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 WJEC EDUQAS GCSE (9–1)

Religious
Studies
ROUTE B
Catholic Christianity
and Judaism
Andrew Barron, Deirdre Cleary,
Patrick Harrison, Joy White

ii

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 'The Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us.' (John 1:14)

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 Contents
Introduction 2
Component 1: Foundational Catholic Theology
Theme 1 Origins and meaning 9
Theme 2 Good and evil 75
Component 2: Applied Catholic Theology
Theme 3 Life and death 121
Theme 4 Sin and forgiveness 159
Component 3: Judaism
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings 205
6 Judaism: Practices 228
Glossary262
Index265
Acknowledgements268

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 Introduction This textbook covers the subject content for the new Eduqas Route
B GCSE Religious Studies qualification. It spans the Foundational
and Applied Catholic Christianity core course content; and
also includes material for the study of the religious tradition of
Judaism.
This textbook mirrors the organisation of the Eduqas
specification to help students and teachers work through the
course of study in specification order.
This textbook includes information on all of the key concepts
and detailed content for each part of Route B of the specification.
There is some inclusion of references to relevant sources of
wisdom and authority, including scripture and/or sacred texts.
None of the Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies component
examination papers includes a choice of question. This means that
all questions are compulsory.
In your course of study there are some important aspects you
might need to consider about religious belief and practice in Great
Britain today. This textbook takes account of the following:
▶ The landscape of religious belief and practice in Great Britain
is changing. Christianity was traditionally the main religion in
Britain but today there is great diversity of belief and practice.
▶ All six of the main world faiths are practised by people in Britain.
▶ Within different religions there is some diversity of belief and
practice.
▶ Many people claim to have no religious belief* and practise
no religion, describing themselves as atheists, agnostics or
humanists.
* The term ‘belief’ covers religious and non-religious belief as
appropriate.

▶ What is the assessment structure?

The assessment structure for the Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies
qualification requires students to complete three component
examination papers.

Component 1
Component 1 is the compulsory study of Foundational Catholic
Theology. This component consists of two distinct themes,
entitled:
▶ Origins and Meaning
▶ Good and Evil.
Each theme is covered in detail in this textbook.
The length of the examination paper for this component is
90 minutes.
In response to question (c) your answers must include references
to two different religions (Catholic Christianity and Judaism)
or two religious traditions within Christianity.
2

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 In response to question (d) you need to refer to religion and

How to use this book

belief in your answers.
This component is worth 37.5 per cent of the total marks.

Component 2
Component 2 is the compulsory study of Applied Catholic
Theology. This component consists of two distinct themes, entitled:
▶ Life and Death
▶ Sin and Forgiveness.
The length of the examination paper for this component is 90
minutes.
This component is worth 37.5 per cent of the total marks.

Component 3
Component 3 is the study of Judaism. The focus of this
component is on the beliefs, teachings and practices of Judaism.
The length of the examination paper for this component is 60
minutes.
This component is worth 25 per cent of the total marks.

▶ Assessment objectives
In the examination paper for each component, four types of
question test two different assessment objectives. These assessment
objectives are referred to as AO1 and AO2 in the specification.
The two different assessment objectives test different dimensions
of your religious knowledge and understanding.
In the GCSE examinations, each assessment objective is worth 50
per cent of the total mark.

Assessment objective 1
You need to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religion
and belief*, including beliefs, practices and sources of authority.
You need to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of
the influence of religious belief on individuals, communities and
societies.
You need to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of
similarities and differences within and/or between religions and
belief.
The form of questions will vary but common rubric instructions
for this assessment objective are:
▶ What is meant by…?
▶ Describe...
▶ Explain...

Assessment objective 2
You need to analyse and evaluate aspects of religion and belief*,
including their significance and influence.
The form of question for this assessment objective will provide
you with a statement followed by the rubric instruction:

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 Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more
than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in
your answer.)

Additional note
The complete Eduqas specification is available on the Eduqas
website.
There are a variety of digital resources and other materials to
support the teaching of this specification.
There is also information about an alternative route (Route A)
through the specification.

▶ Answering the questions

It is important to know the structure of the exam paper and the
type of questions that will be asked. In each of the units you
will study there are examples of exam questions and reminders
of how to answer them. At the end of each unit there are exam-
type questions with some points to consider when answering
them.
With all exam questions, you need to ask yourself:
▶ How many marks are awarded for the question? This will help
you determine how much time should be spent on your answer
as well as the depth of your answer.
▶ What is the question asking you to do? No question will ever
ask you to write all that you know! What are the most important
words in the question? Remember you can highlight them to
help you focus on what the question is asking.
It is important to remember that there are four types of questions.
Each has the maximum number of marks obtainable after the
question. The space in your exam booklet will give you an idea of
how much to write though there is no expectation to fi ll all of the
lines. It is also important to look at the marking grids so you can
see what is required for each of the mark bands.

Question (a)
These are always the first question in each unit. They ask you to
define what the key concept means. Your definition can include an
example. Marks are allocated as follows:
▶ Give one mark to candidates who provide an account limited in
scope or content.
▶ Give two marks to candidates who make an accurate and
appropriate account of the concept.
Throughout this textbook you will find definitions and examples
of all the key concepts. There are eight for each of the components
you are studying. Remember there are only two marks available for
these questions, so it important you are able to give an accurate
definition which is to the point.

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 Question (b)

How to use this book

In these questions you will be expected to describe a particular
religious teaching, view, practice, belief or issue. There is a
maximum of five marks for this type of question. To gain full
marks you should be able to show your knowledge using
appropriate religious terms and any relevant sources of wisdom
or sacred texts.
Band Band descriptor Mark total
3 An excellent, coherent answer showing awareness and insight into the religious idea, belief, 4–5
practice, teaching or concept. Excellent understanding of how belief influences individuals,
communities and societies.
Uses a range of appropriate religious/specialist language and terms and sources of wisdom and
authority extensively, accurately and appropriately.
2 A good, generally accurate answer showing knowledge and understanding of the religious idea, 2–3
belief, practice, teaching or concept.
A good understanding of how belief influences individuals, communities and societies.
Uses religious/specialist language and terms and/or sources of wisdom and authority generally accurately.
1 A limited statement of information about the religious idea, belief, practice, teaching or concept. 1
A limited understanding of how belief influences individuals, communities and societies.
Uses religious/specialist language and terms and/or sources of wisdom and authority in a limited way.
0 No relevant information provided. 0

Question (c)
These questions expect you to explain a key practice, belief or issue
in the religions you have studied. There is a maximum of eight
marks for this type of question. To gain full marks you should
be able to show a detailed knowledge which shows diversity of
opinion or practices. You need to use appropriate religious terms
and relevant sources of wisdom or sacred texts. Component 1
questions (c) require candidates to offer two religious views.

Band Band descriptor Mark total

4 An excellent, highly detailed explanation showing knowledge and understanding of the diversity of the 7–8
religious idea, belief, practice, teaching or concept. An excellent understanding of how belief influences
individuals, communities and societies.
Uses a range of religious/specialist language, terms and sources of wisdom and authority extensively,
accurately and appropriately.
3 A very good, detailed explanation showing knowledge and understanding of the diversity of the religious 5–6
idea, belief, practice, teaching or concept. A very good understanding of how belief influences individuals,
communities and societies.
Uses a range of religious/specialist language, terms and sources of wisdom and authority accurately and
appropriately.
2 A good, generally accurate explanation showing some knowledge and understanding of the diversity of 3–4
the religious idea, belief, practice, teaching or concept. A good understanding of how belief influences
individuals, communities and societies.
Uses religious/specialist language and terms and/or sources of wisdom and authority generally accurately.
1 A limited and/or poorly organised explanation showing limited knowledge and understanding of the 1–2
diversity of the religious idea, belief, practice, teaching or concept. A limited understanding of how belief
influences individuals, communities and societies.
Uses religious/specialist language, terms and/or sources of wisdom and authority in a limited way.
0 No relevant information provided. 0 5

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 Question (d)
These are very important questions as they are worth 15 marks.
The question requires you to read and understand a statement and
then:
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more
than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in
your answer.) (15)
For each question, consider:
▶ How many marks are awarded for the question? The question
is worth 15 marks and therefore is worth half of each unit. It
is important to consider what you are going to include in your
answer before you begin.
▶ What is the question asking you to do? In the question you are
asked to include various and different viewpoints. These do no
need to be contrasting, such as two points for and two against,
but must be different. The answer must also include religion and
belief.
Answers to Component 1 Origins and Meaning question (d) must
include non-religious beliefs as well as religious beliefs.
Throughout this textbook there are example answers and tasks
which help to practise answering (a), (b), (c) and (d) questions.
There are also tasks which will help you develop skills needed for
the examination. These skills include:
▶ Using religious and sacred text references
▶ Using religious language and terms
▶ Showing the diversity of beliefs and practices within a religious
tradition

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 Component 1 Question 2(d) and Components 2 and 3

How to use this book

Questions 3(d) and 4(d)
Band Band descriptor Mark total
5 An excellent, highly detailed analysis and evaluation 13–15
of the issue based on detailed knowledge of
religion, religious teaching and moral reasoning to
formulate judgements and present alternative or
different viewpoints. An excellent understanding of
how belief influences individuals, communities and
societies.
Uses and interprets religious/specialist language,
terms and sources of wisdom and authority
extensively, accurately and appropriately.
4 A very good, detailed analysis and evaluation 10–12
of the issue based on accurate knowledge of
religion, religious teaching and moral reasoning to
formulate judgements and present alternative or
different viewpoints. A very good understanding of
how belief influences individuals, communities and
societies.
Uses and interprets religious/specialist language,
terms and sources of wisdom and authority
appropriately and in detail.
3 A good, generally detailed analysis and evaluation 7–9
of the issue based on a generally accurate
knowledge of religion, religious teaching and moral
reasoning to formulate reasonable judgements
and recognise alternative or different viewpoints.
A good understanding of how belief influences
individuals, communities and societies.
Uses and interprets some religious/specialist
language, terms and/or sources of wisdom and
authority.
2 Limited statement(s) of more than one viewpoint 4–6
based on limited knowledge of religion, religious
teaching and moral reasoning to formulate
judgements. A limited understanding of how belief
influences individuals, communities and societies.
Uses limited religious/specialist language, terms
and/or few sources of wisdom and authority.
1 A poor, basic statement of a point of view and a 1–3
very limited attempt or no attempt to formulate
judgements or offer alternative or different
viewpoints. Tenuous attempt or no attempt made
to demonstrate how belief influences individuals,
communities and societies.
Poor use or no use, of religious/specialist language,
terms and/or sources of wisdom and authority.
0 No relevant point of view stated. 0

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 Component 1 Question 1(d)
Mark
Band Band descriptor
total
5 An excellent, highly detailed analysis and evaluation of the 13–15
issue based on detailed knowledge of religion, religious
teaching and moral reasoning to formulate judgements
and present alternative or different viewpoints. An excellent
understanding of how belief influences individuals,
communities and societies.
An excellent, highly detailed consideration of non-religious
beliefs, such as those held by humanists and atheists.
Uses and interprets religious/specialist language, terms and
sources of wisdom and authority extensively, accurately and
appropriately.
4 A very good, detailed analysis and evaluation of the 10–12
issue based on accurate knowledge of religion, religious
teaching and moral reasoning to formulate judgements
and present alternative or different viewpoints. A very
good understanding of how belief influences individuals,
communities and societies.
A very good, detailed consideration of non-religious beliefs,
such as those held by humanists and atheists.
Uses and interprets religious/specialist language, terms and
sources of wisdom and authority appropriately and in detail.
3 A good, generally detailed analysis and evaluation of the 7–9
issue based on a generally accurate knowledge of religion,
religious teaching and moral reasoning to formulate
reasonable judgements and recognise alternative or different
viewpoints. A good understanding of how belief influences
individuals, communities and societies.
A good, reasonably detailed consideration of non-religious
beliefs, such as those held by humanists and atheists.
Uses and interprets some religious/specialist language,
terms and/or sources of wisdom and authority.
2 Limited statement(s) of more than one viewpoint based 4–6
on limited knowledge of religion, religious teaching and
moral reasoning to formulate judgements. A limited
understanding of how belief influences individuals,
communities and societies.
A limited consideration of non-religious beliefs, such as
those held by humanists and atheists.
Uses limited religious/specialist language, terms and/or few
sources of wisdom and authority.
1 A poor, basic statement of a point of view and a very limited 1–3
attempt or no attempt to formulate judgements or offer
alternative or different viewpoints. Tenuous attempt or
no attempt made to demonstrate how belief influences
individuals, communities and societies.
A very basic consideration or no consideration of non-
religious beliefs, such as those held by humanists and
atheists.
Poor use or no use, of religious/specialist language, terms
and/or sources of wisdom and authority.
8 0 No relevant point of view stated. 0

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 1 Origins and meaning

Key Concepts
Creation ex nihilo ‘Creation out of nothing’. Before God created the universe, nothing existed. Only
God can create out of nothing.
Evolution The process of mutation and natural selection which leads to changes in species over
time to suit particular environments.
Imago Dei ‘In the image of God’. The belief that human beings are uniquely a reflection of God’s
personhood. Unlike the other animals, human beings are rational, free and moral.
Inspiration ‘God breathed’. The belief that the Spirit of God guides an individual to act or write what
is good and true.
Omnipotence The belief that God is all powerful.
Revelation The word used to describe all of the ways in which God makes himself known to
human beings. Christians believe that God does this finally and fully in the person of Jesus Christ.
Stewardship The duty to care for creation responsibly, as stewards rather than consumers, and to
protect it for future generations.
Transcendence Existing outside of space and time; God exists in a way that makes him nothing
like anything that exists, above and beyond creation.

Core Questions

Could life on earth exist Is there any purpose to Can you be a Catholic
due to blind chance? human life? Christian and an
Evolutionary Scientist?

If God created all life, Is human life ‘sacred’? When does life begin?
do humans ever have the
right to take it away?

Why should we care about Is the Bible really the Is there any point in
planet earth? ‘Word of God’? inter-faith dialogue?

Who is ‘my neighbour’?

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 ■ Origins and meaning

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• what St Augustine wrote about creation from ‘nothing’
• how to compare Catholic, other Christian and non-religious views on the
origin of the universe and of human beings, including Hawking’s theory of
the Big Bang
• scientific theories of evolution from Darwin and Dawkins
• how to explain the Catholic view that creation and evolution are compatible
• how the concept of imago Dei relates to the sanctity of human life
• how to explain views on abortion and the value of life from Catholic,
fundamentalist Christian, Jewish and non-religious viewpoints.

Humans have always asked themselves questions about their

origins:
▶ How did the first humans get here?
▶ Was it an accident or by design?
▶ Is there a reason why we exist?
▶ Is there a supreme being, or even beings, that brought everything
into existence?
Many of the religions of the world have addressed these important
questions and have explanations that set out their beliefs about
the beginnings of the world, humans and everything that exists.
Monotheism Believing in one God. Judaism, Christianity and Islam as the three monotheistic
traditions, are united in their belief that there is one God who is
responsible for all life.

▶ Creation ex nihilo – out of nothing

When we think about creating something we generally are talking
about making something new from things that already exist, for
example, making a cake out of flour, eggs and sugar. Catholics
believe the way that God created the universe was different to this
because he created it out of nothing (ex nihilo). In other words,
there were no ‘ingredients’ already in existence for him to use, as he
created everything. Not only was there no water, air, land, light or
dark, there wasn’t even any time or space. God is solely responsible
1 Origins and meaning

for everything that exists. Only God can create out of nothing
because he is omnipotent (all powerful).
St Augustine of Hippo, an early Christian thinker, explored this
idea in his writings Confessions XII,7.

Key Concepts
Creation ex nihilo ‘Creation out of nothing’. Before God created the
universe, nothing existed other than God. Only God, who is eternal, can
create out of nothing.
Omnipotence The belief that God is all powerful.

10

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 ‘... you, O Lord... made something in the Beginning which is of

Origins and meaning

yourself, in your Wisdom, which is born of your own substance, and
you created this thing out of nothing... ...From nothing, then, you
created heaven and earth’.

Tasks
1 Choose one of these items
and explain to a partner all
the materials they are made
from.
a house a computer
a car a garden
2 Christians believe God
created the universe from
nothing. If this is true what
must God be like?
Catholics believe that God created the universe from nothing

▶ Catholic and other Christian views about the

creation of the universe
Biblical accounts of Creation can be found in the book of Genesis –
see pages 14, 22, 32–33.
The Bible is a written text in the same way that we have other
fiction and non-fiction books. To properly understand one of
Shakespeare’s plays, we might need to know when it was written,
what life was like at that time, how language differed then, why he
wrote it, what messages he wanted to convey and who he wrote it
for. For Catholics, the same is true of the Bible.
Not all Christians interpret the Bible in the same way and,
Interpret To find an explanation of therefore, they understand the Creation accounts differently.
the meaning of the Bible. Christians are, however, united in that they believe
▶ in God
▶ that the people who wrote the biblical accounts were inspired by
God
▶ that God makes himself known to human beings through the
Bible
▶ that the Bible is the Word of God and helps us to live our lives
today.

11

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 How Catholics view the Genesis accounts
When you read the accounts of Creation in Genesis you realise that
they are two different stories.
▶ Genesis 1 was written down about 450BCE as a poem and it tells
of the six days of Creation, with God resting on the seventh,
making the day holy.
▶ Genesis 2 was written earlier in about 950BCE and focuses on the
story of the creation of Adam and Eve in some detail.
Catholics today accept that the two creation stories were written as
Myth A story that isn’t literally myths. When Catholics talk about a myth in religious terms, they
true, but has deeper, hidden or do not mean it is a made up story or an untruth, but rather, it is a
symbolic meanings. story with an underlying truth. A myth is often a symbolic story
that conveys a hidden truth and shouldn’t be taken as literally
true. The message that the stories convey is what is of greatest
importance. Although the two accounts of Creation in Genesis
have different details, they share the same truths:

‘This is the account of the heavens and the earth

when they were created, when the Lord God
‘Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness made the earth and the heavens. Now no shrub
1. God made everything
was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had
that exists
God was hovering over the waters.’ Gen 1:1–2 yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain
on the earth and there was no one to work the
ground.’ Gen 2:4–5

‘God called the dry ground “land,”and the ‘The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man
2. Everything that God
gathered waters he called “seas”. And God saw to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for
made was good
that it was Good.’ Gen 1:10 him”.’ Gen 2:18

‘Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our

image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over ‘Then the Lord God formed a man from dust
3. Humans were the final
the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over of the ground and breathed into the nostrils the
act of God’s creation, but
the livestock and all the wild animals, and over breath of life, and the man became a living
the most important
all the creatures that move along the ground.’ being.’ Gen 2:7
Gen 1:26

The big idea underpinning the Creation accounts is that God

created everything ex nihilo, out of love and that humans were
1 Origins and meaning

created to experience the love of God, creation and other humans.

Catholics, therefore, believe that the Creation accounts should
Literal Understood to mean exactly not be interpreted literally as they come from different times and
what is written. reflect the thoughts and attitudes of the societies in which they
originated. However, they do tell us undeniable truths about God.

12

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 Origins and meaning
Day 1 – God created night and day:
God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.

Day 2 – God created the heavens:

And God made the firmament and separated the waters which
were under the firmament from the waters which were above the
firmament. And it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven.

Day 3 – God created land and plants:

And God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered
together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so.
And God said, ‘Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants
yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed,
each according to its kind, upon the earth.’

Day 4 – God created the sun, moon and stars:

And God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the
day, and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also.

Day 5 – God created birds and fish:

And God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living
creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the firmament
of the heavens.’

Day 6 – God created living creatures including man:

Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness;
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over
every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’

Day 7 – God rested:

And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done,
and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had
done.

13

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 What do other Christians believe about the Creation
accounts?
Another way of interpreting the Bible is to believe that it is a factual
Fundamentalists Christians record that describes events exactly as they happened. This is the
who believe the Bible is a factual, view of those that we would describe as fundamentalist or
historical record of events. ‘literalist’ Christians. The Genesis accounts, from this point of view,
Creationists Christians who are therefore historical accounts of what actually happened at the
believe that the universe was beginning of everything. So, a fundamentalist reading of the Bible
created by God exactly as told in leads to the belief that the universe was created in six days;
the Bible, e.g. God took exactly six Christians who believe this are called Creationists. Likewise, Eve
days to create it. Creationists are was created from Adam’s rib exactly as it says in the Bible.
literalists.
Does it matter that Christians have these conflicting
views?
Whilst it is important to realise that Christians are united in their
beliefs that God created the universe, that everything he made was
good and that humans are the high point of his Creation, the fact
that Christians interpret the Creation accounts differently is going
to matter when it comes to exploring what scientists say about the
origins of the universe.

Jewish views
In Jewish belief, God is the source of all life and referred to throughout
the Torah as the sole creator. Prayers are said in Orthodox synagogues
expressing this belief: ‘Blessed be He who spoke and the world existed.’ The
Modeh Ani prayer is said by many Jews each morning and thanks God for
allowing life for another day.
Genesis (the first book of the Torah) tells two creation stories:
• Heaven and earth, animals and humans are created in six days with the
seventh day being a day of rest. Each week observant Jews celebrate
Shabbat and keep it as a day of rest.
• The second creation story in Genesis describes how Adam and Eve were
created and placed in the Garden of Eden.
In both, humans are created on the sixth day. Adam, the first human being,
was made in the image of God, from dust from the earth. Adam and Eve had
power over all things.
Traditionally Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of the day when God created
1 Origins and meaning

the world and marks the beginning of the New Year.

Some Orthodox Jews believe these stories are true accounts. Others,
perhaps more Reform Jews, believe that the Creation accounts are stories
which shouldn’t be considered as historical facts. Some may believe that
God started the universe through the Big Bang and has guided the creation
of life through evolution.

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 Tasks

Origins and meaning

1 Based on the information studied so far, write a word beginning with
the letters given, in the boxes below. This could be a specialist term,
key person, belief, teaching or practice. Complete the activity by writing
a sentence that relates to what you have learned for each of your
chosen words. Don’t forget to look at the information on Judaism too.
Letter Word Sentence to show your understanding
G Genesis The first book of the Bible is called Genesis and it
explains how the world was created by God.
M
N
E
O
A
R

2 Jews celebrate God the Creator weekly during the festival of Shabbat
and once a year during Rosh Hashanah. How do Christians celebrate
God as creator? Think about special days and prayers.
3 The book of Genesis describes how God created the world out of nothing
and that everything that he made was ‘good’.
a Make a list of things you would describe as good in the world today.
b Make a list of things you would describe as bad in the world today.
c Looking at your lists, explain to your partner whether you think we
are living in a world today that is mainly good or bad. Be prepared to
give reasons for your views.

▶ Non-religious views about the origins of

the universe
Today, many think of science and religion as being in opposition to
each other, but this view is far too simplistic. Up until the sixteenth
century, the philosophers and theologians were the scientists; it
was from their work that science was born. In Medieval times belief
about the structure of the universe was based on what scholars
observed and mathematics. Any scientific reasoning was in line
with the Christian faith and the accounts of Creation in Genesis.
Scholars at this time were more interested in how you should live
your life so that you could enter heaven rather than knowing how
the universe worked. The accepted view at this time was that the
earth had been created by God, as described in Genesis.
Since those times, science has developed and, as a result, some
theories that have been put forward appear to contradict the
biblical accounts of creation. The study of the origin of the
universe is called cosmology. One of the first challenging ideas
for many religious believers was the discovery that the earth went
around the sun along with the other planets, rather than being the
centre of the universe, as had previously been believed.

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 Furthermore, scientists have concluded that the world is a lot older than
we first thought and today it is believed that the universe is more than
13 billion years old, with our sun forming about 4.6 billion years ago.

Formation of Formation of Multicellular The first mammals

the sun the moon life evolves evolve

4.6 4.53 2.1 0.225

billion years billion years billion years billion years
ago ago ago ago

4.54 3.8 0.23 0.2

billion years billion years billion years billion years
ago ago ago ago

Formation of First evidence of Dinosaurs Human life

the earth oceans and first evolve evolves
forms of life
Can you see any similarities between how scientists believe life on earth developed and the biblical accounts of Creation?

The Big Bang theory

The best known theory explaining how the world began is the
Big Bang theory which became widely accepted in the 1960s. The
theory was first put forward by a Catholic priest, Father Georges
Lemaître, and then much later built on by Professor Stephen
Hawking. The theory arose as a result of various observations made
about the universe, particularly
▶ Galaxies far away from our galaxy (which is called the Milky Way)
are getting further away and as they do that the whole universe is
cooling down.
▶ As you observe these galaxies and their stage of development,
it seems to suggest that the universe is about 15 billion years
old, which has led scientists to believe that there was a one-off
moment when it all began, and before which nothing existed.
Hawking calls this a ‘moment of singularity’.
The explanation is that the matter that makes up the universe
1 Origins and meaning

was once compacted together, but because it was so dense and

hot, it could no longer keep itself together. As a result, the matter
exploded, which is the moment we call the ‘Big Bang’. At this point
space and time were created. As temperatures cooled, elements
such as helium and hydrogen were formed, islands of more solid
matter took shape and these gradually combined to form billions
of galaxies, containing billions of stars. These form the universe we
know today.
The Big Bang theory has led Hawking and many other scientists
to conclude that there is no evidence to suggest that there is a

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 Creator responsible for the origin of the universe; instead things

Origins and meaning

may just have happened by themselves.

The Catholic view of Big Bang theory

The Catholic Church has no reason to question the evidence
that scientists present about the origins of the universe. As we
saw earlier, there is a long history of the Catholic Church being
interested in, and leading on, areas of scientific discovery. In fact,
it doesn’t have to be a choice between religion and science because
both are perfectly possible.
The theory raises almost as many questions as answers. For
example, where did the matter come from that caused the Big
Bang? Hawking suggests that since gravity exists, the universe can
and will create itself from nothing, but the question is, where did
the law of gravity come from? Gravity and matter are not ‘nothing’,
Stephen Hawking (left, guest starring in an
so if either of these existed before the universe, then the universe
episode of The Big Bang Theory) believes has not come from nothing.
that how the universe was formed can be Science and theology seem, in fact, to be answering different
explained by science without the need for questions. The author of Genesis is explaining why the universe
God began. The story was told in a non-scientific age to explain that
God was the creator of everything and that he had a special role for
humanity to play in the world. These stories express meaning rather
than presenting a factual account of historical events. Scientists
are answering the question of how the universe was created. The
conclusion for Catholics, therefore, is that if the Big Bang theory is
correct then perhaps this is the way that God chose to create the world.

▶ Scientific theories of evolution

Charles Darwin
The Big Bang theory has provided a scientific explanation for
the origin of the universe without a need to believe that God is
responsible. Similarly, various theories have been proposed to
explain how new species develop.
Charles Darwin rocked the Christian world in 1859 when he
published his book called On the Origin of the Species by means of Natural
Selection. He worked as a naturalist on HMS Beagle and spent a long
time studying the animals and birds on the Galapagos Islands which
are a thousand miles off the coast of South America. He noticed
major differences in some of the animals across the different islands,
Natural selection (survival of the particularly in relation to a type of bird called finches. Some of the
fittest) The idea that certain finches had thin, sharp beaks whereas those on other islands had
characteristics help animals short, fat beaks. The size and shape of their beaks were best suited to
survive, so that animals with that the food source that was available to them on each island.
characteristic are more likely to He concluded that these variations happened naturally by chance
live long enough to breed and when a species produced offspring. However, in some cases the
pass that characteristic on. This variation was very useful and made it more likely that these animals
leads to a certain characteristic would survive and breed, producing the next generation. So, over
becoming more common over time the useful variation was passed down and became more
time and eventually leads to new common, which eventually led to different variations of animal and
species developing. eventually to whole new species. This process is referred to as
natural selection or ‘survival of the fittest’.
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 Darwin’s observations of variation in the beaks of finches led to his theory of evolution

Darwin proposed that this process had repeated itself many times
Key Concept over a long period of time, leading to completely new species
Evolution the process of of animals emerging. This process is known as evolution. This
mutation and natural selection was highly controversial at the time; according to this theory
which leads to changes in one species is descended from another species from which it
species over time to suit is different. If we are to work backwards, human beings have
particular environments. descended from an ape-like species which itself came from a species
of mammal, and these mammals descended from a reptile who had
come from a fish until eventually all life can be traced back to a
simple bacterium.
The theory of evolution is supported by fossil records which
reveal that a large number of species have not survived and also
that earlier forms of animals have survived but in a mutated form
(for example, elephants are closely related to the extinct woolly
1 Origins and meaning

mammoth). DNA research also seems to suggest that there are very
close similarities between many species, which further reinforces
evolutionary theory.

Richard Dawkins
Professor Richard Dawkins is a British scientist who is often
Atheism Believing there is no God.
referred to as ‘the most famous atheist in the world’. He has been
Humanism A belief system based outspoken about his support for Darwin’s theory of evolution,
on rational and scientific thought atheism, humanism and is in opposition to religion. Dawkins
and the importance of humans believes that the theory of evolution and natural selection explain
rather than a supernatural God/s. the origins of the universe much better than the idea of a creator
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 God. He famously said that you could not be sane and well-

Origins and meaning

educated and disbelieve the theory of evolution.
Dawkins is well known for the work that he has done to build on
Darwin’s theory of natural selection. In his book, The Selfish Gene
(1976), he argues that it is the individual genes within organisms
that adapt and evolve, not organisms themselves. Dawkins argues
that each living organism’s body is just a survival machine for its
genes and does not serve any other purpose. He described life as
just ‘bytes and bytes and bytes of digital information’. Therefore,
humans are no more than carriers of DNA whereby over time, good
genes survive and bad genes die out. Dawkins, therefore, rejects
▶ any notion of a creator God who has a plan for the universe
▶ the concept of an immortal soul given by God.

Is evolution compatible with Catholic beliefs?

For many, Darwin’s and Dawkins’ views are challenging because
they appear to conflict with the Catholic idea that human beings
Richard Dawkins is outspoken in his view have a special role in God’s creation. Dawkins argues that evolution
that there is no God and that human life means that:
is explained entirely by the theory of
evolution ▶ the creation of humans was just a lucky genetic mutation
▶ humans are merely another slightly more advanced form of
animals
▶ humans have no greater importance on this earth than other animals.
However, Catholics accept the theory of evolution but disagree
with the idea that it means that humans aren’t special and all
life developed by chance. Pope St John Paul II restated the view of
Pope Pius XII, that the Church saw no conflict between evolution
and the teachings of the Christian faith. He went on to encourage
theologians and scholars of Scripture to be informed by scientific
research in their ongoing work.
The Catholic Church does not expect Catholics to believe that
humans were created on the sixth day looking exactly as they do today.
What is important to the Catholic Church is not whether God
chose to create through a Big Bang and a process of evolution
over many millions of years, but that in Genesis, God created with
purpose and so everything that exists is part of his loving plan.
This is what is important for Christians to understand; not how it
happened but why it happened.

‘If methodical investigation within every branch of learning is carried out

in a genuinely scientific manner and in accord with moral norms, it never
truly conflicts with faith, for earthly matters and the concerns of faith
derive from the same God.’

Gaudium et Spes 36
Pope St John Paul II in his Message to the Pontifical Academy of
Sciences: On Evolution (22 October 1996):

‘...In his encyclical Humani Generis (1950), my predecessor Pius XII has
already affirmed that there is no conflict between evolution and the
doctrine of the faith regarding man and his vocation.’
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 What do other Christians believe about the Big Bang
theory and evolution?
Whereas the Catholic Church and other Liberal Christians support
these theories, some Christian denominations, most notably some
Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christians, see them as an attack
on their beliefs. These Christians interpret Scripture literally and
believe that the Bible has come directly from God and that every
word is historically true and accurate. Any scientific account of
creation that conflicts with the Genesis account is, therefore,
considered wrong. Their views would include:
▶ The actions of the creator God brought about all life.
▶ A great variety of life forms suddenly appeared on earth at the
time of creation.
▶ Plant and animal species were created with their characteristics
complete at the time of creation.
▶ Human life was created last, with characteristics that were
complete at the time of creation.
The last two points, therefore, rule out the idea of evolution.

Tasks
1 Choose any three concepts from the table below and write an
explanation of what they mean on a whiteboard, or tell your partner.
Evolution Atheism Big Bang theory
Humanism Survival of the fittest/Natural selection Fundamentalist
Ex nihilo Cosmology Omnipotent
2 Which of these statements about Catholic teachings on the origins of
the universe are false? (There may be more than one!)
a God created the universe from nothing.
b The Big Bang theory is wrong.
c Humans are the high point of God’s creation.
d Humans appeared on earth exactly in the form that they are today.
e The account of Creation in the Bible should not be taken literally.
3 Using a Venn diagram, show what beliefs Catholic and Fundamentalist
Christians have in common about the creation of the universe and how
their views differ.
1 Origins and meaning

Fundamentalist
Catholic views Christian
views

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 Origins and meaning
4 Look back at the account of Creation in Genesis 1 and the scientific
timeline of evolution. Summarise the order of creation in the two
different accounts on a table, e.g.
Genesis 1 Evolution
Light – Night and day Formation of the sun

a What are the similarities between the two timelines?

b Can you be a Christian and an Evolutionary Scientist? Explain your
reasons.
5 Imagine you can invite one of the following people to talk to the class.
Stephen Hawking Charles Darwin
Richard Dawkins Pope St John Paul II
A Fundamentalist Christian
a Who would you choose?
b What three questions would you ask them to challenge their views?
c Which of the people above do you agree with most? Give three
reasons why.

▶ Catholic beliefs and teachings about the origin

and sanctity of human life
Is human life special?

Is human life more important than other forms of life?

The fact that humans appear to be the only creatures capable

of using reason to make moral decisions, has led many people,
whether they are religious or not, to believe that human life has
more value than other kinds of life and is precious. For those with
no religious faith, life is special because it is the only life we have.
For Christians, human life has special value because they believe
that each person is unique because God made them and there is
no one else quite like them. Sadly we know this when those we love
die, because they leave a space that can’t be fi lled by anyone else. We
might have another sister, son or friend but they can’t ever replace
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 the person that we have lost. All Christian denominations believe
that human life is special and a gift from God.
The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred (holy)
and that everyone has a right to life which should be protected and
valued at every stage.

Imago Dei – the image of God

Both of the Creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2 describe how
Key Concept God planned and made the world. Everything that exists does so
because God created it, including plants and animals and his final
Imago Dei ‘In the image of God’. creation, humans, who were his most important.
The belief that human beings
are uniquely a reflection of God’s ‘Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative
personhood. Unlike the other action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the
animals, human beings are Creator, who is its sole end...’
rational, free and moral.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2258
The creation of humans in both Genesis accounts is different to
the way that we are told that other living things are created for
three main reasons:
1 Humans are special. In Genesis 1, it states that humans were
not just created by God but created in his image.
‘Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,
so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the
sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the
creatures that move along the ground.
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he
created them; Male and female he created them.’
Genesis 1:26–27
In Genesis 2, God creates Adam from the earth and breathes life
into him so that he can live. These accounts demonstrate that the
creation of humans was unlike the rest of creation because they
were made in a unique way and most importantly in the image of
Dignity Being worthy of honour or God. The Latin term for ‘in the image of God’ is imago Dei.
respect. Catholics believe that since only humans have been made in
Destiny The events that will God’s image, they, therefore, have a special dignity which should
happen to someone. be recognised in everyone that they meet whatever their gender,
colour, status or belief.
1 Origins and meaning

2 Furthermore, humans have an immortal soul which has come

from God and will go back to God, so their destiny is to share
eternal joy with God in heaven.
3 Humans have freedom to make moral choices. In Genesis 2, it
says:
‘And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from
any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of
Catholics believe that humans are made in knowledge of good and evil. For when you eat from it you will
God’s image and have a special dignity certainly die.’
Genesis 2:16–17

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 ▶ Saint Catherine of Siena on the image of God

Origins and meaning

St Catherine (1347–80) was a woman who had a deep spiritual faith
and was passionate about making people aware of God. She spent
most of her time with sinners and outcasts because she knew that
God loved them all, as they were all created in his image.
Her most famous work is called The Dialogue of
Divine Providence and is a conversation between God
and a soul trying to make her way to God. The choice
of the word her in reference to the soul is a Latin
tradition.

The Dialogue of St Catherine of Siena, of

Discretion
‘Her dignity is that of her creation, seeing that she is in
the image of God, and this has been given her by grace,
and not as her due. In that same mirror of the goodness
of God, the soul knows her own indignity, which is the
consequence of her own fault.’
‘What made you establish man in so great a dignity?
Certainly the incalculable love by which you have
looked on your creature in yourself! You are taken with
love for her; for by love indeed you created her, by love
you have given her a being capable of tasting your
eternal Good.’

There are three important messages that come from

St Catherine’s writing:

In The Dialogue of Divine Providence, Catherine of Siena says 1 Humans originate from God – in the same way
that humans were made by God in his image because he that children originate from their parents or your
loves them reflection in the mirror originates from you:

‘Her dignity is that of her creation, seeing that she is in the image of God.’

2 Conscience – when we look in a mirror we see our face, the good

and bad; freckles, spots, wrinkles! Since humans have God’s
Conscience The inner voice that truth in their lives, they have an inner conscience that tells them
keeps people on the right track, or when their actions are right or wrong, just like looking in a
a sense of right and wrong (some mirror:
people believe it is given by God).
‘In that same mirror of the goodness of God, the soul knows her own
indignity, which is the consequence of her own fault.’

3 Love – St Catherine reflects that the reason that humans have

been made with such dignity in the image of God is because he
loves them immeasurably. He created out of love.

‘You are taken with love for her; for by love indeed you created her.’

