religion extension: unit 2 glossary

term 2

Moral Principles

These help people work out ‘right and wrong’. Moral choices created by God. These include Natural Law and the 10 Commandments.

Natural Law

Laws that apply to all people because they are part of human nature and accessed by reason.

Decalogue

Another word for “The Ten Commandments” In Greek “Decalogue” means the ten words

Freedom

The ability to overcome internal and external pressures in order to make responsible moral choices.

Adultery

Adultery occurs when a married person has sexual relations with someone who is not their spouse (ie. wife or husband).

The Old Law

Also called the Torah. It is found in the first five books of the Old Testament.

New Law

As part of the New Covenant Jesus gave a new law to empower his followers to live as God called. This consists of 4 elements: • Sharing with all who believe in Christ.

• Charity divine love, the Sacraments.

• Sermon on the Mount.

• The two Great Commandments of Jesus

Charity

The power of divine love for Christians to love God above all else and to love others for God’s sake

Sacrament

Efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to people.

Beatitudes

These identify the attitudes of Jesus. There are eight of these. The First Beatitude is “Blessed are the poor in Spirit. The kingdom of heaven is theirs” Matthew 5:3.

Grace

The free and undeserved help that God gives people to respond to his call to become children of God and share in the divine life