The Catholic Church views the entire Bible as the inspired and error-free work of God and the Gospels as especially so, since they chronicle Jesus's time on Earth. As we've stated numerous times in earlier posts, the Church believes the Bible is sacred literature, and should be interpreted literally in some parts and figuratively in others. Since they are a narrative, the Gospels are primarily interpreted literally.
Matthew opens his Gospel with a long genealogy of Jesus, starting with Abraham and ending with Joseph, Mary's husband and the human "father" of Jesus. Matthew was likely addressing converts from Judaism, linking Jesus back to the legendary founder of their religion.
Luke offers a similar genealogy, but not until Chapter 3, and he starts with Jesus and works all the way back to Adam. Luke was a Gentile physician whose audience was almost exclusively Gentile (not Jewish). Neither Matthew nor Luke used editorial fiction, but both selected events from Jesus's life (Christians say with inspiration from the Holy Spirit) that would be appropriate for their respective audiences. A Gentile audience would not have cared about the link to Abraham, but would have cared about Jesus's link to the first man, Adam. The idea of Jesus being connected with the very beginning of mankind had a certain appeal amongst the Greeks. For example, notice St. Paul's Epistle. The Epistles are written letters that make up a part of the New Testament. St. Paul's Epistle even went as far as to call Christ the "New Adam," saying that the original Adam caused man to die, but the New Adam offered all a reborn life. A Gentile audience would be more interested in Jesus's link to the dawn of humanity, whereas Jews would have wanted an authentic link to Abraham from Jesus.
One seeming contradiction between the two Gospels can be found in Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. Matthew mentions that immeditately prior to his sermon, Jesus "went up the mountain" (Matthew 5:1), but Luke says Jesus gave his sermon on "a stretch of level ground" (Luke 6:17). Both men quote the teachings from this sermon, now called the Beatitudes ("Blessed are the poor in spirit, Blessed are they who mourn, Blessed are the meek, etc.,).
So why the difference between mountain and plain? Any good preacher knows that a good sermon can be used more than once, especially when you're moving from town to town, as Jesus was. It would not be unreasonable to assume that Jesus preached the Beatitudes more than once, since no one in the next town would have heard the message addressed to the previous town.
Matthew mentions the Sermon on the Mount because his Jewish audience would have been keen on such a detail. Why? Moses was given the Law (the 10 Commandments) on Mount Sinai. Jesus was giving the law of blessedness while also standing on a mountain. Matthew also wrote Jesus's words that he "had not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it," (Matthew 5:17) which also appealed to the Jewish crowd. Moses gave Ten Commandments that came as Law from God, while Jesus said he would fulfill that Law. Luke, meanwhile, mentions that the sermon was given on a plain. Why this obscure detail? Luke was writing for a Gentile audience. The Gentiles were accumstomed to philosophy and debate in the Greek manner. Greek philosophers would debate each other on level ground: shoulder-to-shoulder and eye-to-eye, in order to give a sense of equality and fairness in their discussion. Since his Gentile audience would have more interest in a speech given in such a fashion, Luke retells one.
Even a slight difference can be detected in the wording of the Beatitudes in Luke's edition when contrasted with Matthew's. Luke added an additional "woe to you" after each "blessed are you" - something not found in Matthew's account. Again, if we take the perspective that these speeches were the same sermon given at different times, it is very possible that Jesus adapted his older sermon for a different audience. The Church maintains the discrepancy comes from changes Jesus made to his own speech, since neither sacred author would feel free to alter anything Jesus said.
Friday, February 20, 2009
History of the Gospel
Sts. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were not taking notes as Jesus preached and performed his ministry. As a matter of fact, only Matthew and John even met Jesus. In short, don't think of the Gospel as a biography reporting on Jesus's life. Before the Gospels were written, the words and deeds of Jesus were passed down orally. In other words, the Gospel was preached before it was written. The spoken word (tradition) again preceded the written word. Even after it was recorded, the papyrus scrolls were so fragile and rare that most people didn't read the Word, but learned it through Mass. The Church divides the Word into three layers: the actual sayings and teachings of Christ, the oral tradition the apostles preached, and the written Scripture that ensured the message would be consistent.
The New Testament was written between the years 35-100 A.D. The actual Tetramorph (the four Gospels put together) can be dated to at least 188 (when St. Irenaeus mentions it), but it wasn't until the Council of Carthage (397 A.D.) that the Church explicitly stated the 27 books of the New Testament, including the four Gospels. St. Jerome was the first to combine the New and Old Testament into one volume and to translate the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek into one single language-Latin. It took him an incredible 23 years to complete this task, but the final product was the first Christian Bible in 405.
The New Testament was written between the years 35-100 A.D. The actual Tetramorph (the four Gospels put together) can be dated to at least 188 (when St. Irenaeus mentions it), but it wasn't until the Council of Carthage (397 A.D.) that the Church explicitly stated the 27 books of the New Testament, including the four Gospels. St. Jerome was the first to combine the New and Old Testament into one volume and to translate the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek into one single language-Latin. It took him an incredible 23 years to complete this task, but the final product was the first Christian Bible in 405.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Catholic Beliefs on the Gospel
Even though each Gospel was written by a different man, the same Holy Spirit is believed to have inspired each man. Inspiration is a gift of the Holy Spirit granted to the sacred authors (the physical writers of the Bible) so they would only write the exact words that God wished to be recorded.
