Reflect on Various Issues Regarding Christianity and the Bible

1) What is the catholic understanding of the relation between faith and reason? (cf. John Paul II., Faith and Reason, 1-5. 13 (partly). 25-27. 43-48. 107-108)

2) Genesis 1-2: What is the literary form of these texts? How can the biblical creation story be reconciled with the theory of evolution?

3) Genesis 3 / Matthew 26-28: What is the relationship between the “fall” of the first human beings and the death of Christ? Was it necessary that Jesus had to die?

4) Isaiah 1: Why is God angry with his people Israel? What is the meaning of the biblical expression “the anger of God” attributed to a God who is love?

5) The catholic faith confesses, that Jesus Christ is true man and true God. Give two passages of the Gospel of Matthew that “prove” the true humanity and two passages who “prove” the divinity of Jesus Christ and justify your choice.

6) Exodus 20,1-17 / Matthew 5,1-12: Explain the difference between the 10 commandments of the Old Testament and the Beatitudes of the New Testament.

7) In Chapter 6 of the “Letter to Diognetus” we read: “What the soul is in the body, Christians are in the world.” What does the author of the letter mean with these words?

8) How does the Catholic Church understand her relationship towards non-catholic Christians, Jews, Muslims and other religions? (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church161-176)

9) Explain the Catholic understanding of the terms “purgatory”, “heaven” and “hell”? (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church 202-216)

10) How do the ideas of “love”, “light” and “life” help us to understand God as “Trinity”? (Catechism of the Catholic Church 253-267)

Answer preview:

Word: 3,600