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 Fundamentalist Christian views and non-religious
views about the value of human life
Most human beings are in agreement that human life is special and
worthy of protection.
‘The child, by reason of its physical and mental immaturity, needs special
safeguard and care, including appropriate legal protection before as well
as after birth.’ (United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Sanctity of life The Christian
For religious believers, human life is considered to be sacred or holy
belief that life is precious or
because it has come from God. This idea is known as the sanctity
sacred because it has been given
of life. Since all life originates from God and is precious, it should
by God.
be valued and protected, not destroyed.
Tasks
1 Acrostics are a good way of remembering key information. Complete
the one below to show you understand what the concept of imago Dei
means. One letter is done for you.
Image of God
M
A
G
O
D
E
I
2 Explain what the Catholic Church teaches about the origin and sanctity
of human life. Try and include the following words and phrases in your
answer:
dignity image of God
sacred soul
free conscience
3 Christians believe that humans are made in God’s image. Give examples
of ways this belief influences
a the moral choices individuals make
b living in British society.
1 Origins and meaning

▶ What is abortion?
Abortion is the deliberate ending of a pregnancy. Before 1967,
abortion was illegal in Britain, however this doesn’t mean abortions
didn’t take place. Instead thousands of illegal or ‘back street’
abortions were carried out each year and led to serious injury and
sometimes the death of the woman.
In 1967, abortion was legalised up to 28 weeks, as long as certain
criteria were met. Two doctors must agree to the procedure for it to
go ahead and decide that, if the pregnancy were to continue, it would
be a risk to the physical or mental health of the mother or her existing
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 family. Other grounds on which an abortion can be granted is if the

Origins and meaning

woman’s life is in danger or there is a substantial risk that the baby
might be born with a physical or mental disability. The 1990 Abortion
Act lowered the number of weeks to 24, however in rare cases
where the woman’s life is at risk or there is the likelihood of severe
abnormality in the baby, then there is no time limit on abortion.

Attitudes towards abortion

Conception Some believe that life begins at
conception because the egg and
sperm are a living source of life.

Some people
believe that life begins
when the fertilised egg
attaches to the wall of
the womb.

Some believe that when the first movements in the

womb can be felt (called quickening) from nine weeks
onwards, perceptible life has begun.

At 24 weeks the developing baby reaches viability – the

stage at which it could survive outside of the womb.

The baby Many believe that life properly starts at

is born birth (about 40 weeks after conception).

In the UK abortion can take place up to 24 weeks into pregnancy with the consent of two doctors.
Abortion is a highly controversial issue and has been widely
debated since its legalisation. Arguments on both side of the debate
centre around three main issues:
Conception The point at which 1 Preserving Life – There are those who believe it is always wrong
the sperm fertilises the egg. to take a human life and that includes the life of unborn babies.
Implantation The point at which However, there are widely held views on when life actually does
the fertilised egg attaches to the begin. Is it the moment of conception? When implantation
wall of the womb. occurs? When the first movements can be felt in the womb? The
instant the heart starts to beat? When a baby is born?
2 Quality of Life – There are those who argue that the issue isn’t
whether the unborn baby is a life or not, but whether having the
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 child will adversely affect the quality of life of the mother or the
child. If the mother is going to suffer mentally or physically by
having the child, for example, if the mother has been raped or if
the child will be born with severe disabilities, then some argue
that, in these circumstances, it is kinder to have an abortion.
3 Rights and Responsibilities – Some people believe that every
human has a right to life, even an embryo, and potential parents
should take responsibility for bringing new life into the world.
This view is usually referred to as ‘Pro-life’. On the other side of
the debate, there are those who believe that the important issue
is that the woman has rights. She has the right to do what she
wants with her body and that includes having an abortion. Some
who take this view accept that an unborn baby has rights but
would argue that the woman’s right to do what she wants with
her body takes priority. This standpoint is referred to as ‘Pro-
choice’. Currently, in law the father has no legal rights.

The Catholic Church and abortion

The Catholic Church views all human life
as sacred
Preserving life
The Catholic Church is against abortion in all circumstances
because human life is sacred. The Catholic Church teaches that life
begins at conception. It is God who gives life at this moment and
it is the start of a human being’s relationship with God. This life is
often described as ‘a life with potential’ rather than a potential life.
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I
set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’
Jeremiah 1:5
Abortion is, therefore, seen as murder and a great moral evil, which
is against one of the Ten Commandments: ‘Do not murder’.
The Church values the life of both mother and child. If a
mother’s life is in danger during the pregnancy then it supports
some of the treatments which could save the life of the mother
even if it threatens or destroys the life of the unborn child. For
example, when the mother might need treatment for cancer, such
as chemotherapy. This is known as the principle of double effect.

The principle of double effect

Some actions may have more than one effect – the intended effect and a side effect (double effect). Sometimes even
1 Origins and meaning

if the intended effect of an action is good, the side effect can be bad. The Catholic Church teaches the principle of
double effect – where an action that is intended to have a good effect, but has a bad side-effect can be morally right if
it meets the following principles:
1 The action itself must be either morally good or morally indifferent, not morally wrong.
2 The bad effect/result must not be directly intended.
3 The intended good effect/result must be a direct result of the action taken and not a result of the bad result/effect.
4 The good effect/result must be ‘proportionate to’ the bad effect/result.
You will not be asked directly about the principle of double effect in your exam, but it will help you understand why,
in some circumstances, the Catholic Church permits medical procedures that will also end a pregnancy, if it is a side
effect of saving the life of the mother.
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 Quality of life

Origins and meaning

The Church values all life with no exceptions. All life is equally valuable
because it has been given by God and every life is special and unique.
The Church understands that continuing with a pregnancy
in some situations might affect the quality of life of the mother,
father or child. The Church teaches that the whole community has
a responsibility in these cases. Parents, family and friends have an
important role to play in providing love and compassion as well as
emotional and practical support to women and couples who are
considering an abortion.

The Catholic Church believes that all people are created in God’s image and are
equal and special, so abortion is wrong in all cases

Rights and responsibilities

‘From the time the ovum is fertilised, a new life is begun which is
neither that of the father nor of the mother […] It would never become
human if it were not human already.’

The Roman Catholic Declaration on Procured Abortion 1973

The Church teaches that an unborn child is not merely a part of

its mother’s body. From the moment of conception it is a separate
individual and, therefore, a person with its own rights, even though
it is reliant on its mother’s body for life.
Instead of having an abortion, the Church encourages those in
this situation to accept their responsibility to give the child life and
would encourage them to have the child adopted if they are unable
to be a parent.

The Anglican Church and abortion

The Anglican Church is also strongly opposed to abortion and
agrees with the Catholic Church that it is a great moral evil. They
also encourage adoption as the alternative course of action.
Anglicans uphold the sanctity of human life. However, where
they differ from the Catholic Church is that many Anglicans believe
there are strictly limited conditions when having an abortion
would be preferable to having the child. This is sometimes referred
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 to as ‘the lesser of two evils’. The conditions where this might be
the case include:
▶ If the mother’s life is in danger, abortion is permitted but not
encouraged. It should be carried out as early as possible.
▶ Abortion is permitted if a woman has been raped because of the
effect on her ongoing quality of life.
▶ Abortion is permitted if the child is likely to be severely disabled.
However, if this is the case there should be some certainty that the
child would only have survived for a very short period of time.
The Anglican Church also calls for better sex education as a
solution to unwanted pregnancies.

Tasks
1 Choose any three concepts from the table below and write an
explanation of what they mean on a whiteboard or tell your partner.
Each word has a score value, choose words that can get you the highest
score!
Abortion (2) Quality of life (3) Pro-choice (2)
Conception (2) Pro-life (2) Principle of double effect (5)
Ectopic pregnancy (3) Lesser of two evils (4) Sanctity of life (3)

2 Imagine you are answering a question on Christian teaching about

abortion. List three sources of authority you could mention in an
answer. These could include quotes or information from the Bible,
Church documents or significant people.
3 Explain the attitudes of Catholics and Anglicans to abortion.
Your answer should include
a specialist vocabulary
b sources of wisdom and authority
c knowledge and understanding of religious ideas, beliefs and practices
d influence of beliefs.
Once you have written your answer, use a different colour pen for
each of the success criteria above and check you have included all the
different aspects in your answer.

▶ Humanist views on the value of life and abortion

Humanism is based on this life, the here and now, as humanists do
1 Origins and meaning

not believe in God or any other supernatural being. For a humanist,

this life is precious because it is the only one there is. Moral decisions
should be based on what will allow all involved to live a full and happy
life. They uphold these beliefs based on reason because it makes sense,
and because they believe in personal choice and respecting others.
There is no one humanist view on abortion but they tend to
take a more liberal ‘pro-choice approach’ and accept abortion as a
morally acceptable choice. Humanists
▶ do not consider life sacred (though they do believe it is special)
but instead they think that ‘quality of life’ is an important
consideration and that this outweighs preservation of life
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 ▶ do not think an unborn baby is a person until well after conception

Origins and meaning

▶ encourage careful consideration of both long-term and short-
term effects before a decision is made
▶ promote adoption as a possible alternative that might bring
about greater happiness
▶ support the legalisation of abortion so that unsafe, illegal
abortions don’t take place
▶ consider that better sex education and easier access to
contraception would reduce the number of abortions.

Peter Singer – a humanist’s view

A well-known humanist and moral philosopher, Peter Singer, an
Australian, has some interesting ideas about abortion and the value
of life that many find controversial.

Non-person humans
Singer agrees with the Catholic position that life begins at
conception. However he describes this life as ‘biological’ and denies
that embryos are ‘persons’.
Singer defines a human person as a being that can reason,
feel, hope and make moral choices. Therefore, embryos, new
born babies, those in a coma and the elderly with dementia
are all examples of biological, but ‘non-human’ persons. It
is morally acceptable to take the lives of these ‘non-human’
persons if it will bring about less suffering and greater
happiness for all involved.

Speciesism
Singer is critical of the Catholic view that human life is more
special than any other type of life. He believes that treating animals
as less important than humans is discriminatory and ‘speciesist’, in
the same way that discriminating against people because of their
colour is racist.
Singer argues that animals have similar responses to humans, in
African grey parrots are very intelligent that they feel pleasure and pain and, therefore, their interests must
and in some experiments have been be taken into account. A conscious animal, such as a cat, has more
shown to have the same cognitive ability mental capacity and is more of a ‘person’ than an infant baby or
as a 4–6-year-old child. Should they have an elderly person with dementia. Singer argues that speciesism is,
the same rights as humans? therefore, morally wrong.

A Catholic response to Singer’s views

Catholics would argue that since God gives humans a soul, they are
and remain ‘persons’ whether they are conscious or not, even when
they are asleep, in a coma or haven’t yet been born.
With regard to Singer’s views on speciesism, Catholics would
agree that human beings should respect and care for animals, since
they are God’s creatures and part of his Creation. However, they
make a distinction between animals and humans because humans
have been made in the image of God. Humans, therefore, have a
special dignity that animals don’t. Human beings should care for
animals and must not inflict unnecessary cruelty, but they can use
animals for food and clothing.
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 Jewish views
For many Jews, God is believed to be the sole creator, giver and taker of life.
Genesis (the first book of the Torah) teaches that humans are created in the
image of God (Genesis 1:26–27) and life is precious. In the Tenakh, there
are references to a relationship with God even before birth (Psalm 139 and
Jeremiah 1).
The Ten Commandments, believed to have been given to Moses, forbid the
taking of a life. The Talmud discusses a number of cases in which mitzvoth
in the Torah can be disregarded in order to save a human life. This includes
working on Shabbat and breaking the fast on Yom Kippur.
There are many different Jewish views concerning abortion. These are often
formed by interpretation of religious texts and teachings.
• Some Jews believe that, as God is Creator, only he can take life. An
important belief in Judaism is Pikuach Nefesh – the saving of a life. It is
taught that ‘Anyone who destroys a human life is considered as if he had
destroyed an entire world.’ In the Ten Commandments it is forbidden to
kill and some Jews believe this can refer to unborn babies.
• However, most Jews believe that the unborn foetus is not a person until it
is born.
• Many Reform Jews believe that abortion can be permitted but only for
serious reasons, such as when the mother’s life is at risk.

Tasks
1 Who would agree with the views stated below? Some may apply to
more than one group!
View Catholic Anglican Jewish Humanist
Humans are created in the image
of God.
All life is precious.
This life is precious because it is
the only one there is.
Destroying a human life is wrong.
An unborn foetus is not a person
until birth.
Life begins at conception.
Abortion is never an acceptable
solution to an unwanted
1 Origins and meaning

pregnancy.
Abortion is sometimes the right
thing to do if it is the ‘lesser of
two evils’.
Adoption should be considered as
an alternative to abortion.
It is acceptable to take action to
save the life of the mother, even
if it kills the unborn child.

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 Origins and meaning
2 Explain Peter Singer’s views on the value of human life.
Use the framework below to help you write your answer in sufficient
depth.
Who – Who is he?
What – What are his views on speciesism?
Why – Why does he hold these beliefs?
How – How does this influence his ideas about abortion?
3 Discuss:
a Which of the below do you think are persons with rights? Explain
your reasons.
b Pick two and explain what you think they have a right to.
embryos new born babies
someone in a coma someone with dementia
4 Discuss the statement ‘Abortion is always wrong’.
a Give three reasons for and three against this view.
b Which of the three reasons you have given do you think is the
strongest? Explain why.

Summary
• God transcends human understanding and he created everything that
exists out of nothing because he is omnipotent.
• God created humans out of love and ‘in his image’ which makes all
human life special (sacred).
• The Catholic Church accepts the Creation accounts in Genesis as
symbolic stories that convey hidden truths and they shouldn’t be
read literally.
• The Catholic Church teaches that science and religion can be
compatible.
• Scientists such as Stephen Hawking argue the Universe could have come
about naturally, rather than being created by God.
• The Catholic Church accepts that the Big Bang theory and Charles
Darwin’s ideas about evolution are compatible with belief in God.
• The Catholic Church would reject Richard Dawkins’ ideas that humans are
nothing more than ‘vehicles’ for their genes.
• In her writings, St Catherine of Siena expressed the idea of imago Dei.
• Views on abortion differ greatly. Catholics and many other Christians
believe it is a great moral evil, some Anglicans believe it can be justified
in certain circumstances, and many humanists think that ‘quality of life’
and women’s rights issues should be considered.
• Jewish views also vary, although they believe that God gives life and only
he can take it away – most Jews do not believe an unborn foetus is a
person until birth.

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 ■ Creation
Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• that the two creation stories in Genesis convey different ideas about God
• the relationship that should exist between human beings and the rest of
creation
• how to compare Catholic, humanist and Jewish beliefs about care and
respect of the planet and the environment.

▶ What do the two Creation accounts in Genesis

tell us about God?
Genesis 1
Key Concept In Genesis 1 the emphasis is on the greatness of God as creator of
the universe:
Transcendence Existing outside
of space and time; God exists in a ▶ Transcendence – God exists above and beyond creation which
way that makes him nothing like makes Him unlike anything else that exists:
anything that exists, above and ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’
beyond creation. Genesis 1:1
▶ Eternal – the fact that God creates heaven and earth ‘In the
beginning’ shows that he already existed, God has no beginning.
▶ Omnipotent – God is all powerful, creation happens just by him
commanding it: ‘And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.’
(Gen 1:3). Furthermore, he creates from nothing, Creation ex
nihilo; before he creates, nothing exists and only God can do this.

Genesis 2
The second account shares many of the themes of Genesis 1 but in
addition God is portrayed as:
▶ Omnibenevolent – God is all-loving; he created the universe with
humans in it out of love and because he loved them he created
everything they needed to live on:
‘Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and
there he put the man he had formed. The LORD God made all kinds
of trees grow out of the ground – trees that were pleasing to the
1 Origins and meaning

eye and good for food.’

Genesis 2:8–9.
In addition, God does not want man to be lonely so he creates
other species to keep him company, and he allows Adam to name
them, but he knew that these were not suitable companions for
Adam so he created Eve.
‘The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman’, for she was taken out of man”.’
‘That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his
wife and they become one flesh.’
Genesis 2:23–24
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 ▶ Immanent – This account emphasises God being involved in his

Creation
Immanent The belief that God is
Creation, particularly humans and their lives. In this account
involved with creation by making
God talks to Adam, he forms him from the dust of the earth and
himself known or understood by
breathes life into him and he creates woman from Adam’s rib.
humans.
For this reason Christians today believe God is omnipresent –
present everywhere.
What do the two Creation accounts in Genesis tell us
about human beings?
In both accounts the messages given about human beings are
the same and reinforce the belief that human life is precious and
sacred. Humans have been created to have a close relationship
with God but they also have a duty to care for everything that God
has created.

Sanctity of life – Humans are created last in Genesis 1

and are the high point of God’s creation. In Genesis 2
God personally creates Adam and Eve, Adam from the
dust of the earth and Eve from Adam’s rib. Furthermore,
he breathes life into Adam which demonstrates how
precious and sacred human lives are compared to
everything else in creation. As part of his Creation,
God reflects again that all that he has made is good,
which includes human beings.

Stewards of God’s Creation – God

commands that humans have authority
Image of God – Humans were
over nature but also have a responsibility
created imago Dei – in the image
to care for it. In Genesis 1 God creates
of God, ‘So God created mankind
humans to rule over his creatures. In the
in his own image, in the image of
second Genesis account, Adam is put in
God he created them.’ (Gen 1:27)
the garden to ‘work it and take care of
which makes them sacred and holy.
it’ but his authority is seen when
God asks him to name all the animals.

What
do the Creation
accounts tell
us about
humans?

Freewill – God gives Adam and Eve

freedom to do God’s will or to choose
Male and female – God deliberately
not to, ‘And the LORD God commanded
creates humans male and female,
the man, “You are free to eat from any
he wants Adam to have a companion
tree in the garden, but you must not eat
in the second story; in Genesis 1
from the tree of knowledge of good and
humans are encouraged to
evil, for when you eat from it you will
have children: ‘Be fruitful and
certainly die”.’ (Gen 2:16–17). Although
increase in number.’
God instructs Adam not to eat from the
tree, he gives him the choice to disobey him.

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 Tasks
1 Complete the acrostic below linking it to what Genesis says about
God and humans.
C
R
E
A
T
In the image of himself – God created humans
O
N
2 On a copy of the account of Creation in Genesis 1 and 2, highlight and
annotate the text where it shows the following attributes of God.
Transcendent Eternal Omnipotent Omnibenevolent Immanent
3 What do you notice are the differences between the attributes of God
seen in Genesis 1 and 2? Do you prefer how God is portrayed in Genesis
1 or 2?
4 Discuss:
‘Genesis helps Christians understand what God is like.’
Give three reasons to explain your answer. Make sure you refer to the
text and use some specialist vocabulary such as those mentioned in
question 2 .

▶ Catholic beliefs about humans and their

relationship with creation
Ten thousand years ago there were probably only a few million
people on the planet, by the 1920s this had risen to 2 billion and in
2017 the figure topped 7.3 billion. All of our water, food and fuel
come from the earth’s natural resources, and as the population has
grown, so too has our consumption of these resources. Many of the
essentials for life are ‘non-renewable’ which means once they have
been used they cannot be replaced.
As well as a growth in population there has been a huge demand
for goods such as food, phones, computers, cars, houses and many
more material possessions. Scientists believe that the effects of
1 Origins and meaning

increased transport, factories and the pollution they cause, among

other harmful practices such as deforestation, have changed the
composition of the atmosphere leading to climate change.
Changes to the world’s climate are thought to be having a
devastating effect on hundreds of millions of people worldwide as
well as threatening the existence of many different species.
Furthermore, the effects of climate change with more unpredictable
and extreme weather have a greater impact on the world’s poor
because they are already vulnerable. Ninety per cent of people who die
Justice Fairness in the way
in natural disasters live in the poorest countries. Climate change is not
people are treated.
just an environmental issue but a justice issue too.
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 Creation
The effects of climate change are often felt most by the poorest in society

The relationship of human beings with the

environment
Christianity is certainly not the only religion that believes that
▶ God created all living things, including people
▶ God created the earth with the right conditions to sustain life
and that plants, fish, birds and animals were made for humans to
use and make the earth beautiful
▶ the earth belongs to God and not to human beings; we are just
the ‘care-takers’ of God’s world.
Catholics believe that all of creation is holy because it comes from
God. It is a sign of his love because he created the earth in a way
that was sustainable for human life. One important way of showing
love for God is by valuing what God has created.
Encyclical A letter sent by the Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato Si, encourages Catholics
Pope to all Catholic bishops. to think about the gift they have been given and to consider what
type of world they will be passing on to future generations. This
will mean that humanity needs to look beyond personal gain and
instead consider the effects of its actions on the environment.

‘Once we start to think about the kind of world we are leaving to future
generations, we look at things differently; we realise that the world is
a gift which we have freely received and must share with others. Since
the world has been given to us, we can no longer view reality in a purely
utilitarian way, in which efficiency and productivity are entirely geared to
our individual benefit.’

Laudato Si 159
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 Tasks
1 Find out about one of the following global agreements made
between countries in relation to the environment:
a Rio 20 Earth Summit
b Paris Agreement 2015
2 Many Christians believe they should look after the environment
because it is a gift from God. Give examples of ways that Christians can
look after the environment
a as individuals
b as part of a local community
c as global citizens.

▶ The importance of preserving the planet and

environment
Stewardship of the world
In the Genesis creation stories humans are given the authority to rule
Key Concept over all living things. The very first law that seems to be given to
Stewardship The duty to care for humanity was that they should be stewards of the earth. A steward
creation responsibly, as stewards has a care-taking role and will often look after people on someone
rather than consumers, and to else’s behalf. A steward at a football match will direct people to the
protect it for future generations. right seats, deal with first aid when needed and ensure that everyone
is safe during the game and after. The steward is working on behalf of
the football team owners, acting as a servant to others, watching out
for the most vulnerable, making sure that everything is as it should be
Authority Having the power to and not allowing any destructive or dangerous behaviour.
make decisions and be in charge When humans are made stewards of the earth by God, they are
of something. given the same type of caretaking role in relation to looking after
the planet:
‘The LORD God took man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work
it and take care of it.’
Genesis 2:15
An important aspect of looking after it involves protecting it for
future generations so that they can live and enjoy God’s creation. In
return for good stewardship, the earth provides everything humans
need to survive, but they do not have the right to abuse the natural
world; instead they must live in a sustainable way.

What does good stewardship look like?

1 Origins and meaning

Catholics can take care of the planet in many different ways, at an

individual, local and global level. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis has
highlighted sound, practical ways that people can do this:
‘Education in environmental responsibility can encourage ways of acting
which directly and significantly affect the world around us, such as avoiding
the use of plastic and paper, reducing water consumption, separating
refuse, cooking only what can reasonably be consumed, showing care for
other living beings, using public transport or car-pooling, planting trees,
turning off unnecessary lights, or any number of other practices.’

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 Creation
Catholics believe that God gave humans authority over the natural world, but that we must not abuse it and should protect it for future
generations

Other reasons the Catholic Church gives for caring for the
environment include the following:

Love your neighbour as yourself

Christians are frequently reminded of the greatest commandment,
to love God and to love others. For Catholics this extends to
everyone we know now and even those that we don’t. This means
that Catholics need to be concerned about those in other countries
who bear the brunt of the most devastating effects of climate
change through floods, storms and drought.
‘Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.
For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have
seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.’
1 John 4:20
Those we don’t know and to whom we still must show love include
those not even born yet; ‘we do not inherit the earth from our
parents, we borrow it from our children’.

The common good

The Catholic Church teaches that every individual has a duty to
contribute to the good of society, the common good. As individuals,
Catholics should act justly and seek justice for others, especially the
poor. This approach is most likely to lead to good things for everyone
because if all individuals are cared for, everyone will benefit from
living in an orderly, prosperous and healthy environment.
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 Universal destination of goods
Do we ever really own possessions, or is it more likely that we own
them for a time before they become somebody else’s when we
recycle them or give them away?
The Catholic Church sees the earth in this way – the current
generation does not own it, they are looking after it to pass on to
future generations. One of the commandments is ‘You shall not steal’
(Exodus 20:15) and a refusal to look after the planet is stealing
from future generations.
‘The seventh commandment forbids unjustly taking or keeping the
goods of one’s neighbour and wronging him in any way with respect to
his goods. It commands justice and charity in the care of earthly goods
and the fruits of people’s labour. For the sake of the common good, it
requires respect for the universal destination of goods.’

CCC 2401

Humanist views
Humanists have much in common with Catholics with respect to
their concerns about the environment and the future of the planet.
There are three main ways that their view would differ from that of
a Catholic:

1 ‘Good without God’

Most humanists agree with the idea of stewardship and see the
world as beautiful and valuable. They believe that
▶ more should be done to preserve habitats and species because
if they are lost then we may be damaging ourselves without
realising it
▶ we should care about the future of our planet because we should
care about other human beings, even those not born yet.
What makes humanists different to Catholics or other religious
believers is that they seek to live a good life because they believe it
is the only life we have. They uphold these beliefs based on reason,
because it makes sense and because they believe in respecting
others. Their views are not based on belief in a supernatural being
or beings (God).

2 Population control
1 Origins and meaning

Humanists see population growth and overcrowding of the

planet as a major threat to life on earth. They recognise that a
growing population increases the demand for food, water, shelter
and fuel as well as more material possessions and wealth. They
believe that
▶ demand for the earth’s resources can increase tension and even
lead to war which then threatens the happiness and safety of
humans
▶ birth control programmes to limit population growth are an
option. This is contrary to the Catholic view which holds that
God wants humans to flourish and multiply, as seen in Genesis.
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 3 Speciesism

Creation
This is the view that humans are prejudiced in favour of their
own species and that we discriminate against animals because we
believe that being human sets us above other animals. Increasingly
humanists see this view as wrong, in the same
way that racism or sexism is wrong. A famous
moral philosopher and humanist who takes
this view is Peter Singer.
A humanist might ask us to consider a
bee. Bees are threatened globally and in many
areas their numbers are declining alarmingly.
It is estimated that a third of all the food
we eat, such as fruit and vegetables, have
been pollinated by bees. If this is the case,
are humans really superior to bees, as we are
reliant on them for our food source? One
reason a humanist would give for treating
animals equally is that it makes sense to us
Are humans more important than bees? as humans for our future survival. Other
humanists might go further and say that animals have equal rights
to humans.
This is contrary to Catholic views which hold that humans are
special and holy because of the way they were created by God, in his
image, as described in Genesis.

Jewish views
God is the source of all life and referred to throughout the Torah as the
sole creator. Prayers are said in Orthodox synagogues expressing this
belief: ‘Blessed be He who spoke and the world existed.’ For many Jews the
universe is too wonderful and complex to have happened by chance.
In the first book of the Torah, God gave humans a duty to take control over
nature (Genesis 1: 26–28). Many Jews believe it is their responsibility to
continue the work of creation by making the world a better place to live
in. This is referred to as tikkun olam (healing the world). This includes not
wasting or destroying the environment (bal tashchit), not causing stress to
living creatures and not causing pollution or harm to trees. This can be seen
in the Torah when soldiers are told not to destroy trees in war.
Many Jewish festivals celebrate God’s creation, such as Sukkot which is a
harvest festival. The keeping of Sukkot is a mitzvot (duty or obligation). Living
in the sukkah (a temporary shelter often made of leaves and plants) during the
festival is a reminder of human connection with nature and the environment.
Jewish people also have a festival where they plant trees (Tu BiShvat – New Year
of the Trees/Ecological Awareness Day). Trees are vital to the well-being of our
environment and the damage caused by having too few trees can be seen in the
rainforests of South America which have suffered significant deforestation.

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 Tasks
1 Who would agree with the views stated below? Some may apply to
more than one group!
View Catholic Jewish Humanist
God is the creator of every living thing.
Animals have equal rights to humans.
Humans should take responsibility to
continue the work of God’s creation
by making the world a better place
to live in.
Birth control programmes should be
used to limit the world’s population.
Humans should flourish and multiply.
God gave humans a duty to take control
over nature.
We should care about our planet and
human beings not even born yet.
We should care about the poorest
nations who suffer most due to climate
change.
We should live well and look after the
environment because it is the only life
we have.
2 Explain Catholic teaching about caring for the environment. Try and include
the following specialist vocabulary and sources of wisdom and authority.
Stewardship Authority Genesis
Laudato Si Common good Universal destination of goods
3 Choose one of these views that you disagree with and explain why.

The earth belongs to God.

The earth belongs to humans.

The earth belongs to those not even born yet.

1 Origins and meaning

Summary
• Christians believe the earth belongs to God, not humans.
• The two accounts of creation in Genesis 1 and 2 show different aspects of God.
• Humans should act as good stewards of the earth to preserve God’s gift
for future generations.
• Humanists also believe that humans should respect and protect the
planet, though they do not accept the concept of being a steward for God.
• Jews also believe in the importance of respecting and protecting the
planet for God and for the benefit of future generations.
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 ■ The Bible

The Bible
Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• how the Bible is considered the ‘Word of God’
• that the Bible is comprised of a collection of books written in different
literary forms
• how to compare Catholic and Fundamentalist Christian interpretations of
the Bible
• Jewish views about the importance of sacred scriptures.

Oral tradition Stories passed

down by word of mouth rather than The Bible is the source of Christianity’s main beliefs and is
being written. considered to have been inspired in some way by God. Although
Scribe A record keeper.
it is usually referred to as one book, it is in fact a collection of
different books written by many authors over a period of more
Canon of Scripture The list of texts than a thousand years.
that make up the Bible in the In early times there was no need for a written holy book as
Catholic tradition. religious accounts were passed on by the oral tradition because
most people could not read or write. The stories were shared
by word of mouth. Scribes began to write down parts of the
oral tradition from around 1,000BC. Similarly, the accounts of
the life of Jesus were not recorded straight away as there was a
strong belief that Jesus would return to earth very soon. The
realisation that this was not the case and that eye witnesses were
dying out, prompted the writing of the first New Testament
writings.
What became the accepted version of the Bible was agreed, after
much discussion, by Pope Damasus I in the fourth century. The
accepted list of the books that make up the Bible in the Catholic
tradition is called the Canon of Scripture.
I hate you for this!!! Literary forms
Living in the current age provides us with a greater variety of
forms of communication than our ancestors could ever have
dreamed of: email, text messages, online newspapers as well as
traditional books full of examples of poetry, fiction, non-fiction
and plays.
It is very easy to misunderstand writing. Think about text
messages; we sometimes get offended needlessly because we
can’t hear the tone of the person writing, we only see the words
themselves. To understand any piece of writing fully it is helpful
to know who wrote it, when, why, what life was like at the time
Just as modern communication can be and the reason they wrote in the first place. This is also true of
taken the wrong way, there can also be the books contained in the Bible as there is a whole library full of
different interpretations of the Bible variety included within it.

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 How the Bible is structured

Song of Solomon
2 Chronicles
1 Chronicles

Zephaniah
1 Samuel
ers

Nehemiah
Habakkuk
2 Samuel
us
Genesis
Exodus

Numb
Levitic

1 Kings
ges

Esther
th
Ru

Ezra
Jud
Joshua
Deuteronomy

The Old Testament

Lamentations
riah

Ecclesiastes
Jeremiah

Proverbs
ai
Obadiah

chi
m
Micah

Jonah

Daniel
Zecha

Amos
g
Ezekiel

Psalms
u

Hosea
Isaiah
Joel

Mala

g
Nah
a

Job
H
2 Kings

Acts (of the Apostles)

2 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians
2 Timothy
Matthew

Colossians
Philippians
Ephesians
1 Timothy
Revelation

Philemon

Hebrews
Romans

Galatians
2 Peter

2 John
3 John
1 John

1 Peter

Mark
Jude
Titus
James

Luke

John
The New Testament

The Bible is divided into two large sections called the Old and
New Testament. The word ‘testament’ means ‘covenant’ which is an
agreement between two different groups.

The Old Testament

The Old Testament has 46 books according to the Catholic Canon;
it begins with the origins of the universe and human beings. It
traces the relationship between God and the Jewish people before
the arrival of Jesus. It is made up of:
▶ Law – the first five books form the Pentateuch. These books give
instructions on how to live life according to God and contain the
Ten Commandments.
▶ History – Joshua, Samuel and Chronicles are some of the books
that trace the history of God’s people from when they entered
the Promised Land, detailing how they were guided by God and
encouraged to keep the Covenant God had made with Abraham
1 Origins and meaning

and later with Moses.

▶ Prophets – a prophet is a messenger sent by God to inspire and
challenge those who are failing to stay faithful to God; Isaiah,
Jeremiah and Daniel are some of the most famous prophets.
▶ Wisdom – these books encourage people to stay close to God
in their lives and come in the form of songs, poetry, prayers and
sayings.

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 The New Testament

The Bible
The New Testament has 27 books according to the Catholic Canon; it
contains the accounts of the life of Jesus and the growth of the Church
after he had returned to heaven. This section of the Bible contains:
▶ Gospels – the books of ‘Good News’ that detail the life of Jesus.
The four Gospel writers were Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
▶ Acts of the Apostles – these document the growth of the early
Church.
▶ Letters – these were written by early Christian leaders, like Peter
and Paul, to encourage, guide and sometimes criticise people in
the Church.
▶ Book of Revelation – written by John, this is full of symbolism
that some Christians believe refers to the end of the world.

▶ Revelation and inspiration

‘All scripture is inspired by God.’
2 Timothy 3:16
Christians describe the Bible as the Word of God. They believe
Key Concepts that through the Bible God is making himself known to them; he is
Revelation The word used to speaking to his people, providing them with a way to live and be holy.
describe all of the ways in which Christians believe that God reveals himself to humans in other forms
God makes himself known to too, for example, through creation, through other people and most
human beings. Christians believe importantly, in the person of Jesus. This is known as revelation.
that God does this finally and In Genesis, it is described how God breathed into Adam so
fully in the person of Jesus Christ. that he could live. God’s spirit was shared with human beings.
Inspiration ‘God breathed’ The Christians believe that God continues to send his spirit to guide
belief that the Spirit of God guides people towards goodness and truth today, and this is known as
an individual to act or write what inspiration. God’s Holy Spirit guided the writers of the Bible,
is good and true. so the Bible is ‘the Word of God’; meaning that the Holy Spirit
inspired believers to accept God’s message in their lives and in turn
to share it with others.

Interpreting the Bible

The Catholic view
As we saw earlier when we compared Catholic and other Christian
views on the origin of the universe, not all Christians read or
understand the Bible in the same way. The Catholic Church
teaches that the authors of the Bible were inspired and gained
truthful insights about God but that not everything they wrote was
historically or literally accurate, for example, their understanding
of science was very limited. The Church, therefore, asks that in
order to fully understand what God wanted to reveal to humanity,
readers should consider the context in which it was written and the
meaning of the literary form used; a poem is very different from a
For Catholics the Bible does not have to be piece of historical writing.
taken literally but still contains important
messages about God, whereas some
Fundamentalist Christians believe that
what is written in the Bible is completely
true in a literal sense
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 For Catholics, the accounts given in Genesis 1–3 can be considered
myths; stories that, whilst not being ‘true’, contain great ‘truths’.
‘In order to discover the sacred authors’ intention, the reader must take
into account the conditions of their time and culture, the literary genres
in use at the time, and the modes of feeling, speaking and narrating
then current.’

CCC110

Other Christian views

Other Christians, such as Fundamentalists, believe that God
inspired the biblical writers, so the Bible does not contain any
errors. It is just as accurate in today’s world as it was when it was
written, even if it seems to conflict with the modern world. Some
Fundamentalists are literalists, taking everything in the Bible as
being literally true.

Fundamentalist Christians would reject Jewish views

the discovery of fossils as evidence of
evolution The Torah
The Torah is the first five books of the Tenakh (Torah, Nevi’im and
Ketuvim) and is believed to be the holiest and most authoritative
scripture for Jews. Moses is believed to have received the Torah from
God on Mount Sinai.
The many different views among Jews derive from their consideration of the
Torah as an authoritative text.
• For some they believe it was given by God to Moses and as such must be
taken literally and not changed. Many Orthodox Jews will seek to obey
the mitzvot as duties in life. Society may change but Jewish teachings
don’t. One of Maimonides’ (a Jewish teacher) principles was that the
Torah was given in its entirety to Moses and can never be changed.
• For many Reform and Liberal Jews, it is not necessary to take the
scriptures literally and they believe that sometimes they have to be
adapted for modern life.
The Oral Torah
For many Orthodox Jews, the Oral Torah is also considered as a source of
Mishnah The Oral Torah. authority. It is believed to be God’s words revealed to Moses and passed
down to successors to form the Mishnah and Talmud.
Talmud Commentary of the Mishnah
which includes teachings and Many Reform Jews may refer to the Oral Torah but not see it as a source of
1 Origins and meaning

stories. divine authority.

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 Tasks

The Bible
1 Choose any three from the table below and write an explanation of
what they mean on a whiteboard or tell your partner. Each word has a
score value, so choose words that can get you the highest score!

Revelation (5) The Bible (2) Old Testament (2)

The Torah (2) Inspiration (5) Interpretation (5)
Literary forms (3) New Testament (2) Canon of Scripture (4)

2 Explain the attitudes of two different religions/religious traditions

towards interpreting the Bible.
Use the framework below to help you write your answer in sufficient
depth.
• Who – Which groups of Christians, Jews?
• What – What are their different beliefs?
• Why – Why do they hold these differences in belief?
• How – How do they practise this?

Summary
• The Bible was inspired by God and is an important source of authority for
Christians.
• God has made himself known through the Bible; he has revealed his love
for all of humanity and has given them guidance on how to live a life
according to his laws.
• The Bible contains many different kinds of literature, written by many
different people over a very long period of time.
• Christians have different views about how to interpret the writings
in the Bible; Catholics accept the idea of biblical myth, while most
Fundamentalist Christians do not.
• The Catholic Church teaches that the Bible should be read in context.
However, because it is divinely inspired, it is always much more than a
piece of historical writing.
• There is also diversity within Judaism regarding the nature of divinely
inspired scripture.