Both the Holy Spirit and the inspired author would write to a specific audience. This concept is clear in the Gospel According to Matthew. Matthew, a Jew himself, was addressing potential converts from Judaism and wished to assure them that Jesus was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. To accomplish this, he made subtle comparisons between Christ and Moses. Matthew compared Jesus's deliverance of mankind from the slavery of sin to Moses's deliverance of the Chosen People from their slavery in Egypt. Both also delivered their people into a "Promised Land." In Moses's case, it was the nation of Israel, while in Christ's case, it was the Promised Land of Heaven.
Although each writer had a separate audience, each of the four Gospels still have relevance in today's world because the all four were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Church believes that inspired texts have several meanings, transcend time and space, and (unlike most historical documents) do not apply to one particular culture at one particular time. This is why the Catholic Church goes to the trouble of incorporating all four Gospels at the Sunday Mass over a three-year period.
Interestingly enough, the Book of Revelation (written by an inspired John) contains an image of four creatures that the Church has interpreted to be a metaphor for the four Gospels. According to St. Ambrose (who lived late in the 4th Century), the man with wings symbolizes Matthew, since he begins his Gospel with an account of the human origins of Jesus. Mark begins his Gospel with the regal power of Christ, so he is symbolized by a lion- held in high esteem by his Roman audience. Luke begins his version with an account of the father of John the Baptist, Zachary the priest, and is symbolized as an ox with wings. This is because priests of the temple sacrificed oxen on an altar. Finally, John is shown as an eagle, because he soars into heaven with his introduction to the Gospel of the pre-existence of Jesus as the Word.
Both the Holy Spirit and the inspired author would write to a specific audience. This concept is clear in the Gospel According to Matthew. Matthew, a Jew himself, was addressing potential converts from Judaism and wished to assure them that Jesus was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. To accomplish this, he made subtle comparisons between Christ and Moses. Matthew compared Jesus's deliverance of mankind from the slavery of sin to Moses's deliverance of the Chosen People from their slavery in Egypt. Both also delivered their people into a "Promised Land." In Moses's case, it was the nation of Israel, while in Christ's case, it was the Promised Land of Heaven.
Although each writer had a separate audience, each of the four Gospels still have relevance in today's world because the all four were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Church believes that inspired texts have several meanings, transcend time and space, and (unlike most historical documents) do not apply to one particular culture at one particular time. This is why the Catholic Church goes to the trouble of incorporating all four Gospels at the Sunday Mass over a three-year period.
Interestingly enough, the Book of Revelation (written by an inspired John) contains an image of four creatures that the Church has interpreted to be a metaphor for the four Gospels. According to St. Ambrose (who lived late in the 4th Century), the man with wings symbolizes Matthew, since he begins his Gospel with an account of the human origins of Jesus. Mark begins his Gospel with the regal power of Christ, so he is symbolized by a lion- held in high esteem by his Roman audience. Luke begins his version with an account of the father of John the Baptist, Zachary the priest, and is symbolized as an ox with wings. This is because priests of the temple sacrificed oxen on an altar. Finally, John is shown as an eagle, because he soars into heaven with his introduction to the Gospel of the pre-existence of Jesus as the Word.
The Gospel Truth
The New Testament contains four Gospels which tell about the life and teachings of Jesus. The four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) each wrote one of the four Gospels. It's important to note that the four aren't considered separate Gospels, but four versions of one Gospel. Hence they are called The Gospel According to Matthew or The Gospel According to Luke, and not Matthew's Gospel or Luke's Gospel. It's for this reason that the Church teaches the importance of considering the four Gospels as one entire unit. No one account gives the full picture, but together they form a complete (although not exhaustive) account of Jesus's ministry. The church faithful require all four versions in order to appreciate the full depth of Jesus of Nazareth and his impact. Catholicism respects each perspective from the four evangelists, but stresses that all four must be grouped together, along with other "inspired" Old Testament and New Testament writings, in order get a better portrait of Jesus.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Sunday Off-Topic: Satan's Jealousy
Every Introduction course always has its off-topic tangents, and Catholicism 101 is no different. On Sundays, we'll delve into some aspects of Catholicism that we might not otherwise get to. These areas are kind of up to my whim, but they will usually focus on unusual parts of Catholicism.
One Catholic belief is that angels were created before humans, and that their angelic will (unlike our own) is incapable of changing once a decision has been made. Angels have one irreversible act of will, and they know this. So when Lucifer (Satan) and his cohorts conspired to go against God's will, they sinned in a way that prevented them from ever seeking forgiveness, due to their very nature.
Humans, however, are quite capable of changing their minds - and this is how they can seek forgiveness and repentance. It's for this reason that Satan hates humans, because humans get a second chance that he never had. The fact that the Second Person of the Trinity had assumed the form of a man infuriated him still further, since God had never become an angel in any such manner.
One Catholic belief is that angels were created before humans, and that their angelic will (unlike our own) is incapable of changing once a decision has been made. Angels have one irreversible act of will, and they know this. So when Lucifer (Satan) and his cohorts conspired to go against God's will, they sinned in a way that prevented them from ever seeking forgiveness, due to their very nature.
Humans, however, are quite capable of changing their minds - and this is how they can seek forgiveness and repentance. It's for this reason that Satan hates humans, because humans get a second chance that he never had. The fact that the Second Person of the Trinity had assumed the form of a man infuriated him still further, since God had never become an angel in any such manner.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Obedient Son of God
Catholicism views Jesus as the eternal Son of the Father and teaches that this relationship between Father and Son is one of profound love. It's not some kind of "Victorian" love, but very real. This belief that their relationship is so close led St. Thomas Aquinas to state that the third person of the Holy Trinity (the Holy Spirit) is the living, personified fruit of that love.
