Faith & Beliefs

1. Faith & Beliefs

2. Essential elements of Christianity • Trinity – God is an eternal communion of love • We who are made in God’s image are called to live and worship in community. • Incarnation – Human Jesus fully revealed God • God continues to be tangibly present to us through: Church, Sacraments, creation. • Paschal Mystery – saved through history • Sacraments, go beyond time and space to connect us to this saving event.

3. Essential elements of Christianity • Church – The Church is the Body of Christ • Community where Church is tangibly present through the Word, people, and Sacraments. • Eschatology – These is an end, purpose • Sacraments connect us with the future – Foretaste of heaven.

4. Faith & Reason • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVn90-83NQQ – movie clip – “Contact” • Name an experiences you’ve had that you cannot fully explain to others.                   • Sacraments are based in the experiences of the apostles and lead us to experience Christ as they did.

5. Science & Religion • What is the relationship of science & religion? • Ultimately they have the same goal, that of truth   “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth- in a word, to know himself- so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.” - Pope Benedict XVI

6. Faith is… • “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” - St. Thomas Aquinas • Both the believer and non-believer have at least one thing in common – Doubt – Benedict XVI

7. Faith and Beliefs • Faith (Fides Qua – Faith by which) yes to God • Beliefs (Fides Quae – Faith which) – teachings about God that help us to know God and say yes • Spirituality – Individual expression, personal • Religion – Communal teaching and practice that forms the basis of individual expression.

8. Analogy of sports in relation to faith and beliefs • Faith AND Beliefs, Spirituality AND Religion are necessary to live a Christian life.

9. Link of Religion & Spirituality • Religions necessary to pass on faith/religious experience/spirituality • Religions have tested wisdom, proven tradition, & companions on the journey • Spirituality w/o institution prone to extremism • Help people deal with reality through creed (beliefs), code (rules), cult (actions).

10. Spiritual Autobiography • What experiences have impacted your spiritual growth (faith) and religious understanding (beliefs) the most. • In what ways are your faith and beliefs integrated? In other words how are spirituality and religion connected in your life? • One page written journal entry on loose leaf paper due Friday. • Read articles 1 & 2 from textbook (pg. 10-18) – write and define bold and new terms in notebook – due Thursday.

11. Liturgy • Church’s official, public, communal prayer in which we participate in God’s work of salvation. • Types of Liturgies • Sacraments – All seven, especially the Eucharist. • Liturgy of the Hours – daily, non sacramental prayer of the Church • Christian funeral rites • Liturgy includes God’s action and human action. • Liturgical books • Based on Scripture & Tradition, includes traditions. • Rooted in and handed down from Christ’s life and teachings • Interpreted by the Magisterium

12. Trinity and the Liturgy • Jesus is the focus, but the Liturgy is the work of the entire Trinity • God the Father is the one we make the offering to • God the Son is the offering and makes the offering • God the Spirit aids us in making the offering • During Liturgy, the Trinity makes the reality of salvation present NOW! • All liturgies celebrate the Paschal Mystery

13. Liturgical Year • Liturgical Year – annual cycle of feasts and seasons celebrating God’s plan of salvation through Christ. • How does each season relate to the Paschal Mystery? • Advent/Christmas • Ordinary time • Lent/Easter Triduum/Easter Season • Special Feast Days