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 ■ Painting

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• the meaning of Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam
• how to explain how the painting expresses Catholic beliefs about creation,
God and human beings.

Expressing beliefs through art

There are very many different ways in which people express their
religious beliefs and faith. They may
▶ pray, meditate or take part in an act of worship
▶ choose to help others by supporting a charity or doing other
good works
▶ respond to a ‘call’ from God to follow a vocation as a nun or
Vocation A feeling that you have
priest, teacher or social worker
been called by God to do a certain
▶ express their beliefs about the meaning of life and the nature of
type of work.
God creatively through art, literature or music. Originally,
paintings and stained glass were important ways to share Bible
stories and key Catholic beliefs with the many ordinary people
that could not read or write.

▶ Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome is famously decorated
by paintings from the artist Michelangelo. The Chapel is part of
the Vatican and is also the place that new popes are chosen by the
cardinals of the Catholic Church. There are nine scenes painted
on the ceiling showing stories from Genesis, with the Creation
of Adam being the one that is most well known. It was painted
somewhere between 1508 and 1512 and was commissioned by
Pope Julius II.
1 Origins and meaning

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 How does the painting express Catholic beliefs about

Painting
creation, God and human beings?
To analyse the meaning of the painting we can divide it into four
distinct parts.

3. The hands 4. The cloud

1. Adam 2. God

1 Adam
Adam is seen on the left of the painting, lying back on the earth
from which he has been formed as described in Genesis:
‘Then the LORD God formed a man from dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a
living being.’
Genesis 2:7
Adam is portrayed as a perfect human being; young, handsome
and strong. This reflects the Catholic belief that everything that
God created was good, as mentioned repeatedly in Genesis 1.
Furthermore, Adam resembles God (on the right of the picture); he
has the same physical build, is striking a similar pose and details
such as the arms, shoulders and feet are almost identical. All this is
a reminder that humans are made in the image of God: imago Dei.
In the painting, Adam appears quite a laid back figure, his arm
resting on his knee, barely reaching out to God, suggesting that he
is not fully alive yet. This symbolises that humans need God to give
them life.

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 2 God
Unlike Adam, God is presented as a dynamic, active figure as if
he is hard at work at his greatest creation. God reaches out to the
more passive figure of Adam because he loves him, reflecting the
Christian belief that God loves the world.
Michelangelo’s God is portrayed as a much older being; bearded
yet strong and powerful in his body. The viewer is reminded of the
belief that God is both eternal and all powerful; he is responsible
for all of creation which he made from nothing, because nothing
existed before God. The youthfulness of Adam is a reminder that
in comparison to God, humanity and the earth itself are new. The
difference in age between Adam and God also signifies the parent-
child relationship that exists between God and humanity; indeed
God is the Father of all Creation.

3 The hands
Adam and God are seen reaching out to touch each other with their
fingertips. The viewer is reminded here of the second account in
Genesis where God breathes life into Adam. In the painting Adam’s
fingers are bent, signalling that they have not yet received life from
God in order to straighten them. The touch of fingertips represents
the spark of life given to all humans by God – human life is sacred
and a gift from God. Not to be overlooked in the painting is that
there appears to be a close, loving relationship between God and man.

4 The cloud
The shape behind God that shows him being carried towards earth
by a group of angels has caused much debate. On a simple level this
detail shows the transcendence of God and conveys his greatness
in sharp contrast to the earth bound figure of Adam. However, two
elements of the cloud-like shape have provoked much discussion;
what does the shape of the cloud represent and who is the female
looking figure under the left arm of God?
Some believe the cloud resembles the brain and that the
message being expressed is that God is the source of all knowledge
and wisdom – he is omniscient. Others believe that the cloud
represents a womb because of the red background. Furthermore,
the green cloth hanging down could be the umbilical cord. This
interpretation of the cloud reinforces the idea that God gives
all life, in the same way that the womb gives life to a new child.
Furthermore, God is the Father of all humanity, who are his
1 Origins and meaning

beloved children.
The female figure under the arm of God seems to be an
important feature of the painting because he has his arm around
her and she in turn has her arm around a child. Some believe the
figure represents Eve who has not yet been created for Adam, but is
already in the mind of God:
‘The LORD God said, “it is not good for the man to be alone. I will
make a helper suitable for him”.’
Genesis 2:18

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 If this is true then it is reinforcing the great love that God has

Painting
for humanity because he does not want them to be lonely but to
experience the gift of love.
Others believe the figure to be that of Mary, Mother of God
and that the child on her left is her son Jesus. Those who take this
view describe Mary as the ‘new Eve’ and Jesus as the ‘new Adam’.
Michelangelo may be expressing the idea that Adam will soon sin
and that Jesus will come in the future to bring humans back to
God. In the Bible, St Paul compares Jesus to Adam:
‘So it was written: “The first man Adam became a living being”, the
last Adam, a life giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but
the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the
dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven.’
1 Corinthians 15:45–47

Task
1 Copy and complete the table to summarise how Michelangelo’s painting expresses
Catholic beliefs, focusing on the four parts of the image.
Beliefs about creation Beliefs about God Beliefs about humans
Adam
God
The hands of Adam and God
The red cloud shape
behind God

Summary
• Michelangelo has expressed Catholic beliefs about creation, God and
human beings in his Creation of Adam, by including allusions to the idea
that God is the eternal, all powerful, Creator ex nihilo, that creation is
good, and that humans are God’s greatest creation.

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 ■ Symbolism

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• the meaning of the symbols and images in the Tree of Life mosaic
• how to explain why the symbol of the cross in the mosaic is referred to as
the ‘Tree of Life’.

▶ Symbolism and imagery in Christian art

Symbolism Where symbols are To understand the meaning behind any piece of art you need to
used to represent something else, understand the symbolism. This involves working out the
e.g. an idea or belief. meaning that the artist is trying to convey through the images that
have been used in the piece.

Apse An area with curved walls The Tree of Life mosaic

and a domed roof at the end of a The Tree of Life mosaic in the apse of the Church of San Clemente
church. in Rome is an example of Christian symbolism. It was created by
Masolino da Panicale in the twelfth century. The central image is
one of Christ on the cross but an interesting feature of this piece of
art is that there are many other symbolic images surrounding the
main frame.

Representations of Jesus
Apart from the predominant symbol of the cross, there are other
representations of Jesus in the mosaic. The two symbols Chi-Rho
and the Alpha and Omega are combined into one at the top of
the cross.
▶ The Alpha and Omega – In the book of Revelation, the Greek
letters Alpha and Omega are used several times to symbolise
Christ. They are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet,
which expresses the idea of something being complete. In the
book of Revelation, God speaks of himself as the Alpha and
Omega and from early Christian times these words were also
used to refer to Jesus. We are, therefore, being reminded that
Jesus is eternal because he is God.
▶ Chi-Rho – This symbol is frequently used in Catholic churches
The Tree of Life mosaic features both the today on baptismal candles and the priest’s vestments. The
1 Origins and meaning

Alpha and Omega letters and the Chi-Rho symbol looks like the letters X and P which are the first two
symbol (circled in blue in the picture above) letters of the word Christ in Greek. With the use of both of
these symbols the artist is emphasising the importance of
Christ.
Vestments Items of clothing worn
by priests or other Church officials.
The twelve Apostles Jesus’ closest The twelve Apostles
followers who went on, after Jesus’ There is reference made to the twelve Apostles who were specially
death, to spread the word about his chosen by Jesus to continue to spread the Good News once he had
life, death and resurrection, and so left them.
established the Christian Church.

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 The lamb

Symbolism
At the bottom of the cross there are
twelve lambs who are pointing towards
a thirteenth lamb at the centre of the
picture directly under the cross. This
central lamb has a halo and is representing
Christ, whom Christians refer to as the
‘Lamb of God’. In the story of the Passover
in the Old Testament book of Exodus,
a lamb was sacrificed and its blood put
on the doorposts of the homes of the
Israelites. The Angel of Death ‘passed over’
these houses and instead killed the first
born sons of the Egyptians. The event is
The Tree of Life mosaic features 13 lambs at the bottom of the cross celebrated by Jews every year in the feast
known as the Passover. The Israelites had
been saved from their slavery.
Jesus is described as the ‘Lamb of God’
because his death saved humanity from
their sin and death, just like the sacrificed
lamb had saved the Israelites. It is, therefore,
fitting that this sacrificial lamb is placed
under the cross in the mosaic.
The Apostles also lived a sacrificial life;
they gave up their homes and families to
follow Jesus and spread the word after
his death. For some, it also literally cost
them their lives, for example, St Peter was
executed in Rome. This is why they are also
The Tree of Life mosaic features 12 doves on the cross depicted as lambs.

The dove
The twelve doves on the cross not only
represent the twelve Apostles but also
the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is often
depicted as a dove. The Holy Spirit came
to the Apostles at Pentecost, and filled
them with courage and they began to
spread the word. This is often described
as the ‘Birthday of the Church’ because
without this event Christianity may not
have spread.

The four evangelists

Additional important figures in Church
The four evangelists are depicted at the top of the Tree of Life mosaic,
next to the image of a living, risen Jesus history appear throughout the scene
including the four evangelists (Matthew,
Four evangelists Matthew, Mark,
Mark, Luke and John), who were so instrumental in spreading the
Luke and John; the authors of the
Good News. They appear at the top next to the image of a living,
four Gospels of the New Testament
risen Jesus.
that tell us about Jesus’ life.

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 ▶ The symbol of the cross as the tree of life
The cross is a complete crucifixion scene with Mary and St John
St John One of the twelve present either side of the cross, but this symbolic creation goes far
Apostles. beyond just depicting the death of Jesus.
The hand of God the Father can be seen at the top of the
cross reaching down to earth from heaven handing a crown to
Christ. This symbolises how the transcendent God becomes an
immanent God (in the person of Jesus).

The cross
Christian art often focuses on the suffering and death of Jesus but
this image is different. Jesus is placed on a black cross but this
emphasises the brightness of his figure set against it. Jesus’ sacrifice
is about life and hope not death and despair.

The tree of life

The cross emerges from a tree at its base. This is
considered to be the tree of life. This phrase is a
reference to the Book of Revelation 22.2:
‘On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing
twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. The
leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.’
The image is, therefore, a reminder that all people are
saved through the crucifixion of Jesus; his death ‘healed
the nations’ because he came not just for Jews but for
everyone. Through his death all sins are forgiven and
humans can look forward to life after death with God.
There are also lots of references to Genesis in the
image; the tree at the base of the cross is perhaps a
reminder of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in
the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve eating the fruit
from this tree against the wishes of God was the first
sin of humanity. The presence of the serpent wrapped
around a fawn that is drinking from the rivers of life
seems to confirm the link, as a serpent tempted Eve
to taste the fruit. The message is that sin ruins life
on earth as well as the relationship between God and
humans.
1 Origins and meaning

The cross emerges from a tree at its base serving

as a reminder that all people are saved through the
crucifixion of Jesus

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 The vine

Symbolism
One of the most predominant features apart from the cross itself
is the green vine that wraps around the entire scene and emerges
from the tree of life. This is another reminder of the Garden of
Eden and the green paradise God created for all of humanity. The
vine can also represent Christ himself who in John’s Gospel said
‘I am the vine’. (15:5)
The vine is labelled as the Church by an inscription along the
band just above the sheep:

‘We have likened the Church of Christ to this vine; the Law made it
wither but the Cross made it bloom.’

Summary
• God the Father created the whole universe.
• God the Son, Jesus, dies on the cross to redeem the sins of humanity.
• The sacrifice of Jesus is a source of hope and life.
• All people are saved through the crucifixion, despite original sin.

Tasks
1 Explain the meaning of the symbols and images in the Tree of Life
mosaic.
Choose any three from the table below and write an explanation of what
they mean on a whiteboard or tell your partner. Each word has a score
value, so choose words that can get you the highest score!
The Alpha and Omega (2) The lamb (5)
The dove (3) The four evangelists (2)
The cross (3) The vine (4)
2 Draw a mind map or spider diagram to summarise some important
themes in the mosaic.

Salvation

Lamb
of God

Sacrifice Creation
in Genesis

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 ■ Loving and serving in Catholic communities in
Britain and elsewhere

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• how the concept of imago Dei has influenced Catholic Social Teaching
• the importance of justice, peace and reconciliation in the Catholic
Church
• how the Catholic Church promotes understanding, respect, tolerance
and harmony between different religions and those with no religious
faith
• how the Catholic charities of CAFOD and the SVP demonstrate love and
service of their neighbours, in the work they undertake.

What rights, if any, do all humans possess?

Many people would turn to the Universal Declaration of Human
The Universal Declaration of
Rights (1948) for an answer to this question. The declaration
Human Rights An international
contains 30 ‘articles’ that state the rights that all humans should
document that states basic rights
have. They include the right to
and fundamental freedoms which
all humans should have. ▶ life, freedom and personal safety
▶ a standard of living that ensures good health and well-being,
including access to food, clothing, housing and medical care and
social services
▶ an education, employment and leisure time
▶ freedom of movement and residence in their own country, the
right to seek and experience asylum from persecution in other
countries.
All 30 articles are based on the first:

‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one
another in a spirit of brotherhood.’

All countries are legally required to uphold the United Nations

Universal Declaration of Human Rights and many have formally
agreed to do so. When any of these articles have been denied, other
countries and international organisations will intervene and try
1 Origins and meaning

and restore these basic human rights. The reason they do this is
because they aspire to social justice for everyone in society.
For many Christians, the UN Universal Declaration of Human
Rights reflects the main principles of Christianity and what ‘Loving
your neighbour’ looks like in practice.

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 Loving and serving in Catholic communities in Britain and elsewhere
Human Rights Day, on 10 December each year, marks the day when the UN issued the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

What is social justice?

Social justice is the desire to achieve a just and fair society where
everyone regardless of their sex, age, race, religion or country of
origin has access to the same basic provisions to live and can look
forward to equal opportunities and human rights.

▶ Imago Dei and Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic Social Teaching
Over the centuries many popes have spoken out about the social
issues of their day after having reflected on God’s word in the
Scriptures. They have often chosen to do this through various
encyclicals, and these have become known as Catholic Social
Teaching. The first modern instance of this can be traced back
to 1891 when Pope Leo XIII spoke out in favour of oppressed
factory workers who were demanding justice from their reluctant
employers.

Imago Dei
During the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s the Church
published an influential document called Gaudium et Spes
which reflected on the role of the Church in the modern world.
The document drew on the creation accounts in Genesis which
outline how humans have been created in the image and likeness
of God, imago Dei. This belief is at the heart of Catholic Social
Teaching.

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 Since humans are made in the image of God they are all
God’s children, sacred and holy, and possess special dignity.
The Church, therefore, calls on people to not rest until there is
equality for all.

‘Since all men possess a rational soul and are created in God’s
likeness, since they have the same nature and origin, have been
redeemed by Christ and enjoy the same divine calling and destiny, the
basic equality of all must receive increasingly greater recognition.
True, all men are not alike from the point of view of varying physical
power and the diversity of intellectual and moral resources. Nevertheless,
with respect to the fundamental rights of the person, every type of
discrimination, whether social or cultural, whether based on sex,
race, color, social condition, language or religion, is to be overcome
and eradicated as contrary to God’s intent. For in truth it must still be
regretted that fundamental personal rights are still not being universally
honoured... Human institutions, both private and public, must labor to
minister to the dignity and purpose of man. At the same time let them
put up a stubborn fight against any kind of slavery, whether social or
political, and safeguard the basic rights of man under every political
system.’

Gaudium et Spes 29

What does ‘equality for all’ mean?

It is estimated that every second of every day four more babies are
born across the world, 255 per minute and 353,000 per day. For
many the birth of a baby brings joy, happiness and hope for the
future. However, are they all born equal?
Sadly the answer to this is ‘no’. Babies are born every day into
poverty, war, neglect and even slavery. Very soon after birth, the
future for these children begins to look very different. Whereas
some will be happy, safe, warm and well looked after, others will
face a lack of peace due to fear, disease, injustice and death.
This situation is seen as unacceptable for Catholics, as every
human being is equally important to God. Therefore, every effort
must be made to ensure that everyone, no matter where they are
born, experiences peace and is treated justly.

Working for peace

People experience a lack of peace in their lives in different ways:
1 War and conflict
1 Origins and meaning

There are very few countries in the world that are not affected by
internal conflict between groups or involved in some way with a
war with another country or regime. As a result the people who
live in these places often lose their homes, jobs, their chance at
education – many become refugees because they are running
away to try and find somewhere peaceful and safe to live.
Wars also cost people their lives and health, and many will be
maimed due to violence or suffer from conditions such as post-
traumatic stress disorder.

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 2 In families

Loving and serving in Catholic communities in Britain and elsewhere

There can be tension and conflict within families due to the
pressures of life, for example, money worries, abuse of drugs
and alcohol or the effects of adultery which sometimes result
in separation and divorce. These situations bring about much
heartache and pain for everyone involved.
3 Personal conflict
Many people suffer from their own personal traumas caused by
a range of factors including bullying, racial hate crime, anxiety,
depression, fear and mental health issues. This can lead to people
being too scared to go to school or work, personal attacks,
mental breakdowns and even suicide.
The Catholic Church emphasises the importance of peace and
reminds all people that they have a Christian duty to promote
it. Peace begins with individuals. At every Catholic Mass,
churchgoers are reminded of this as they give each other the sign
of peace and say the words ‘peace be with you’. This means they
have to think about their relationships with others and how they
treat them.
Popes over the centuries have called for peace. Pope Francis
has spoken on the matter, calling war a ‘madness’ that ‘ruins the
most beautiful work of his (God’s) hands; human beings.’ Every
week when he appears at St Peter’s to lead the people in prayer, he
mentions ongoing conflicts and asks those gathered to pray for
peace. He leads by example; the Vatican provided homes for two
refugee families recently and he called for all parishes to host a
family.
There are many Catholic organisations that have been
influenced by the Church’s calls for peace, such as Pax Christi
and the Justice and Peace Commission.

Working for justice

‘There will be no peace or justice in the world until we return to a sense
of our dignity as creatures and children of God.’

Pope John XXIII

The message from Pope John XXIII is echoed in Gaudium et Spes,
which made a link between peace and justice. There can’t be true
peace in the world unless there is justice first. The reason for this is
that a lack of peace is usually caused by some form of injustice. For
example, there are those fighting wars because they are rising up
against an evil or oppressive regime such as the war in Syria. This
began as a peaceful uprising against Syria’s President Assad in 2011
but it became a full-scale civil war which has devastated the country
and resulted in 300,000 people dead. Before the conflict began
many Syrians complained of high unemployment, lack of political
freedom and corruption.
We already know that many people in our world today have
their human rights abused and they are not treated with dignity
and respect. Consequently the Catholic Church calls on believers
to challenge these situations in the world and to not rest until all

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 of God’s children experience peace and justice and every type of
discrimination is eliminated.

Peace is not merely the absence of war; nor can it be reduced solely
to the maintenance of a balance of power between enemies; nor is it
brought about by dictatorship. Instead, it is rightly and appropriately
called an enterprise of justice … peace on earth cannot be obtained
unless personal well-being is safeguarded and men freely and trustingly
share with one another the riches of their inner spirits and their talents.
A firm determination to respect other men and peoples, and their
dignity, as well as the studied practice of brotherhood, is absolutely
necessary for the establishment of peace. Hence peace is likewise the
fruit of love, which goes beyond what justice can provide.

Gaudium et Spes 78

Working for reconciliation

When people are faced with unjust situations, they can
understandably become angry about the way they have been treated
and this can lead to an attempt to get revenge, as well as violence
and conflict.
Christians argue that sometimes anger is justified if it is directed
towards tackling injustice – this is often known as righteous
indignation or anger. Jesus himself got angry in the temple and
overturned the tables when he found that the sellers there were
cheating the poor.
It can be very hard to achieve peace after a conflict because of the
pain and suffering caused on both sides. However, true peace can
only be gained by reconciliation, healing the pain and bringing the
two sides together again. For example, when Nelson Mandela was
released from 27 years of captivity on Robben Island, many of his
people wanted him to seek revenge. Instead he emerged without
bitterness towards his captors and continued his dignified fight to
achieve equality and justice in South Africa.

‘If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with
your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.’

Nelson Mandela
Black South Africans at the time were seen as ‘less human than
white people’, they had to go to different schools, couldn’t travel
on the same buses as white people and were not allowed to vote.
1 Origins and meaning

However, Mandela worked with the President at the time, de Klerk,

to establish a multiracial government which earned them the
Nobel Peace prize. Many celebrated when Mandela was sworn in
as President in 1994. He soon set up the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (putting Archbishop Desmond Tutu in as chair),
improved race relations and proclaimed the country ‘a rainbow
nation at peace with itself and the world’.
Jesus highlighted the importance of reconciliation when he told
the Parable of the Forgiving Father. The message of the story is that
God wants those who sin to come back to him.

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 How can Catholics help to bring about peace, justice

Loving and serving in Catholic communities in Britain and elsewhere

and reconciliation?
Catholic Social Teaching asks everyone to treat other people with
dignity and to take action when needed by
▶ upholding the rights of individuals
▶ standing in solidarity alongside those who are oppressed and
treated unjustly
▶ caring for and respecting the planet and the environment
▶ praying for justice and peace for all.
Tasks
1 Find out more about one of the following Catholic groups who work for peace and
justice for all.

Pax Christi The Justice and Peace Commission The Catholic Worker Movement
2 Answer three questions in a row. You can choose a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line. You must
answer the question in the middle.
What is social justice? What is reconciliation? What is Gaudium et Spes?
What is ‘righteous anger’? Give ‘Without forgiveness there is no Explain how the Parable of
an example from Jesus’ life. future.’ (Desmond Tutu) the Forgiving Father links to
Give two arguments for and reconciliation.
against this view. Include how a
Catholic might answer this.
Why is ‘equality for all’ important How do peace and justice link? Explain three different ways
for a Catholic? people experience a lack of peace.

▶ The role of the Catholic Church in inter-faith

dialogue
On 13 March 2013, Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope
Francis, the 266th leader of the Catholic Church, the first non-
European pope since the eighth century, the first from the Americas
and in fact the first from the southern hemisphere. Quickly, he
gained a reputation for breaking convention, preferring to live
in a guesthouse in the Vatican rather than the papal apartments
and choosing to travel on public transport. Eighteen days after
becoming Pope he made headlines again as he entered a young
offenders’ institute in Rome on Maundy Thursday to wash the feet
of ten young men and two women at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
He knelt before them and washed, dried and kissed their feet in a
symbolic act of service. What surprised the world’s press and many
onlookers was not just that he chose a prison to celebrate Mass in,
but that he washed the feet of inmates of different nationalities and
faiths, including at least two Muslims.
Why did the Pope’s actions cause such surprise? Certainly the
notion that the pope would enter a prison to perform this service
Pope Francis has shown the importance
of inter-faith dialogue through his own
would challenge some – they might question whether this was
actions a suitable place for the pope to be. However, his actions were a
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 powerful reminder of the first Mass where Jesus performed this same
action on the twelve Apostles, who were equally surprised by his
actions and did not feel worthy enough to receive this sign of love.
Pope Francis reminded those gathered that the person who is
most high among them must be at the service of others and that
they were all called to help one another. He explained that he
performed this act of service out of love for them.
On another level, the Pope’s actions surprised many because
included among those whose feet he washed were young people
from other faiths.
The Catholic Church has, in fact, a long history of mutual
respect and dialogue with those of other faith traditions and
indeed, those of no faith at all. The actions of Pope Francis in his
first days as pope sends a very clear message out to the world that
all people are called to serve, inspired by the great command Jesus
gave to ‘love one another’. This call extends to people from every
walk of life regardless of gender, faith or standing in society.

Britain: a multi-faith society

The UK has a strong Christian heritage that originated in Roman
times and became more visible from the fourth century onwards.
Today, the UK is a multi-faith society and includes Muslims, Jews,
Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists among its population.

How did the UK change from being a country of one faith to many?
Britain has in fact always been a multi-ethnic and multi-faith society:
▶ Over the centuries, Saxons, Danes, and Vikings, to name but
a few, have all settled in Britain, each group bringing its own
culture and belief system.
▶ The UK has always provided refuge for those suffering
persecution. This has included French Protestants in the
seventeenth century and European Jews in the last century.
▶ During the nineteenth century, the British Empire included
many countries across the world. Citizens from the Empire were
allowed to settle in Britain. Small communities grew in British
cities as a result and included those who had been slaves in their
country of origin until they came to Britain and were given their
freedom.
▶ As countries gained independence from Britain, the Empire
became known as the Commonwealth. After the Second World
War, in the 1950s, many immigrants came to Britain from
1 Origins and meaning

Persecution Being treated cruelly, Commonwealth countries such as India, Pakistan, the Caribbean
often due to religion or belief. and West Africa because there was a shortage of workers in
Religious pluralism The existence Britain. Many of these immigrants had fought for Britain in the
of different religious beliefs within war. The British armed forces relied heavily on those from the
a society. Commonwealth who fought with them.
▶ Immigration has continued due to the free movement of many
from the European Union to Britain.
In Britain today, religious pluralism and freedom are encouraged,
meaning that all faiths have an equal right to exist together and to
practise or change their religion.

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 Of course, not every person in Britain today is a person of faith.

Loving and serving in Catholic communities in Britain and elsewhere

In the 2011 census, about a quarter of the population, 14.1 million
people, declared they have no religion.

What is inter-faith dialogue?

In this context ‘dialogue’ means co-operative, constructive and
positive engagement between people of different faiths and people
of no faith such as humanists and atheists, to
▶ promote mutual understanding, respect, tolerance and harmony
▶ identify common ground
▶ engage in shared action for the common good of society.
‘Inter-faith dialogue’ relates to engagement between those of all
faiths. More recently, the term ‘interpath dialogue’ has become
more common, which is favoured by some humanists, atheists and
agnostics because this term does not exclude them.

Why do we need inter-faith dialogue?

Living in a multi-faith society brings many benefits. Different religious
cultures and traditions bring with them a variety of food, clothes,
music and literature into our lives. With this come new ways of living
and enjoying life. By living and working alongside those from other
religious backgrounds we can gain greater tolerance, respect and
understanding towards those who have a different viewpoint to us.
This leads to harmony and a safe, happy society.
However, there are also many challenges faced when living in a
more diverse society in Britain today:

Religious tensions
can exist between different
faith groups which sometimes
can lead to persecution,
hatred and violence.

With the current rise in all

forms of extremism, including Those with other ethnic
religious extremism, innocent Challenges of backgrounds, as well as
members of certain faith groups, multi-faith those practising a different
for example, Muslims, can societies faith, can sometimes
experience prejudice and be experience racism and
treated with mistrust and a discrimination.
lack of respect.

At a time when the

economy is weak and
there is a high level of
poverty and lack of
opportunity, those from
other faiths and ethnicities
Scapegoat Someone who is can become scapegoats
blamed for something they did and are seen by some
as part of the problem,
not do or were not completely leading to intolerance
responsible for. and hatred.

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 Since the Referendum of 2016 when Britain voted to leave the
European Union, racial and religiously motivated hate crime has
risen significantly in Britain.

Promoting community cohesion

The aim of community cohesion is to establish a better society
where all groups feel that they belong and can live peacefully
together. To achieve community cohesion requires all those
involved to: listen to each other, respect differences, recognise
common features between faiths and promote shared values of
tolerance and respect. Over the last few decades there have been
many initiatives involving religious groups promoting community
cohesion. This includes the Inter Faith Network, the Forum of
Religious leaders have been involved in
Faiths, the Council of Christians and Jews and the Muslim Council
initiatives to encourage inter-faith dialogue
and community cohesion
of Britain.

The Catholic Church and inter-faith dialogue

Although Pope Francis’ actions on his first Maundy Thursday
as Head of the Catholic Church may have surprised some, they
should not have done so. Recent popes have had much to say about
the need for understanding, tolerance and respect between the
different faith groups and Catholics play an active role on many
inter-faith committees.
Pope Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, stressed on many
occasions the importance of inter-faith dialogue in the modern
world:

‘Together with all people of good will, we aspire to peace. That is why I
insist once again: interreligious and intercultural research and dialogue
are not an option but a vital need for our time.’

February 2007

In the 1960s, Pope Paul VI spoke to the Church in a document

called Nostra Aetate, which was a declaration on the relationship
of the Catholic Church to non-Christian religions. One very
important statement that this document made was that Jews
should not be blamed for the death of Christ. Over the centuries
and even today, many Jews experience prejudice and persecution,
which is partly fuelled by the belief of some that they should be
held accountable for the death of Jesus on the cross.
In this document, Pope Paul referred to Church teaching on
1 Origins and meaning

imago Dei to implore people to respect the faith of others.

‘The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the
one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all-powerful, the
Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to men … We cannot
truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way
any man, created as he is in the image of God.’

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 Tasks

Loving and serving in Catholic communities in Britain and elsewhere

1 Find out more about one of the following groups who work for
community cohesion.
The Inter Faith Network The Forum of Faiths
The Council of Christians and Jews The Muslim Council of Britain
2 Imagine you are answering a question explaining the role of the
Catholic Church in inter-faith dialogue. List three sources of
authority you could mention in an answer. This could include quotes or
information from the Bible, Church documents or significant people.
3 Discuss the following statement:
‘In today’s world there is a great need for people from different
faiths to work together.’
a Give three different reasons some argue this is needed.
b What would the Catholic Church say? In your answer refer to sources
of authority.

▶ The work of Catholic charities

1.3 billion people around the world live in absolute poverty, which means they live on
less than £1 a day

There is a huge gap between rich and poor in the world, not just
globally but also in the UK today. To understand the scale of it,
here are a few estimated facts:
▶ In a world population of around 7.3 billion, 1.3 billion live in
extreme poverty, living on less than a pound a day, 1.1 billion
people in developing countries don’t have access to clean water
and 1.6 billion live without electricity.
▶ Around 22,000 children die every day due to the effects of
poverty; hunger, lack of sanitation and access to clean water.

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 ▶ Infectious diseases that can easily be cured, such as malaria, cause
the death of 1.8 million children every year.
▶ In the UK, in a classroom of 30 children, nine are living in poverty.
Pope Francis warns of becoming immune to statistics and failing to
see the human lives and the genuine suffering behind them:

‘Poverty has a face! It has the face of a child; it has the face of a family;
it has the face of people, young and old. It has the face of widespread
unemployment and lack of opportunity. It has the face of forced
migrations, and of empty or destroyed homes.’ (June 2016)

The Catholic Church and the preferential option

for the poor
‘Feed the people dying of hunger, because if you do not feed them you
are killing them.’

Gaudium et Spes 69
The Catholic Church teaches that Catholics have a duty to work
against the forces in society that create poverty. This duty comes
before many other acts of Christian love and service that a Catholic
might perform because the Church asks its followers to put the
poorest and most vulnerable people first. This is what the term
‘preferential option for the poor’ means.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches that we must ‘feed the
hungry, care for the sick, welcome the stranger’ and that ‘Whatever
you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do for me’.

The work of the Catholic Agency for Overseas

Development (CAFOD)
Love your neighbour
CAFOD is the official aid agency for the Catholic Church in
England and Wales. It is a member of Caritas International, a
group of over 160 Catholic agencies from around the world who
are known as ‘the helping hand of the Church’. CAFOD works
with local churches and other partners in places like Africa, Latin
America and the Middle East, to tackle injustice and poverty.
CAFOD’s mission is to:
1 Origins and meaning

▶ Overcome poverty by working with the poorest and most

vulnerable communities to bring about sustainable development.
They do this by working alongside local partners to plan
programmes together. They fund projects for long-term change
in communities, such as providing: seeds, tools and machinery
for food production, materials to build wells for clean water,
education, hospitals, health care programmes and training in
skills and advocacy.
▶ Respond in times of an emergency such as an earthquake, flood,
drought or war to save and protect the vulnerable lives of the poor.
CAFOD, along with other aid agencies and local partners including

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 the Church, will provide food, water, shelter and medicine to people

Loving and serving in Catholic communities in Britain and elsewhere

who have lost everything so that lives can be saved.
▶ Educate people on the causes of poverty and injustice so that
lasting change can be achieved. CAFOD provides resources for
schools and parishes to use to raise awareness of issues and as an
inspiration for prayer and worship.
▶ Campaign and challenge those in positions of power, such
as governments and businesses, to ensure their policies and
practices are just and fair and contribute to alleviating poverty.
▶ Fundraise in schools and churches to enable them to carry out
their projects, helping the poorest and most vulnerable people in
the world. CAFOD organises two Family Fast days a year, which
they rely on for much of their income.
G8 A forum that brings together
CAFOD has been part of many campaigns for change over the
eight global leaders to
years, including ‘Make Poverty History’ which united 31 million
address international issues and
people globally in a call for action against poverty. As a result,
challenges. It comprises Canada,
world leaders pledged to increase aid spending and the G8 agreed
France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
to cancel some of the debt owed to the World Bank by some of the
Russia, the UK and the USA.
poorest countries in the world.

The dignity of every person

The Parable of the Good For Christians, the Parable of the Good Samaritan provides a
Samaritan A story told by Jesus strong message about their responsibilities in relation to their
about a Samaritan who helps an fellow human beings. It is the last words of Jesus in the story that
injured Jewish man even though Christians are called to respond to, when they are faced with those
Samaritans and Jews did not get on. in need:

‘Go and do likewise.’

One of CAFOD’s fundamental principles is the belief in the

intrinsic dignity of every person. Some ways that this belief is
demonstrated in their work include:
▶ working with people regardless of their gender, race, religion or
political views. Even though CAFOD is a Catholic organisation,
they do not limit their work to only helping Catholics. All
support is welcomed, including from people of other faiths and
those with none.
▶ working alongside those who need help retaining their dignity.
People often do not want to rely on others to survive, so CAFOD
equips them with skills so that they can support their own
families and give something back to their communities.

Respecting Creation
We have seen previously that poverty and environmental concerns
are closely linked.
Sustainable development which protects the environment, as
well as promoting human development, is at the heart of CAFOD’s
Dermot O’Leary is one of CAFOD’s celebrity work. Their campaign ‘One Climate, One World’ was organised
ambassadors who helps draw attention to in response to the needs of the poorest communities and Pope
some of its important causes Francis’ call to care for ‘our common home’. CAFOD’s campaign

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 contributed to a climate deal in Paris (December 2015) which
agreed a path towards
▶ a low carbon future
▶ global temperature increases no greater than two degrees
centigrade
▶ financial support for poorer countries to cope with the impact of
climate change which disproportionately affects them.

The work of the St Vincent de Paul Society

The St Vincent de Paul Society, commonly known as the SVP, was
founded by Blessed Frederic Ozanam in Paris in 1833, inspired by
St Vincent de Paul (1581–1660), a Catholic priest who dedicated
his life to helping the poor. Active involvement with the poor is the
Vincentian way and their aim is to tackle poverty and disadvantage
by providing practical assistance to those who are suffering in
whatever form. Many parishes and schools have SVP groups which
are called ‘conferences’.

‘The knowledge of social well-being and of reform can be learned not

from books, nor from the public platform, but in climbing the stairs to
the poor person’s garret, sitting by their bedside, feeling the same cold
that pierces them, sharing the secrets of their lonely hearts and troubled
minds.’

Blessed Frederic Ozanam

Inspired by Christ’s call to ‘Love your neighbour’

The SVP takes its inspiration from Christ’s message to ‘love our
neighbour as ourselves’.They do this by
▶ visiting and befriending individuals and families at home, in
hospital or hospices, residential homes and young offender
institutes. The aim of the visits is to show they care and ensure
that people who are vulnerable don’t feel lonely and isolated.
Visitors may also help with practical tasks such as shopping,
gardening or fi lling out official forms.
▶ running support centres providing a range of services such as
counselling, training in basic literacy and numeracy and debt
advice
▶ organising soup runs in disadvantaged areas, providing warm
drink, food and companionship
1 Origins and meaning

▶ contributing to protecting the environment by encouraging

people to donate pieces of furniture, instead of throwing them
away, so they can be repaired and recycled and redistributed to
those who need them
▶ showing compassion to those they work with by not judging them
▶ being generous with their time, possessions and selves in the
service of others
▶ being alert to the changing needs of the communities they serve.

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 Loving and serving in Catholic communities in Britain and elsewhere
The St Vincent de Paul Society aims to tackle poverty and disadvantage by providing
practical support to those who are in need

Human dignity
A founding principle of the society is that they respect the dignity
of each person they work with because they believe that they are
all equal. Although the SVP is a Catholic organisation, it is non-
discriminatory and helps those in need regardless of their colour,
race, faith, status or sexual orientation. The kind of people they
help includes the homeless, single parent families, the socially
isolated and asylum seekers.