Obedience is a sign of love and respect, and Catholics believe Jesus obeyed the Father's will. To Catholics, the phrase "Thy will be done," is more than just a line from the Our Father. It's the unofficial motto of Jesus Christ. Catholic belief also maintains that God the Father's will for Jesus was to:
-Reveal God as a community of Three Persons united in divine love.
-Show His love for all mankind.
-Be humankind's Redeemer and Savior.
Obedience is a sign of love and respect, and Catholics believe Jesus obeyed the Father's will. To Catholics, the phrase "Thy will be done," is more than just a line from the Our Father. It's the unofficial motto of Jesus Christ. Catholic belief also maintains that God the Father's will for Jesus was to:
-Reveal God as a community of Three Persons united in divine love.
-Show His love for all mankind.
-Be humankind's Redeemer and Savior.
Divine Nature of Jesus
Catholics believe that Jesus perfomed miracles while on Earth, such as walking on water, expelling demons, and raising the dead. Christians believe Jesus also performed the ultimate miracle in saving all humankind, becoming its Savior. He founded the Catholic Church and instituted (both explicitly and implicitly) all seven sacraments. He is also the second person in the Holy Trinity-as God the Son. God the Son is just as much God as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
Although Christians, Jews, and Muslims all believe in one God (the same one, actually), Christians believe in a Triune God - one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), usually called the Holy Trinity. The mystery of the Holy Trinity is how there can be three persons, but not three Gods. Catholics don't view the Trinity as three seperate gods, but as three persons in a single God.
Although Christians, Jews, and Muslims all believe in one God (the same one, actually), Christians believe in a Triune God - one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), usually called the Holy Trinity. The mystery of the Holy Trinity is how there can be three persons, but not three Gods. Catholics don't view the Trinity as three seperate gods, but as three persons in a single God.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Did Jesus Have Siblings?
Some Christians believe that Mary had other children after she bore Jesus, but the Catholic Church teaches that Mary always remained a virgin - both before and after Christ's birth. She had only one son, and that son was Jesus. Another belief among Christians is that Joseph may have had children from a prior marriage (he was a widower) before he wedded Mary. These children became the stepbrothers and stepsisters of Jesus. Those who think Jesus had siblings will quote Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:55: "Is this not the carpenter's son, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Simeon and Jude? Are not his sisters here with us?" Matthew 12:47 says, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside."
So who were these brothers and sisters if they weren't actual siblings of Jesus? The Catholic Church points out that the Gospels were written in Greek, not English. The Greek word used in all three cases is adelphoi, which can be translated as "brothers." But the word can also mean "cousins" or "relatives" (like an uncle, or nephew). An example of this can be found in the Old Testament. Genesis 11:27 says that Abram and Haran were brothers, sons of Terah. Lot was Haran's son, therefore a nephew of Abram (Abram's name was later changed to Abraham by God). However, in the King James version of the Bible (the first English translation), Lot is referred to as the brother of Abraham. The Greek word in the Septuagint (Greek translation) version of the Old Testament is again adelphos (singular form of adelphoi). Obviously, there was no word in Greek that translated directly from uncle to nephew, so the word brother can have a meaning besides sibling.
The Catholic Church reasons that if the Bible used brother to refer to a nephew in one instance, why not again? Who's to say the adelphoi of Jesus were literally brothers, and not relatives? Since the word was used to mean relative in the Old Testament, it might mean the same in the New. The Church uses other reasons, as well: if Jesus had brothers, why weren't they there for his crucifixion? Mary and some other women watched it, but the only man around was John (who was certainly not a relative of Jesus). As he was dying on the cross, Jesus told John, "Behold your mother" (John 19:27). John then brought Mary into his home to care for her. Why did Jesus tell John to look after his mother instead of allowing any surviving brothers to do so? This would only make sense if Mary had no surviving children.
The Church also poses another problem: If there were blood-brothers (or even step-brothers) of Jesus, why did none of them take on roles of leadership after his death? The family culture of the time would have never allowed Peter and the other apostles to assume a family member's mission (in this case, Jesus's ministry) if there were other brothers. However, if the closest surviving relatives were cousins, uncles, and nephews, such an assumption would make sense.
The debate will probably rage for several more centuries. The real factor is the Church's authority on such matters. Catholicism does not place the Church above the Bible, but sees the Church as the only true guardian and interpreter of the Scripture.
So who were these brothers and sisters if they weren't actual siblings of Jesus? The Catholic Church points out that the Gospels were written in Greek, not English. The Greek word used in all three cases is adelphoi, which can be translated as "brothers." But the word can also mean "cousins" or "relatives" (like an uncle, or nephew). An example of this can be found in the Old Testament. Genesis 11:27 says that Abram and Haran were brothers, sons of Terah. Lot was Haran's son, therefore a nephew of Abram (Abram's name was later changed to Abraham by God). However, in the King James version of the Bible (the first English translation), Lot is referred to as the brother of Abraham. The Greek word in the Septuagint (Greek translation) version of the Old Testament is again adelphos (singular form of adelphoi). Obviously, there was no word in Greek that translated directly from uncle to nephew, so the word brother can have a meaning besides sibling.
