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Key Concepts

  • Creation ex nihilo

    • The belief that God created the universe 'from nothing'.

  • Imago Dei

    • The belief that humans were created in the image of God.

  • Omnipotent

    • The belief that God is all-powerful.

  • Stewardship

    • The belief that humans should protect and preserve the environment and hand it on to the next generation.

  • Transcendent

    • The belief that God exists above and beyond space and time.

  • Revelation

    • The way in which God makes himself known to the world, e.g., the Bible.

  • Inspiration

    • The belief that the writers of the Bible were guided by the Holy Spirit to write what is good and true.

  • Evolution

    • The gradual change and development of species over time. Associated with Charles Darwin.

Catholic Social Teaching

  • Definition: Catholic Social Teaching is a set of principles regarding the establishment of a just and fair society.

  • Relation to Imago Dei: It is connected to the concept of Imago Dei, emphasizing that each human life is sacred and deserving of respect.

  • Interfaith Dialogue: This principle encourages treating practitioners of other faiths with respect.

  • Catholic Charities: The charitable activities of the Catholic community aim to reflect the belief that humans are created in God's image and uphold the sanctity of life.

  • Connection to Jesus' Teaching: It relates to the teaching of Jesus to "love your neighbor as you love yourself."

Sources of Authority

  • Gaudium et spes: "All men possess a rational soul and are created in God's likeness."

  • Gaudium et spes: "Every type of discrimination…is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God's intent."

  • St. Catherine of Siena: "Her dignity is that of her creation, seeing that she is the image of God."

  • Genesis 1:27: "So God created mankind in his own image."

CAFOD and SVP

  • CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development):

    • Founded by Catholic bishops of England and Wales in 1962.

    • Focuses on helping those in need, promoting long-term development in less-developed nations.

    • Engages in emergency responses to natural disasters and supports refugees.

    • Approximately 5% of CAFOD's budget is allocated to educate Catholics in England and Wales about development and aid initiatives.

    • Advocates for social justice and combats poverty.

  • SVP (St. Vincent de Paul Society):

    • A charitable organization of Catholics serving the needy in the UK.

    • Activities include providing companionship to the lonely, assisting families in crisis, and organizing children's camps for underprivileged children.

Forms of Expression in Christianity

  • Art and Symbolism:

    • Sacred art historically served as a means to educate about Jesus and the Bible, especially when literacy was low.

    • Artists used various themes and images to convey beliefs about God, humanity, and the world.

Michelangelo's Creation of Adam

  • Depicts God as an active creator reaching out to Adam, who is portrayed as a passive figure.

  • God is represented as older and physically strong, symbolizing His omnipotence and wisdom.

  • God’s hand reaching toward Adam symbolizes the impartation of life.

  • The dynamic representation aligns with gen. teachings about God's creative power.

Tree of Life Mosaic Apse in San Clemente

  • A 12th-century mosaic filled with symbolism, depicting important Christian symbols and figures.

  • The central cross symbolizes the merging of heaven and earth; 12 lambs represent the disciples.

  • The lamb with a halo represents Jesus, while imagery of trees and branches symbolizes the spreading of Jesus's teachings.

  • The hand of God taking Jesus to heaven signifies God's power over death, while the Alpha and Omega symbolize God’s eternal nature.

The Bible and Genesis

  • The Bible, particularly Genesis, is considered by Catholics to be the word of God—a direct revelation.

  • Readings:

    • "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1).

    • "So God created mankind in his own image" (Gen 1:27).

    • "Be fruitful and increase in number…. Rule over the fish in the sea" (Gen 1:28).

    • "Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground" (Gen 2).

Catholic vs. Fundamentalist Interpretations

Catholic Interpretation

  • Reads Genesis symbolically, focusing on teachings about God's nature and humanity.

  • Teaches that God is omnipotent and exists beyond the universe (transcendence).

  • Views creation as an expression of divine love and underscores human dignity and stewardship.

Fundamentalist Christian Interpretation

  • Takes Genesis literally, believing in six calendar days of creation.

  • Sees the Bible as the infallible word of God and rejects theories like evolution.

Stewardship and Environment

  • Shared beliefs among Catholic Christians, Jews, and Humanists regarding the importance of environmental protection.

  • In Catholicism, stewardship is grounded in the biblical mandate for humans to care for the earth.

  • Sources of Authority:

    • "Each community…has the duty to protect the earth and ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations" (Laudato si).

    • "Rule over the fish in the sea…" (Gen 1:28).

    • "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it" (Gen 2:15).

Jewish Stewardship

  • Emphasizes the mitzvot and the covenant as guidelines for caring for creation.

  • Follows TORAH laws for stewardship as provisions include giving land a rest every 5 years.

Humanist Stewardship

  • Agrees with stewardship principles but rejects theism; embraces science-based views on the universe.

Sanctity of Life

  • The belief that all human life is sacred stems from Genesis and is a shared view across Catholicism, Liberal Christianity, and Judaism.

  • Catholic View:

    • Life begins at conception; abortion is viewed as morally wrong.

  • Liberal Christian View:

    • Life is sacred but acknowledges abortion in exceptional circumstances as a lesser evil.

  • Jewish View:

    • Emphasizes the sanctity of all life; abortion may be justified in certain situations due to laws of pikuach nefesh.

  • Humanist View:

    • Human life has value but is not sacred; rights and quality of life take precedence in discussions about abortion.

Origins of the Universe

  • Catholic View:

    • Recognizes compatibility between science and religion regarding creation; accepts evolution as part of God's creation.

  • Fundamentalist View:

    • Holds a literal interpretation of Genesis; believes in creationism and rejects all scientists' theories that contradict biblical accounts.

  • Jewish View:

    • Typically embraces Genesis as a literal truth and celebrates creation through observance of the Sabbath and Rosh Hashanah.

  • Non-Religious View:

    • The Big Bang Theory explains the universe's origin as a scientific event, and species evolved over time through natural selection.

  • Key Figures in Origin Concepts:

    • Charles Darwin: Developed the theory of evolution.

    • Stephen Hawking: Associated with the Big Bang Theory.