Tasks
1 Acrostics are a good way of remembering key information.
Complete the one below to show you understand how CAFOD and
the SVP serve others in their work.
S
E
R
V
I
C
E
2 Explain how one Catholic charity demonstrates love and service of their
neighbours in the work they undertake.
Use the framework below to help you write your answer in sufficient
depth.
• Who – Which charity, CAFOD or SVP?
• What – What are their beliefs?
• Why – Why do they hold these beliefs?
• How – How do they practise this?
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 Summary
• Over the centuries the Church has spoken out about issues of social
justice.
• Since all humans are made in God’s image, the Catholic Church calls on
people to not rest until equality and justice for all is achieved.
• The Catholic Church calls people of all faiths to listen to each other,
respect differences and recognise their shared values.
• Catholics are active members of inter-faith committees and
organisations.
• CAFOD and the SVP are showing God’s love to the world in their work with
the poor and vulnerable. Their work is based on the idea that all humans
deserve respect and dignity because they are made imago Dei, that
Jesus taught the importance of love of your neighbour and that the world
is a gift from God that we care for on a temporary basis.
1 Origins and meaning

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 ▶ End of section review

End of Section review

Knowledge check
1 What is a myth?
2 Explain how Catholics view the Genesis accounts of Creation.
3 What do Catholics believe about:
a the Big Bang theory?
b the theory of evolution?
4 Explain why Catholics believe humans are more important than other
forms of life.
5 Summarise arguments for and against abortion from Catholic, Anglican,
Jewish and humanist viewpoints.
6 What do the two Creation accounts in Genesis tell us about:
a humans?
b God?
Summarise the information in one mind map.
7 What do the following phrases mean:
a ‘the common good’?
b ‘universal destination of goods’?
8 How does a Catholic interpretation of the Bible differ from that of a
Christian fundamentalist?
9 Explain how the Creation of Adam, Michelangelo’s painting, expresses
Catholic beliefs about creation, God and human beings.
10 What is Catholic Social Teaching?
11 Explain why Catholics should look after:
a the environment
b the poor.

The big question

‘Promoting understanding and respect between believers of different
religions is the most important responsibility for Christians in
today’s world.’

Your task
Respond to this statement showing that you have thought about more than
one point of view.
• Do you agree?
• What arguments support the statement?
• Are they valid – do they make sense? Are they weak/strong?
• What arguments challenge the statement?
• Are they valid – do they make sense? Are they weak/strong?

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 Task
In (c) questions you will be asked to explain different attitudes within
Christianity or across Christianity and Judaism.
For both Catholic Christianity and Judaism, or different Christian
denominations you have studied, explain different views on the Creation
accounts in Genesis.
Use the guidance below to help you write a developed explanation for:
• Catholic teaching
• A second one from another Christian denomination or Judaism.
Catholics believe that . . . . This comes from the teaching/ Bible quote . . . .
This means that / Because of this, they . . . .
Catholics also believe that . . . . This comes from the teaching / Bible quote
. . . . This means that / Because of this, they . . . .
Some/other Christians such as . . . believe that . . . . This comes from the
teaching / Bible quote . . . . This means that / Because of this, they . . . .
Their beliefs do/do not differ because . . . .
Or if you want to compare with Judaism you could write instead:
Jews believe that . . . . This comes from the teaching . . . . This means that /
Because of this, they . . . .
Their beliefs do/do not differ because . . . .
1 Origins and meaning

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 ▶ Exam focus

Exam focus
Origins and meaning

Stickability
Key concepts: • Symbolism in the Tree of Life
• Creation ex nihilo mosaic
• Evolution • Catholic Social Teaching
• Imago Dei • Peace, justice and reconciliation
• Inspiration • Interfaith dialogue
• Omnipotence • Loving your neighbour
• Revelation • Human dignity
• Stewardship • The work of CAFOD and the SVP
• Transcendence Sources of wisdom and authority:
Key teachings about: • St Augustine’s Confessions
• The creation of the world • Pope St John Paul II’s Message to
• The Big Bang theory the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
• Evolution on Evolution
• Abortion • The Dialogue of St Catherine of
• Sanctity of life Siena, of Discretion
• Speciesism • Genesis 1 and 2 – the stories of
• Environmental responsibility Creation
• Literary form of Genesis • Gaudium et Spes 29 and 78
• Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam

(a) questions
These are always the first part of a question. They ask you to give a
definition of what a key concept means. Your definition can include
an example. There are eight key concepts for each theme. The
definition of each term is given in this textbook. Remember that
these questions earn you two marks, so it is important that you are
able to give an accurate definition.
Points are awarded for this question as follows:
▶ 2 marks for either two separate points, e.g. a straightforward
definition plus an example, or one point which is developed.
Task
Helen was asked:
a What do Catholics mean by ‘creation ex nihilo’? [2]
Her response ‘Out of nothing’ only achieved one mark. Why do you think
that was? Rewrite her answer to gain two marks.

(b) questions
In these questions you will be expected to describe a particular
religious teaching, belief, idea, practice, place, event or view. There is a
maximum of five marks for this type of question. To gain full marks
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 you should be able to show your knowledge, using appropriate
religious terms and any relevant sources of wisdom or sacred texts.

Task
Look at the following question:
b Describe the teaching
hing of the Catholic Church on the scientific theory of
evolution. [5]
John has decided that there are a number of different points he could
include in his answer. However, in the five minutes he has to answer this
question, he must try and focus on the most relevant points. Select the
three most relevant and add any further details that could be included:
Catholics believe that God created the universe ex nihilo and that
nothing existed before God created it.
Most scientists follow Charles Darwin’s theories that species
developed or evolved from simpler forms into more complex forms
in order to adapt to their environment.
Science believes that the universe was created by the Big Bang.
This cosmic explosion produced the conditions necessary for life
to form on planet earth.
Many literalist Christians believe that the stories in Genesis
should be taken literally because the Bible is the word of God.
They believe that species were created exactly as the Bible says
they were.
Most Catholics accept the scientific theory of evolution, but they
believe that the evolutionary process was planned by God and that
He started it off and maintains it. Pope St John Paul II said that
there was no conflict between religion and science on this issue.
Catholics do not generally see the creation stories in Genesis as
literal, historical events, rather they believe that they are open to
interpretation and are more like symbolic, pre-scientific stories
that contain great truths.

(c) questions
It is very important to note that the (c) questions for this component
will ask you to explain two religious views. The two views can either
come from Catholic Christianity and Judaism or from two Christian
traditions/denominations, e.g. Catholic and Anglican.
In these questions you will be expected to explain a key teaching,
1 Origins and meaning

belief, idea, practice, place, event or view. Explanations require a

consideration of why believers hold the beliefs they do so the word
‘because’ will probably appear quite a lot in your responses.
There is a maximum of eight marks for this type of question. To
gain full marks you should be able to show your knowledge using
appropriate religious terms and any relevant sources of wisdom
and/or sacred texts.
It is important to note that non-religious views (e.g. those held by
atheists or humanists) are not appropriate to use in these questions.
To gain higher marks, religious language must be used in your
answers. This includes the use of key concepts where relevant, as well
as any terms that are specific to the religion you are writing about.
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 Task

Exam focus
Below are some statements that might be used in response to the
question. Identify the religious language you could include in the areas
underlined.
c Explain from Catholic Christianity and Judaism or from two Christian
traditions, attitudes towards abortion. [8]
Catholics believe that human life is very special and important
because …
Catholics believe that all humans are made in God’s image
because …
Jews believe in saving a life and lots of the duties in the holy
scriptures teach …
A Law in the Bible says ‘Do not commit murder’ and killing a
unborn person could be considered murder.
Religious leaders in the Catholic Church say that abortion goes
against God.
Some other Christians take a less strict view and will allow
abortion in rare circumstances …
Catholics believe that a person is fully human at the very
moment when the egg meets the sperm.
Catholics and Jews believe that we have a spiritual part to us that
makes us special to God and, therefore, may feel that abortion is
wrong.

(d) questions
These are very important questions as they are worth 15 marks; the
(d) questions require you to
▶ read and understand the statement
▶ discuss the statement showing you have considered more than
one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your
answer.)
▶ analyse, evaluate, offer different and/or alternative views and
reach well supported judgements.
It is very important to note that the (d) question in this theme also
requires you to respond from non-religious as well as religious
perspectives. This is the only question that demands non-
religious views (though you may include non-religious beliefs in
any (d) question where the question lends itself to such a response).
In (d) questions different points of view are needed. These do not
have to be contrasting views (though of course, they can be) but
must be different.
You are expected to apply your knowledge and understanding
from the whole of your study to the question and include relevant
sources of wisdom and authority to support your points.

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 Task
Look at the following question:
d ‘The world is ours to do what we like with.’
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than
one point of view. (You must refer to religious and non-religious beliefs
such as those held by humanists and atheists, in your answer.)
Marks for accurate spelling, punctuation and the use of grammar are
allocated to this question. [15 + 6]
Sarah has considered a number of points she can make. She wants to
include views from different religions but also needs to identify religious
teachings and/or sources of wisdom and authority for each. She also
needs to include non-religious teachings and sources of wisdom and
authority.
Look back through the chapter . . .
a Which religious teachings and sources of wisdom and authority would
you use?
b Which non-religious teachings and sources would you include?
1 Origins and meaning

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 2 Good and evil

Key Concepts
Conscience Human reason making moral decisions. Incarnation Meaning ‘made flesh’. The Christian belief
The knowledge we have of what is right and wrong and that God became man in the person of Jesus, fully
the God-given compulsion within all human beings to human and fully divine.
do what is right and to avoid what is evil.
Natural law The moral laws of right and wrong which
Evil The absence of good and the impulse to seek our are universal and not dependent on human laws. The
own desires at the expense of the good of others, which belief in natural law is the belief that the moral law is
often results in suffering. discoverable by every human being and is the same for
all human beings in all places at all times.
Free will The decision-making part of a person’s mind
is called the will. A will is free if the person is able to Privation The loss or absence of a quality or something
choose right from wrong without being controlled by that is normally present. Evil is a privation of good.
other forces.
Suffering Pain or loss which harms human beings.
Goodness The quality of being like God; seeking the Some suffering is caused by other human beings
well-being of others selflessly. (often called ‘moral evil’); some is not (often called
‘natural evil’).

Core questions

If God is good, why is Is evil and suffering the Can suffering ever be good
there suffering in the price we must pay for for us?
world? having human free will?

How should we respond to How can three be one, and Did God become human in
the existence of evil and one be three? Jesus?
suffering in the world?

Why is Jesus important to What should guide our Is it wrong to use statues
Christians in answering moral behaviour? in worship?
questions about suffering?

Can people really be cured

of their suffering at
Lourdes?

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 ■ Good, evil and suffering
Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• different Christian, non-Christian and philosophical attempts to answer
questions about where different kinds of evil come from and how ‘the
Problem of Evil’ has been explored
• what St Augustine meant when he called evil a ‘privation’
• what Catholics mean by ‘original sin’ and ‘free will’
• Catholic beliefs about Christ’s suffering
• Catholic beliefs that the world is fundamentally good
• what Catholics mean when they call God ‘good’
• Catholic ambivalence about suffering using the example of the suffering of
Jesus to show that it can be beneficial
• Jewish views about suffering and evil.

▶ Catholic perspectives on the origin of evil

Key Concepts
Evil The absence of good and the impulse to seek our own desires at the
expense of the good of others, which often results in suffering.
Suffering Pain or loss which harms human beings. Some suffering is caused
by other human beings (often called ‘moral evil’); some is not (often called
‘natural evil’).
Free will The decision-making part of a person’s mind is called the will. A will
is free if the person is able to choose right from wrong without being controlled
by other forces.

Catholics believe that God is omnipotent (all-powerful). They

also believe that God is all-loving. This is sometimes called God’s
‘omnibenevolence’. Therefore, they believe that the world God
made has to be a good world – a good, all-powerful God wouldn’t
make any other kind. But if this is true, why does the world contain
so much evil and suffering?

Moral and natural evil

One way that Catholics answer this question is by saying that evil and
suffering exist because of human free will. Free will is the human
ability to make choices and Catholics believe that it is a gift from God.
2 Good and evil

Human beings can use this gift to make good choices or to make bad
choices. When they make good choices the goodness of the world
increases but when they make bad choices then evil and suffering are
Moral evil Evil that is the result of the result. This kind of evil is often called moral evil because it is
human actions. caused by the moral choices human beings make. Moral evils would
include things like bullying, theft, murder, war and poverty.
However, many people point out that not all examples of evil and
suffering in the world are caused by human choices, for example,
the suffering that comes as a consequence of natural disasters, like
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 earthquakes, tsunamis, famines and disease. This kind of suffering

Good, evil and suffering

Natural evil Events that cause
is often called natural evil because it happens naturally and is not
suffering but aren’t the result of
caused by human beings.
human actions.
How can Catholics explain the existence of evil? One way they do
it is with the concept of ‘original sin’.

Natural and moral evil

Original sin
In Genesis Chapter 3, we read the famous story of Adam and Eve’s
disobedience. In this story, Adam and Eve, the first two human beings,
are given a garden full of good things to eat by God and are told that
they can eat from any of the
trees in the garden but that they
must not eat from the tree in the
middle of the garden – the ‘tree
of the knowledge of good and
evil’. The serpent then tempts Eve
to disobey God and to eat from
the forbidden tree and Eve offers
the fruit to Adam. Adam also eats
the fruit from the forbidden tree.
Immediately they are changed
by their act of disobedience. The
first thing that happens is they
both realise for the first time
that they are naked and they
make clothes for themselves
out of leaves. Before they ate
from the tree, their nakedness
had not been something which
embarrassed them – but now
it becomes a source of shame.
Even worse things are to follow.
Because of their disobedience,
The story of Adam and Eve depicts their disobedience of God resulting in the moment God gives each of them different
when human beings 'fell' from the perfect state in which God created them. This punishments (sometimes called
representation of 'the Fall' is The Temptation by William Strang ‘curses’).
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 This story is sometimes called ‘the Fall’ because it describes the
moment when human beings ‘fell’ from the perfect state in which
Sin Acting against the will or laws
God had created them. The disobedience of Adam and Eve is often
of God. Deliberate immoral action,
called ‘original sin’. Sin is any wrong action that is against God’s
breaking a religious or moral law.
plans for human beings.

Is it ‘true’?
Many Christians take this story literally and believe that Adam
and Eve were real people and their sinfulness introduced all kinds
of bad things into the world – including pain, inequality, work
and death (see the punishments on Adam and Eve given above). It
also affected all the human beings who are descended from them
who no longer have a natural ability to avoid doing evil actions.
This creates more moral evil. For many Christians, this is the best
explanation for the existence of evil and suffering in the world.
God made a perfect world, but human beings sinned and damaged
themselves and the world in which they live, and because of this
damage, evil and suffering now exist.
Catholics believe that this story is a description of a real
prehistoric event, told through figurative language. It describes the
moment in human history when humans first turned away from
God. It explains why human beings still have a tendency to sin
today and makes clear that we all share some responsibility for the
evil and suffering in the world.

St Augustine and ‘privation’

Key Concept
Privation The loss or absence
of a quality or something that is
normally present. Evil is a
privation of good.
2 Good and evil

St Augustine (354–430AD) gives three answers to why evil

exists when God is all loving and all powerful

St Augustine, one of the earliest and most important Catholic

thinkers and writers, wrote a book called the Enchiridion (a Latin
word which means ‘handbook’). In it, Augustine asks himself the

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 question of why there is evil and suffering in the world if God is

Good, evil and suffering

good and all-powerful. He gives three separate but related answers
to the question.

1 Evil helps us appreciate good

His first answer is that the existence of evil helps people to
appreciate the good in the world which otherwise they might not
notice. Sometimes we don’t appreciate the good things we have
until they are not there anymore. Many of us don’t appreciate how
wonderful being healthy is, until we have had the experience of
being unwell.
‘And in the universe, even that which is called evil, when it is
regulated and put in its own place, only enhances our admiration of
the good; for we enjoy and value the good more when we compare it
with the evil.’
(St Augustine, Enchiridion 3:11)

2 Evil is not a thing

In his second answer, St Augustine says that God does not cause
or permit evil because evil isn’t even a thing. Evil is just the
absence of good things. God makes a world full of good things
but through our poor choices we sometimes cause those good
things to become absent from the world. Another word for an
absence is a ‘privation’. When we experience evil and suffering
we are not experiencing anything at all, we are just being
deprived of the good things we usually have. God does not want
us to be deprived of these good things but either our choices
have led to these privations or God allows them for the sake of
some greater good.
‘For what is that which we call evil but the absence of good? Disease
and wounds mean nothing but the absence of health; for when a cure
is effected, that does not mean that the evils go away from the
body and dwell elsewhere: they altogether cease to exist.’
(St Augustine, Enchiridion 3:11)

3 Evil makes us better

In his third answer, St Augustine says God allows suffering
precisely because he is omnipotent and good. He allows evil
because in his goodness and power he is always able to bring
a greater good out of suffering. In this answer, St Augustine
is saying that sometimes we arrive at a place of much greater
happiness through overcoming evil and suffering than we could
ever have done without it. In other words, sometimes suffering is
good for us!
‘For the Almighty God, who has supreme power over all things, being
Himself supremely good, would never permit the existence of
anything evil, if he were not so omnipotent and good that He can
bring good even out of evil.’
(St Augustine, Enchiridion 3:11)

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 Tasks
1 Choose any three from the table below and write an explanation of
what they mean on a whiteboard or tell your partner. Each word has a
score value, so choose words that can get you the highest score!
Moral evil (2) Natural evil (2) Free will (2)
Privation (4) Suffering (2) Original sin (3)
2 Categorise the situations below into natural and moral evils.
Situation Natural evil Moral evil
A lifelong smoker dying of lung cancer
A badly built tower block collapsing after
an earthquake
A terrorist attack
People losing their home in flooding
Someone being killed by a drink driver
People starving during a drought
Did you find any of the examples in the table above hard to categorise?
Explain why.
3 Explain how fundamentalist and liberal understandings of original sin
differ.
4 Explain Augustine’s teaching on ‘evil as privation’.
• Who is St Augustine?
• What question was Augustine trying to answer?
• What does ‘evil as privation’ mean?
• Why would God allow the privation?

▶ Other views on the nature and origin of evil

There are other Christian answers to the Problem of Evil. The most
famous is probably the one suggested by the philosopher John
Hick. He argued that God deliberately
made a world which was not perfect
because only in an imperfect world could
human beings learn and grow. In this
view, God values human freedom so much
that he wants us to learn for ourselves
how to be good and loving; God doesn’t
give these things to us ‘ready-made’. Hick
argues that it is only through suffering
2 Good and evil

that human beings can come to perfection

and ‘grow in God’s likeness’. This is a bit
like thinking of human beings as athletes
in training. Physical exercise is painful and
difficult but it ultimately leads to a much
stronger, healthier body. In the same way,
Hick says, suffering is painful and difficult
Does suffering help the development of the human soul, just like training but it ultimately leads to a much stronger,
helps athletes improve their performance? healthier soul.
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 Good, evil and suffering
Jewish views
Jews do not believe in ‘original sin’. They do not believe that human beings
inherit the guilt or the moral weakness of Adam and Eve. However, they do
share the Christian belief that every human being is born facing temptation
and must make a choice. They describe human beings as being born with
two inclinations: to do good, or to do evil. ‘Yetzer ha tov’ is the inclination
to do good actions and ‘yetzer ha ra’ is the inclination to do evil actions.
The Torah teaches that God has given human beings choices and that it is
Task important to struggle against the inclination to do evil actions by giving
obedience to God. Jews believe it is not possible to hide evil actions from
Using a Venn diagram, show God and the Ten Days of Return between the festivals of Rosh Hashanah
what beliefs about the origin of and Yom Kippur give time for people to atone (make up for or make good)
evil Catholics and Jews have in for the times when they have followed their inclination to do evil rather
common and how their views than given obedience to God. Therefore, Jews see evil and suffering as a
differ. consequence of human beings’ wrong choices.

▶ The goodness of God

When Catholics use this term for God, they mean that God is the
Key Concept cause of goodness in others. God’s goodness is called essential –
Goodness The quality of being that is to say, it is an unchanging aspect of who God is: God is
like God; seeking the well-being of supremely good. This is probably the best way to think about God’s
others selflessly. goodness, especially if God is beyond the human ability to describe
what he is really like. Catholics would say, we call God good
because the things he made are good: light, sea, earth, sky, animals,
plants and human beings. God finished Creation by looking on
all that has been created and he ‘saw that it was good’. This is
what Catholics mean when they say that the world reflects God’s
goodness – they mean, they can tell that God is good, because the
world God created is good.

Catholics believe that by looking at God’s Creation they can tell that God is good
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 Jewish views
There are many similarities between the Jewish and Catholic views about
God’s goodness and the goodness of the created world. First of all, like
Catholics, Jews are monotheists and believe that God is the only God and is
all powerful. Jews do not even believe in the Devil, as such.
For Jews, God is the source of all life and referred to throughout the Torah as
the sole creator. He is the judge and he is merciful. He will protect and care
for all that he has created. The goodness of God is shown by the creation
of the world and the giving of the Torah. Stories such as the fleeing of the
Israelites from Egypt retold at the festival of Pesach show God’s goodness
and care.

Tasks
Catholics believe that by looking at God’s Creation they can see God’s
goodness.
1 Can you think of four things in the world you think would be evidence
for God’s goodness?
2 Can you think of anything in the world that might make you question
God’s goodness?
3 From the previous pages in this chapter give an explanation for why
there might be bad things in the world from the perspective of:
• a Jewish person
• St Augustine
• a fundamentalist Christian.

▶ The challenge of evil

One of the most famous presentations of the Problem of Evil
was made by an atheist, Scottish philosopher David Hume
(1711–1776). Hume is the first philosopher to present what has
now become known as ‘the inconsistent triad’. A ‘triad’ is a group
of three things. Hume and others claim the following group is
‘inconsistent’ because it seems that not all of them can be true at
the same time:
1 God is all-powerful (omnipotent)
2 God is all-loving (omnibenevolent)
3 Evil exists.
Hume said that if the first two claims are true, then evil would
not exist. However, since from our experience, evil definitely does
2 Good and evil

exist, then at least one of the other two must be false. Hume says if
God wants to stop suffering but cannot, then he must not be all-
powerful. If God can stop suffering but does not want to, then he
must not be all-loving. If God wants to stop suffering and can stop
suffering, then evil would not exist. But evil does exist. Therefore,
Hume says either: God is not good; or God is not all powerful; or
God does not exist. Hume believed that God did not exist.

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 Mackie, free will and evil

Good, evil and suffering

A twentieth-century, atheist philosopher called John Mackie
(1917–1981) took Hume’s ideas further. He rejected some of the
usual answers to the Problem of Evil that Christians often give.

1 Evil is necessary as an opposite of good

‘…we enjoy and value the good more when we compare it with the evil.’

St Augustine
Mackie rejects this idea. He rejects it first because he thinks lots of
examples of goodness are easily noticed and appreciated without
needing a contrast. We can all see and appreciate a kind and generous
person, even if we have never met a mean and selfish one. His second
reason for rejecting this argument is because, even if it is true that we
need some evil and suffering to help us to appreciate the good, we only
need a little bit. He argues that there is far more suffering than is needed
to make a contrast to the good in the world and some of the suffering
is truly horrible, far more and far worse than is really needed.

The Holocaust is an example of horrific suffering. Do we really need suffering like this to
be able to appreciate the good in life?

2 Evil helps us to become better people

Another traditional Christian argument that Mackie rejects is the
idea that suffering helps us to become better people. First, Mackie
doesn’t understand why God needs to make us better through
experiencing suffering. Why can God not just make us perfect
to begin with? But even if we accept that the sort of goodness
that comes about because of overcoming suffering is better than
the goodness we could achieve without suffering, there is still a
problem. The problem is that just as often, suffering makes people
worse, rather than making them better. Some people might learn
patience and courage through having to undergo cancer treatment.
But other people might just as likely become bitter and resentful. If
evil is allowed in order to bring about greater goods, then why does
it sometimes lead to greater evils instead?
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 3 Evil is a consequence of free will
Both St Augustine and John Hick rely on the existence of free will
to explain why God allows evil to exist. Mackie rejects this as a
reason because he does not see why God could not make free
human beings who always choose good instead of evil. Some
would reply that a human being who can only ever choose good, is
not truly free but Mackie does not think the ability to choose evil
is a required part of human freedom. He also feels that evil and
suffering is far too high a price to pay for having free will.

Tasks
1 Explain David Hume’s ideas on the Problem of Evil.
Use the framework below to help you write your answer in sufficient
depth.
• Who was David Hume?
• What was his argument about evil and suffering?
• Why is it called the inconsistent triad?
• What was his ultimate conclusion about God?
2 Fill in the table below so that you have a record of reasons Catholics
give for the existence of evil and suffering and non-religious challenges
to them:
Christian answer to the Problem of Mackie’s response
Evil and suffering
Evil helps people appreciate the good
in the world.
Some people who suffer become bitter
and resentful.
People have free will and if they use it
in the wrong way it causes evil.

▶ Catholic ambivalence to suffering: is suffering

always evil?
Catholics and other Christians might respond to the arguments
given above by suggesting that, whilst suffering is always hard, it is
not always evil. As a result, Catholics have an ambivalent attitude
to suffering. ‘Ambivalent’ means you have mixed feelings about
something.

The meaning of suffering

2 Good and evil

For Catholics, suffering is a mystery and it might be the case that

God uses suffering to bring about great goods that would not have
been possible without it. In the biblical Book of Job, God tells the
long-suffering Job that he is just not capable of understanding the
reasons why God chooses to do, or not do, certain things.

Suffering as a sign of love

Many wise thinkers have pointed out that love is impossible
without suffering. Loving another person means that you would
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 do anything for them, even if it means

Good, evil and suffering

sacrificing your own pleasures and
comforts. Jesus says:
‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay
down one’s life for one’s friends.’
John 15:13
There is also another way that suffering
and love are connected and that is because
nothing lasts forever. If you love anyone,
or even a pet, there will come a time when
one of these people or animals leaves you,
or dies. Few human beings go through
life without ever experiencing the pain
of grief and parting, but the suffering
we experience when we lose someone we
love reflects the depth of the love we felt
for them. The more we love a person, the
more painful it is when we lose them.
Suffering and love, therefore, cannot be
separated.

Suffering as a proof of
commitment – ‘No pain, no gain’
Jesus makes clear that being a disciple
always requires sacrifice and cost:
‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must
deny themselves and take up their cross
and follow me.’
Mark 8:34
To show we are really committed
Some Catholic thinkers believe that suffering is part of love to something, we must experience
suffering.

Suffering as a blessing
One of the most difficult ideas to understand is that suffering can
somehow be a blessing. In Matthew, Jesus lists those people that
are ‘blessed’ and includes some strange categories of people: those
who are poor, those who mourn, those who suffer. We would not
usually consider these things to be blessings, but Jesus is pointing
out that God’s way of seeing the world is not our way, and that
those who are lowest in the world’s eyes are often closest to God.

The suffering and death of Jesus

At the heart of all the Gospel accounts is something called ‘the
Passion narrative’. ‘Passion’ comes from the Latin word for suffering,
and these parts of the Gospel describe the last week in Jesus’ life
when he was arrested, tried, tortured and crucified. This story is
so sacred to Christians because they believe that the death and
resurrection of Jesus saved all of humanity from their sins. Therefore,
the suffering of Jesus brought about something very good.
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 Isaiah 53 – ‘the suffering servant’
One metaphor which can help us to understand the importance of Jesus’
suffering can be found in the Old Testament description of the suffering
servant, in Isaiah 53. From the earliest centuries, Christians saw this
Prophecy A prediction of what will passage from Isaiah as a prophecy of Jesus and the way in which his
happen in the future. suffering would bring about blessings for others. In this passage, a figure
Salvation The belief that through called ‘the suffering servant’, who is described as an unattractive person, is
Jesus’ death and resurrection rejected by his own people and cruelly punished by them. But the author of
humanity has achieved the Isaiah says that he was experiencing the sufferings that others deserved,
possibility of life forever with God. so that they would not have to experience them. The acceptance of suffering
Being saved from sin. by the ‘suffering servant’ somehow brought about their salvation. This is
what Catholics believe about Jesus too and is one very important reason
why they are ambivalent about suffering.
‘He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him…He was
despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and
familiar with pain.
Surely, he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we
considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for
our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on
him, and by his wounds we are healed.’
Isaiah 53

Jewish views
Jews do not read Isaiah 53 as a reference to Jesus, rather they see it
as a metaphorical description of the suffering of Israel – the Jewish
nation – throughout the ages, which will ultimately bring about the salvation
of all other nations in the Messianic age to come. However, despite this
difference of interpretation of the identity of the suffering servant, Jews would
also have the same ambivalence towards suffering.
For Jews, suffering comes from two different sources – human-made and
natural. Often suffering has arisen because God has given free will to people
to do good or to do evil. They believe that some suffering can come from
God as a test or a punishment, but often the reason for the existence of
suffering cannot be understood. In such cases, human beings should not
question why God has sent suffering. In the Ethics of the Fathers it states:
‘It is not in our power to explain either the wellbeing of the wicked
or the sufferings of the righteous.’
2 Good and evil

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 Tasks

Good, evil and suffering

1 Copy the mind map and beneath each Suffering
heading write a short explanation in your own is a
words of why Catholics are ambivalent about mystery
suffering.
Suffering Suffering
2 For each of the boxes on your mind map add of as part of
Why
a source of authority a Catholic might use to Jesus
Catholics are
love
support each view. ambivalent to
suffering
3 Explain in your own words what Isaiah 53 (the
suffering servant) says. Why do Catholics think
Suffering
this refers to Jesus? as a
Suffering as
commitment
4 Who would agree with the views stated below? blessing
Some may apply to both groups!

View Catholic Jew

Isaiah 53 predicts Jesus’ life and his death for human sins.
Ambivalent towards suffering.
God gave humans free will and they can use it either to do good or evil.
Original sin was introduced to the world in the events of the Fall.
God is good and created a good world.
Humans can’t understand the reasons for suffering.

Summary
• Moral evil is suffering caused by human actions and choices.
• Natural evil is suffering caused by natural occurrences, e.g. earthquakes
and disease.
• Some Christians believe that all evil is a result of original sin – the
inherited guilt and sinful tendency that all human beings possess.
• St Augustine said evil is a ‘privation’ – not a thing in itself, just the
absence of good.
• Some philosophers have said that suffering helps us to grow in a spiritual
sense and that is why God allows evil.
• Jews believe that we are free to choose between the natural human
inclination to do evil and the natural human inclination to do good. Often
people choose evil. Sometimes suffering is a test or punishment from
God but often the purpose of suffering cannot be understood.
• The Catholic and Jewish belief is that God’s goodness is reflected in his
Creation which is good.
• Philosophers, such as David Hume and John Mackie, have often challenged
(and sometimes rejected) believing in a loving God in an evil world.
• Catholics are ambivalent about evil. They sometimes see it as beneficial
and would use Jesus’ suffering, shown through the image of the suffering
servant, to show how good can come out of suffering.

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 ■ The Trinity
Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• the Catholic belief that God is a Trinity of persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
• why this belief is important to Catholics
• where this belief can be found in the scriptures and how it has developed
• the importance of St Augustine’s metaphor of the love, lover and beloved
as an image of the Trinity
• why Jews have no beliefs or teachings about the Trinity.

▶ The mystery of the Trinity

Christians believe the following things about God:
▶ There is only one God.
▶ God exists as three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
▶ Each of these three persons is distinct from the other two.
▶ Each of these three persons is fully God.
▶ But there are not three Gods (see first bullet).
When we list these beliefs separately it looks impossible for all of
them to be true at once, yet every Sunday, Catholics recite something
called the ‘Nicene Creed’. A ‘creed’ is a statement of belief. Nicea was
the name of a place in ancient Turkey, where a council of bishops
met to settle the question of how Christians should speak about
God. In this creed it is clear that Christians believe in ‘one God’, but
also in the ‘Son of God’ who is equal with the Father (‘consubstantial
with’ means, roughly, ‘the same as’) and in the Holy Spirit who is
‘adored and glorified’ with the Father and the Son.

I believe in one God,

the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
Christians use various symbols to
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
2 Good and evil

represent the Trinity and the idea of three

the Lord, the giver of life,
persons in one including the Shamrock,
the Borromean rings and the Triskelion who proceeds from the Father
and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

Extracts from the Nicene Creed

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 Tasks

The Trinity
1 Christians have many beliefs about what God is like; terms they
might use to describe God are shown in the list below. Do you think
any of these characteristics relate more to one person of the Trinity
than another?
Judge Creator Inspirational Compassionate
Personal Transcendent Omnipotent Omnipresent
Omniscient Suffering
2 Choose one word that you think relates most to God the Father, one
that relates most to Jesus and one that relates most to the Holy Spirit.
Explain why you have chosen each word.
3 Copy out the Nicene Creed. Below are seven things the Nicene Creed
tells us about the Trinity. Add these as labels to the appropriate part of
the creed.
• God the Father is all powerful
• Christians are monotheistic
• The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets and inspires the Church today
• Jesus has always existed alongside the Father
• God the Father is the creator of everything
• Jesus is divine like the Father
• The Holy Spirit is divine like God the Father and Son so worthy of
worship
4 Explain how a Catholic might respond to this statement:
‘Christianity is really a polytheistic religion (believes in many
Gods).’

▶ Ideas about the Trinity in the Bible

A belief in the Trinity emerged gradually in the history of
Christianity. The earliest Christians were not really Christians at
all; they were Jews who followed Jesus. The term Christian doesn’t
even exist as a name for a group until several years after Jesus’
death (Acts 11:26). Even then it seems to be a name others used
as an insult, rather than a name that these Jesus-following Jews
called themselves. So, it is no surprise that Christians believe in
only one God because Christianity grew out of Judaism. A belief
in only one God (what we now call ‘monotheism’) is the belief
that most clearly separated the Jews from the many other ancient
religions that surrounded them, who believed in many gods. So
Christians, like their Jewish ancestors and Jews today, believe
there is only one God.

The Son
At the same time, these early followers of Jesus had other
experiences which completely changed how they understood God
and the world. The early followers of Jesus had experienced Jesus’
death and resurrection and they believed that they had met the
risen Jesus. Because of this they came to believe, very early in the
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 history of Christianity, that Jesus was also God. In the letters of
St Paul (the earliest Christian writings we have access to), it is
clear that he, and the churches to whom he was writing his letters,
believed that Jesus was God. For example, in his letter to the
Colossians he writes:
‘The Son is the image of the invisible God... For in him all things were
created: things in heaven and on earth...’
Colossians 1:15–17
In this passage, it is clear that the Son is equal to the Father and
was present with the Father at the creation of the world. However,
they also knew that Jesus was not the Father, since they had heard
Jesus pray to the Father (see, for example, John 11:41).
So Christians, very early in the history of Christianity, as well as
believing in only one God, also came to believe that Jesus was also
God, but was not the Father.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is often represented by a dove

2 Good and evil

The early Christians had also experienced the coming of the Holy
Spirit at Pentecost and sometimes felt the Spirit at work when they
prayed.
So, also very early in the history of Christianity, they had also
come to believe that the Holy Spirit was also God, and was not the
Father, and was not Jesus.
Before they could explain what any of this meant, they believed
in one God, that Jesus was God and that the Holy Spirit was God.
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 By the time the Gospels were written (later than St Paul’s letters),

The Trinity
there were many indications of a belief in the three persons of the
Trinity. For example, in the accounts of Jesus’ baptism we see the
three persons of the Trinity present:
‘When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too.
And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit
descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from
heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’
Luke 3:21–22
The Gospel of Matthew ends with the clearest expression of the
Trinity:
‘Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…’
Matthew 28:19

Christians to this day still baptise people in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Task
Imagine you are answering a question on the biblical support for the
doctrine of the Trinity. Give an example of how the Bible supports the
following ideas about the Trinity:
Belief about the Trinity Biblical support
Jesus is divine.
Jesus is distinct from the Father.
The Holy Spirit is a distinct part of the Trinity.
The Trinity is made up of three distinct but
equal persons.

Historical development
From these starting points in the early Church, the doctrine
Doctrine A belief or set of beliefs. of the Trinity developed until it was finally settled and written
down at two early councils of the Church – Nicea in AD325 and
Constantinople in AD381.
The first council of Nicea was called to settle a disagreement
that had arisen in the fourth century between Arius, a priest, and a
deacon called Athanasius. Arius did not believe that Jesus was God.
He argued that Jesus was the highest creature but that he was less
than God. Athanasius disagreed. He argued that the Father and the
Son were equal and that both were God.
The council sided with Athanasius and said that the Father and
the Son were equal to each other.

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 The Nicene Creed which is still recited by Catholics today came out of the Council of Nicea in AD325

Following this council, another argument arose. This time there

were some who argued that the Son and the Father were so equal
that they weren’t really two distinct persons, but just different
‘aspects’ or ‘modes’ of the one God. So another council was called in
AD381 in Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) which produced the
creed that Catholics now say at Mass every week. This creed makes it
clear that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all equal to each
other, are all equally God, but are still three distinct persons.
Today, the Trinity is important for two main reasons:
1 Without a doctrine of the Trinity, it would not be possible for
Christians to believe that Jesus is God. The belief that Jesus is God
is probably the most important Christian belief.
2 The doctrine of the Trinity means that the God that Christians
believe in is a community of persons. This means that it makes
sense to say ‘God is love’, because even before any creatures existed
for God to love, there was a relationship of love within God which
has existed for all eternity.
This idea of God as a trinity of love is one which is explored further
2 Good and evil

by St Augustine when he tries to make sense of the doctrine of the

Trinity.

St Augustine – love, lover, beloved

St Augustine (354–430) wrote a whole book on the Trinity. One of the
ideas that he used to make sense of the doctrine was the concept of
love. St Augustine believed, as do all Christians, that ‘God is Love’ (see
1 John 4:8). He also realised that love needs three things: the person
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 who is doing the loving, the person who is being loved and the love

The Trinity
itself. If God is love, these three aspects must have been present in
God from all eternity – even before God had made any creatures to
love. So St Augustine says that the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy
Spirit is like this Trinity of love, lover and beloved. This idea of God as
love is a helpful one for Christians because it makes it clear that love
needs to be an important part of every Christian’s life.
‘There are three things in love, as it were a trace of the Trinity…love is
of someone that loves, and with love something is loved. Behold, then,
there are three things: he that loves, and that which is loved, and love.’
St Augustine, De Trinitate 8, 10

Jewish views
Jews may think that Jesus existed as a historical person important prayer for Jews, the Shema. It is also stated in
but they do not attach any significance to his life and the Ten Commandments. There are different attributes
death. Nor do they believe that Jesus was God. Equally, of God such as ‘judge’ and ‘merciful’ but these are only
they do not believe in the Trinity. They would see both a characteristics of the one God. Shekhinah signifies God’s
belief that Jesus is God and the Trinity as a challenge to presence on the earth (see page 208). These attributes
the oneness of God. For Jews, God is the only God and is all of God though are not separate persons, but are just the
powerful. The belief in only one God is stated in the most different ways in which human beings experience God.