The Catholic Church reasons that if the Bible used brother to refer to a nephew in one instance, why not again? Who's to say the adelphoi of Jesus were literally brothers, and not relatives? Since the word was used to mean relative in the Old Testament, it might mean the same in the New. The Church uses other reasons, as well: if Jesus had brothers, why weren't they there for his crucifixion? Mary and some other women watched it, but the only man around was John (who was certainly not a relative of Jesus). As he was dying on the cross, Jesus told John, "Behold your mother" (John 19:27). John then brought Mary into his home to care for her. Why did Jesus tell John to look after his mother instead of allowing any surviving brothers to do so? This would only make sense if Mary had no surviving children.
The Church also poses another problem: If there were blood-brothers (or even step-brothers) of Jesus, why did none of them take on roles of leadership after his death? The family culture of the time would have never allowed Peter and the other apostles to assume a family member's mission (in this case, Jesus's ministry) if there were other brothers. However, if the closest surviving relatives were cousins, uncles, and nephews, such an assumption would make sense.
The debate will probably rage for several more centuries. The real factor is the Church's authority on such matters. Catholicism does not place the Church above the Bible, but sees the Church as the only true guardian and interpreter of the Scripture.
Was Jesus Married?
The last verse of the Gospel according to John (21:25) says, "There are also many other things Jesus did but if they were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written." The Bible is silent in some areas, such as: Was Jesus married? Did he have kids? The Bible doesn't say anything either way. It could be assumed that he was never married, since the Bible doesn't specifically say so (but the Bible also never explicitly says Peter was married and we know that he was, since Jesus cured his mother-in-law).
No Christian denomination has ever believed that Jesus was married, even though the Bible never says he was single. The reason is Sacred Tradition. Christianity has maintained that Jesus remained celibate and unmarried, even though there is very little evidence to support this. Whenever the Bible is silent on an issue, Sacred Tradition fills in the gaps. So, for Catholics, the Sacred Scripture says Jesus was a man whose mother was Mary, but Sacred Tradition says he never married.
No Christian denomination has ever believed that Jesus was married, even though the Bible never says he was single. The reason is Sacred Tradition. Christianity has maintained that Jesus remained celibate and unmarried, even though there is very little evidence to support this. Whenever the Bible is silent on an issue, Sacred Tradition fills in the gaps. So, for Catholics, the Sacred Scripture says Jesus was a man whose mother was Mary, but Sacred Tradition says he never married.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Human Nature of Jesus
Jesus had a normal body with all of the normal parts: two eyes, ears, a nose, brain, stomach, etc. Since he had a body, he also had the five senses and was quite capable of feeling physical pain and pleasure. He possessed a human's intellect (a mind) and had a human will (a heart) and experienced human emotions, like joy and sorrow. For example, John wrote that Jesus wept when he heard his friend Lazarus had died.
Jesus was not born with the ability to speak. He had to learn how to walk and talk, which are human characteristics, and how to act and think.
One major difference for Jesus, however, was that he did not share sin with us. Being human doesn't mean that it's impossible not to sin, and that you must have sin. Being human means having a free will and rational intellect joined to a physical body. Humans have the choice to do evil or good.
Catholics believe that people don't decide what's good and evil, because true good and evil occur independent of our opinion. Murder is evil. Someone may personally think it's okay, but if it's intrisically evil, they are only deluding themselves and will eventually regret it. Jesus, while human, only chose to do good works, but this did not make him any less human. Even though he never swore, told a dirty joke, or got drunk, he was still human.
The Catholic Church reminds its members of the humanity of Jesus by placing a crucifix in a conspicuous place in every church. A crucifix is a cross with the crucified Jesus attached to it. It serves as a reminder that Jesus didn't just pretend to be human - he felt every nail, thorn, and lance that he experienced during the Passion (what the Church calls his suffering) in a way any other human would. He felt true pain, and actually died. If he were only a divine being pretending to be human, his pain and death would have been faked. A crucifix represents the pain that Jesus experienced when he died. (By the way, the letters "INRI" usually seen on crucifixes are an abbreviation of the actual Latin words placed on the cross by Pontius Pilate: Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, or Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews).
It's important to note that Catholicism does not exclusively rely on the Bible for what's known about Jesus. Sacred Tradition fills in some of the gaps where the Bible is silent or ambiguous. Two issues are whether or not Jesus was married, and whether he had any siblings.
Jesus was not born with the ability to speak. He had to learn how to walk and talk, which are human characteristics, and how to act and think.
One major difference for Jesus, however, was that he did not share sin with us. Being human doesn't mean that it's impossible not to sin, and that you must have sin. Being human means having a free will and rational intellect joined to a physical body. Humans have the choice to do evil or good.
Catholics believe that people don't decide what's good and evil, because true good and evil occur independent of our opinion. Murder is evil. Someone may personally think it's okay, but if it's intrisically evil, they are only deluding themselves and will eventually regret it. Jesus, while human, only chose to do good works, but this did not make him any less human. Even though he never swore, told a dirty joke, or got drunk, he was still human.
The Catholic Church reminds its members of the humanity of Jesus by placing a crucifix in a conspicuous place in every church. A crucifix is a cross with the crucified Jesus attached to it. It serves as a reminder that Jesus didn't just pretend to be human - he felt every nail, thorn, and lance that he experienced during the Passion (what the Church calls his suffering) in a way any other human would. He felt true pain, and actually died. If he were only a divine being pretending to be human, his pain and death would have been faked. A crucifix represents the pain that Jesus experienced when he died. (By the way, the letters "INRI" usually seen on crucifixes are an abbreviation of the actual Latin words placed on the cross by Pontius Pilate: Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, or Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews).
