Catholicism Flashcards - Study Notes

Catholicism Flashcards - Study Notes

• Sect: A religious group that separates from a larger denomination.

• Denomination: A religious organization with slightly different beliefs from other groups sharing the same religion.

• Doctrines: Principles, beliefs, and teachings of a religion.

• Blasphemy: Defaming anything considered sacred; in Christianity, hateful thoughts, words, or acts against God, Christ, the Church, saints, or holy things.

• Apostles: Originally the Twelve chosen by Jesus to assist him. The successors are the Catholic Church's bishops.

• Gentile: A person not of Jewish origin.

• Council: A gathering of all bishops globally, called by the pope, exercising authority over the universal Church.

• Martyr: A witness to faith enduring death for their beliefs.

• Patriarchs: Bishops in ancient Eastern Orthodox or Western Churches with authority over other bishops.

• Pope: Bishop of Rome, having primacy over other bishops in the Catholic Church.

• Crusades: Military expeditions (11th-13th centuries) by Western Christians to regain the Holy Land.

• Transubstantiation: The change of bread and wine's substance into Jesus' body and blood in the Eucharist.

• Apocalyptic: Prophetic or symbolic revelations about the end of the world.

• Canon: The 27 New Testament books and 46 Old Testament books accepted as inspired by the Catholic Church.

• Heresy: Obstinate denial or doubt of a divinely and Catholically believed truth after baptism.

• Incarnation: God's Son taking human form.

• Original Sin: The condition of sinfulness all humans share due to Adam and Eve's disobedience.

• Icons: Religious images or paintings traditional in Eastern Christianity.

• Early Christian Issues: Persecution and lack of acceptance.

• First Three Church Councils:

• Council of Nicea (325): Nicene Creed composed.

• Council of Constantinople (381): Nicene Creed further developed; Trinity doctrines emphasized.

• Council of Chalcedon (451): Defined Jesus' full humanity and divinity; established 5 patriarchs.

• Constantine's Controversial Move (AD 330): Moving the Roman Empire capital to Byzantium (Constantinople), contributing to the later split of the Church into Roman and Eastern branches.

• Roman Empire's Collapse (5th Century): Invasion by Germanic tribes. The split into 5 patriarchs decreased power and unity.

• 7th/8th Centuries: Muslim conquests affecting Christian freedom in parts of the Byzantine Empire.

• Great Schism (1054): Mutual excommunication between Rome and Constantinople over the addition of "and the Son" to the Nicene Creed.

• Crusades (Duration/Success): Approximately 200 years; unsuccessful in reclaiming Jerusalem.

• St. Francis of Assisi: 1182-1226; humble man advocating for poverty (mendicants).

• Martin Luther & Protestant Reformation: Criticized Church practices, initiated the 95 Theses, leading to new denominations.

• Anabaptists/Mennonites: Protestant groups rejecting infant baptism and advocating simpler worship forms.

• King Henry VIII: Declared himself head of the Church of England due to religious disputes, had six wives, and fathered three heirs.

• Council of Trent (1545-1563): Reaffirmed papal supremacy and transubstantiation; articulated mass as a sacrifice and salvation.

• Rationalism/Imperialism: Rationalism emphasizing human reason for knowledge; Imperialism believing human experience is primary for knowledge.

• World Council/Second Vatican Council: World Council (1948) promoted Christian unity; Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) furthered religious understanding and altered church practices.

• Fundamentalism/Evangelicalism/Pentecostalism: Diverse expressions of Christian faith emphasizing different emphases.

• Catholic/Protestant Scripture Beliefs: Catholics recognize 46 Old Testament books; Protestants recognize 39. Catholics have the pope as head of the church, protestants do not.

• New Testament Canon Selection: Criteria for selecting New Testament books: apostolic connection; ancient origins; widespread knowledge; divine revelation.

• Apologetics/Apologists: Apologists write defenses of their faith; apologetics are their writings.

• Justin Martyr: Prominent 2nd-century apologist, martyred around AD 165.