Tasks
1 Work with a partner and each choose either the Council of Nicea or the Council of Constantinople. Explain how
the one you have chosen was important in developing the idea of the Trinity. Use the following framework for
your answer:
• Where was it held? • When was it held?
• What issue was it held to discuss? • What was the outcome of the council?
2 Complete the table below by choosing who holds which view (some views may be held by both groups).
Belief Catholics Jews
There is one God made up of distinct but equal parts.
There is only one God with different aspects.
The Nicene Creed sets out beliefs about the Trinity.
God is all-powerful, merciful and just.
The Shema is an important prayer stating that there is only one God.
Jesus was just an ordinary man.
Jesus was God.
3 Explain St Augustine’s idea of ‘love, lover and beloved’ and how it relates to the Trinity. Use a quotation in your answer.

Summary
• Christians believe in a God who exists as a Trinity • St Augustine said the Trinity of persons was like the
of persons: Father, Son and Spirit. lover, the beloved and love itself.
• This arose because the early Christians believed • Jews have no beliefs or teachings about the idea of
that Jesus was God incarnate (see next page). Trinity. They would reject it as a challenge to their
fundamental belief that God is one.

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 ■ The incarnation

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• the meaning of the word ‘incarnation’
• the biblical origins of the belief that Jesus is God incarnate
• how this doctrine influences Catholic understandings of the meaning
of suffering
• what Pope St John Paul II said about suffering in Salvifici Doloris.

▶ Jesus
Incarnate son

Key Concept
Incarnation Meaning ‘made flesh’. The Christian belief that God became
man in the person of Jesus, fully human and fully divine.

For Christians, the word incarnation refers to the most central

Christian belief; that Jesus is God and that in Jesus, God the Son
became a human being. ‘The incarnation’ means ‘became flesh’
and Christians believe that God became visible ‘in the flesh’ in
the person of Jesus.
The most usual way Christians express this belief is by calling
Jesus the ‘Son of God’. This connects to the doctrine of the
Trinity, where the term ‘Son’ is used to name the second person
of the Trinity. When Christians call Jesus the ‘Son of God’ they
mean that he is God who has become a human being; that he is
the ‘incarnate Son’.

Fully God and fully human

Christians also believe that Jesus is ‘fully God and fully man’. So
when they say that Jesus is the incarnate Son, they don’t mean
that Jesus is a really good human being who is very close to God;
he is really and fully God. At the same time, they don’t mean that
Jesus is just God in disguise, or God pretending to be a human
being; he is really and fully human. Christians believe that Jesus
is one person, with two natures: one human nature, and one
divine (which means ‘godly’) nature.
2 Good and evil

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 The incarnation
In Christian art, the idea that Jesus is fully God and fully man is symbolised by the blue and the red of his clothes. The image is
Caravaggio's The Taking of Christ

Divine word (John 1:1–18)

Another way that a belief in the incarnation is expressed is by
using the metaphor of ‘God’s Word’. In the opening chapter of
John’s Gospel, John refers to Jesus as ‘the Word’. The author of
John’s Gospel makes a link with the book of Genesis by starting
with the words ‘In the beginning …’, which is also how Genesis
starts.
In the first chapter of Genesis, God speaks and things happen.
For example, God says, ‘Let there be light’ and then light happens.
So in Genesis, God’s word is the power that makes Creation
happen. In John’s Gospel, the author says that the relationship
between the Father and Jesus is like the relationship between a

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 speaker and his words. So the author of John’s Gospel refers to
the second person of the Trinity, Jesus, as ‘the Word’. In John’s
Gospel, it is clear that the second person of the Trinity is distinct
from the Father (‘the Word was with God’) but that he is also
equal to God (‘the Word was God’). The incarnation is made
very clear with the words, ‘The Word became flesh and made his
dwelling among us’.
‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him
all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been
made…
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have
seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the
Father, full of grace and truth.’
John 1:1–3,14

The kenosis hymn (Philippians 2:5–11)

The equality between Jesus and the Father, and the moment of the
incarnation, is described in another place in scripture: in a hymn which St
Paul quotes in his letter to the Philippians. In this hymn it says that
Christians should be like Jesus who, even though he was God, willingly put
aside his equality with God to become a human being. And then as a
human being, he doesn’t even insist on his equality with other human
beings, but makes himself even lower accepting a humiliating and
degrading execution. This hymn is called the ‘kenosis hymn’. Kenosis is a
Greek word which means ‘emptying’. It is called the kenosis hymn because
it was a hymn of praise that early Christians used to sing about Jesus and
it contains the idea that Jesus ‘emptied himself’ of his rightful equality
with God, in becoming a human being in the incarnation. St Paul says, ‘he
made himself nothing’.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset
as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his
own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
2 Good and evil

even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5–8

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 Tasks

The incarnation
1 What is meant by incarnation?
Match the quote from John’s Gospel to what it tells us about Jesus.
Reference, from John 1: 1–18 Meaning
1 ‘. . . the Word was with God. . .’ a Jesus was God in human
form (incarnate).
2 ‘. . . the Word was God. . .’ b Jesus is eternal.
3 ‘. . . the Word became flesh and made c Jesus is equal to God the
his dwelling among us. . .’ Father.
4 ‘. . . in the beginning was the Word’ d Jesus is part of the Trinity
that is distinct from God the
Father.
2 How might the message of the kenosis hymn influence how a Catholic
might act towards other people?
• Use quotes from the hymn to support your answer.
• Give examples of how Catholics might behave to fulfil the message of
the hymn.
3 How might a Catholic respond to the statement: ‘Jesus was just a
human man’?
Refer to at least one source of wisdom and authority in your answer and
use the following words and phrases:
• Incarnation
• Fully God and fully human.

▶ The incarnation and the Problem of Evil

A belief that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God is very important
to Christians in helping them to respond to the Problem of
Evil. Jesus’ incarnation and suffering give Christians a means of
continuing to believe in the goodness of God, even in the face of
human suffering.
An American theologian called Marilyn McCord Adams
said that the answer to the Problem of Evil is one that human
minds might not be able to ever understand but Christians can
still trust in the goodness of God. She says Christians should
not ask why they suffer but how they can suffer and not lose
faith. She uses the parable of a two-year-old child who has to
undergo heart surgery which will be very painful but which
will ultimately save her life. She points out that the mother
will never be able to explain to her two-year-old why she has
to suffer, because the daughter won’t understand what heart
surgery is, or why it is needed. But the two-year-old can be
helped to cope with the pain because she trusts in her mother’s
love and that her mother has her best interests at heart. The
child can cope with the suffering because her mother is by her
side while she suffers. She doesn’t know why she has to suffer
but she does know how to endure it.

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 Children might not understand everything that happens to them, but they trust their
parents to act in their best interest. Similarly humans can’t always understand why they
have to suffer but can trust in God

Adams says that the Christian answer to the Problem of Evil

is something like that. It is not an answer to why we suffer, but
it can give Christians an answer to ‘how’ we can bear suffering
without losing faith. In her parable, all human beings are like
the two-year-old child in that we will never understand why we
have to suffer, but Jesus is like God’s loving hand, the tender love
of a mother for her child. Jesus is a comfort to those who suffer
because Christians believe that Jesus is God’s presence with his
people. Christians believe Jesus is with us in our suffering because
Jesus himself experienced suffering and did not run from it but
endured it out of love. A similar answer to the problem is given by
Pope St John Paul II.

Pope St John Paul II – Salvifici Doloris

In his letter, Salvifici Doloris (which means ‘the saving power of
2 Good and evil

suffering’) Pope St John Paul II says that the only way human
beings can grasp the ‘why’ of suffering is to try and understand the
depth of God’s love for human beings, which Jesus showed through
his willingness to die on the cross. He also says that if Christians
willingly ‘offer up’ their own suffering in prayer for the sake of
others, they can somehow share in the saving suffering of Jesus.
This is very difficult to understand but Pope St John Paul II believes
that if we try and bear our suffering patiently and offer it to God in
prayer, that God will somehow be able to use it to bring about good
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 for others. If a Christian can do this, it is an act of love which is like

The incarnation
Jesus’ own act of sacrifice.

‘But in order to understand the ‘why’ of suffering, we must look to

the revelation of divine love…This answer has been given by God to
human beings in the Cross of Jesus Christ.
Those who share in Christ’s suffering have before their eyes the
Paschal Mystery of the Cross and Resurrection, in which Christ
takes on human weakness…But if in this weakness there is
accomplished his lifting up, then the weaknesses of human
suffering can be filled with the same power of God made visible in
Christ’s Cross.’
Salvifici Doloris 13 & 23

Tasks
1 In your own words, summarise Pope St John Paul II’s teachings about
suffering in Salvifici Doloris.
2 Explain how belief in the incarnation helps Catholics to respond to the
Problem of Evil and suffering.
Your answer should include:
• specialist vocabulary

• sources of wisdom and authority

• knowledge and understanding of religious ideas, beliefs and practices

• influence of beliefs.
Once you have written your answer, use a different colour pen for
each of the success criteria above and check you have included all the
different aspects in your answer.

Summary
• The incarnation is the belief that Jesus is God ‘made flesh’; that
Jesus is fully God and fully human.
• The opening chapter of John’s Gospel conveys these ideas clearly.
• St Paul describes the incarnation in his writings.
• Jesus gives an answer to the ‘how’ of suffering, if not the ‘why’ of
suffering.
• Pope St John Paul II believed that our own suffering could become
saving for others if it is joined to the suffering of Jesus.

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 ■ Jesus and moral authority

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• how the teaching and example of Jesus provide authority for Christian
moral behaviour
• the details of the moral teaching of Jesus in the ‘Sermon on the Mount’
• beliefs about Natural Law and conscience
• how suffering can make people more virtuous.

▶ The example and teachings of Jesus

The example of Jesus
When Christians talk about Jesus as an example, they mean that the
way he lived his life is one that all Christians should try and imitate.

Jesus and sinners

All the way through the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, one of the
surprising things to those around him is the amount of time Jesus is
willing to spend with those whom others consider sinners. So Jesus
spends his time with tax collectors and with adulterers and
prostitutes, and he is crucified with thieves. Jesus is an example to
Mercy Forgiveness. Christians here by showing that God always forgives those who sin
and no one is outside of God’s mercy. Therefore, Christians too
should show forgiveness to everyone, no matter what they have done.

Jesus and the sick

The other group that Jesus spends a lot of time with are those who are
Lepers People suffering from
sick and are outcast from society. Jesus willingly touches lepers and
leprosy, an infectious disease
heals them. He heals the woman with a haemorrhage, who was an
that, in extreme cases, can cause
outcast from her society because of her illness. He also heals those who
deformity.
were considered possessed with evil spirits. Many people now think that
Haemorrhage Heavy bleeding. what was called ‘possession’ in Jesus’ time might be the sort of thing we
now describe as mental illness. There is no sickness or social condition
that Jesus refuses to touch and to heal. Jesus is an example to Christians
here by showing that they should never treat anyone as an outcast but
be with them in their suffering and try to help them if they can.

The teachings of Jesus

The Beatitudes
2 Good and evil

Jesus also gives clear teachings on how people should live their
lives. The clearest collection of these teachings are in Chapters five
to seven of Matthew’s Gospel, in a section that is often called the
Sermon on the Mount.
The sermon begins with a list of blessings, which are often
called The Beatitudes (which is Latin for ‘blessings’). This list of
blessings is strange in that some of the things on it are not usually
thought of as blessings. For example, Jesus speaks of the poor, the
grieving and those who suffer as people who are blessed. But there are
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 other categories of people on this list who clearly stand for the sort of

Jesus and moral authority

behaviour and attitudes Jesus sees as the model for all human living.
So, he praises the peacemakers, the merciful, the meek and those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
One of the key messages of the beatitudes seems to be that those
Persecute Consistently treat
who are closest to God are often those that the world does not
cruelly.
recognise or value and sometimes even persecutes.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely
say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be
glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:3–11

The old Law and the new

In another part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses a phrase
over and again which begins ‘You have heard that it was said…’
and ends with the phrase ‘But I say to you…’ Here Jesus shows the
ways in which being a follower of his is more demanding than the
religious Law (Torah) which his listeners had been living by. He
begins this whole section by saying:

‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law…I have not come
to abolish the Law but to fulfil it.’

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 So Jesus says that in the past the Law ruled out murder, but Jesus
says even being angry with someone is unacceptable. The Law did not
allow adultery but Jesus says that even looking at someone lustfully is
unacceptable. The Law allowed people to take revenge on those who had
harmed them, only paying back in proportion to what had been suffered
(‘an eye for an eye’) but Jesus says that you should not take revenge at
all. The Law required people to love their neighbour but allowed them
to hate their enemy, but Jesus says you must love your enemies as well.

Right actions, wrong reasons

At the end of the sermon, he warns people against doing good
things but for the wrong reasons. He speaks about praying, fasting
and giving to charity (called almsgiving) and says that these must
always be done in private. Jesus knew that often people do these
good things publicly so that others will think well of them. Jesus
says that people should do these things because they are right, not
to get praise from other people.
The whole of the Sermon on the Mount seems very demanding
and almost impossible. This is perhaps because the thing Jesus
dislikes the most is pride; he doesn’t want anyone to think that
they have achieved all that goodness demands of them. This is
probably why he preferred spending time with sinners who knew
they needed the mercy of God, than he did with the Jewish religious
leaders (Pharisees), who thought they didn’t.
Tasks
1 Look up WWJD bracelets.
• Explain what they are.
• Why might Christians find it helpful to wear a WWJD bracelet?
2 How would Jesus’ example influence how a Christian might respond to some of the issues in society, for example
terrorism, immigration or euthanasia?
3 Explain why, in the Beatitudes, Jesus describes the poor in spirit, the mourning and the persecuted as being
blessed.
4 Explain what Jesus meant when he said he had come to fulfil the Law.
5 Discuss the following statement, showing you have considered different points of view.
‘Jesus’ teachings are too unrealistic to be of any use in the modern world.’

Other sources of moral authority

Natural law
After the Second World War, many former Nazis were put on
trial in Nuremberg for ‘crimes against humanity’. Many of these
people used as their defence the argument that they were only
obeying their superior officers who, at the time, they were legally
2 Good and evil

obliged to obey. The courts at Nuremberg did not accept these

arguments. Even though the crimes committed by Nazis were not
crimes in Nazi Germany, they were still crimes that were against a
universal, natural law that the judges at Nuremberg believed every
human being could understand, even if they were living in a state
that had rejected these natural laws.

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 This is the basic idea behind

Jesus and moral authority

the concept of natural law. It is
the belief that above all human
legal systems, which are enforced
by nation states or other human
institutions, there is a moral
law that every human being
understands and should live by.
The same idea is expressed in
the existence of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights,
which is another way of saying
that there are some natural rights
which every human being should
have, even if the laws of the land in
which they happen to live ignore
these rights.
A belief in natural law is a key
Herman Göring was a leading member of the Nazi Party. After the war he was convicted part of Catholic moral teaching.
of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court that tried him found that, even The idea is that because human
though his actions hadn’t been illegal in Germany at the time, they broke universal laws beings all ultimately share the same
that should govern human behaviour human nature, the same things will
ultimately bring them fulfi lment.
Natural law (put forward by St Thomas Aquinas) says that all
human beings have some purposes in common:
▶ preserving life
▶ reproduction
▶ educating children
▶ living in an ordered society
▶ worshipping God.
Because of these common purposes, there are some universal
laws that all human beings have to obey, such as the laws against
murder, child abuse, theft and lying.
Key Concepts Catholics would see this human ability to discover the natural
Natural law The moral laws of law as proof of the fact that the universe is created and ruled
right and wrong which are by a God who is good. In fact, they would argue, our ability to
universal and not dependent on recognise suffering as an evil is itself a sign that we have this
human laws. The belief in natural God-given ability to tell the difference between good and evil.
law is the belief that the moral
law is discoverable by every Conscience
human being and is the same for If there is a natural law that applies to all human beings, then
all human beings in all places at the ability to discover this law is what Catholics call conscience.
all times. In Catholic understanding, conscience has two parts – the
Conscience Human reason part that is to do with knowledge and the part that is to do
making moral decisions. The with action. The part that is to do with knowledge is our mind’s
knowledge we have of what is ability to know the difference between right and wrong and
right and wrong and the God- make decisions about what the right thing to do is in different
given compulsion within all situations.
human beings to do what is right The part that is to do with action is the internal impulse,
and to avoid what is evil. which Catholics believe all human beings have, to do what is
right and to avoid doing what is wrong. This part gives human
beings their sense of moral duty and leads to guilt when they fail
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 to do what they know to be right. The two parts of conscience
work together: in any given situation, the conscience will help a
human being to know what the right thing to do is; it will also
compel the human being to do that thing.
Catholics believe the existence of conscience is unique to
human beings and that this existence of conscience is another
proof of the goodness of God who created human beings in his
own image. Also, in relation to the Problem of Evil, if human
beings obeyed their conscience more often, there would be far
less moral evil in the world, and far less suffering as a result.

Catholics believe conscience is knowing the difference between right and wrong and
then following the direction that right points in

Virtues and suffering

Catholics also believe that living a good life and obeying their
conscience is something that requires practice. Doing the right
thing is not always easy and if our moral character is weak, then it
is even more difficult to do what is right. Catholics believe that
there are moral habits which human beings need to practise in
order to become good people. These moral habits are called
Virtues Good moral behaviours. virtues, from the Latin word for ‘perfection’. They include things
like courage, generosity, selflessness and self-control. Each of these
virtues challenges our instinctive selfishness, for example, our
desire to keep ourselves safe has to be overcome in order to become
more courageous.
The Catholic view is that these virtues take practice; we are
2 Good and evil

not good at them straight away but we can get better at them
through our life experiences. One of the ways in which people
can grow in virtue is through the experience of suffering. This is
because suffering sometimes helps us to improve in the virtues.
For example, enduring a serious illness can make someone more
courageous. If I suffer poverty, this can make me more generous
when I do have food and other things to share. The Catholic view
of virtues is a good way of helping us to understand how suffering
can help us to become better people.
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 Jesus and moral authority
Tasks
1 Choose any three from the table below and write an explanation of
what they mean on a whiteboard or tell your partner. Each word has a
score value, so choose words that can get you the highest score!
Conscience (4) Sermon on the Mount (3)
Natural Law (5) Suffering (2)
Problem of Evil (2) Virtues (4)
2 Research a famous person you know has suffered and then gone on to
do good work helping others. Three examples are suggested below, but
you could choose your own:
• Malala Yousafzai
• Katie Piper
• Nelson Mandela.
For each person:
a Explain what happened to them.
b Explain what virtues helped them to develop.
c Explain how they have used their experience to help others.
3 Explain why Catholics believe that Natural Law and conscience are
evidence for the existence of a benevolent God.

Summary
• The examples and teaching of Jesus provide the most important moral
guidance.
• The Sermon on the Mount provides much of this moral teaching and
also shows how Jesus has come to fulfil the religious Law (Torah) of
his day.
• Other sources of moral authority include Natural Law which is the belief
that there are absolute moral rules that exist for all people, in all places
and at all times.
• Another source of moral authority is the human conscience which has the
ability to understand what is right and wrong and the desire to do what is
right and avoid what is wrong.
• The existence of Natural Law and conscience are proof for Catholics of the
existence of a good God.
• Virtues are good moral habits.
• Catholics believe that suffering can help in the development of the virtues.

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 ■ Sculpture and statuary

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• why Catholics have statues in churches and how they aid worship
• how to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using statues in
worship
• why there are no statues or images of people in Jewish synagogues and
why Jews would never depict God
• what Michelangelo’s Pietà means as a reflection on God’s goodness and
human suffering.

▶ Sculpture and statues

Catholic churches have many features that make them different
from other churches. One thing that many people notice is
the presence of statues. These statues can be of many different
religious figures. In all Catholic churches, there will be at least
one crucifix that has on it the figure of Jesus. This will usually
be displayed in a prominent position in the church. In most
Catholic churches, there will also be a statue of Mary, the
mother of Jesus. There will also often be a statue of Jesus, called
the ‘Sacred Heart’ that shows the heart of Jesus burning with
love. In addition to these three most common statues, there
might well be other statues of saints, especially of the saint after
whom the church is named.
In many Catholic churches, these statues will have in front
of them places to kneel and places to light candles to leave as
physical symbols of prayer intentions. Catholics often kneel in
front of statues to pray.
The presence of statues in Catholic churches as a focus for
prayer and devotion is common and unremarkable to most
Catholics, but for many other Christians it is an unusual
practice and one with which many would disagree.

Statues: for and against…

For many Christians, especially those who belong to some Protestant
traditions, the use of statues goes against their beliefs:
2 Good and evil

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 Sculpture and statuary
Making religious statues goes against But as Catholics we don’t pray to the
the second commandment that forbids statues. They are just reminders of God
the making of any image as an object and Jesus and these help us to focus our
of worship. By worshipping statues prayers on what really matters. Statues
Catholics are worshipping ‘false gods’. are like photographs of loved ones – the
photographs are only important to us
because they remind us of the people we
Well … that would be a good argument love. We don’t love photographs; we love
if the statues were only statues of Jesus, the people in the photographs.
but there are often of other holy men and
women, such as Mary and the saints.
Offering prayers to anyone or anything But Catholics don’t worship Mary and
other than God is breaking the first the saints but rather we ask Mary and the
commandment to worship God alone. saints to on our behalf and pray
to God for us, just like we often ask other
living people to pray for us and will offer to
When Catholics light candles and kneel pray for them too – just like many Chris-
in front of the statues it certainly looks tians. Catholics believe that we are part
to me like they are praying and not of something called ‘the communion of
worshipping God alone! saints’; all believers, both living and dead,
are part of this communion and we believe
that the saints in heaven offer prayers to
God for those on earth. So we’re just asking
the saints to pray for us, not worshipping
false gods.

In order for Catholics to answer this, we will have to look at the

Intercede To act on behalf of
significance of statues – and other physical signs in general – for
someone else.
Catholics.

The significance of statues for Catholics

Catholics would say that the presence of statues in churches is just
one way in which they express a deeper commitment to what they
call an ‘incarnational view’ of the world. Remember, the incarnation
is the belief that God took on a physical form and lived in the real
world when he became a human being in Jesus. For Catholics, this
means that physical things are good and that God can make himself
known to human beings through the ordinary physical things
around us. This is why so much of Catholic worship is centred on
ordinary, physical signs of God’s extraordinary presence – oil, water,
bread, wine, colours, incense, music, and so on. For Catholics statues
are just another sign of the reality of the incarnation.

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 The one statue that will be present in every Catholic church is
the crucifix. This is a directly incarnational image since it is an
image of Jesus himself whom Catholics believe became incarnate
in order to save people from their sins. The crucifix is the most
common focus for Catholic prayer and it reminds believers of the
incarnation, but also of the suffering of Jesus which, for Catholics,
is a reminder of God’s love for them.

Jewish view
Jews reject the use of statues as a focus for prayer. In observance of
one of the Ten Commandments, ‘You shall have no other gods before me’,
Jews do not make images or representations of God. In the synagogue,
there will be no statues. Indeed, although synagogues may be very
decorative and have pictures, carvings and stained glass, they will
have no human representations at all. It is God alone who should be
worshipped. For Jews, anything else would be a sign of the worship of
false idols. Even God is not depicted in art or statuary because God is
A statue of the Crucifixion will be found in beyond human understanding.
every Catholic church

Tasks
1 Give three examples of statues commonly found in Catholic churches.
2 Go online and find a picture of each type, then print this out for your
file/book labelling it with the type of statue it is and why it is important
to Catholics.
3 Acrostics are a good way of remembering key information. Complete
the one below showing you understand the importance of statues and
sculptures to Catholics. One letter is done for you.
S
The crucifix is the most important statue
A
T
U
E
S
4 Evaluate the following statement, making sure that you consider
different viewpoints, including the Catholic viewpoint.
‘You shouldn’t worship using statues.'
2 Good and evil

▶ Statues and suffering: Michelangelo’s Pietà

Statues also help Catholics to reflect on the meaning of suffering.
One of the most famous statues that does this is Michelangelo’s Pietà.
It is a statue of Mary holding the body of her son after his crucifixion.
‘Pietà’ is a word which comes from the Latin word for holiness.
Of all the many different forms of the Pietà by various painters and
sculptors throughout history, the one by Michelangelo stands out
as perhaps the greatest.
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 Sculpture and statuary
Viewers have pointed out that the deep shadow Some viewers are Mary's left hand is
created by the fold of the garment next to Jesus is surprised by the positioned with an
a symbol of an open womb, reminding us that the stillness on Mary’s open palm; this is a sign
one she holds in her arms is the one she carried in face, considering she is Mary is at peace after
her womb, and inviting us to share the pain of her holding the body of her witnessing her son’s
sorrow. dead son. crucifixion.

In her sadness, Mary seems resigned

Mary is shown supporting the body Michelangelo carved it from to what has happened. Jesus, too,
of a fully-grown man on her lap. a single slab of marble in less is presented almost as if he is in a
In reality, that is difficult for the than two years. It is famous peaceful sleep, rather than having
average woman to do. In the Pietà, for the way the artist has been bloodied and bruised after
Mary’s figure is larger than that managed to make stone hours of torture and suffering.
of Jesus. Her bottom half forms a appear to flow like real cloth His wounds are hardly visible. In
sturdy base for the body of Jesus. and how well he has captured supporting Jesus, Mary’s right
Even though the piece is life-like, it the human form and hand does not come into direct
is not realistic. Mary’s size makes emotions. His interpretation contact with his flesh, but instead it
Jesus look small in comparison. of the Pietà was different to is covered with a cloth which then
This is another echo of Mary as the ones previously created by touches his side. This shows the
mother of the infant Jesus; as if she other artists. Michelangelo sacredness of Jesus' body. Overall,
is holding a baby in her arms. This decided to create a youthful these two figures are beautiful and
represents the love of a mother and peaceful Virgin Mary idealised, despite their suffering.
and many mothers who have lost instead of a broken-hearted This reflects the belief of Catholic
their own children report that the and older woman, as is often ambivalence to suffering; that
statue is a strange sort of comfort portrayed in earlier versions suffering is somehow part of love
for them. of the image. and can be a source of blessing.
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 Tasks
1 Copy and complete the table below describing the meaning of each part of Michelangelo’s Pietà. One has
been done for you.
Part of the statue Meaning
The shadow created by the garment next to Jesus Some people think this represents an open womb and
symbolises the pain Mary suffered during childbirth and
also the pain she is suffering because of Jesus’ death.
The difference in size between Mary and Jesus
The fact that Mary isn’t directly touching Jesus
The peaceful expressions of Mary and Jesus
2 Explain how Michelangelo’s Pietà reflects Catholic beliefs about suffering.
Try and include the following ideas in your answer:
• ambivalence • suffering as part of love • suffering as a blessing.

Summary
• Catholics use statues in their worship as a reminder • Jews reject the use of statues or any images of
of God and as a focus for prayers; statues are not humans in synagogues and would never represent
worshipped. God because God is beyond human understanding.
• Some other Christians believe that using statues in • The Pietà is a statue of the death of Jesus that
worship is against the Ten Commandments. many Catholics find helpful in helping them to
respond to human suffering.
2 Good and evil

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 ■ Popular devotion as practised in Catholic

Popular devotion as practised in Catholic communities in Britain and elsewhere

communities in Britain and elsewhere

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• the meaning of the word ‘pilgrimage’
• why pilgrimage is important to Catholics
• how pilgrimages can be a response to the existence of suffering
• what the Rosary is and how it is prayed
• what the Sorrowful Mysteries are
• Jewish attitudes to pilgrimage
• how the Rosary is used as a Catholic response to suffering.

▶ ‘Pilgrimage’ – what is it?

A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place. Before modern roads and
transport, this could take a very long time. For example, many
Catholics in England would walk for many weeks to Canterbury,
Thomas Beckett Archbishop of the ancient shrine of Thomas Beckett. In Europe they would walk
Canterbury, 1161–1170. A saint in for weeks or months to Santiago di Compostella, the supposed
the Catholic Church. resting place of the apostle St James.
Fasting Not drinking or eating for a Many Catholics still go on pilgrimage, although they don’t usually
period of time. take weeks or months to do it. However, many of the ancient practices
of pilgrimage are still common: travelling with groups of pilgrims,
praying and fasting on the way to the site, carrying with them the
sick and those who are in need of prayers. In this last respect,
pilgrimage remains an important way for Catholics to respond to the
mystery of suffering. The Catholic Church recognises sites of
pilgrimage as important places for prayer and spiritual renewal.

Why is pilgrimage important to Catholics?

There are many reasons why pilgrimages are important to
Catholics. These may include:
▶ to help strengthen their faith
▶ to share the experience and their faith with other believers
▶ to pray for something special
▶ as a way of thanking God
▶ to seek physical, spiritual or emotional healing
▶ to do a penitential act to show you are sorry for a sin
▶ to come closer to God by giving him time and attention.
A group pilgrimage may help an individual to feel part of the
Church community. Pilgrims pray together and feel supported by
each other.
Going on a pilgrimage can help believers to reflect on their life’s
journey. It is an opportunity to take time out from every-day life
and focus on their journey to God. It is often a journey of self-
discovery, especially for those who are sick. Very few sick people
come back cured. However, they may come back feeling at peace
and able to accept and cope with the problems they face.
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 Jewish view
Pilgrimage is not considered an obligation in Judaism. However, in practice,
something like pilgrimage is an important feature of the life of many
Jews. The Torah refers to the traditional importance of all Jews going to
Jerusalem for the festivals of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot. For some Jews,
it is important to visit Israel, particularly to visit or hold special celebrations
at the Western Wall. In addition, for some Jews it is important to visit the
graves of significant teachers and rabbis, such as Maimonides.

Pilgrimage and suffering: Lourdes

Lourdes became a place of pilgrimage when Bernadette Soubirous saw a

vision of the Virgin Mary there in the nineteenth century

Pilgrimages help many people learn how to value the role of God
in their lives in a new way and find a way to bear the sufferings
of life without being defeated by them. One place where this is
very evident is in a Catholic pilgrimage shrine called Lourdes, in
southern France.
Petition A prayer asking God to do Lourdes became a pilgrimage site after a young girl called
something. Bernadette Soubirous, in the middle of the nineteenth century, had
a series of visions of a beautiful lady she later realised was Mary, the
The Blessed Sacrament The name
mother of Jesus. These visions happened in a grotto (small cave). In
given to the bread and wine after
these visions, amongst other things, the lady told Bernadette to dig
they have been blessed (conse-
in the ground and that from it a spring of healing water would
crated) by the priest during Mass.
flow. This spring of water is still a central part of the pilgrimage to
Catholics believe that after the
Lourdes and many visitors, especially the sick and disabled, bathe
consecration the bread and wine
in the water to seek physical and spiritual healing. Pilgrims will
become the body and blood of
visit the grotto, which is the site of the visions, to pray and to offer
Christ: the real presence of Jesus
2 Good and evil

petitions. They take part in torchlight and Blessed Sacrament

in the form of bread and wine.
processions, will usually celebrate Mass daily and take the
The Sacrament of Reconcilia- opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
tion The ritual in which Catholics Most Catholic dioceses in England and Wales have an annual
confess their sins to a priest and pilgrimage to Lourdes and will take large numbers of young people
ask for God’s forgiveness. Through who volunteer as helpers for the sick and disabled pilgrims. These
the prayer of absolution, the priest pilgrimages are often life-changing for the young people involved
then declares the person’s sins and are a real and practical way that ordinary people can respond
forgiven. to the mystery of suffering. Many young people report that it is
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 their work with the sick and disabled that is especially meaningful

Popular devotion as practised in Catholic communities in Britain and elsewhere

to them on their pilgrimage, because often these people have borne
suffering and sickness their whole life with patience and grace.

Tasks
1 Draw a mind map outlining the different reasons why Catholics
might go on a pilgrimage:

Reasons Catholics
go on pilgrimage

2 Explain why Lourdes is a site of Catholic pilgrimage.

Use the framework below to help you write your answer in sufficient
depth.
• Why did Lourdes become a place of pilgrimage?
• What do pilgrims do at Lourdes today?
• How do Catholics feel that visiting Lourdes helps them?

▶ Popular piety
Popular piety is those forms of praying and devotion which are
Rites Prayerful ceremonies with not part of the formal rites of the Catholic Church but which are
fixed rules which use well-known used by many Catholics as a way of bringing themselves closer to
prayers and symbols. God. They are called ‘popular’ because, usually, they arise out of
the practices of ordinary Catholics and acquire large popular
followings, often before the official Church recognises their value.
Different cultures and regions often have specific forms of
popular piety.

The Rosary – what is it and where did it come from?

The Rosary is one of the oldest and most universally used examples
of popular piety. The Rosary is the name given both to a prayer and
to the beads that are used in the reciting of the prayer. It consists of
three prayers:
▶ the Our Father
▶ the Hail Mary
▶ the Glory Be.
Each of these prayers is said a set number of times during the
reciting of a Rosary.
The practice of praying the Rosary is believed to have begun with
St Dominic in the thirteenth century. It has been pointed out that
anyone who says a full Rosary will have prayed 150 Hail Marys,

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 which is the same as the number of psalms in the Bible. Enclosed
Enclosed Religious orders of Benedictine Monks will pray all 150 psalms through the Church’s
monks or nuns who have no year and it has been suggested that the Rosary was a way for
contact with the outside world. ordinary people to echo this monastic prayer in their ordinary lives.
Mysteries The Rosary mysteries
are refl ections on periods of Jesus’
How and when do Catholics pray the Rosary?
Each of the Rosary’s parts has a prayer to accompany it and the
birth, life and death that we cannot
Rosary is divided into sets of mysteries which are prayed on
fully understand. different days. There are three traditional sets of mysteries:
Antiphon A short hymn to Mary sung
▶ the Joyful
at the end of the Rosary and often
▶ the Sorrowful
after morning and evening prayer. ▶ the Glorious.
Fatima prayer A short prayer added
to the Rosary after the appearance Pope St John Paul II added an additional set of mysteries: the
Luminous Mysteries.
of Mary to three young children in
the Portuguese village of Fatima in The Rosary is often prayed before and after Mass on weekdays in
1917. In one of these appearances, many parishes. It is also the most usual prayer said when families
Mary asked the children to add this gather to receive the body of a deceased loved one into their home
or into the church on the evening before their funeral. For this
prayer at the end of each mystery:
reason, the Rosary has become a powerful way for Catholics to
'Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins and reflect on the meaning of suffering.
save us from the fi res of Hell and
lead all souls to heaven, especially
those in most need of thy mercy.'

3. The medal – At the end of the string, which is the

beginning of the large circle of beads, there is usually a
4. Decades – Then there comes religious medal. The medal is the beginning and end of
a set of ten beads, followed by one set of mysteries. The first time the medal is held, an
a single bead. On each of the Our Father is prayed as the beginning of the first mystery
ten beads a Hail Mary will be prayed.
prayed and on the single bead a
Glory Be will be prayed to mark
the end of one mystery. On the
same bead, an Our Father is then 2. The five beads – The beads on
prayed to mark the beginning of the string that begins with the
the next mystery. Between these crucifix are divided into a 1,3,1
two prayers, it is now the usual arrangement. On the first bead
custom to also recite the ‘Oh my an Our Father will be prayed, on
Jesus’ Fatima prayer. the next three Hail Marys will
be prayed and on the last one a
5. The medal – On returning to Glory Be. Often these prayers
2 Good and evil

the medal, a full set of mysteries are offered for the Pope’s special
will have been prayed. This intentions.
time, whilst holding the medal,
the person will say the final 1. The crucifix – Holding the
Glory Be, final ‘Oh my Jesus’ crucifix at the start of the
prayer and usually the seasonal Rosary, the person reciting
antiphon to Our Lady, such as the Rosary will say the
the Hail, Holy Queen. Apostles’ Creed.

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 The Rosary, the incarnation and suffering:

Popular devotion as practised in Catholic communities in Britain and elsewhere

The Sorrowful Mysteries
The mysteries of the Rosary are the focus of the whole prayer. The
idea is that while each of the prayer repetitions are made the person
is supposed to think about the meaning of the mysteries. Each
mystery is an event from the life of Jesus. The Sorrowful Mysteries
are the five that encourage Catholics to think about the meaning
and importance of Jesus’ suffering and death.
Pilate Roman governor and the
judge at Jesus’ trial.

The agony in The scourging at

the garden – This is the pillar – This is
when Jesus prayed when Pilate had Jesus
in the Garden of whipped in an attempt
Gethsemane on the to satisfy those who
night before he died. wanted Jesus to be
He prayed to be crucified. It didn’t do
spared the suffering any good and Pilate
he knew was to come but in the end condemned
accepted God’s will out of obedience Jesus to death.
and love.

Jesus is The crowning

crucified and dies with thorns – This
on the cross – This is when the soldiers
is when Jesus was overseeing the
nailed to the cross crucifixion mocked
and, after six hours, Jesus, twisting thorns
died on the cross. into a crown because
he had been charged
with claiming to be the King of the Jews.

Jesus is made to carry

his cross – This is when
Jesus carried his own cross
to Golgotha, the place of
his crucifixion.