It's important to note that Catholicism does not exclusively rely on the Bible for what's known about Jesus. Sacred Tradition fills in some of the gaps where the Bible is silent or ambiguous. Two issues are whether or not Jesus was married, and whether he had any siblings.
Understanding Jesus
Like all Christians, Catholics believe that Jesus of Nazareth is their Lord and Savior. The term Lord is used because Christians believe that Jesus is divine as the Son of God. The term Savior is used because Christians believe that Jesus died to save all of humankind from their sins. The Old Testament actually uses the word Lord (Adonai in Hebrew) in connection with the word God (Elohim in Hebrew). For example, consider the phrase "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one" from Deuteronomy 6:4. However, the New Testament asserts through the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians (2:11) "that Jesus Christ is Lord."
Catholics also believe that Jesus was human as well as divine. For this reason, "true God" and "became man" are key phrases in the Nicene Creed, highlighting the fundamental doctrine of Jesus as the God-Man. Consider:
-As God, Jesus possessed a fully divine nature, so he was able to perform miracles, such as changing water into wine. His greatest divine act, however, was his own resurrection from the dead.
- As man, Jesus had a human mother (Mary) who gave birth to him. He grew up in the same manner as any other man. He taught, preached, suffered, and died. All of these are examples of his human nature.
Jesus, the God-Man, with his fully divine nature and his fully human nature, is the center of Catholic belief.
Some people think that Catholics (and Christians in general) believe Jesus is some kind of half man/half deity hybrid. But this is not the case. Catholics don't see Jesus as possessing a split personality, but as both completely human and completely God. He is considered a single person with two distinct, equal natures. This is an example of Christian mystery (probably the core mystery, actually), which is something that cannot be explained, but can only be believed on faith alone.
Catholics also believe that Jesus was human as well as divine. For this reason, "true God" and "became man" are key phrases in the Nicene Creed, highlighting the fundamental doctrine of Jesus as the God-Man. Consider:
-As God, Jesus possessed a fully divine nature, so he was able to perform miracles, such as changing water into wine. His greatest divine act, however, was his own resurrection from the dead.
- As man, Jesus had a human mother (Mary) who gave birth to him. He grew up in the same manner as any other man. He taught, preached, suffered, and died. All of these are examples of his human nature.
Jesus, the God-Man, with his fully divine nature and his fully human nature, is the center of Catholic belief.
Some people think that Catholics (and Christians in general) believe Jesus is some kind of half man/half deity hybrid. But this is not the case. Catholics don't see Jesus as possessing a split personality, but as both completely human and completely God. He is considered a single person with two distinct, equal natures. This is an example of Christian mystery (probably the core mystery, actually), which is something that cannot be explained, but can only be believed on faith alone.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sunday Off-Topic: Going Public
Every Introduction course always has its off-topic tangents, and Catholicism 101 is no different. On Sundays, we'll delve into some aspects of Catholicism that we might not otherwise get to. These areas are kind of up to my whim, but they will usually focus on unusual parts of Catholicism.
At the Baptism of an infant, the parents are asked, "Do you renounce Satan, and all his works and empty promises?" If the answer is "yes," then the priest proceeds with "Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth?" This continues for several more questions. If the person being baptized is older than seven, they answer the questions themselves.
After Baptism, Christians are expected to publicly profess their faith by reciting the Nicene Creed at Mass with the entire congregation. Once a year, the congregation will also renew their baptismal vows in full view of everyone else.
At the Baptism of an infant, the parents are asked, "Do you renounce Satan, and all his works and empty promises?" If the answer is "yes," then the priest proceeds with "Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth?" This continues for several more questions. If the person being baptized is older than seven, they answer the questions themselves.
After Baptism, Christians are expected to publicly profess their faith by reciting the Nicene Creed at Mass with the entire congregation. Once a year, the congregation will also renew their baptismal vows in full view of everyone else.
Proof Through Governance
We're covering St. Thomas Aquinas's 5 proofs for the existence of God. Here's the fifth: Gradation.
Ever wonder why the Earth is the perfect distance from the sun and has the right balance of gases to maintain an atmosphere that supports life? This balance is very delicate, just like the balance between plant use of carbon dioxide/releasing oxygen and animals' use of oxygen/expelling carbon dioxide. The planets rotate at fixed rates that can be mathematically calculated. Such fundamental laws of physics and biology must be true or life simply would not exist. St. Thomas believed these facts point to a higher intelligence - a being who made these laws; they couldn't just randomly occur.
Beneath its seeming chaos, nature is very ordered. Human DNA, for example, is very orderly and consistent, seeming to indicate a higher intelligence. Life on earth is not the work of chance, but met a set plan. St. Thomas said that the Great Governor of nature is God.
So Aquinas's 5 Proofs are: Motion (something set the universe into action), Causality (something caused the universe to come into existence), Necessity (something is necessary to keep unecessary objects in existence), Gradation (something occupies the highest level of being), and Governance (something caused the universe to work in a way that created sentient life on Earth).
These five proofs probably won't convert an athiest, but it might make them think. Aquinas's goal was to prove that science does not contradict God's existence, and that the idea of a Supreme Being is consistent with nature.
