4) Objection of the Prophet to be, 5) Reassurance by God, and 6) Sign.

Exodus Call Story

The biblical event where God reveals Godself in a burning bush on Mount Sinai while Moses is tending sheep, commanding him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery.

Apostolic Succession

The continuous line of bishops stretching directly back to the Apostles.

Apostolic Tradition

Those traditions and teachings handed down to the Church from the Apostles.

Emissary

A representative sent on a mission or errand.

Acts of the Apostles

A New Testament book written by the Evangelist Luke recounting the spread of the Christian faith from Christ and the transformation of his followers after his resurrection.

Letters (Epistles)

A collection of 21 New Testament writings, mostly authored by St. Paul, written to encourage faith and teach the meaning of Jesus.

People of God

The community of believers who share Christian beliefs, undergo spiritual birth through Baptism, accept Jesus as their head, and hold an eternal destiny to heaven.

Kingdom of God

A theological concept defined not as a place, but as a symbol for God.

Beatitudes

• In the Gospel of Matthew during the Sermon on the Mount

• Poor in spirit: Promise of the kingdom of heaven, reflecting spiritual reliance on God.

• Those who mourn: Promise of comfort, grieving over brokenness and sin.

• The meek: Promise of inheriting the earth, living with gentle strength.

• Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: Promise of being filled, craving God's justice.

• The merciful: Promise of receiving mercy, showing compassion to others.

• The pure in heart: Promise of seeing God, maintaining sincere devotion.

• The peacemakers: Promise of being called children of God, bringing reconciliation.

• Those persecuted for righteousness' sake

Eschatological

The concept that people possess the ability to do better and the ability to reach salvation, specifically through the beatitudes.

Apartheid

A formal, institutionalized system of racial segregation and white minority rule in South Africa from 1948 until 1994, created to enforce white rule and preserve power.

President Botha

The South African leader who in 1985 offered to release Nelson Mandela from Pollsmoore Prison on the condition that Mandela unconditionally renounce violence as a political weapon.