Reflecting on the suffering of Jesus was one of the most

important ways in which Catholics were able to find answers to the
Problem of Evil. The Rosary in turn is one of the ways that helps
Catholics reflect on the nature and meaning of this suffering.
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 Tasks
1 Copy the table below and complete it by explaining in your own
words each of the Sorrowful Mysteries.
Name Events in Jesus’ life it refers to
The agony in the garden
The scourging at the pillar
The crowning with thorns
Jesus is made to carry his cross
Jesus is crucified and dies on the cross
2 Explain why Catholics use the Rosary to pray.
Use the framework below to help you write your answer in sufficient
depth.
• What is the Rosary?
• How is it used?
• What does the Rosary help Catholics to reflect on and understand?

Summary
• A pilgrimage is a journey to a site of special religious importance.
• Pilgrimages help Catholics feel closer to God and help them to respond to
life’s difficulties.
• Lourdes is an important pilgrimage site, especially for the sick and
disabled.
• The Rosary is the name of a prayer as well as the beads that are used to
say the prayer.
• It consists of repeated sayings of the Our Father, Hail Mary and the Glory
Be.
• The Rosary helps Catholics to reflect on the main events in Jesus’ life,
including his suffering and death.
2 Good and evil

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 ▶ End of section review

End of section review

Knowledge check
1 What is original sin?
2 Summarise different views about the origin of evil in a mind map. Include
Christian and non-Christian views.
3 What does it mean to say ‘Suffering makes us better people’?
4 Explain why Catholics may argue that suffering is not always evil.
5 What do Catholics believe about the Trinity?
6 What is the kenosis hymn?
7 What did Pope St John Paul II teach about suffering in Salvifici Doloris?
8 What is the Sermon on the Mount?
9 Explain the different views Catholics, Protestants and Jews have about
using statues for worship.
10 What is . . .
a a pilgrimage?
b the Rosary?
Explain why they are important to Catholics.

The big question

‘All Christians should go on a pilgrimage to a religious place such as
Lourdes, once in their life.’

Your task
Respond to this statement showing that you have thought about more than
one point of view.
• Do you agree?
• What arguments support the statement?
• Are they valid – do they make sense? Are they weak/strong?
• What arguments challenge the statement?
• Are they valid – do they make sense? Are they weak/strong?

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 Task
Use the outline below to help you write a fully detailed, well-structured answer to the statement:
‘The existence of suffering proves there is no God.’

Show that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
Paragraph Sentence starter Planning for writing
1 Many Catholics would Would a Catholic agree or disagree with this statement?
agree/disagree with this Why would a Catholic feel like this?
statement because . . . (Think about Bible/Catechism/Saint/Teaching of a Pope.)
How would this belief affect the life of a Catholic?
This is a strong/weak Is this a convincing argument? Why is it convincing? OR Are there issues with this
argument because . . . argument? What issues might there be? Does someone argue against it?
2 Furthermore, Catholics A second reason why a Catholic might feel like this?
might also say that . . . (Think about Bible/Catechism/Saint/Teaching of a Pope.)
How would this belief affect the life of a Catholic?
This is a strong/weak Is this a convincing argument? Why is it convincing? OR Are there issues with this
argument because . . . argument? What issues might there be? Does someone argue against it?
3 However, some Think about another Christian group (Church of England/Methodists/Orthodox
might Christians) or non-religious group (humanists) whose viewpoint is different to
disagree with this Catholics.
statement because . . . Which religious group are you going to use?
Or . . . Would they agree or disagree with the statement?
Another/different view Why would they have this viewpoint?
might be . . . (Think about sources of wisdom – including the Bible.)
How would this belief affect their life?
This is a strong/weak Is this a convincing argument? If so, why? OR Are there any issues with this
argument because . . . argument? If so, which? Does someone argue against it?
4 In addition, some Consider a second reason why they would have this viewpoint.
could How would this belief affect their life?
argue that . . .
This is a strong/weak Is this a convincing argument? If so, why? OR Are there any issues with this
argument because . . . argument? If so, which? Does someone argue against it?
5 In conclusion, like many This is the opportunity to give your own opinion. HOWEVER, you must support it
, I agree/ with religious belief.
disagree with this Select one of the arguments you have discussed and with which you agree. Develop
statement because . . . it with your own thought.
2 Good and evil

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 ▶ Exam focus

Exam focus
Good and evil

Stickability
• Free will Sources of wisdom and authority
Key concepts:
• The goodness of God • St Augustine, the Enchiridion
• Conscience
• The meaning of suffering • Isaiah 53
• Evil
• The Trinity • Nicene Creed
• Free will
• Jesus – fully God and fully human • St Augustine, De Trinitate
• Goodness
• Jesus and moral authority • John 1:1–18
• Incarnation
• Natural law • The kenosis hymn
• Privation
• Virtues and suffering • Philippians 2:5–11
• Suffering
• Statues in the Catholic Church • Pope St John Paul II, Salvifici
Key teachings about:
• Jewish views on statues Doloris 13
• The origin and nature of evil
• Suffering in Michelangelo’s Pietà • Matthew 5–7, The Sermon on the
• Moral and natural evil
• Pilgrimage Mount
• The challenge and problem of evil
• Original sin • The Rosary

(c) questions
Again, it is very important to note that the (c) questions for this
theme will ask you to consider two religious views. The two views
can either come from Catholic Christianity and Judaism or from two
Christian traditions/denominations, e.g. Catholic and Anglican.
As with Theme 1, in these questions you will be expected to
explain a key teaching, belief, idea, practice, place, event or view. To
gain full marks you should be able to show your knowledge of two
religious views using appropriate religious terms and any relevant
sources of wisdom and authority.
Remember: non-religious views (e.g. those held by atheists or
humanists) are not appropriate to use in these questions.

Task
Look at the following question:
c Explain from Catholic Christianity and Judaism or from two Christian traditions whether or not Jesus may be
considered the source for moral authority. [8]
Before you answer it, consider the following:
• How many marks is it worth? The maximum is eight marks but you must give two religious views.
• What is the question asking you to do? The question is not asking you to talk about who Jesus is or to give an
account of Jesus’ life. The question is asking for an explanation of whether or not Jesus is the source for moral
authority. In other words, does the teaching of Jesus provide the guidance for making moral and ethical decisions,
or are there other sources of authority to consider? Explanations require a consideration of why believers hold
the beliefs they do.
Look at Luke’s answer below and compare it with the marking bands on page 5.
Catholic Christians believe that Jesus is the source of moral authority because he tells us what to do and
how to behave and how to treat other people. Catholics think of him as a role model.

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 Other Christians would also believe that Jesus is the source of moral authority because they believe that
the Bible is true and that it is a book that gives us guidance on how to live our lives.
a How many marks would you give his answer?
b Using the words from the marking bands, justify your reason.
c Using the criteria of the marking bands, try and improve Luke’s answer. Remember, in an explanation you will
probably be using the word ‘because’ quite a lot because you will be explaining why certain beliefs are held.

(d) questions
Note that there is no requirement to include non-religious beliefs
in this response (though you may do so if the statement lends itself
to such a response).

Task
d ‘The existence of suffering proves there is no God.’
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. [15]
(You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
Fatima wants to argue against this statement. She has many reasons why she feels this statement to be weak. Look
at a selection of her reasons and try and think of opposing or counter-arguments to each one.
Suffering is not God’s fault; humans create suffering through misusing their free will.
Suffering is the way God tests our faith; it is part of his plan for us.
Suffering can actually make us better people; more compassionate and understanding.
Suffering is often caused by the forces of nature e.g. earthquakes.
Suffering is caused by the Devil, not God.
The Bible suggests that suffering in this life can lead to an after-life in Heaven e.g. the story of the
Rich Man and Lazarus.

Task
Consider the statement:
‘The only authority we should follow is our own conscience.’
The first step here might be to highlight the key words and then annotate with some brief points or questions that
make you think about different views and ensure you understand the question.

‘The only authority we should follow is our own conscience.’

Should you listen to it?

Is it the most important source What does it mean to What is a conscience?
of authority? follow it? Common view?
Bible? Make decisions? Christian view?
2 Good and evil

Church teaching? Are decisions always right

Teachings of a Pope? or wrong? Strengths? Weaknesses?
Saints? Absolute/relative morality?
Strengths? Weaknesses?

You should now have more of an idea about what this question is asking and the sort of information you are going to include.
Have a go at answering the question.

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 3 Life and death

Key Concepts
Death The end of physical life, when the physical body ceases completely to function.
Eternal life The term used to refer to life in heaven after death. Also, the phrase Jesus uses to
describe a state of living as God intends, which leads to a life in heaven.
Heaven Those who have accepted God’s grace and forgiveness in this life will enjoy an eternal
existence in God’s presence in the next life. This face-to-face encounter with God is what is
called ‘heaven’.
Hell Those who, through the exercise of their own free will, ultimately reject God’s grace and
forgiveness, will have chosen to live eternally outside of God’s presence. This total lack of God for all
eternity is what is called ‘hell’.
Judgement The belief that each individual will be held to account by God for the things they do, or
fail to do, during their lives.
Magisterium The teaching authority of the Church, exercised by the bishops in communion with
the Pope. The Magisterium is given grace by the Holy Spirit to faithfully interpret the Scriptures
and Tradition.
Resurrection The raising of the body to life again after death. Christians believe that Jesus has
already experienced resurrection and that all people will experience it at the end of time.
Soul The eternal part of a human being given at conception which lives on after the death of the
body. Also a name for a human being’s rational nature – their mind.

Core Questions

Is there a life after death? Is it possible to die well? Do people have a right to
choose how and when to die?

Are heaven and hell real? Can a loving God allow hell? Does God judge us just on
how we treat others?

Can music help people to Is praying simply repeating Should funerals be sad?
pray? well-known prayers?

Is there any point in

praying for the dead?

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 ■ Death and the afterlife

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• Catholic teaching on death and dying well
• different attitudes to palliative care, euthanasia and assisted suicide, and
the right to die
• different views about death as the end of personal existence
• Catholic belief about the resurrection of the body.

▶ Catholic teaching on the meaning of death

Key Concepts
Death The end of physical life, when the physical body ceases completely
to function.
Eternal life The term used to refer to life in heaven after death. Also, the
phrase Jesus uses to describe a state of living as God intends, which leads
to a life in heaven.

Death is part of human experience. Throughout human history

religious believers, as well as those who are not religious, have
explored what death means. They try to offer support to those
approaching death and to those who are grieving the death of
family or friends. People have different beliefs about death and
the afterlife. Some people understand death as simply the end,
in which case life ends once the physical body ceases to function
(this is usually once brain function is no longer identifiable
and/or heartbeat and breathing cannot continue without
artificial help).
Christians believe that at death life is ‘changed not ended’:
‘I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God,
nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a
mystery:
We will not all sleep, but we will be changed.’
1 Corinthians 15:50–51
‘Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?’
1 Corinthians 15:55
3 Life and death

As a consequence, Catholic teaching on death can only be

understood in a context of a belief in Eternal life. This is the belief
that when Jesus died on the cross, he paid for our sins and when he
rose from the dead, he defeated death. Catholics, therefore, believe
that because of these things, Christians can hope to go to heaven
after death and spend eternity with God.

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 Dying well

Death and the afterlife

For Catholics, it is important to help those who are facing death to
▶ prepare themselves to die well – This may include spending time with
family, making sure that their will is updated to reduce worry
about money and inheritance, perhaps discussing what they
would like their funeral to be like and maybe even making peace
with some family members or friends. For those in significant
Palliative care Care that focuses pain ‘preparing for death’ will include seeking palliative care to
on relieving pain and suffering. reduce pain in the final stages of life.
Hospice A place where people with ▶ respect the value of their lives until their natural death – This means
terminal illness can go for control that the Catholic Church rejects euthanasia and assisted suicide
of the symptoms and pain of a (see the next page) as ways of ending a life. Instead they promote
terminal illness. This maintains the work of hospices and other organisations that provide
their dignity during their end-of-life palliative care when treatment to cure a medical condition is no
care. longer possible.
Rite A prayerful ceremony with ▶ provide rituals to support the grieving – This means that the funeral
fixed rules which uses well-known rite includes imagery and symbols that reflect belief and hope in
prayers and symbols. eternal life. Prayers are said for those who have died. Belief in
eternal life is explored through music and art.

Palliative care
For some people the time leading up to death can be long. For
Dignity Being worthy of honour or
those who have a significant illness (such as cancer) or a
respect.
degenerative condition (such as Motor Neurone Disease) there may
Quality of life The extent to which be long periods of pain. Palliative care aims to control pain.
life is meaningful and pleasurable. Medication is provided to reduce pain and to enable the individual
to retain as much dignity and quality of life as possible. Hospices,
and other organisations that offer similar care, have doctors to
provide pain relieving medication, nursing care, supervision and
practical help until natural death occurs.
The Catholic Church, along with
many other religious and non-religious
people, supports those who provide
palliative care because it respects
the value of every person until their
natural death. In 1995, Pope St John
Paul II published a document called
Evangelium Vitae (Good News of Life)
that clearly stated that palliative care
is an appropriate way of relieving pain
because:
1 it allows people to reject any
treatment that is too painful or
difficult
2 it allows people to maintain their
Hospices offer care to people with terminal illnesses or long-term conditions to
dignity and some quality of life.
allow them to live comfortably and free from pain
Some pain relieving drugs are very strong and in some cases can
make death happen sooner. Some people object to the use of these
drugs.

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 Euthanasia and assisted suicide
Euthanasia and assisted suicide are both ways of ending someone’s
life before its ‘natural end’:
▶ Euthanasia: The term means a ‘good’ or ‘gentle’ death. This term
is used to refer to a procedure where a medical professional
gives medication to end the life of a person who is suffering
unbearable pain from a prolonged incurable condition.
Voluntary euthanasia is done on the request of the individual
whose life will be ended. Such voluntary euthanasia is legal in the
Netherlands.
▶ Assisted suicide: This term is used when an individual seeks help to
end their own life in a pain free/reduced process. Some countries
have changed their laws to permit assisted suicide.
Both euthanasia and assisted suicide are currently illegal in the UK.
The Catholic Church teaches that these deliberate actions to end
a life before natural death are wrong in all circumstances.

‘… I confirm that euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since

it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person.’

Evangelium Vitae 65 – Pope St John Paul II

This teaching comes from the belief that all human life is sacred
or holy. Belief in the sanctity of life comes from an understanding
that life itself is a gift from God and is therefore precious and
should be respected from conception to natural death. Deliberate
killing, such as euthanasia and assisted suicide, are seen as going
against that sanctity of life and against the instruction in the Ten
Commandments: ‘Do not murder’. There are suitable alternatives
to euthanasia available through palliative care. Also, the Catholic
tradition teaches that suffering does have a purpose in helping us
to learn about ourselves and others and to understand the human
condition. The Church also acknowledges that some people are able
to identify with the suffering of Jesus at the crucifixion. Evangelium
Vitae, however, does point out that ‘such heroic behaviour cannot be
considered the duty for everyone’. This means that it is reasonable
to seek palliative care to reduce pain and maintain dignity.
Tasks
1 Acrostics are a good way of remembering key information. Complete
the one below showing you understand what Catholics teach about
the meaning of death. One letter has been done for you.
D
3 Life and death

Eternal life – Catholics believe that death is not the end but the beginning
of eternal life with God.
A
T
H
2 Give examples of the way Catholic beliefs about death influence:
a the behaviour of people who know they are dying
b those providing care for the dying.
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 ▶ Is there a right to die?

Death and the afterlife

Sanctity and quality of life
Beliefs about end-of-life issues like euthanasia and assisted suicide
are often based on two things:
▶ Sanctity of life – Many religious believers think that all human
life is sacred because it was given to us by God. All human life has
value. They believe that only God has the right to end a life and,
therefore, there should be no ‘right to die’.
▶ Quality of life – This refers to people’s wellbeing and the
extent to which a person’s life is meaningful and pleasurable.
It is a difficult concept to measure and doctors often look at
pain levels, the extent of disability and the ability of patients to
perform basic tasks for themselves. If someone is living with a
severe disability or a terminal illness, it could be argued that their
quality of life is so low that they should have the right to die.

Catholic beliefs
Catholic teachings on the quality and sanctity of life are based on
the belief that all life is given by God and is sacred, so no one has
the right to end a life. They, therefore, do not accept that people
have a right to die and think that euthanasia and assisted suicide
are not acceptable. They do of course care about quality of life and
would campaign for palliative care to make life for suffering people
as comfortable and pain-free as possible.
This view is shared by many other Christians and people of other
religions. Islam and Judaism also believe in the sanctity of life.
Euthanasia and assisted suicide should not be considered because
the focus should be on showing compassion to the dying person to
allow them to retain their dignity.

Other Christian beliefs

However, some religious people reach different conclusions on this
issue. For example, some Christians focus on the compassion that
Jesus showed in his healing miracles and in his teaching. They look
in particular to Jesus’ teaching to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’
and the Golden Rule (‘Do to others as you would have them do to
you’). They would argue that allowing euthanasia, if an individual
feels that the quality of their life has become too low, would be a
sign of love that clearly demonstrates loving compassion. Such an
argument is used to support voluntary euthanasia and to support
a change to UK law to allow assisted suicide. There is a continuing
increase in the number of people in the UK who support both
voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide.

A ‘right to die’ argument

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has a very different
approach towards the quality and sanctity of life. Their view is that
the decision about quality of life and whether or not life is bearable
rests with the individual. They reject the idea of God, so don’t
believe that life is sacred. Rather, they believe that all humans have
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 autonomy (the right to choose for themselves) and any decision
about prolonging or ending a life should be down to the individual.
They conclude that legalising assisted dying would mean that
individuals would be free to make their own choices about their
end-of-life care. They don’t reject palliative care but argue that
euthanasia and assisted suicide should be legal alternatives for
those who want them.
In 2012, the BHA supported a challenge to UK law on behalf of
Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland Tony Nicklinson who had ‘locked-in syndrome’. This condition
in clinics like Dignitas. There have been meant that he was unable to move or speak. He repeatedly asked
several high profile examples of British for the right to be able to choose an assisted death. He felt that the
people travelling there to die. law condemned him to live with increasing indignity and misery.
A few years earlier, Diane Pretty had asked the courts to permit her
husband to be able to take her to a Dignitas clinic in Switzerland
where euthanasia is permitted, should she make the decision that
her quality of life had deteriorated too far. Both of these people
died without changes in UK law.
Euthanasia is legally permitted in the Netherlands and a few
other countries. Assisted suicide is legally permitted in Switzerland
and some states in the USA. Since 2010, the Director of Public
Prosecutions for England and Wales has said it is unlikely that
someone would be prosecuted for helping someone travel to
Switzerland for assisted suicide if (a) it was clear the person had
reached a voluntary, settled and informed decision and (b) the one
helping was wholly motivated by compassion.
The Catholic Church and others continue to reject the arguments in
favour of the right to die. They put forward several arguments:
▶ Slippery slope argument: The worry is that, whilst the motivations
behind the campaigns to change UK law are reasonable, is it
really possible to put sufficient safeguards in place to protect
people who may be feeling pressurised to accept euthanasia or
assisted suicide?
▶ Quality of life: There are numerous examples of people who
have lived fruitful and valuable lives despite the difficult
circumstances they find themselves in.
▶ Who decides ‘quality of life’?: The most common examples in favour
of euthanasia and assisted suicide are those of people with
incurable conditions and people in unbearable pain. Twenty-
three-year-old Daniel James was paralysed from the chest down
following a rugby injury. He sought assisted suicide because he
could not come to terms with what he felt to be a diminished
quality of life. On the other hand, many people live productive
and valuable lives despite such paralysis.
3 Life and death

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

Do not resuscitate orders are legal orders not to try supporting euthanasia or assisted suicide. Deciding
and resuscitate a patient if they were to stop breathing not to resuscitate a person because the resuscitation
or their heart was to stop beating. They are often procedures would be unreasonably burdensome would
requested by patients for whom resuscitation is be respecting their dignity and value, so many religious
unlikely to work or where it could lead to unnecessary people support DNR decisions.
suffering or poor quality of life. This is not the same as
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 Tasks

Death and the afterlife

1 Choose any three from the table below and write an explanation of what they mean on a whiteboard or tell
your partner. Each word has a score value, so choose words that can get you the highest score!
Euthanasia (2) Quality of life (2) Palliative care (3)
Sanctity of life (2) Dying well (3) Assisted suicide (3)
Dignity (3) Hospice (2) The Golden Rule (4)
2 Who would agree with the views stated below? Some may apply to more than one group!
Belief Catholics Other Christians Humanists
There is nothing after death.
Death is not the end, just the beginning of eternal life.
Palliative care is important in helping people die with dignity.
Human life is sacred.
Human life is special.
No one has the right to end a life.
Jesus’ teaching on compassion means euthanasia could be justified.
Individuals should be able to choose how to end their lives.
3 ‘People should have the right to end their lives.’
Give three reasons why someone might agree with this point of view and three reasons why they might not. You
must include the Catholic point of view in your answer. Below are some ideas you could include:
• Sanctity of life
• Quality of life and pain
• Jesus’ example and teachings
• Slippery slope
• Dignity
• Hospices.

▶ Catholic belief about life after death

‘But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how
can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If
there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been
raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless
and so is your faith.’
1 Corinthians 15:12–14
Catholic beliefs about life after death start with the Easter story.
Key Concept The resurrection of Jesus is an essential part of Christian belief.
Resurrection The raising of Each of the four Gospels includes scenes of the disciples finding
the body to life again after the empty tomb. The body of Jesus was laid in a tomb on the Friday
death. Christians believe that evening. Early on the Sunday morning some women went to the
Jesus has already experienced tomb to anoint the body. They found that the tomb was empty and
resurrection and that all people Jesus’ body was gone. The Apostles and some other disciples
will experience it at the end of describe events where they met the risen Jesus. This led them to
time. believe that Jesus had risen from the dead and that this was a
resurrection of the body. This means that his body, not just his
soul, had physically risen from the dead. Belief in this event led the
early Christians to believe that bodily resurrection and eternal life
with God is possible for all people.
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 A quotation from 1 Corinthians: 15:12 makes that point
strongly:
'But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how
can some of you say there is no resurrection for the dead?'
Like those first Christians, Catholics believe that because Jesus died
for our sins and then overcame death by rising again, now human
beings will also experience resurrection of the body.
The tomb in Jerusalem where Jesus is
believed to have been buried before rising
from the dead was refurbished in 2017

St Paul had an extraordinary encounter with Jesus on the road to

Damascus after his resurrection. He explained the importance and
meaning of this experience in the first of his letters to the Christian
community in Corinth:
‘For what I received I passed onto you as of first importance: that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was
buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers
and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though
some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the
apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also…’
1 Corinthians 15:3–8
At first the belief was that Jesus’ resurrection would be followed
quickly by all people being taken to the presence of God. Early
Christian preaching was to encourage people to be ready for the
return of Christ and the end of time. Those ideas are still part of
the readings and liturgies during Advent.
3 Life and death

‘Be on your guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.’
Scholars refer to this as ‘imminent eschatology’, the belief that the
Eschatology The term is used in end of time will be soon. Gradually, Christians began to realise that
Christianity for the study of the there was a responsibility to live now in the light of the
‘last things’ – death, judgement, resurrection. Preparation for eternal life in the presence of God
heaven and hell. involves resisting evil and doing good. Guided by the Holy Spirit,
this world can be transformed by Christians following the
teachings of Christ. The inspiration is found in the Lord’s Prayer:
‘… Thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.’
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 Catholic belief in a bodily resurrection

Death and the afterlife

What would this resurrection of the body mean for people? What
would it be like? In his first letter to the people of Corinth, St Paul
offers an explanation. He makes a distinction between earthly
bodies and heavenly bodies. The analogy he offers comes from
nature. The grain of wheat is very different to the fully-grown
plant. It ceases to be like that seed when it becomes a plant. Our
observation of the world helps us understand that the existence of
the seed has led to a different physical existence, that of the wheat
plant. In a similar way, St Paul says that it is possible to understand
a distinction between earthly, physical bodies and heavenly,
spiritual bodies.
‘So it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is
perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised
in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural
body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also
a spiritual body.’
1 Corinthians 15:42–45
Catholic beliefs about what life after death is like are based on St
Paul’s analogy. It is offered as a possible explanation of what belief
in a bodily resurrection might be like.
‘And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we
bear the image of the heavenly man.’
1 Corinthians 15:49

The soul
St Paul has an understanding of the soul that informs his
Key Concept explanation of what resurrection means. It is clear that he does
Soul The eternal part of a human not think that Jesus’ body was simply revived. St Paul also rejected
being given at conception which the view that humans are mere physical bodies with a finite
lives on after the death of the existence on earth. There is something about being human that
body. Also a name for a human gives us our identity; this is what he understood the soul to be.
being’s rational nature – their He also rejected the view that eternal life was restricted to
mind. ‘disembodied’ souls. It is not possible to fully understand human
experience without a body. So for St Paul, our earthly, physical
identity is both body and soul. Our heavenly spiritual bodies are
both body and soul.

Why Catholics believe in the Resurrection

The Resurrection of Jesus remains a matter of faith. It cannot be
proven beyond all doubt but neither can it be disproved. Belief in
the Resurrection would be weakened if it were proven that Jesus
did not rise from the dead. Various alternative theories have been
offered to explain the empty tomb:
▶ Jesus’ body was stolen: Could the Romans or some others have
stolen the body? Their motivation might have been to reduce the
likelihood of Jesus’ followers making extraordinary claims about
him. This theory is countered by asking why did they not present
Jesus’ body when the Apostles started preaching that Jesus had
risen from the dead?
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 There have been some who have said the Apostles themselves
stole Jesus’ body, although that begs the question why would
they have risked their own lives for something they knew to
be untrue. The Gospel accounts emphasise that the tomb was
guarded to protect it from robbery.
▶ Jesus was revived: Theories have been offered suggesting that Jesus
did not really die at all. They suggest that he was given pain relief
and that he merely seemed dead. Then perhaps the women were
able to revive him when they went to the tomb. This is countered
by asking why are there no stories about Jesus’ life and death in
the years that followed?

Popular views about the soul and life after death

There are some different views about life after death. Some
Christians believe that death is the end of bodily existence and only
the soul lives on. They might use the accounts of near-death
3 Life and death

The Reunion of the Soul and Body, by William Blake

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 experiences as evidence of a separation of body and soul. Philosophers

Death and the afterlife

have a term for such a clear distinction between body and soul,
they call it ‘dualism’. Some people use this dualism to explain
a very different approach to life after death – reincarnation.
Reincarnation is the belief that the soul continues to exist after
death and may be placed in a different body. There are people who
claim that they can remember past lives. This belief is not part of
mainstream Christianity, nor of the other monotheistic religions
(Judaism and Islam). Within religious beliefs reincarnation is
associated with Hinduism and Buddhism. There are those who
would simply reject each of these explanations and reject any belief
in a life after death. Those people would simply say that death is
the end of human life.
Tasks
1 Explain three views about what happens to the body and soul after death that are different to the Catholic view
and say why they are different. Use the following phrases to guide you:
• Disembodied souls
• Reincarnation
• Death as the end.
2 You might be required to refer to sources of wisdom and authority in an answer about Catholic beliefs about
resurrection. Copy the table below. Look over the last section again and add quotes to the table that support each
belief. If you can find more than one quote to support each belief, then add them.
Belief Quote Source
Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to many people.
We will be raised again from the dead because Jesus was.
Humans will be raised from the dead with a spiritual body.
3 Write a response that a Catholic might give to the statement:
‘Death is the end of existence. After we die we’re just gone!’
In your response refer to:
• what Catholics believe about life after death
• why Catholics believe in bodily resurrection.

Summary
• Death is not the end; Christians believe there is an eternal life after death.
• Catholics do not accept euthanasia or assisted suicide; they believe there
are alternatives.
• There are many different opinions about whether people should have the
right to end their own lives.
• Due to Jesus’ bodily resurrection, Catholics believe that the soul and the
body are resurrected.
• There are different opinions about Jesus’ resurrection and about what
happens to us when we die.

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 ■ Beliefs about eschatology

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• Catholic beliefs about judgement by God on the basis of moral behaviour
• Catholic beliefs and Bible teachings about ‘heaven’ and ‘hell’
• Catholic beliefs and teachings about purgatory.

▶ Catholic teaching about heaven and hell

Judgement
The New Testament has several stories told by Jesus that refer to a
Key Concept judgement being made about how people lived their lives.
In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Jesus tells of a man
Judgement The belief that each who owes money to the king. Fearing being put in debtors’ prison,
individual will be held to account the man begs the king for mercy. After receiving that mercy and
by God for the things they do, or being free from his debt, the man then goes in search of a man
fail to do, during their lives. who owes him money. This other man asks him for mercy, however
he rejects the requests for mercy. The king is furious about such
hypocrisy and puts the first man in prison until he pays what he
owes! Jesus finishes the story with these words:
‘This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive
your brother and sister from your heart.’
Matthew 18:35
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus tells how a rich man
ignored the needs of the poor, using the example of a man named
Lazarus, who begged outside his house. Lazarus would beg while the
Good Bad rich man enjoyed his luxuries. The parable emphasises the injustice by
saying that Lazarus would have welcomed even the bits of food that
fell from the rich man’s table. After death though, Lazarus is taken to
be with God, while the rich man has an eternal life of ‘torment’ and
Catholics believe that God will judge them misery. The rich man asks for some comfort, but he is reminded:
based on the actions of their life and based
on this judgement they will either go to ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while
heaven or hell Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are
in agony.’
Luke 16:19–31
Catholic teaching about judgement comes from this Christian
Key Concept understanding that each individual will be held to account by God
for the things they do, or fail to do, during their lives.
Heaven Those who have
3 Life and death

accepted God’s grace and Heaven

forgiveness in this life will enjoy
an eternal existence in God’s
Those who have accepted God’s grace and forgiveness in this
presence in the next life. This
life will enjoy eternal existence in God’s presence after they die
face-to-face encounter with God
in the next life. This face-to-face encounter with God is what
is what is called ‘heaven’.
Christians call heaven. Throughout history, Christians have
tried to find language and imagery to describe what this might
mean. The language of ‘up there’, the ‘presence of God’, ‘glorious
splendour’, the ‘beatific vision’, a ‘transcendent place’, and the
imagery of ‘clouds’ and ‘harp-playing angels’ all try to offer ways
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 of understanding a belief in eternal happiness in the presence of

Beliefs about eschatology

God. All such language and imagery are attempts to describe the
indescribable. The reward for living correctly is to be eternally in
Key Concept the presence of God. Heaven is to be totally at one with God.

Hell Those who, through the Hell

exercise of their own free will, If being in the presence of God is the reward then being separated
ultimately reject God’s grace and from God is the punishment. Those who through their own free
forgiveness, will have chosen will ultimately reject God’s grace and forgiveness, have chosen to
to live eternally outside of God’s live eternally outside of God’s presence. This total lack of God for all
presence. This total lack of God eternity is what Christians call hell. The two parables (The Unforgiving
for all eternity is what is called Servant and The Rich Man and Lazarus) demonstrate that it is the free
‘hell’. choices made by humans that led to them going to hell after death.
It is not that God chooses to punish, it is that the individual chooses
to reject the love, mercy, compassion and God. The imagery of fire
and torture has been used by artists, writers and poets to explore the
concept of being separated from God for eternity, but again, these are
attempts to describe something that we cannot fully understand.

Other Christian views on Judgement

Catholic teaching focuses on individual judgement. Each person
is responsible for their own actions. Some Christians put the
emphasis on a final judgement at the end of time, rather than an
individual judgement. Jesus talked about a ‘final judgement’ when
he would come to earth again and judge the whole of creation.
This idea of a final day of judgement is present in the Parable of
the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46) and in the Book of
Revelation.

Task
Choose either the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew
18:21–35) or the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31)
and:
a Briefly summarise the parable:
• Who was involved?
Heaven and hell are often depicted as real • What happened?
places with heaven being beautiful and • Give a key quote from the parable.
peaceful and hell being dark and fiery, b Explain what Christians learn about judgement, heaven and hell from
however Catholics understand heaven as this parable.
being in the presence of God and hell You could do this in pairs and each choose one parable.
as being excluded from his presence c Explain how Catholic beliefs about judgement, heaven and hell influence
the lives of individual Catholics.

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 ▶ Purgatory
This term comes from the same root as ‘to purge’. It means to
cleanse or get rid of sins. Catholic teaching accepts that people are
not perfect. While trying to do their best, people will sometimes
behave badly or act in ways that cause harm to others. In human
relationships when people do something wrong, they can try and
make it up to the other person. The same can apply to a person’s
relationship with God. Eternal life with God is about being in
a state of perfection. Cleansing or purging those mistakes and
errors in life enables the person to be fully in the presence of God.
‘Purgatory’ refers to the cleansing of people’s sins before they can
go on to heaven to spend eternal life with God.
Some art and literature presents purgatory as a place with fire
between heaven and hell. This is because the Greek root word for
fire is ‘pur’ and refers to the ancient practice of burning land in an
attempt to cleanse it. St Paul uses the same fire imagery in his first
letter to the Christians in Corinth:
Tasks
‘It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each
1 Explain Catholic beliefs person’s work.
about purgatory. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.’
• Who goes there? 1 Corinthians 3:13
• Why do they go there? Rather than a ‘place’, Catholics use the term purgatory to refer to
• What happens there? a state of hope. This is why Catholics pray for those who have died.
• Where is it? Catholics pray for purification and removal of sin so that they can
2 How would Catholic views spend eternal life with God.
about purgatory influence:
a individual Catholics going Other Christian views on purgatory
about their everyday life?
Most Christians believe in heaven and hell but Protestant
b the friends or relatives of
Christians do not accept the idea of purgatory. They simply believe
someone who had recently
that people either accept God and are in a state of grace with God,
died?
or they reject God.

Summary
• ‘Eschatology’ describes Christian ideas about what will happen at the ‘end
times’.
• Catholics believe in personal judgement; God will judge everyone on the
basis of how they have lived their lives.
• ‘Heaven’ is being in the presence of God for eternity and ‘hell’ is the
absence of God for eternity.
3 Life and death

• Purgatory is the Catholic idea that, after death, people will be cleansed of
sin before they can enter heaven.
• Other Christians hold different beliefs about judgement and about
purgatory.

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 ■ The magisterium

The magisterium
Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• the different sources of authority for Catholics
• the different forms of magisterium
• the significance and impact of Second Vatican Council.

▶ The nature of the magisterium

The Catholic Church has three distinct sources of authority to
Key Concept support its teaching about Christian beliefs:
Magisterium The teaching 1 The Bible as the Word of God is the primary source of authority
authority of the Church, exercised for all Christians. Christians believe that the writers of the Bible
by the bishops in communion were inspired by the Holy Spirit and the Church believes that the
with the Pope. The magisterium is Holy Spirit continues to work through the Church.
given grace by the Holy Spirit to 2 Over the centuries important theologians have explained beliefs
faithfully interpret the Scriptures to the Christian community. This is called the ‘Tradition’.
and Tradition. 3 The leaders of the Church, the popes and bishops, have also
clarified and made statements on certain aspects of Catholic
faith. Their particular authority is called the ‘magisterium’. The
Sources of authority Sources Latin word ‘magister’ means a ‘master’ or ‘teacher’. After his
people can refer to for guidance resurrection Jesus gave the Apostles the instructions to ‘make
when trying to understand disciples of all nations’ (Matthew 28:18–20). In this way they
something or make a decision. received their authority to teach the faith directly from Jesus.
The Word of God Christians believe Catholics believe that the present Pope and bishops can trace
God inspired the writers of the their own appointment and ordination back to the first apostles.
Bible so in this way the Bible is the This is called the ‘apostolic succession’ and is why the Pope and
words of God. bishops have the authority to make statements about the
Theologian Someone who studies Catholic faith.
the nature of God and religion
(theology). Ordinary magisterium
Ordination Making someone
Popes and bishops regularly preach the Good News in homilies
a member of the clergy (e.g. a
and in their regular letters to their dioceses. Most often, these are
priest).
to encourage faith and devotion, clarify a point of faith or to give
instructions. The most well-known are those written by the Pope.
These are called encyclicals and an example is Evangelium Vitae
Good News The news that Jesus (Gospel of Life). This was written by Pope St John Paul II to clarify
was God incarnate and by dying the Church’s responses to a variety of modern ethical issues that
on the cross he paid the price affect the sanctity of life.
for human sin which meant that
Christians could hope for eternal ‘Taking into account these distinctions, in harmony with the magisterium
life with God after death. of my predecessors and in communion with the Bishops of the Catholic
Church, I confirm that …’
Homilies Talks on a religious
matter (sermon).
Encyclical A letter from the Pope to Evangelium Vitae 65 – Pope St John Paul II 1995
Catholic bishops. The function of the magisterium is to present Catholic teaching
in the modern context. It is important for the Church to be able
to respond to issues that were not considered by the writers of
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 the Bible (such as IVF and genetic engineering).
The authority of the magisterium gives confidence
to the next generation of Catholics that they are
following the Church’s teaching as they face the
issues of modern society.