Ever wonder why the Earth is the perfect distance from the sun and has the right balance of gases to maintain an atmosphere that supports life? This balance is very delicate, just like the balance between plant use of carbon dioxide/releasing oxygen and animals' use of oxygen/expelling carbon dioxide. The planets rotate at fixed rates that can be mathematically calculated. Such fundamental laws of physics and biology must be true or life simply would not exist. St. Thomas believed these facts point to a higher intelligence - a being who made these laws; they couldn't just randomly occur.
Beneath its seeming chaos, nature is very ordered. Human DNA, for example, is very orderly and consistent, seeming to indicate a higher intelligence. Life on earth is not the work of chance, but met a set plan. St. Thomas said that the Great Governor of nature is God.
So Aquinas's 5 Proofs are: Motion (something set the universe into action), Causality (something caused the universe to come into existence), Necessity (something is necessary to keep unecessary objects in existence), Gradation (something occupies the highest level of being), and Governance (something caused the universe to work in a way that created sentient life on Earth).
These five proofs probably won't convert an athiest, but it might make them think. Aquinas's goal was to prove that science does not contradict God's existence, and that the idea of a Supreme Being is consistent with nature.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Proof Through Gradation
We're covering St. Thomas Aquinas's 5 proofs for the existence of God. Here's the fourth: Gradation.
There are different levels of existence and being. Look at inanimate matter, like minerals. They represent a basic level of existence, they are merely there. The next level up is plant life- simple, but alive. Farther up is animal life-capable of life and reproduction, but also possessing an awareness based on senses. Animals can detect things with their ears, noses, mouths, and eyes.
Next on the ladder is human life, capable of the animal properties, but also possessing the power of rational reasoning. Humans also have free will.
Up the hierarchy, the next level of beings is angelic - pure spirits with no bodies. Angels have a superior form of existence to humans, since angels possess all the knowledge they will have at once, and have much more powerful minds than mortals. With no bodies, they feel no pain, hunger, thirst, sickness, or sleep. They are immortal and have power over the world as pure spirits.
The final level of existence is a Supreme Pure Being that has no beginning or end. St. Thomas believed that this Being was God. Like angels, God has no body, but is composed of a pure spirit. However, there is a difference: angels have a beginning, since God created them. Also unlike angels, who have limited knowledge and power, God has infinite power, meaning that he's omnipotent; he posseses infinite knowledge (omniscient); and he's everywhere (he's omnipresent).
There are different levels of existence and being. Look at inanimate matter, like minerals. They represent a basic level of existence, they are merely there. The next level up is plant life- simple, but alive. Farther up is animal life-capable of life and reproduction, but also possessing an awareness based on senses. Animals can detect things with their ears, noses, mouths, and eyes.
Next on the ladder is human life, capable of the animal properties, but also possessing the power of rational reasoning. Humans also have free will.
Up the hierarchy, the next level of beings is angelic - pure spirits with no bodies. Angels have a superior form of existence to humans, since angels possess all the knowledge they will have at once, and have much more powerful minds than mortals. With no bodies, they feel no pain, hunger, thirst, sickness, or sleep. They are immortal and have power over the world as pure spirits.
The final level of existence is a Supreme Pure Being that has no beginning or end. St. Thomas believed that this Being was God. Like angels, God has no body, but is composed of a pure spirit. However, there is a difference: angels have a beginning, since God created them. Also unlike angels, who have limited knowledge and power, God has infinite power, meaning that he's omnipotent; he posseses infinite knowledge (omniscient); and he's everywhere (he's omnipresent).
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Proof Through Causality and Necessity
We're covering St. Thomas Aquinas's 5 proofs for the existence of God. Here's the second: Causality.
Our parents caused us to be born. Our grandparents made the decision that created our parents, and so on and so on. So every cause was itself an effect of a previous cause. So, in order to go back to a true "beginning," you'd have to find the cause of all causes. Just as the force that started the motion from potential existence to actual could not have been potential, itself, the cause of all causes could never have been an effect from a previous cause. In other words, the cause of all causes was never an effect, but what philosophers call an uncaused cause. St. Thomas argued that uncaused cause is God. He caused everything by creating it in the first place.
Here's the third proof: Necessity.
If you had never been born, the universe would not have been affected. No one person is necessary to the universe; everything is dependent on something else in order to exist. One example of this idea is the relationship between electricity and lightbulbs. Once a switch is turned off, the flow of electricity is cut off. No electricity, no light. In the same way, if God removed his Being from sustaining us, we'd all be like turned-off bulbs. One being must be necessary to keep the unnecessary ones in existence. Otherwise, nothing would exist at all. St. Thomas said this necessary being is God.
Our parents caused us to be born. Our grandparents made the decision that created our parents, and so on and so on. So every cause was itself an effect of a previous cause. So, in order to go back to a true "beginning," you'd have to find the cause of all causes. Just as the force that started the motion from potential existence to actual could not have been potential, itself, the cause of all causes could never have been an effect from a previous cause. In other words, the cause of all causes was never an effect, but what philosophers call an uncaused cause. St. Thomas argued that uncaused cause is God. He caused everything by creating it in the first place.
Here's the third proof: Necessity.
If you had never been born, the universe would not have been affected. No one person is necessary to the universe; everything is dependent on something else in order to exist. One example of this idea is the relationship between electricity and lightbulbs. Once a switch is turned off, the flow of electricity is cut off. No electricity, no light. In the same way, if God removed his Being from sustaining us, we'd all be like turned-off bulbs. One being must be necessary to keep the unnecessary ones in existence. Otherwise, nothing would exist at all. St. Thomas said this necessary being is God.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Proof Through Motion
We're covering St. Thomas Aquinas's 5 proofs for the existence of God. Here is the first: motion.