• Apostle's Creed (AD 150): Based on apostolic teachings; emphasized the Trinity and Jesus' sinless humanity.

• God/Jews/Christians Covenant: Jewish covenant with God established by Moses, with a promise of a Messiah fulfilled in Jesus for Christians.

• Christmas Cycle: Begins with Advent, 4 Sundays before Christmas; Orthodox Christmas celebrated on January 7th.

• Easter Cycle: Greatest feast; 40 days of Lent precede it, linked to Passover (lunar calendar).

• Sacraments (7): Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick, First Communion; Catholic understanding.

• Holy Land: Locations of Jesus' birth, upbringing, ministry, death, and resurrection: Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee, Jerusalem.

• Mount Events: Moses receiving the 10 commandments; Sermon on the Mount; Jesus' transfiguration; Holy Week prayers.

• Tabernacle: Holds and stores the Eucharist.

• Messiah: Hebrew for "anointed one"; predicted in the covenant; Jesus is the Messiah for Christians.

• First Five Books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (Pentateuch/Torah).

• Mass Objects: Various liturgical items (alb, altar, chalice, etc.).

• Tree of Reformation: Diagram of Protestant denominations that emerged from the Reformation.

• Seven Books Recognized by Catholics but Not Protestants:

• 1 & 2 Maccabees

• Tobit

• Judith

• Sirach

• Wisdom

• Baruch

• 5 BC Events: Roman soldiers searching for baby Jesus.

• Herod's Orders: Killing all male children under 2 years old.

• Herod's Advisers: Magi.

• Herod's Health: Various ailments.

• Herod's Rule (Time/Location): Ruled over Jerusalem for 30 years.

• Soldiers' Fate: Refusal to obey Herod's order resulted in death.

• Herod's Victims: Wife, sons, and mother-in-law.

• Temple Refurbishments: Herod's alterations honoring himself, not God.

• Herod's Self-Proclamation: King of the Jews; not welcomed in Jewish temples.

• Messiah's Birth—Scripture Keys:

• Star in the East.

• Birth in Bethlehem.

• Davidic lineage.

• Visits from wise men.

• Virgin birth.

• Jewish Outlier Status: Uniquely monotheistic.

• Bethlehem & Herod's Palace: Bethlehem's proximity to Jerusalem meant Herod did not have to monitor the killing.

• Caesar's Finest Moment: (49 BC) Defeated Germanic tribes

• Caesar's Rival: Pompey

• Caesar's Affair: With Cleopatra of Egypt

• Caesar's Death: March 15, 44 BC, 11 am

• Caesar's Assassins: Brutus, Lucious and Publius

• Ides of March: Marking Caesar's death

• Battle of Philippi: (42 BC) Octavian vs. Brutus (and Cassius)

• Octavian's Kinship: Nephew of Caesar.

• Cleopatra's Action: Killed her brother, Ptolemy, to maintain power.

• Tiberius' Leadership: Ruthless and cruel.

• Archelaus' Removal: Sent men to trample people (over 300).

• Great Sanhedrin (Composition/Authority): 71 judges—absolute authority with limitations on death penalties.

• Jesus' Temple Ministry (27 AD): Driving merchants out of the Temple.

• Capernaum (27 AD): Jesus seeking Simon (Peter).

• Jesus' Disciples: Originally chosen 12 disciples (4 fishermen: Simon, Andrew, James, John).

• Fishermen's Value: Multilingual skills.

• Sermon on the Mount Outcomes: Beatitudes and Our Father prayer.

• Disciple/Apostle Distinction: Disciple listens; Apostle acts.

• Jesus' Belief (29 AD): King of the Jews

• Roman Emperor (29 AD): Pontius Pilate

• Jesus' Final Days: April 2nd, 30 AD (6 days to live).

• Peter's Action: Purchased a sword.

• Jesus' Final Stop Lazarus' house

• Additional Reading: John Calvin and Martin Luther information needed.