Extraordinary magisterium
Sometimes the Church needs to respond to specific
disputes or particular circumstances. These have
more importance than the ordinary teaching role
of the Pope and the bishops, so they are called the
‘extraordinary magisterium’.
▶ Conciliar magisterium: Sometimes the bishops
of the Church are asked to sit in a General
Council. The task of a General Council is to
explore matters of significance to the life of the
Church. This could be a specific doctrine or
guiding the Church’s response to developments
in the modern world. The first record of a
General Council is in the Bible (Acts 15) when
the leaders of the Christian community gathered
in Jerusalem to decide what procedures were
required of new converts to Christianity. The
decisions made at these General Councils have
great significance in the life of the Catholic
Church, for example, the decisions of the
The magisterium is the authority of the Pope and the Councils of Nicea and Constantinople resulted
bishops of the Church in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, which
is still regularly said in churches on Sundays
(see page 88). The Council of Trent (1545–63) responded to the
Protestant Reformation by, for example, reinforcing Catholic
belief that Christ is fully present in the Eucharist. The Conciliar
magisterium is an example of the bishops of the Church
working together to make sure that they are speaking to the
worldwide Church. This working together also includes synods,
such as the 2015 Synod on the Family.
▶ Pontifical magisterium: Another form of ‘extraordinary
magisterium’ concerns specific and rare declarations by a pope.
The Pope has the authority to make the final decision on some
disputed matters of faith or morals. The rules for such
declarations were finally set down by a General Council in
1870. They are called ex cathedra declarations. Before making
Synod When the Pope calls the such a declaration, the Pope is expected to consult widely, have
3 Life and death

Bishops and other advisers for a discussions with key advisers and spend time in prayer. When a
series of meetings on a specific pope makes an ex cathedra statement in this way the teaching is
issue. considered to be without error (infallible). It is important to
Papal infallibility The belief that, note that this papal infallibility is limited to faith and
with God's assistance, the Pope is morals. The use of this form of extraordinary magisterium is
without error when he proclaims very rare. For example, in 1854 and 1950 popes made two
definitively what the Church such statements on specific beliefs about Mary, Mother
teaches on faith or morals. of Jesus.

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 Tasks

The magisterium
1 Sort the 12 words or phrases in the table below into whether they relate to:
a Ordinary magisterium
b Conciliar magisterium
c Pontifical magisterium.
Papal infallibility Help Catholics face the Synods General Council
challenges of modern life
…vangelium Vitae Nicene Creed Regular communication Rarest form of magisterium
…x Cathedra declarations Bishops working together Pope consults widely Encyclicals
2 Using the words and phrases in the table above write short definitions of:
a Ordinary magisterium
b Conciliar magisterium
c Pontifical magisterium.
3 ‘Why should we listen to what the Pope or the bishops say?’
How might a Catholic explain to a non-Catholic why the Pope and bishops have the authority to make statements
about the Catholic faith (refer to apostolic succession and papal infallibility in your answer).

▶ Second Vatican Council

The most recent General Council was in the 1960s. It was known as
the ‘Second Vatican Council’ (Vatican II) because it was the second
one to be held at the Vatican, in Rome. It was called by Pope St
John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and completed its work under Pope
Paul VI on 8 December 1965.
It is important to know the context of this council. The Second
World War ended in 1945. In the years that followed there was
considerable change in society, technology and in politics. John
XXIII became Pope in 1958 and wanted the Catholic Church to
respond to these changes and to represent the faith in this new
context. The Council published sixteen documents.

The Second Vatican Council was the Catholic Church’s response to the challenges of
the modern world. It published sixteen documents stating the Church's position on
different issues
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 The four key documents
Four of the documents of Second Vatican Council were given the
title of ‘Constitution’. This made them the most important of
the sixteen documents published. These have been guiding the
Catholic Church since 1965.

Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation)

This is the document that sets out the relationship between the
Bible, Tradition and the Magisterium. It explains how these are
each inspired by the Holy Spirit and have authority for the Catholic
Church. It also emphasises the importance of proper biblical
scholarship, which means the study of the different literary styles
in the Bible and the historical context of the Bible writers. It also
encourages Catholics to use the Bible as part of their prayers. It
has led to an increase in specialist biblical scholars and more Bible
study groups in parishes.

Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)

This document covers changes to the Church’s liturgy, which
means the official public worship of the Church. Before the
Council most people attended Mass that was said in Latin.
Everyone, priest and people, faced the altar to emphasise the link
between the Eucharist and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. The reforms
encouraged by Vatican II were that the people should be more
Liturgy The official public worship involved, have better understanding of the symbolism and be able
of the Church. to understand what was being said. So the words were translated
into the local language and the altar was moved so that the priest
Lectionary The book of scripture
now faces the people and his actions are more easily seen. In
readings that can be used for
addition, the lectionary has been revised so that Catholics get a
public worship.
richer and wider selection of Bible readings at church.

Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)

The First Vatican Council produced documents about the roles
of the Pope, the bishops and priests. The Second Vatican Council
wanted to make sure that all members of the Church knew that
they had important roles to play. Lumen Gentium means ‘the light
of the peoples’ and this document encouraged ordinary Catholics
to take a more active role to be part of the mission of the Church
and to serve Jesus. This means that all Catholics should act on the
promise they made at their baptism to be ‘lights to the world’ by
being of service to others.

Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope) Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the
3 Life and death

A Church document issued in 1965 Modern World)

by Pope Paul VI which focuses on
This document was published at the end of the Council in 1965. In
the Church in the Modern World.
the years before the Council, the Catholic Church was seen as being
separate from the rest of world.

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 Gaudium et Spes was written to respond to the changes in society,

The magisterium
Social justice Promoting a fair the issues of poverty and social justice, the impact of science and
society by challenging injustice technology and, above all, to encourage the people of faith to engage
and valuing diversity; ensuring with the modern world. By working for peace and social justice,
that everyone has equal access Pope John XXIII wanted the Catholic Church to be a source of ‘joy
to provisions, equal opportunities and hope’ to the world. Gaudium et Spes set the foundations and
and rights. There has been a principles that later enabled the charity CAFOD (see pages 64–66) to
variety of documents produced be set up to respond to the needs of the developing world.
by the Catholic Church that is The influence of this document has been dramatic. In the years
collectively known as Catholic since Vatican II
Social Teaching.
▶ dioceses and parishes have set up Justice and Peace Groups to
consider local peace and justice issues
▶ international organisations like Pax Christi, which works for
peace, have been created
▶ national organisations, such as the Catholic Association for
Racial Justice, have developed.

Task
Copy and complete the table below. For each of the four documents state what their message was and how it has
impacted Catholic practices. One has been completed for you.
Document Message Influence on Catholic practices
Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on
Divine Revelation)
Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution People should be more involved in Mass Words of the Mass translated from Latin
on the Sacred Liturgy) and understand better what’s going on to the local language
Altar moved so people can see the priest
more clearly
A wider range of readings are used in the
Mass
Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution
on the Church)
Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution
on the Church in the Modern World)

Summary
• Catholics use the Bible, Tradition and Magisterium as sources of authority.
• Magisterium can be ‘ordinary’ and ‘extraordinary’.
• Pontifical magisteria are rare, but Catholics believe these teachings to be
infallible (without error/mistake).
• The last extraordinary magisterium was the Second Vatican Council which
led to many significant changes and developments.

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 ■ Artefacts
Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• how Christian beliefs about eternal life are portrayed in certain artefacts
• how Christian beliefs about resurrection are expressed through the use of
the Paschal candle at Easter and at Catholic baptism.

Humans often use images and symbols to help explore ideas and to
find ways of expressing beliefs. In this section you will be
Artefacts Objects made by
introduced to two artefacts that express beliefs about death,
humans.
resurrection and eternal life.

▶ Sarcophagi
These are stone coffins that have carved images on them. The
images often feature scenes from the Bible or the lives of saints. One
example is the sarcophagus with scenes of the last days of Jesus’ life,
Jesus’ Passion The events of the a period which is known as Jesus’ Passion. This sarcophagus with
last period of Jesus’ life ending scenes of the Passion is now in the Museo Pio Cristiano in the
with his crucifixion. ‘Passion’ Vatican, Rome. It dates from the fourth century and has a variety of
means suffering in Latin. images that reinforce the belief that Jesus’ death and resurrection
were a triumph over sin and a sign of hope. The entire decoration is
based on the Passion and resurrection of Jesus.
3 Life and death

The sarcophagus in the Museo Pio Cristiano in Rome is decorated with images showing events from the last days of Jesus’ life

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 ▶ On one panel there is an

Artefacts
illustration of the scene where a
man known as Simon of Cyrene
was instructed by the Romans
to carry Jesus’ cross to the
crucifixion.
▶ The next panel shows Jesus being
given a crown of thorns by the
soldiers guarding him – they gave
him the crown to mock him as
he was accused of calling himself
King of the Jews. However,
the crown in the image is
actually fi lled with jewels which
symbolises that Jesus’ death was
actually a triumph over sin.
▶ Another panel shows Jesus being
The Chi-Rho is a traditional symbol for the Resurrection of Jesus
presented for trial before the
Roman governor Pilate.
▶ Next to it is the scene of Pilate, who did not want to execute
Jesus but gave in to the pressure of the crowd and the Jewish
authorities, washing his hands to symbolise that he wouldn’t
take responsibility for crucifying Jesus.
▶ For the centre piece there is a stylised cross with the Chi-Rho
symbol representing Jesus. The Chi-Rho is an ancient symbol
of the resurrection. It is formed from the first two letters of
the title ‘Christ’ in Greek (Chi = X, Rho = P). When merged
together they form the ‘Chi-Rho’. To reinforce the fact that
Jesus’ death was a victory over sin, the Chi-Rho is placed within
a wreath that is held in the beaks of two eagles. The wreath
is the Roman symbol of victory. The eagles represent God
because in Roman religion they were used to represent the god
Jupiter. This cross sits above two soldiers who are looking up
at it in awe.

The Passion
This term comes from the Latin word for ‘suffering’ and is used to refer to
the suffering Jesus endured during the last few days of his life. The Gospels
describe the main events of the Passion:
• Garden of Gethsemane: Where Jesus prayed for the strength to face the
difficulties he was to endure. This was where he was arrested.
• Two trials: Jesus appeared before the Jewish authorities to face religious
charges. He then was tried by the Roman official (Pontius Pilate) and
charged with rebellion.
• Suffering: Under instructions from Pilate, Jesus was whipped, hit and had
a crown made out of thorns placed on his head.
• Crucifixion: This is a cruel and painful way to die. Jesus was nailed to a
cross (nails in the hands and the feet). The Gospel accounts say that he
was on the cross for six hours. Eventually, his body could take no more
and he died. The soldiers checked that he was dead before removing him
from the cross and placing him in a tomb.
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 Tasks
1 Copy and complete the following table. Describe the meaning of
each of the symbols of the sarcophagus.
Symbol Meaning
The cross
Chi-Rho
The wreath
The two eagles
2 Explain how the images of Jesus’ Passion on the sarcophagus in the
Museo Pio Cristiano in Rome express Catholic beliefs about eternal life.
Try and include the following words and phrases in your answer:
• Jesus’ Passion
• Resurrection
• triumph
• hope.

▶ The Paschal candle

The Paschal candle is a special candle that is used during Easter
season in church; it symbolises the fact that Jesus’ resurrection was
a triumph over death. Each year during Holy Week the events of
the last week of Jesus’ life feature in a series of liturgies. The most
important of them are three from the ‘triduum’:
▶ Holy Thursday: Mass of the Last Supper to remember Jesus’ last
meal with his disciples
▶ Good Friday: a commemoration of the Crucifixion
▶ Easter Vigil: in remembrance of the Resurrection.
At the beginning of the Easter Vigil the church is in darkness.
Holy Week The week leading up to
Outside the church a fire is lit. The Easter (Paschal) candle is lit
Easter.
from that fire and processed into the church. This symbolises the
Procession People walking ‘light of Christ’ overcoming the ‘darkness of sin’. The procession is
together in a formal way. completed with an ancient hymn, called the Exultet, that proclaims
Jesus’ triumph over sin because his resurrection defeats death.
The candle itself has a variety of symbols on it to reinforce belief
in this triumph over sin:
▶ The ‘Alpha’ and ‘Omega’: These are the first and last letters in
the Greek alphabet. They symbolise Christ as the ‘first’ and the
‘last’; the ‘beginning’ of all things and the ‘end’ of all things.
3 Life and death

▶ The cross: This is the symbol of Christian faith because it is due

to the crucifixion of Christ that the Resurrection was possible.
▶ The five wounds: The candle has five studs on it to represent the
five wounds Jesus received during his crucifixion.
▶ The year: Each year the candle is marked with that particular
year. It reminds people that Jesus is the same for all time and that
the salvation earned by Jesus is as real now as it was in the past.
The candle will be used by the Church until the following Easter,
especially at baptisms.
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 The Paschal candle represents Jesus’ light

Artefacts
overcoming sin and it is decorated with
symbols to show this. It is used in church
over the Easter period and then throughout
the year at ceremonies like baptisms

The Easter candle has a prominent place in the church

Pentecost A Christian festival
throughout the whole Easter season. As a reminder of the triumph
50 days after Easter to mark
of the Resurrection the Easter candle is lit at every Mass from
when the Holy Spirit came to the
Easter Sunday through to Pentecost.
Apostles.
The Easter candle and baptism
Historically, baptisms took place at the Easter Vigil. Many
parishes still baptise adults during the Easter Vigil. Baptism is
Sacrament A ritual through which the sacrament of entry into the Church. Water is used during the
Christians believe they receive baptism ceremony to symbolise that sin is washed away by Jesus.
God’s grace. Catholics sometimes The water used to baptise the new Christians during the Easter
use the phrases such as ‘a visible Vigil is blessed using the Easter candle.
sign of invisible grace’ or ‘outward The Easter candle is used in other baptisms throughout the year.
sign of inward grace’. To remind the people of the Resurrection, it is lit and placed near
to the font. A smaller baptismal candle is lit from its flame and is
given to the baptised person or their family to remind them that
the ‘Light of Christ’ has defeated the darkness of sin. The liturgy
encourages them to keep the light of faith ‘burning brightly’. A
further link to Easter is contained in the instructions to priests
that, where possible, baptisms should take place on Sundays. This
is because Sunday is the weekly reminder of the celebration of the
death and resurrection of Christ.
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 Tasks
1 Copy the diagram of the Paschal candle below and label each symbol with its name and its meaning. One has
been done to get you started:

Name: Name:

Meaning: Meaning:

Name: The five wounds Name:

of Christ
Meaning:
Meaning: Represents the
wounds Christ received
at his crucifixion

2 Acrostics are a good way of remembering key information. One has been done for you describing how the Paschal
candle is used in the Easter Vigil. Do the same to describe how it is used in baptisms.
Easter candle is lit from a fire outside the church
At the start of the vigil the church is in darkness
Stays in a prominent place for the whole Easter season
Taken into the church in a procession
Exultet is sung
Re-lit at every Mass from Easter Sunday through to Pentecost as a reminder of the triumph of the Resurrection

B
A
P
T
I
S
M

Summary
3 Life and death

• The sarcophagus with scenes of the Passion conveys Christian beliefs

about eternal life through the images of Jesus’ crucifixion carved on the
panels and the Chi-Rho inscribed on it.
• The Paschal candle conveys Christian beliefs that the Resurrection
brought humankind light and hope. The symbols on it are a reminder of
the Crucifixion through which Jesus brought salvation.
• The Paschal candle is used at Easter (the festival that remembers the
Crucifixion and Resurrection) and at baptisms as a reminder that ‘the light
of the world’ has defeated death and that salvation from sin is possible.
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 ■ Music and the funeral rite

Music and the funeral rite

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• that Catholic worship includes different types of music
• that people have different opinions about which types of music are
appropriate for worship
• the ways in which Requiem conveys Catholic beliefs about eternal life
• the order of the Catholic funeral rite and how symbols and prayers are
used to express beliefs about eternal life.

▶ Music and worship

Many people find that music can help them pray, as it can help
them express themselves in different ways. Recorded music can
support an individual in prayer and live music is often used in
churches to help the community bring their prayers together.

The Psalms
In the Old Testament, the Psalms are ancient collections of Jewish
prayers and hymns to God. They express emotions; from joy and
praise, to anxiety and despair. These have been sources of prayer
for the Christian community since the
time of Christ. This is because Jesus,
and most of the first Christians, had
lived most of their lives as part of the
Jewish community. The Psalms would
have been important to their worship
and it is no surprise, therefore, that
they used them in prayer.
The religious communities of
monks and nuns built on these types
of prayer. Their daily prayers were
based around the biblical prayer from
the Psalms. Gradually they developed
ways of singing or chanting the Psalms
to add to the beauty of the prayers.
The most famous of those styles is
known as ‘Gregorian chant’. It is a type
Many people believe that music is an important part of worship and there of chant that was developed for them
are many different forms this can take, including singing together during the to sing together without musicians.
Catholic Mass Psalms are still sung in monasteries,
convents and cathedrals today.
At the Catholic Mass, the Liturgy of the Word includes a psalm
Liturgy of the Word The part of selected to reflect the theme of the reading that comes before it.
the Catholic Mass that includes Parishes are encouraged to sing the psalm where possible and many
reading from scripture and a have been set to music by modern composers. Chant versions of the
homily. psalms are also available.
Catholic Mass The most important
liturgy in the Catholic Church.

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 Music in the liturgy
The Catholic Mass has several elements which are appropriate
to sing:
▶ Alleluia: This is a chant for welcoming the Gospel. To
acknowledge the importance of listening to the teaching of
the Gospel, the congregation stand and the alleluia is chanted.
Where possible the alleluia should be sung.
Liturgy of the Eucharist The part ▶ Eucharistic Acclamations: These are the chants that the
of the Catholic Mass including congregation says/sings during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. They
a thanksgiving prayer over the are the ‘Holy, Holy’, the ‘Memorial Acclamations’ and the ‘Great
bread and wine that become the Amen’. They punctuate the great prayer of thanksgiving at which
body and blood of Christ, and the bread and wine become the ‘body and blood of Christ’. Marking
the holy communion when the these moments with sung responses highlights their solemnity and
congregation receive Christ in the importance. These can be sung in a variety of different styles ranging
form of bread and wine. from the very modern to more traditional styles in Latin.
▶ The Gloria: This is a great song of praise for God. The words can
bring a greater sense of joy or awe/wonder through music.
▶ Hymns: There is a wide number of hymns in the Christian
tradition. Many parishes use hymns at the start and the end of
Mass. Hymns can be appropriate to support quiet prayer at, or
after, the distribution of communion. Hymns are also used
sometimes to accompany the procession of the gifts of bread and
wine before the Eucharistic prayer.

The Catholic Mass

The exam will not have specific questions about the is often greeted in song. The priest or deacon explains
structure of the Catholic Mass, however it is useful to the meaning of the Gospel in the homily (sermon). The
know that it has distinct sections. community says the Creed together and prays for the
needs of the community.
The Introductory Rites
The greeting, Penitential Act and Collect (also referred Liturgy of the Eucharist
to as the opening prayer) that form the beginning of the The focus is on the altar, where the priest says the
Mass. Eucharistic prayer. This is the great ‘thanksgiving prayer’
that recalls the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This is
Liturgy of the Word when Catholics believe the bread and wine become the
This part of the Mass takes place at the ambo (a pulpit ‘body and blood’ of Jesus. Catholics refer to this as ‘Real
or lectern). The focus of this part of the Mass is on the Presence’ and ‘Blessed Sacrament’. The community
readings from the Bible that are being proclaimed. On says the Lord’s Prayer together, offer each other a sign of
Sundays there would be three readings, usually one peace and receive the ‘body and blood’ of Jesus during
from the Old Testament, followed by a psalm that follows the distribution of communion.
the same theme. The second reading is usually from
The Concluding Rites
3 Life and death

one of the New Testament ‘letters’. The most important

reading is the Gospel. The community stands to hear the The Mass ends with the final prayers, blessing and
words of Christ, read by the priest or deacon. The Gospel dismissal.

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 Ancient or modern?

Music and the funeral rite

Through the centuries numerous composers
and hymn writers have created music for prayer.
There is a wide range of musical styles available,
but there are differences of opinion within
the Catholic community (and other Christian
communities) about what is the best way to
use music in prayer. Some Catholics would say
that traditional Latin music is the best way to
appreciate the beauty and majesty of the liturgy.
Others would say that the older hymns are more
appropriate church music and the words of the
Some people believe that it is important to include popular forms of classic hymn writers are more poetic. Others
music in Catholic worship so that young people can relate to it would say that the Church needs to sing in the
style of the younger generation, otherwise it is
not speaking to them at all.
Tasks
1 Below are six pieces of Christian music. Listen to one from each column.
‘How Great Thou Art’ ‘Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd’
‘Oh Happy Day' chant
‘Make Me a Channel of your Peace’ ‘In Christ’ – Living Sacrifice, King’s
College Cambridge
‘Don’t Waste your Life’ – Lecrae
For each piece of music:
a Write down what message the lyrics give about God (you may need to
look up the lyrics separately).
b Describe the style of the music, for example you could consider:
• What instruments are used?
• Is it loud or quiet, calm or exciting?
• Is it a certain style (hymn, rap, metal, gospel, etc)
• What sort of people do you think it would appeal to?
c How do you think Christians are meant to feel after listening to it?
2 Which of the two pieces of music you listened to is more appropriate to use
in worship? Give reasons for your answer.

Catholic beliefs about eternal life: Fauré’s Requiem

‘It has been said that my Requiem does not express the fear of death and
someone has called it a lullaby of death. But it is thus that I see death: as
a happy deliverance, an aspiration towards happiness above, rather than
as a painful experience.’

Gabriel Fauré
Many classical composers have used Christian liturgy as a source
of inspiration for their work. There are several well-known versions
of music composed for funerals. These are known by the term
‘requiem’, which is from the Latin for ‘rest’.
Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924) composed a requiem that is full of
beautiful melodies. Written just after the death of his father and
first performed just before the death of his mother, the requiem
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 brings a sense of calm and peace. In the requiem he wanted to show
that you could be sad about the death of loved ones while also
hoping that after death they had gone on to eternal life with God.
Fauré said that he did not want to express a fear of death. Instead
the requiem focuses on the hope that the dead will be in heaven
Soprano A high singing voice. and he expresses this in the music using harps, violins and the
sound of angelic sopranos.
The Final Commendation is the part of the funeral where
the mourners say their final goodbye to the dead person. The
In Paradisum is a prayer that is sometimes used in the Final
Commendation. It asks for the deceased to be welcomed into
paradise. Fauré’s music for In Paradisum reflects this hope. The
gentleness of the music reflects the tranquillity of life’s trials being
left behind and the music rises and soars before fading. The music
of this section of Fauré’s requiem is lighter and more delicate than
previous sections, and has a steady, rhythmic beat. The choir sings
in a higher pitch, sounding like the angels in heaven.
Like the symbols and symbolic actions in the funeral, Fauré’s
music helps the grieving to have faith, comfort and hope. It does
not focus on sadness, but on the peaceful and fear-free nature of
death. In contrast, Verdi’s Requiem ‘Dies Irae’ (‘Day of Wrath’) has
loud, violent music that changes rapidly and conveys restlessness.
The singing sounds like wailing and it is very different to the sense
of calm and tranquillity in Fauré’s requiem. Fauré himself said:

‘…my Requiem is dominated from beginning to end by a very human

feeling of faith in eternal rest.’

Tasks
1 Acrostics are a good way of remembering key information. Complete
the one below with the key information about Fauré’s Requiem. One
letter has been done for you.
F
A
Uplifting – Fauré did not want his requiem to express fear of death but
to focus on hope and heaven
R
E
2 How do you think hearing Fauré’s Requiem at the funeral might help
someone whose friend or relative had died?
3 Life and death

▶ The Catholic funeral rite

A variety of symbols and actions are used during a Catholic funeral
to remind the family and friends of the deceased person of their
faith in the Resurrection. The purpose is to allow the family to
grieve for the dead person, to celebrate the love they have for them
and to find comfort in the hope that they have gone on to eternal
life with God.
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 Symbols on the coffin

Music and the funeral rite

The coffin is covered in a white cloth, called a
‘pall’. This is a reminder of baptism when the
newly baptised person is presented with a white
garment as a symbol of being washed clean of
the sin that separates humans from God. Also,
because every coffin is covered in a pall, it is a
reminder that all are equal in the eyes of God. So
everyone is worthy of salvation through Christ.
The Book of the Gospels is sometimes
placed on the coffin. This is to remind people
that Christians live by the teachings Jesus gives
and the example he sets in the Gospel and that
The pall placed over the coffin symbolises the white robes the priest by doing this they will have eternal life.
wears at baptisms and also that everyone is equal in the eyes of God A cross is often placed on the coffin. The
baptism ceremony includes the priest or deacon
making the sign of the cross on the person to mark their joining the
Christian community. It is through Jesus’ death on the cross and his
The Book of the Gospels resurrection that he defeated death and brought salvation for humans.
A specially produced book that just
‘In baptism, (name) received the sign of the cross. May he/she now share
contains the Gospel readings used in Christ’s victory over death.’
at Mass.

The Paschal candle is often placed beside the coffin as a symbol of

belief in the Resurrection.
Flowers may be placed on the coffin but in moderation, so that
they do not hide these important symbols of faith and hope.

Symbolic actions
At the beginning and end of the funeral the coffin is sprinkled with
holy water. The coffin is also sprinkled with holy water before being
buried or cremated. Once again this is a reminder of the water used
in baptisms and the gift of eternal life. The accompanying prayer is:

‘In the waters of baptism, (name) died with Christ and rose with him to
new life. May he/she now share with him eternal glory.’

At the end of the funeral the coffin is incensed as a sign of honouring

the person, whose body was a temple of the Holy Spirit. The incense
also symbolises the prayers of those gathered rising up to God.
Processions are a traditional way of acknowledging the
importance of the occasion. It is common for the coffin to be
carried out of the church in a solemn procession. It brings the
community together to show the grieving relatives and friends that
everyone present is in solidarity with them.

The coffin is incensed which means Prayers and readings

the priest walks around the coffin with
The readings from Scripture will be chosen to remind those present
incense to honour the dead person
of the promise of resurrection and eternal life. Those readings will
be a source of comfort for those grieving and a declaration of hope.
The prayers throughout the funeral will refer to baptism, to Easter
and the Resurrection, to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the fact that
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 The priest or deacon will use their homily (sermon) to explain
the Christian belief that Jesus defeated death through his
resurrection and that this means that Christians can hope to have
an eternal life with God after death. This should bring further
comfort to the family and friends.
The prayers of intercession will include prayers for the dead,
Prayers of intercession A prayer for the grieving family and friends and for the wider community.
where you ask God to help someone Although not a requirement of the funeral rite, many funerals in
else. Catholic churches would include the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This
would be particularly appropriate if the deceased or members of
the family regularly attended Mass.
Some funerals include a short ‘eulogy’. This is a where a relative or friend
speaks about the life of the deceased person and can be a celebration
of their positive contribution to the lives of their family and friends.

Liturgical colour and final commendation

Priests wear white at Easter for a funeral, the liturgical colour of the
Liturgical colour In the Catholic Resurrection, and may wear white for the rest of the year, or purple,
Church, each season has a colour which is a sign of mourning. As with all the parts of the funeral, the
with a special meaning. purpose is to express Christian hope in the Easter story and faith
that the deceased person will have eternal life with God after death,
which is also expressed in the prayers of the Final Commendation:
‘May the angels lead you into paradise: may the martyrs come to welcome
you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.’

Tasks
1 Copy and complete the table below showing how each part of a Catholic funeral expresses beliefs about eternal life.
Part of the funeral How it shows Catholic beliefs about eternal life
Covering the coffin with the pall
Putting the Book of the Gospels and the cross on the coffin
The use of incense
Sprinkling water over the coffin
The sermon
Prayers that refer to Jesus’ life and death
The priest wearing white Represents hope in the Easter story
2 ‘Funerals are happy events for Catholics.’
• Why might people think funerals aren’t happy events?
• Why might Catholics think that funerals are times of hope and celebration?
• On balance would you describe funerals as happy events?
3 Life and death

Summary
• Different types of music are used in worship, from the Resurrection gives hope and that death is not to
chanting to using modern instruments such as drums be feared. Instruments such as harp and violin and
and guitar. soprano voices give the composition a sense of the
• People’s opinions about styles of music are different. ‘heavenly’.
• Requiem uses serene, calm melodies to convey • A Catholic funeral uses symbols, prayers and readings
beliefs about death and eternal life, for example, that to convey beliefs about eternal life.
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 ■ Prayer within Catholic communities

Prayer within Catholic communities

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• why prayer is considered important
• different types of prayer
• the significance of the Lord’s Prayer (‘Our Father’)
• why Catholics pray and offer Mass for the dead.

▶ What is prayer?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines prayer as ‘…
the raising of the mind and heart to God, or the petition of good
things from him in accord with his will’ (CCC 534).
Prayer can be more than simply asking for something or reciting
a familiar set of words. As the definition above indicates, prayer
is about setting aside time to be in the presence of God. Regular
prayer can become a habit that deepens a relationship with God.
This is what ‘raising the mind and heart to God’ can mean for
Christians.
Prayer is defined by the Catholic Church as Prayer of various kinds suit different occasions:
‘the raising of the mind and heart to God’
▶ Adoration: This is when Christians simply acknowledge that God
Adoration Greatly loving and is wonderful and worthy of praise. Such prayer could be to sit
worshipping. silently to worship God. Other times Christians may use words or
Repent To feel sorry for or to regret songs to express adoration. In the Catholic tradition, many
something. parishes (and schools) place the Blessed Sacrament on display
so that people can pray quietly and adore God who is present in
the Eucharist. The Catholic practice of starting prayer with the
words ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit’ is itself an act of prayerful adoration.
▶ Thanksgiving: As the term suggests, it is common for people to
thank God. People give thanks for the wonderful things that
happen, for answers to prayers and simply for the wonder of
creation. For Catholics, the most important act of thanksgiving
is the Liturgy of the Eucharist during the Mass. ‘Eucharist’ is a
Greek word that translates as ‘thanksgiving’, and this part of the
Mass is prayer that gives thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus in his
death and resurrection.
▶ Repentance: When Christians sin they feel sorry and express
regret about having sinned – this is called repentance. Catholics
repent during a section of the Mass called the penitential rite.
For more significant sins Catholics can seek the Sacrament of
Reconciliation to experience more personally God’s forgiving
response to repentance (page 112).
▶ Intercession: These are the prayers that ask God to help others.
Most Christians will have intercessory prayer during their regular
Sunday acts of worship. At every Mass there are intercessory (or
bidding) prayers.
▶ Petitions: Individual Christians will ask God to help them. They
will ‘petition’ God to respond to their own needs.
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 Formulaic (‘set’) prayers
There are a great number of prayers that have been said by
Christians over the centuries. Some have been written down and
collected in prayer books. Many Christians like to use these when
they pray because they believe they come from people who were
close to God. Some of these ‘formulaic’ prayers are similar to a
‘formula’, in that the same words are said in the same way every
time. They are often very well-known and provide a source of
inspiration for many, for example, The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father),
Glory Be, or the Hail Mary.
Some formulaic prayers have become extended, so that set
prayers are repeated. This helps to stop people becoming distracted
and enables them to pray more deeply. Examples include:
▶ The ‘Jesus Prayer’ is when the person simply repeats the name
‘Jesus’ or a statement like ‘Jesus, I love you’.
▶ The Rosary is another example of this technique within the Catholic
community. There is a formula for reciting the most familiar prayers
(‘Our Father’, ‘Hail Mary’ and ‘Glory Be’) so that Catholics can
meditate on the ‘mysteries’ of faith (see pages 114–115).
▶ A more complicated formulaic prayer is the Liturgy of the Hours.
This involves reciting psalms, Scripture readings, canticles (songs
Lay people People who are
from the Bible text) and intercessions at different times of the
members of the Church but not
day. Priests, nuns and monks promise to say these prayers every
of the clergy (e.g. not the priest/
day. Some lay people join in with part of these prayers when
bishop/deacon).
they can.

The Lord’s Prayer

The best known formulaic prayer is the Lord’s Prayer (the ‘Our
Father’). It is called the Lord’s Prayer because the Gospels tell us
that these words were Jesus’ instructions on how to pray (Matthew
6:9–13).

Extempore prayers
The risk of formulaic prayers is that people become so familiar with
them that they simply repeat them and they lose their meaning.
There will also be times when the formulas do not express the
feelings and wishes of the person. Extempore prayer is when
Christians use their own words to speak with God. It is possible for
people to use their own words to ‘raise their hearts and minds to
God’ in a more spontaneous way.
There are some Christians, including some Catholics, who feel
so moved by the Holy Spirit that they worship God with unusual
3 Life and death

sounds. This is called ‘charismatic’ prayer or praying in ‘tongues’.

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 Prayer within Catholic communities
Thanksgiving: It is an Intercession: In this
extraordinary privilege part of the prayer
to be able to call God
‘Father’. The Aramaic
The Lord's Prayer Christians are asking
that life on earth be
version of the term made as wonderful as
‘father’, used by Jesus, Our Father, who art in heaven, being in the presence
is ‘Abba’ which is of God. They are
closer to ‘daddy’. This hallowed be thy name. asking God to bring
suggests that Jesus more peace, more
Thy kingdom come. justice, more mutual
was encouraging
people to have a Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. respect and true
personal relationship equality to earth.
with God. Gives us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, Repentance: This is
Adoration: To give as we forgive those who trespass against us, an acknowledgement
‘hallows’ is to make that humans may fall
‘holy’. This prayer and lead us not into temptation, short of perfection
starts with a statement and gives them the
but deliver us from evil. chance to repent. The
of adoration.
prayer also commits
Christians to forgive
Petition: Christians For thine is the Kingdom, others.
are asking God to
meet their own
the Power and the Glory.
needs. Some Christians place
an additional formula
at the end.

Tasks
1 Copy the table below. Define each type of prayer and add the relevant part of the Lord’s Prayer.
Type of prayer Definition Part of the Lord’s prayer
Adoration
Thanksgiving
Repentance
Intercession
Petition
2 Below are some benefits of different types of prayer. Which ones are benefits of formulaic prayers and which are
the benefits of extempore prayers?
(a) Helps me focus my mind (b) Lets me use my own words to communicate with God (c) Feels more personal
(d) Lets me say what I’m thinking (e) They are the words of people who were close to God (f) A source of inspiration
3 Look at the different types of prayer in question 1. Do you think some types are more suited to formulaic prayer
or extempore prayer than others? Why?
4 Explain why Catholics describe prayer as ‘the raising of the mind and heart to God’.

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 ▶ Praying for the dead
Within the Catholic community there is long tradition of praying for
the dead. These prayers are intercessions on behalf of the person who
has died, asking God to welcome them into his presence so they can
have eternal life in heaven. The most commonly used prayer is:

‘Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord. Let perpetual light shine upon
him/her.
May he/she rest in peace. Amen.
May his/her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the
mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen’.

Another feature of praying for the dead is the practice of asking

priests to offer a Mass for a relative or friend who has died. On
such occasions, the priest will remember that person in his own
prayers during the Mass. The person’s name may be mentioned
during the Eucharistic prayer. Within that prayer there is always a
formula of words to remember those who have died and a variation
that enables an individual to be named.

Task
‘What’s the point of praying for someone who’s dead?’

Write an answer a Catholic might give to this question. In order to explain

fully they would need to refer to their beliefs about death and their beliefs
about prayer. Here are some ideas to include in your answer:
• Eternal life
• Heaven and hell
• Purgatory
• Prayer as the raising of the mind and heart to God
• Petition and intercession.

Summary
• Prayer is ‘the raising of the mind and heart to God’.
• Prayers can be ‘set’ or more spontaneous.
• Prayers can have different purposes, for example, to praise, thank or
request.
3 Life and death

• The Lord’s Prayer (‘Our Father’) was taught by Jesus himself and includes
different types of prayer within it.
• Catholics believe that their prayers can intercede on behalf of someone
who has died and that God can be asked to welcome them into
eternal life.

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 ▶ End of section review

End of section review

Knowledge check
1 For a Catholic, what does it mean to die well?
2 Explain why the Catholic Church rejects euthanasia and assisted suicide.
3 Explain the difference between beliefs in the sanctity of life and quality
of life.
4 Summarise in one mind map what Catholics believe about life after death
and heaven and hell.
5 What is . . .
a the Magisterium?
b the Second Vatican Council?
6 On a picture of the sarcophagus with scenes of the Passion in the Museo
Pio Cristiano, identify the various images and explain what each one
represents.
7 Summarise what happens in the Catholic funeral rite.
8 Explain why Catholics say prayers for the dead.
9 What are extempore prayers?

The big question

‘Prayer is a waste of time.’

Your task
Respond to this statement showing that you have thought about more than
one point of view.
• Do you agree?
• What arguments support the statement?
• Are they valid – do they make sense? Are they weak/strong?
• What arguments challenge the statement?
• Are they valid – do they make sense? Are they weak/strong?

Task
Think about these two questions:
1 Describe some of Jesus’ teachings on heaven and hell.
2 Explain Catholic teaching on heaven and hell.
How would the answers to these two questions differ?
What would you include in your answer in each case?
Read the model response written by a student. Which question is it answering, question 1 or 2? How can you tell?
In the Bible Jesus tells several stories about heaven and hell. In all of them he says that individuals
will be judged by God for the things that they do or fail to do in this life. For example, in the parable
of the Unforgiving Servant, the King puts a man in prison because he demands money from another
man, even though he had been shown mercy by the King when he was in debt himself. In the parable of
the Rich man and Lazarus, after death the rich man is sentenced to an eternal life of torment because
in life he ignored the needs of the poor. Meanwhile, Lazarus, the poor man who had to beg for food, is
taken to be with God after death.