Before any person was conceived in their mother's womb, that person was merely a potential being. They did not actually become real until the act that created their life. In the same way, everything now in existence was only potential at one point, since everything has a beginning. In other words, in order to get to the state of matter as it exists today, there must be an actual beginning-a start. At some point long ago, humans - or any form of matter, never existed.
Some force had to start the motion from potential existence to actual existence. Since science cannot account for potential miraculously forming into actual existence (some force had to cause it, which was caused by a previous force, which was caused by a previous force...you get the idea), this would not account for an actual "beginning" of the universe. Still, something had to create the universe as it exists here and now. Prior to the Big Bang, when the universe only existed as potential, what force caused the motion for it to become real? St. Thomas argued that the force was God, the Prime Mover. He moved the potential universe to become an actual one.
Before any person was conceived in their mother's womb, that person was merely a potential being. They did not actually become real until the act that created their life. In the same way, everything now in existence was only potential at one point, since everything has a beginning. In other words, in order to get to the state of matter as it exists today, there must be an actual beginning-a start. At some point long ago, humans - or any form of matter, never existed.
Some force had to start the motion from potential existence to actual existence. Since science cannot account for potential miraculously forming into actual existence (some force had to cause it, which was caused by a previous force, which was caused by a previous force...you get the idea), this would not account for an actual "beginning" of the universe. Still, something had to create the universe as it exists here and now. Prior to the Big Bang, when the universe only existed as potential, what force caused the motion for it to become real? St. Thomas argued that the force was God, the Prime Mover. He moved the potential universe to become an actual one.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Seeking the Truth
In the 13th Century, St. Thomas Aquinas, a philosopher and theologian, explained how the human mind seeks different kinds of truths. He described the three as:
Scientific Truth: Known by observation. For example, you know that fire is hot by burning your finger on it.
Philosophical Truth: Truths that can be reached through reason. For example, if something costs $1.50 and you pay $2, you know by reason that you are owed $ 0.50 in change.
Theological Truth: Truth that is known only by faith. This is considered the highest level of truth, since it can't be observed or reasoned. It can only be taken on God's word, because He revealed it.
The First Vatican Council (1870) taught that certain truths, such as the existence of God, can be reached through reason, but it still requires the intervention of a supernatural revelation to provide all the necessary information for your salvation.
St. Thomas Aquinas also delineated five proofs for the existence of God in a massive work known as the Summa Theologica. Since Vatican I taught that God's existence can be proved through reason, it is good to see a physical example of it. Aquinas reasoned that humans can conclude that God exists through motion, causality, necessity, gradation, and governance. Okay, so maybe that won't convert any athiests, but it does provide a strong argument. We'll go over this in some detail in the coming days.
Scientific Truth: Known by observation. For example, you know that fire is hot by burning your finger on it.
Philosophical Truth: Truths that can be reached through reason. For example, if something costs $1.50 and you pay $2, you know by reason that you are owed $ 0.50 in change.
Theological Truth: Truth that is known only by faith. This is considered the highest level of truth, since it can't be observed or reasoned. It can only be taken on God's word, because He revealed it.
The First Vatican Council (1870) taught that certain truths, such as the existence of God, can be reached through reason, but it still requires the intervention of a supernatural revelation to provide all the necessary information for your salvation.
St. Thomas Aquinas also delineated five proofs for the existence of God in a massive work known as the Summa Theologica. Since Vatican I taught that God's existence can be proved through reason, it is good to see a physical example of it. Aquinas reasoned that humans can conclude that God exists through motion, causality, necessity, gradation, and governance. Okay, so maybe that won't convert any athiests, but it does provide a strong argument. We'll go over this in some detail in the coming days.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Apostles' Creed Explained: Articles 9-12
Article 9: (I believe in) the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints. Catholics believe that the church is more than just an institution. It's a necessary aspect of Christian life. Christ specifically uses the word (ekklesia in Greek) in Matthew 16, when he says, "I will build My Church."
The Church's role is viewed as a continuation of the three parts of Christ's ministry when he was on earth: teach, sanctify, and govern, which continues Jesus's simultaneous roles as prophet, priest, and king. The Church continues Jesus's prophetic method of teaching through the Magisterium, the Church's teaching authority. The Church also continues the priestly ministry of sanctification by celebrating the seven sacraments. Finally, the Church carries on Jesus's role as shephard and pastor by way of its hierarchy. The phrase communion of saints means that the Church doesn't just consist of the living on earth, but the saints of heaven and the souls of purgatory, as well.
Article 10: (I believe in) the forgiveness of sins. Christ came to the world in order to save mankind from sin. Belief in the forgiveness of sins is absolutely essential to Christian faith. Catholics believe that sins are forgiven in the sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, also called confession. Catholicism acknowledges that every person on earth is a sinner, and all require God's mercy and forgiveness. Religion and the Church do not exist for perfect people (not that there are any, anyway), but for sinners who require the help that the two provide.
Article 11: (I believe in) the resurrection of the body. From the Catholic perspective, a human being is a union of body and soul. Under this line of thinking, death is only temporary until the end of time when all the dead are resurrected. The just will go, body and soul, into heaven, while the damned go, body and soul, into hell.
So no reincarnation or past lives. Catholics believe that each person is a unique blending of body and soul that cannot be duplicated. This is why Christians don't view death as the final chapter of a person's life. The body and soul will eventually team up again, because the body participated in the good actions that the soul may have performed, or the evil it committed. For this reason, the body is also rewarded or punished, depending on what it did during its existence.
This is why funerals, though sad for humans, are viewed as celebrations. Christians believe that, since humans were made in the likeness of God, their destiny lies in the next world. St. Augustine wrote that humans were not created for this world, but the next.
Article 12: (I believe in) life everlasting. As Christ died, so too will mere mortals. However, as he rose, so will all humans. Death is seen as the only means of transit between this world and the next. When one dies, private judgment occurs; Christ judges the soul. If a person was particularly virtuous or holy while on earth, that soul has the privilege of going directly to heaven. If an individual was particularly evil and dies in the state of moral sin, then that person is condemned straight to hell.
But there is also a third group of souls- those who were not bad enough to go to hell, but not holy enough to make it straight into heaven. Catholics believe that there is a middle ground between the two, called purgatory, where souls are cleansed until they can properly enter heaven.
The Church's role is viewed as a continuation of the three parts of Christ's ministry when he was on earth: teach, sanctify, and govern, which continues Jesus's simultaneous roles as prophet, priest, and king. The Church continues Jesus's prophetic method of teaching through the Magisterium, the Church's teaching authority. The Church also continues the priestly ministry of sanctification by celebrating the seven sacraments. Finally, the Church carries on Jesus's role as shephard and pastor by way of its hierarchy. The phrase communion of saints means that the Church doesn't just consist of the living on earth, but the saints of heaven and the souls of purgatory, as well.
Article 10: (I believe in) the forgiveness of sins. Christ came to the world in order to save mankind from sin. Belief in the forgiveness of sins is absolutely essential to Christian faith. Catholics believe that sins are forgiven in the sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, also called confession. Catholicism acknowledges that every person on earth is a sinner, and all require God's mercy and forgiveness. Religion and the Church do not exist for perfect people (not that there are any, anyway), but for sinners who require the help that the two provide.
Article 11: (I believe in) the resurrection of the body. From the Catholic perspective, a human being is a union of body and soul. Under this line of thinking, death is only temporary until the end of time when all the dead are resurrected. The just will go, body and soul, into heaven, while the damned go, body and soul, into hell.
So no reincarnation or past lives. Catholics believe that each person is a unique blending of body and soul that cannot be duplicated. This is why Christians don't view death as the final chapter of a person's life. The body and soul will eventually team up again, because the body participated in the good actions that the soul may have performed, or the evil it committed. For this reason, the body is also rewarded or punished, depending on what it did during its existence.
This is why funerals, though sad for humans, are viewed as celebrations. Christians believe that, since humans were made in the likeness of God, their destiny lies in the next world. St. Augustine wrote that humans were not created for this world, but the next.
Article 12: (I believe in) life everlasting. As Christ died, so too will mere mortals. However, as he rose, so will all humans. Death is seen as the only means of transit between this world and the next. When one dies, private judgment occurs; Christ judges the soul. If a person was particularly virtuous or holy while on earth, that soul has the privilege of going directly to heaven. If an individual was particularly evil and dies in the state of moral sin, then that person is condemned straight to hell.
But there is also a third group of souls- those who were not bad enough to go to hell, but not holy enough to make it straight into heaven. Catholics believe that there is a middle ground between the two, called purgatory, where souls are cleansed until they can properly enter heaven.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Sunday Off-Topic: Bible Trivia
Every Introduction course always has its off-topic tangents, and Catholicism 101 is no different. On Sundays, we'll delve into some aspects of Catholicism that we might not otherwise get to. These areas are kind of up to my whim, but they will usually focus on unusual parts of Catholicism.
Here's a bit more on the interesting history of the Bible itself:
The actual word bible never once appears in it. Nowhere from Genesis to Revelations does the word appear at all. However, the word Scripture appears 53 times and the phrase Word of God appears 55 times. So why is it called the Bible, then? The word is derived from the Greek word biblia, meaning a collection of books, although the origin also goes even further back to the word biblos (papyrus). In ancient times, there was no paper to write on... only papyrus or stone (yes, stone).
The Catholic Church itself gave the name Bible to the collection of inspired books from the Old and New Testament. The church also decided which books belonged in the Bible and which were left out, since nowhere in the Bible is there a list of what should be in it. Why four Gospels? Why is Matthew first? Why isn't the Gospel of Thomas included? Why exactly 27 books in the New Testament? What happened to the Apocalypse of Moses? The Church had to reach these decisions of Sacred Tradition on its own, since none of the Sacred Scripture revealed them.
Here's a bit more on the interesting history of the Bible itself:
The actual word bible never once appears in it. Nowhere from Genesis to Revelations does the word appear at all. However, the word Scripture appears 53 times and the phrase Word of God appears 55 times. So why is it called the Bible, then? The word is derived from the Greek word biblia, meaning a collection of books, although the origin also goes even further back to the word biblos (papyrus). In ancient times, there was no paper to write on... only papyrus or stone (yes, stone).
The Catholic Church itself gave the name Bible to the collection of inspired books from the Old and New Testament. The church also decided which books belonged in the Bible and which were left out, since nowhere in the Bible is there a list of what should be in it. Why four Gospels? Why is Matthew first? Why isn't the Gospel of Thomas included? Why exactly 27 books in the New Testament? What happened to the Apocalypse of Moses? The Church had to reach these decisions of Sacred Tradition on its own, since none of the Sacred Scripture revealed them.
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