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 ▶ Exam focus
Life and death

Stickability
• Sanctity of life versus quality of life • The Catholic funeral rite
Key concepts:
• Humanism and the ‘right to die’ • The importance and types of prayer
• Death
• Bodily resurrection • The Lord’s Prayer
• Eternal life
• The soul and life after death • E xtempore prayers
• Heaven
• Heaven, hell and judgement • Praying for the dead
• Hell
• Purgatory Sources of wisdom and authority:
• Judgement
• The Magisterium • 1 Corinthians 15
• Magisterium
• Second Vatican Council • Parable of the Unforgiving Servant,
• Resurrection
• Eternal life and the sarcophagus in Matthew 18:21–35
• Soul
the Museo Pio Cristiano • Parable of the Rich Man and
Key teachings about:
• The Paschal candle Lazarus, Luke 16: 19–31
• The meaning of death
• Music and worship • 1 Corinthians 3:11–15
• Dying well
• Music in the liturgy of the Mass • E vangelium Vitae
• Palliative care
• Euthanasia and assisted suicide • Eternal life in Fauré’s Requiem

(a) questions
Remember there are only two marks for these questions so it is
important you are able to give an accurate definition.
Points are awarded for this question as follows:
▶ 2 marks for either two separate points, e.g. a straightforward
definition plus an example, or one point which is developed.
Task
Look at the following question:
a) What do Catholics mean by ‘death’. [2]
This is Robert’s response:
Death is the end of the physical body and the end of our earthly
lives. Catholics think that life does not end at death because we
have a life after death.
What mark would you give it? Explain why.

(c) questions
Note carefully that the (c) questions for Component 2 do not
3 Life and death

require two religious views.

In all (b), (c) and (d) questions, references to relevant sources of
wisdom and authority should be included as evidence. They are
important to support the point you have made. You will need to
practise how you use sacred texts and other sources of wisdom and
authority.
Some candidates lose marks because they have a ‘scattergun’
approach. In other words, they include a reference but without any
further details. See the example given below.
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 (c) Explain why the Paschal candle is used in the Easter Vigil and

Exam focus
during a Catholic baptism. [8]
A Paschal candle is used at Easter and at baptism because of Jesus’
death.
Other candidates describe the whole of a story from a sacred text
but with no reference to how it relates to the question.
There are many different ways that sacred texts can be used as
evidence, for example:
▶ Analysing the importance of a text for action or belief today:
A Paschal candle is used during Easter services and at baptisms because
it is a reminder of the death and resurrection of Jesus and the hope of eter-
nal life that comes through being part of the community of the Church.
▶ Describing the text reference briefly in relation to present-day
belief or practice:
Baptism welcomes a person in to the Christian faith and their original
sin (from Adam and Eve) is wiped clean and they can share in the
salvation Jesus brought when he died on the cross as atonement for the
sins of humankind and was resurrected. These events are remembered
during Easter services when the Paschal candle is lit.
▶ Making direct reference to a textual quote to support an answer:
Jesus said ‘You must be born of water and the spirit to enter the king-
dom of God.’ Jesus is saying that being baptised allows a person to
share in the salvation Jesus brought through his death and resurrec-
tion. As a reminder of this, the Paschal candle is lit during Easter
services and at baptisms.
(d) questions
Again, note carefully that the (d) questions for Component 2 do
not require you to include non-religious beliefs, though you
may include them if the question is appropriate.

Task
d) ‘There is no life after death.’
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than
one point of view. [15 + 6]
(You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
Marks for spelling, punctuation and the accurate use of grammar are
allocated to this question.
Look at the response below:
Christians would not agree because they believe that there is life
after death because Jesus said there was. He rose from the dead
himself and then went in to Heaven. Most Christians believe we
were created with a God-given purpose, so there must be an af-
ter-life. Some Christians think they’ve experienced a life after
death because they’ve had out-of-body experiences or seen ghosts.
Atheists would agree with the statement because they don’t believe
in God and they don’t believe there is anything after this life.
They believe we just have the one life and we must make the most
of it. They think that beliefs about Heaven or an after-life are just
wishful thinking and say there is no proof of it at all.

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 Now look at the marking bands for the (d) questions on page 7. For the
highest band you must:
• analyse, evaluate, discuss, include different views
• reach judgements about the statement
• use religious language
• make reference to sources of wisdom and authority.
a Do you feel the response above does that?
b Explain which of these areas needs improvement.
Now use this structure to help you write an improved response to the
statement (the opening statement has been completed already).

1. There is no life after death because there’s no proof.

It’s just wishful thinking.’

2. Furthermore...
(write an extra point that supports the idea that there is
no life after death)

3. However, many Christians would challenge those

ideas as weak arguments and say...
(write an opposite/counter argument to numbers 1 and
2 that offers a reason why many believe there is life
after death)

4. On the other hand though, it is reasonable to argue

that...
(write a point of view that challenges the arguments in
number 3)

5. Alternatively, a stronger argument might be...

(write an opposite/counter argument to number 4)

6. By way of contrast though, it is valid to say that...

(write an opposite/counter argument to the points made
in number 5)

7. Like many atheists, I agree entirely with the state-

ment because...
3 Life and death

(reach a judgement and offer reasons why you or

others don’t believe there is life after death)

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 4 Sin and forgiveness

Key Concepts
Absolutism The belief that there are certain Punishment The consequences of a wrong
actions which are always right or always decision and a penalty imposed by a person
wrong. The belief that moral laws exist eternally in authority on the person who has committed
and are not just human inventions. wrongdoing.
Eucharist Meaning ‘thanksgiving’. The name Relativism The belief that there is no moral
Catholics use to describe the rite where the law and that rules that govern what is right
bread and wine become the body and blood and wrong are human inventions and change
of Jesus and are received by the people. Also from place to place and from age to age.
the name for the Real Presence of Jesus in the
Salvation The belief that through Jesus’ death
Sacrament of Holy Communion.
and resurrection humanity has achieved the
Evangelisation Literally means spreading possibility of life forever with God.
the ‘Good News’ which can be translated as
Sin Acting against the will or laws of God.
‘Gospel’. The sharing of the Gospel and life of
Jesus with others.
Forgiveness The act of pardoning someone
for the offences they have caused you.
Overlooking a person’s faults.

Core Questions

Is ‘sin’ just a religious Can or should people Is the death penalty

word for ‘crime’? always forgive? sometimes the right type
of punishment?

How can Jesus save? Would a loving God send What is the Body of
someone to hell? Christ? Can everyone be
part of it?

How can church buildings What are the sacraments? Does the bread and wine
reflect Catholic belief? Why do we need them? really become Jesus’ body
and blood?

Should missionary work

be allowed in a secular
and multi-faith society?

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 ■ Crime and punishment

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• the difference between crime and sin
• the different rationales for punishment and their strengths and
weaknesses
• Christian teaching on forgiveness
• Catholic teaching on capital punishment
• arguments for and against capital punishment.

▶ Crime and sin

What is a crime?
Key Concept Crime can be defined as an action that breaks the law. Laws are made
Sin Acting against the will or laws by the government of a country. As such they can be very different
of God. in different countries and what is lawful can change over time. Laws
are there to protect the weak, give guidance on acceptable behaviour
and allow people to live safely and without fear. The role of the police
is to detect and prevent crime; the role of the justice system is to
enforce the laws and punish those who break them.

Sin
A sin is an action which goes against the will of God. Some sins are
crimes, for example, murder. Other sins such as adultery are not
against the law.

Making moral decisions

Crime and sin are linked because they are about what is right
and wrong or good and bad behaviour. The set of principles we
A crime is something that is against the use for deciding what is right and wrong is known as morality.
law of a country, whereas a sin is against Making decisions on how we behave is complex, but put very
God’s will. Some things, for example
simply there are two common forms of morality:
stealing, might be both a sin and a crime
Absolute morality
Key Concept This is when a person holds a principle such as ‘stealing is wrong’
and never alters it. This applies to all situations, no matter what
Absolutism The belief that there the context or circumstance. So even if someone was starving
are certain actions which are
4 Sin and forgiveness

it would not be right for them to steal a loaf of bread. Stealing

always right or always wrong. is always wrong. Another example would be the belief that it is
The belief that moral laws exist wrong to kill. This would apply in all situations such as war,
eternally and are not just human abortion and euthanasia.
inventions.
Relativism The belief that there Relative morality
is no moral law and that rules This is the idea that a moral principle can be adapted or adjusted
that govern what is right and in certain situations. So stealing in principle is wrong, but if
wrong are human inventions and someone has no other way to get food, then stealing is justifiable.
change from place to place and Killing is usually wrong, but if someone kills in self-defence, then
from age to age. it may be acceptable.
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 Crime and punishment
Tasks
1 Using a Venn diagram give some examples of sins that are not crimes,
crimes that are not sins and actions that are both crimes and sins.

Crimes Sins

Did you find any part of the Venn diagram harder to fill in than the
others? Which part was it and why do you think that was?
2 Discuss the following statement, ensuring you explain the difference
between absolute and relative morality.
‘Killing is always wrong.’

▶ Aims of punishment
Key Concept
Punishment The consequences of a wrong decision and a penalty imposed
by a person in authority on the person who has committed wrongdoing.

When a criminal is found guilty of a crime, there are a number

of punishment options available to a judge, such as fines,
community service and prison. A judge will consider several
different purposes when sentencing a person for the crime they
have committed.
▶ Deterrence means to discourage, or put someone off
committing a crime. Punishment may put someone off doing
that action again. It also makes an example of the criminal and
seeing the punishment given might deter someone else from
doing the same thing. This is often one of the main arguments
for the death penalty. Execution for murder should put others
off committing murder. However, many argue that deterrence
does not work and that people are not really discouraged by the
example of others receiving punishment.
Deterrence also has to be just. Punishments should be no harsher
than they need to be to put potential criminals off. The threat
of hanging would probably deter someone from speeding but it
would not be fair.
▶ Retribution is the idea that punishment should make criminals
pay for what they have done wrong. To put it simply, this means
getting even or taking revenge. It makes the victim of a crime
feel a sense of justice that the offender got what they deserved.
This goes with the Old Testament idea of ‘an eye for an eye, and
a tooth for a tooth’, but it does not reflect Jesus’ teaching that we
should ‘turn the other cheek’ and not seek revenge.
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 Sometimes victims feel that criminals do not get severe enough
punishment, or there is a fear that the punishment could be too
harsh. For Christians, the punishment has to be connected to
justice and not revenge.
▶ Rehabilitation Punishment should help the offender to see
what they have done wrong and to change their behaviour so
they do not repeat the offence. It is the idea that criminals can
somehow be ‘cured’ if we understand why they commit crimes
and help them to change. This may mean providing criminals
with education, counselling, skills or training so they can become
productive members of society and avoid breaking the law
again. This is also known as reform. It is really the only type of
Punishments for criminals might take punishment that works in the long term because if criminals are
a number of forms. Some people might not reformed, they will continue to commit crime when they are
receive a prison term, or for lesser or first released from prison. Rehabilitation is the aim of punishment
time offences community sentences
which is most in line with Christian ideas on forgiveness.
might be used which involve working in
However, some see it as being soft on criminals and not really a
the community
punishment at all.

Tasks
1 Draw a table like the one below. For each of the three aims of punishment add:
• an explanation of what it is
• a weakness
• the Christian response to it.
One has been done for you.
Aim of Explanation Weakness Christian response
punishment
Deterrence Having punishments that put The punishments could be too The punishment must be just – not
people off committing the crime harsh to really put people off too harsh

2 Below is a list of punishments that can be given by UK courts and a list of crimes.
a What do you think is the most just punishment for each crime?
b For each of the punishments you have decided on what is the main aim of the punishment – deterrence,
retribution or rehabilitation?
Crime Types of punishment
• Drink driving and killing someone • Unpaid work
• Littering • Prohibited activity requirement – stop the offender reoffending,
• Being drunk and disorderly e.g. by stopping them going to certain areas or doing certain
4 Sin and forgiveness

• A business manager committing fraud things (for example, wearing a hoodie)

• Hitting someone in a fight and causing serious injuries • Curfews
• A drug addict shoplifting • Supervision requirement – having to report into a probation
• Being caught speeding officer regularly
• Vandalising a children’s playground • Alcohol or drug treatment
• Fines
• Prison sentences
• Compensating the victim

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 ▶ Forgiveness

Crime and punishment

Forgiveness is at the heart of the Gospel message. Jesus’ example
Key Concept and teaching shows Christians that they should treat others with
love, compassion, mercy and forgiveness.
Forgiveness The act of pardoning
someone for the offences they ▶ In Matthew 18:21–22, the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant,
have caused you. Overlooking a Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I
person’s faults. forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?’ ‘Up to seven
times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-
seven times.’ By saying this, Jesus made it clear that there was no
limit to forgiveness.
▶ The importance of forgiveness is emphasised in the Lord’s Prayer.
Christians ask God to ‘forgive their sins, as they forgive those
who have sinned against them’. This implies that Christians are
not open to God's mercy if they are not forgiving towards others.
▶ ‘For if you forgive other people when they sin against you,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not
forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.’
(Matthew 6:14–15)
▶ There are many other examples from Jesus’ life for Christians to
follow. For example, Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery
(John 8:1–11) telling her to ‘go and sin no more’.
▶ The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of Jesus’ best known
stories where the father forgives his son and welcomes him back
even though he had done wrong.
Justice Fairness in the way ▶ Jesus showed forgiveness in the last moments of his life as he was
people are treated. being put to death. While he was on the cross he said, ‘Father,
forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.’

Forgiveness versus punishment

Some people might think that because
Christians believe in forgiveness, they don’t
believe in punishment. However, as well
as teaching about forgiveness Jesus also
spoke about justice. He spoke about God’s
punishment for wrong-doers in the next
life. On Judgement Day, God will judge
all humans according to how they have
behaved. If they have behaved justly they
will be rewarded in heaven.
It is up to God to judge people and he will
forgive those who are truly sorry for what
they have done and want to change.
Many Christians believe that punishment
and forgiveness can go together. Many
Christians would see the main role of
punishment as being to help the person
involved to reform. Christians also need to
look at the motives and reasons for crime.
Christians believe that forgiveness and punishment can go together Christians should be actively involved in trying
but that reform should be the main aim of punishment to create a better and fairer society where
people don’t feel the need to turn to crime.
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 ▶ Catholic teaching on capital punishment
Tasks Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is punishment that takes
the life of the criminal. Some people think it is a good form of
1 Imagine you are answering punishment because it deters people from murdering others and
a question explaining Catholic takes a life for a life. Other people disagree with capital punishment
beliefs about forgiveness. because evidence shows it does not deter, and innocent people can
List three sources of authority be killed for crimes they did not commit.
you could mention in your The Catholic position on capital punishment has developed over
answer and summarise what many years. Traditionally the Catholic Church has allowed, but not
they say in your own words. encouraged capital punishment. The Catechism of the Catholic
This could include quotes Church states:
or information from the
Bible, Church documents or ‘Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been
significant people. fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude
2 ‘Christians shouldn’t believe recourse to the death penalty.’
in punishment.’
Discuss this statement
showing you have considered CCC 2267
different viewpoints. In two famous letters, St Augustine emphasises the need to seek
other punishments if at all possible.

‘ … we pity the person, but hate the offence or transgression. In fact, the
more we dislike the vice in question, the less do we want the offender to
die without correcting his vices…There is no space to reform character
except in this life. After that, each person will have whatever he has won
for himself here [in this life]. That is why we are forced to intercede for the
guilty, out of love for the human race. For otherwise [capital] punishment
will end this life for them, and once it is ended, they will not be able to
bring their punishment to an end.’

Letter 153 to Macedonius, 3

‘ … we would prefer to have them set free than to have the sufferings of
our brothers avenged by shedding their blood.’

Letter 134 to Apringius, 4

Pope St John Paul II in his Evangelium Vitae 56, suggested that
capital punishment should be avoided unless it is the only way to
defend society from the offender. This is the position set out in the
new Catechism of the Catholic Church:
4 Sin and forgiveness

‘If bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an

aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public
authority must limit itself to such means, because they better correspond
to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in
conformity to the dignity of the human person.’

In recent years Pope Francis has stated that he is against the death
penalty, saying that it is no longer justifiable and there is also the
possibility that the wrong person could be killed.
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 Crime and punishment
Key
No executions
Not used in 10 years
Exceptional use
Widespread use

Worldwide use of the death penalty

Task
1 Copy and complete the mind map below summarising the view
of each source of authority about capital punishment.

Catechism

Catholic views
Pope Francis on capital Augustine
punishment

Pope St John
Paul II in
his Evangelium
Vitae 56

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 ▶ Arguments for and against capital punishment
Arguments for capital punishment
Some Christians believe the death penalty is acceptable. They
believe this because
▶ Jesus never taught the death penalty was wrong
▶ the Old Testament teaches that the death penalty should be used
for some crimes:
‘He who sheds a person’s blood, shall have his blood shed, for in the
image of God humans were made.’
Genesis 9:6

‘Life for life, eye for eye.’

Exodus 21:24
▶ some Christians would argue that the death penalty upholds the
commandment ‘thou shalt not kill’ by showing the seriousness
of murder as a crime
▶ St Paul teaches that Christians should accept and obey the laws
of their country, which might include the death penalty
▶ the Catholic Church has not cancelled its statements that capital
punishment can be used by the state
▶ religious and non-religious people might argue that some crimes
are so dreadful that the most extreme form of punishment is
justified. They might also argue that it is wrong to spend money
on keeping someone in prison long term, when that money is
needed by others in society.

Arguments against capital punishment

Many Christians believe that capital punishment is un-Christian.
They believe this because
▶ Jesus came to save (reform) sinners, but you cannot reform a
dead person
▶ the commandment says, ‘Do not kill.’
▶ Jesus said that revenge is wrong:
‘You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’
But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the
right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.’
Matthew 5:38
4 Sin and forgiveness

▶ Christianity teaches that all life is sacred and that humans are made
in God’s image. If abortion and euthanasia are wrong, then so is
capital punishment. Only God has the right to give and take away life
▶ the overall message of Christianity is love and forgiveness, so
capital punishment goes against this
▶ religious and non-religious people might say that there is always
a risk that the wrong person might be executed and that killing a
murderer is still killing and ‘two wrongs don’t make a right’
▶ Christians would agree with humanists that we should value the lives
of all, human rights are important, and that governments should
defend all their people. Therefore, killing as a punishment is wrong.
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 Tasks

Crime and punishment

1 Imagine you are answering a question evaluating Christian views
about capital punishment. You may be asked to consider both sides
of the argument.
a List three sources of authority you could mention in support of capital
punishment and summarise what they say in your own words.
b List three sources of authority that you could use in an argument
against capital punishment and summarise what they say in your
own words.
This could include quotes or information from the Bible, Church
documents or significant people.
2 Below are some non-religious views about the death penalty. Copy the
table and sort the reasons into those that support capital punishment
and those that are against it.
Arguments for capital punishment Arguments against capital punishment

• In the USA, African-Americans form 42 per cent of death row inmates but
only 12 per cent of the population.
• Poverty, childhood abuse and neglect and mental illness have all been
proven to have an impact on whether someone commits a crime.
• In the USA, keeping someone in jail for a year costs $58,351; the lethal
injection costs $1,300.
• Evidence suggests that the way prisoners are killed can cause extreme
pain and suffering.
• Protecting the public from people who’ve committed the most serious
crimes should be the priority.
• It is important that victims, friends and relatives and the wider society
feel that justice has been done.
• Since 1973, 123 death row inmates have been released having been
proven to be innocent.
• 47 per cent of prisoners leaving prison re-offend within a year.
• Texas, where there have been 239 executions, has a higher murder rate
than other states where there have been no executions.

Summary
• A crime is an offence against the law and a sin is an • Some Christians are against the death penalty for
offence against God. such reasons as it goes against the commandment
• There are several aims of punishment such as ‘Do not kill’, and there is a risk the wrong person is
retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation. killed.
• At the heart of the Christian message is forgiveness. • Some Christians are for the death penalty because
Christians should follow Jesus’ teaching and example. the Church allows it and the Old Testament argues
• The Catholic Church has allowed, but not encouraged for it.
capital punishment.

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 ■ Redemption
Core learning Key Concept
By the end of this area of study Salvation The belief that through Jesus’ death and resurrection humanity
you will know and understand: has achieved the possibility of life forever with God.
• the meaning and significance of
salvation and the role of grace
In Christianity, salvation means being freed from sin and its
and free will
consequences.
• how Jesus saves
Christians believe that human sinfulness means that they had
• free will and the unconditional
rejected God and no longer had a perfect relationship with him.
love of God.
However, God loves humans and so provided a way for human sins
to be ‘paid for’ so that the relationship between humans and God
could be repaired and humans can hope to spend eternity with
God after death. Christians believe that the way God did this was to
become human, as Jesus, and then to die on the cross.

How did Jesus’ death bring salvation?

Reconcile To forgive and restore Christians use a range of ways to describe how Jesus’ death and
relationships. resurrection reconciled God and humans. The most common is
Divine Perfect or God-like. the idea of a sacrifice.
In the Old Testament animal sacrifice was common practice.
People sacrificed an animal, often a lamb, as an offering to God.
The person making the sacrifice hoped to mend their relationship
with God. However, they had to make frequent animal sacrifices as
they continued to sin.
John the Baptist describes Jesus as ‘the lamb of God that takes
away the sins of the world’ (John 1:29). This means that just as
people had sacrificed a lamb, Jesus’ death was a sacrifice to make up
for human sin. But because Jesus was divine, perfect and without
sin his sacrifice restored the human relationship with God for all
time, unlike the animal sacrifices.
So by sacrificing his life, Jesus ‘paid the price’ for human sin.
Human beings could not do this for themselves, as they were
sinners. He earned salvation by suffering this punishment on
behalf of all human beings. Christians believe that, in turn, Jesus
extends the salvation he earned to all those who believe in him. So
Jesus is the saviour of the world.

So what do humans need to do to achieve salvation?

Christianity teaches that Christians can only achieve salvation by
4 Sin and forgiveness

repenting their sins, asking God for forgiveness, and accepting

Christians believe that by sacrificing his Jesus Christ as the Son of God and saviour of humankind.
life Jesus paid the price for human sin
once and for all Grace
For Christians, grace is the love and mercy shown by God because
God wants them to have it, not because they have done anything
to deserve or earn it. It is a free, generous and undeserved gift
from God.
If Christians repent of their sins, they are truly sorry for them.
Catholics believe that this makes them children of God and gives
them the desire to change and do good.
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 Grace comes about in a special way in the sacraments (see pages

Redemption
Sacrament An outward sign of 185–187), which Catholics believe are an encounter with God.
invisible and inward blessing by Salvation brought by Jesus comes to the world today through the
God, for example baptism or the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, reconciliation and the
Eucharist. Eucharist. As a result of receiving these sacraments, Catholics should
try harder to live a Christian life. All Christians are called to a life of
holiness, so they should try to live up to the teachings of Jesus.

The importance of grace, free will and salvation for

Catholics
Salvation from sin is important because without it, a person’s sin
will stop them from having a relationship with God and ultimately
might mean hell or purgatory after death. The salvation of
humankind was the purpose of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
Jesus is the saviour of the world for Christians. Christians believe
they do not deserve this but are given it freely by God. It is up to
humans how they respond. God created humans with free will.
They can choose to accept what Jesus has done or reject it. God
wants everyone to have a relationship with him, but it cannot be
forced.
Salvation is important for Catholics because it explains why the
sacraments of baptism, reconciliation, confirmation, healing and
the Eucharist are at the heart of Catholic life.

Tasks
1 Specialist vocabulary
Choose any three from the table below and write an explanation of what
they mean on a whiteboard or tell your partner. Each word has a score
value, so choose words that can get you the highest score!
Grace (4) Salvation (4) Sacrifice (3)
Sacraments (3) Reconciliation (3) Free will (2)
2 Before Jesus people had to make regular animal sacrifices to make up
for their sins, but Jesus’ death brought salvation forever. What reasons
can you think of to explain this?
3 Influence of religion
Christians believe that through Jesus’ death on the cross and God’s
grace they receive salvation. Give examples of ways this belief
influences
a the moral choices individuals make day-to-day
b how they take part in Church life and worship.

The Paschal Mystery

The Paschal Mystery is one of the central concepts of Christian
faith. It relates to the last few days of Jesus’ life, his death and the
events after his death. Christians believe that Jesus was resurrected
and that he was then taken from earth to be with God in an event
known as the Ascension. They believe that dying and rising from
the dead was the work God the Father sent his Son to do on earth.
They believe this is how Jesus offers salvation to all.
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 The last few days of Jesus’ life are remembered during Holy
Week, the week running up to Easter Sunday. The suffering that
Jesus went through at this time is traditionally called the Passion
(from a Latin word meaning ‘suffering’).

The Last Supper

The Last Supper was the meal that Jesus had with his disciples on
the evening before he was arrested. The events of the Last Supper are
remembered on Maundy Thursday, which takes place on the Thursday
of Holy Week. At the Last Supper, Jesus reassured his disciples that,
after he had left the earth, the Holy Spirit would be sent to them to
help keep his message and teaching alive. Jesus gave his disciples two
symbols, in the form of bread and wine, to be used in remembrance of
him. The bread represented Jesus’ body, which was to be sacrificed on
behalf of all human beings, and the wine his blood.
Today, the symbols of bread and wine are an important part of
Christian worship in a ceremony known as the Eucharist (or Mass,
as Catholics call it).

The Last Supper, as depicted here by Leonardo Da Vinci, was the last meal Jesus ate with his disciples and is the origin of the Catholic
4 Sin and forgiveness

ceremony of Mass

Good Friday and Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion

The Gospels record that after the Last Supper, Jesus went with his
disciples to a garden called Gethsemane, where he prayed. This was a
time of great sorrow and torment for him, because he knew that he
would die. Christians refer to the hours Jesus spent at Gethsemane
as the ‘agony in the garden’. He was arrested there after one of his
disciples, Judas, told the authorities where to find him.

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 Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin (the Jewish religious leaders

Redemption
and authorities). He was found guilty of blasphemy, the crime of
either insulting God or pretending to be God. The punishment
for blasphemy was death. Although the Sanhedrin found Jesus
guilty some scholars today argue that it was the Romans who
hurried Jesus to his death, because they wanted to nip in the bud
any unrest.
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor in charge of the city of
Jerusalem, sentenced Jesus to be whipped and crucified. Roman
soldiers then mocked and beat Jesus before leading him away
to be crucified. As regards who was responsible, the Catholic
Church teaches that it was the sins of all humankind that
brought Jesus to the cross.
Christians commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion and death on
Good Friday, the Friday of Holy Week, and treat it as a day
of mourning for his death. However, Christians believe that
Jesus’ death ultimately had good consequences for humankind.
Christians believe that Jesus’ suffering and death were part of
God’s plan, which can only be understood within the context of
Jesus’ resurrection after his death.

The Resurrection and its significance for Christians

The Gospels record that after Jesus died on the cross, his body was
buried, but he rose from the dead three days later. This event is
known as the Resurrection. It is the central belief of Christianity
and lies at the heart of the Christian faith.
The reason for its importance is that Catholics believe Jesus’
ability to overcome death proved he was the Son of God and
had a divine nature. It confirms their belief in the Trinity and an
omnipotent (all-powerful) God who holds ultimate power over the
universe he created, because only the creator of life could resurrect
life after death.
Catholics also think the Resurrection demonstrates that Jesus
is their saviour. They believe he has the power to help anyone who
believes in him to overcome death. By forgiving their sins, Jesus can
grant them the gift of eternal life with God.

The Ascension and the promise of the Holy Spirit

The Gospels tell how Jesus was taken up into heaven 40 days
after his resurrection, as witnessed by his disciples. This is
known as the ‘Ascension’. The significance of the Ascension for
Christians is that it is the end of Jesus’ time on earth. Catholics
believe this means his mission, or reason for being on the earth,
was successful. He had completed everything God the Father
had intended him to do and could, therefore, return to heaven to
prepare a place for his followers. Catholics also believe that Jesus'
ascension opened the way for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit
to energise and encourage Christians everywhere, as Jesus had
promised at the Last Supper.

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 Tasks
1 Copy and complete the timeline below marking out the important events in the last week of Jesus’ life. Use
a full page to do this so that you can describe what happened. The first one has been done for you.

The Last Supper: Jesus had

dinner with his disciples and
told them that after he died,
the Holy Spirit would come to
them. He gave them bread to
represent his body and wine to
represent his blood, which is why
bread and wine are consecrated
(made holy) at Mass today.

2 Explain why the Resurrection is so important to Christians.

Try and include the following words and phrases in your answer:
The Fall Broken relationship Sacrifice
Salvation Victory Divine nature

▶ Hell and the concept of a loving God

Some people might ask the question ‘surely a loving God would want
to save everyone. He would not want to condemn anyone to hell?’ God
Task does not send anyone to hell. Humans have free will and must choose
how to spend their life. If a person chooses to do evil then they will be
‘There is a hell, but far from God no matter how much God wants them to come to him.
there’s no one in it.’ God’s love is unconditional and universal but he cannot force it upon
Why might someone make this us, we have to accept it. Hell is not a punishment, but a consequence of
statement and how might a choosing to go against God. We choose our eternal destination by our
Catholic respond to it? choices in life. The concept of free will means that God can only offer
salvation; it is up to the individual to accept that offer.
4 Sin and forgiveness

Summary
• Humans have rejected God by their sinfulness, but • This is a freely given gift offered through God’s grace
Jesus offers salvation and redemption. and cannot be earned.
• Christians believe that their relationship with God, • God is all-loving and merciful but it is human free will
and their salvation, depends on Jesus’ life, death, that chooses to reject God which leads to hell.
resurrection and ascension.

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 ■ Church

Church
Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• the nature of the Church and Mary as a model of the Church
• the meaning and significance of the Church as body of Christ and people
of God
• the meaning of the claim that ‘outside the Church there is no salvation’.

▶ The nature of the Church

At the Councils of Nicea and Constantinople in the fourth century
CE, Church leaders agreed upon a single statement of faith called
the Nicene Creed. It identifies four marks, or distinguishing
qualities, of the Church. The ‘four marks’ of the Church are that it
is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

The Church is one

The Catechism notes that the Church is one for three reasons:
▶ because of its source, which is the Holy Trinity, a perfect unity of
three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
▶ because of its founder, Jesus Christ, who came to reconcile and
unite all humankind through his death on the cross, taking away
their sins
▶ because of its ‘soul’, the Holy Spirit, who lives in the souls of
Catholics and unites them into one group or ‘communion’ of
believers, and who guides the Church.
Catholics are united in their beliefs, the prayer which sums up what
Catholics believe, the other teachings and the celebration of the
sacraments. For example, wherever you go to Mass in the world, the
Mass is always the same.
‘One’ doesn’t mean that everything should be exactly the same
everywhere you go. In the Church’s oneness, there is diversity: there
The Church is the community of Catholics – is room for many different types of people who work together to
don’t mix it up with church with a lower continue the mission of Jesus. The Catholic Church teaches that
case ‘c’, that is, the building Catholics these various cultures and traditions enrich the Church in their
worship in different expressions of the one faith.

The Church is holy

Catholics believe Jesus is the source of all holiness. Jesus makes
the Church holy and the Church makes people holy through its
teaching, prayer, worship and good works.
Catholics believe that each member of the Church has been
called to holiness. This means that through baptism, a Catholic has
Original sin The first sin ever been freed from original sin, fi lled with God’s grace, and become a
committed – when Adam and member of the holy People of God.
Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the ‘Holy’ doesn’t mean that there are no sinners in the Church.
Garden of Eden. The action that Catholics recognise that they are weak human beings, and at times
brought sin and evil into the world. they sin and fall short of what God wants them to be. They are
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 taught to ask for God’s forgiveness and try again. In a sense, the
Church considers itself to be a Church of sinners, rather than of
the self-righteous. One of the prayers of the Mass asks:

‘Lord, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church.’

The Church is Catholic

Saint Ignatius of Antioch (c.35–108CE) used this word, meaning
‘universal’ or ‘whole’, to describe the Church. The Church is
Catholic in that Christ is universally present (present everywhere)
in the Church, and because he has given the Church the task of
‘evangelising’ which means telling the whole world the message
of Jesus. The Church is Catholic because Jesus gives the Church
everything they need for people to be saved.

The Church is apostolic

Catholics believe that Jesus Christ founded the Church and gave
his authority to his apostles – these were the 12 men he called to
follow him. He entrusted a special authority to St Peter, the leader
of the Apostles, to act as his representative on earth. Peter was the
first pope. The faith that Catholics have has been handed down
from the first apostles, through the pope and bishops right up to
the present day.

The Church as the people of God

In Greek, ‘ecclesia’ is the word for Church. It means assembly, or
gathering together of God’s people. The Church is the people of
God gathered together. The word church with a small c is used to
refer to the building where Christians come to pray. When it is
written with a capital C, Catholics mean everyone who is a member
of the Church, all believers together. The Church is an important
idea to Catholics.

Mary as model of the Church

Mary is a model of the Church. This means that during her life she
modelled what it means to be Catholic:

Discipleship
Catholics believe Mary was the greatest example of discipleship.
4 Sin and forgiveness

She spent her whole life dedicated to Jesus. When Mary was told by
the angel that she was to be the mother of the Christ, she accepted
willingly and joyfully. This makes her a role model and a guide to
the way Christians should serve God.

Faith
Mary had total faith in God and in her son. She did not question
God when she was told that she would have a child, even though
she was a virgin. At the very end she did not desert her son, but was
one of the few of his followers to follow him right up to the foot of
the cross.
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 Charity

Church
Mary is also a model of charity. She gave her whole life to God
and showed kindness and compassion. This is how Christians
should be too. At the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1–11) she asks
her son to help, knowing that he would do what was needed. The
celebration had run out of wine, but Mary knew that Jesus had the
power to help. As a result of Mary’s request Jesus performed his
first miracle and turned water into wine. This is also an example of
how Jesus listens to his mother and fulfi ls her request. This is one
of the reasons why Catholics pray to Mary, because they believe she
will pray to Jesus for them and he will listen.

Why Mary is special to Catholics today

Catholics hold Mary in great honour. She was chosen to be
the human mother of Jesus Christ, and you will often hear her
described as Mary, Mother of God. So Mary is really important in
the work of salvation. Without Mary, there would be no Jesus, no
incarnation and, therefore, no salvation.
Mary is often called ‘Our Lady’ by Catholics. This is a special title
Devotion Special prayers or given to no one else, showing how special she is. All Catholic
practices to show love and honour. churches will have a statue of Mary and there is a special devotion
to her.
Mediator A go-between.
As Mary has such a special relationship with God, Catholics
believe that she acts as a mediator between them and God.
Catholics pray to Mary, but not in the way they pray to God. They
do not believe that she can answer prayers in the way God can, but
they believe that she will pray to God on their behalf. This is known
as interceding. Catholics might light a special candle called a votive
candle and place it on a special stand by her statue in church as a
symbol of their prayer.

Tasks
1 With a partner, each take two of the four marks of the Church and
explain what it means and why Catholics believe it:

One Holy

Catholic Apostolic
2 Mary is often called ‘Our Lady’ by Catholics.
a Research some of the other titles that Catholics give Mary.
b Why do you think Catholics have special names for Mary?
3 Read the story of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38) when Mary was told
by the angel Gabriel that she would give birth to Jesus, the son of God.
Most Catholic churches will have a statue a How do you think Mary felt when the angel appeared and told her
of Mary showing her importance that despite being a virgin she would give birth to Jesus?
b How does Mary show the characteristics of discipleship, faith and
charity in the story?
4 Explain why Mary is important for Catholics.
Try to use the following words and phrases in your answer:

Model of the Church Incarnation Mediator

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 ▶ The body of Christ
The Church is described as the body of Christ in both the New
Testament and the Catechism. According to the Bible, when Jesus
entered the world, he took on a physical body that was ‘prepared’
for him (Hebrews 10:5; Philippians 2:7).This is known as the
incarnation; God became a human being.
While on earth in his physical body Jesus showed God’s love
in the things he said and did. He taught people how God wanted
them to live and he cared for the sick and the infirm by curing
them. Ultimately, he gave his life as a sacrifice so that all Christians
could have a closer relationship with God. After he rose from the
dead, Christians believe that he physically (bodily) ascended (went
up) into heaven. This is known as the Ascension.
The teaching that the Church is the body of Christ means
that Catholics believe that the work of Christ on earth did not
end with the Ascension. They believe that Jesus lives on through
his followers, and in the Church. In this way, it is believed that
Christ continues his work in the world and shows the love of
God through members of the Church. In this way, the Church
functions as ‘the body of Christ’. The Church is not a club or
association to belong to; it isn’t just a gathering of like-minded
people. It continues the work that Jesus started off making the
world holy. The Church offers a way of continuing what Jesus
started.
So, according to Catholic teaching, all Christians continue the
work of Jesus on earth. Christian people are now the physical body
of Jesus as he is no longer physically present in the world.
When someone is baptised, Catholics believe that they are united
with other Christians and with Christ and become part of this
‘body’.

Why the Church as the body of Christ is important for

Catholics
In the New Testament, the Church is described as ‘the body of
Christ’ especially by St Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians
(1 Corinthians 12:27). As Catholics consider
themselves to be the physical form of Jesus on
earth (the body of Christ), they must continue
with his physical work, giving help and
teaching. For Catholics, this means that Jesus
is still active in the world. His work didn’t end
4 Sin and forgiveness

with his death, but it continues in those that

follow and believe in him.
Following this teaching, individual
Catholics can continue Jesus’ work in
different ways and yet be united. Each
person, just like each part of a body, has a
different function and is used for the good
of the whole body. The Church remains a
During Mass Catholics believe that they take the body and blood of unity because its entire people are working
Christ and this gives them strength together as the body of Christ.
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 It is for this reason that the Mass (or Eucharist) is so

Church
important for Catholics. It is central to their faith that the bread
and wine which have been offered up in prayer have now become
the body and blood of Christ. As they share these in communion,
Catholics believe that they are given strength to be the followers
of Christ in the world. This also reaffirms their unity and gives
them a sense of identity.
Some Christians, for example Anglicans, believe that the bread
and wine just symbolise Jesus’ body and blood. However, Catholics
believe that Christ is fully present in the Eucharist. This is known
as the Real Presence. This means that at Mass the bread and wine,
while keeping the appearance of bread and wine, are actually
transformed into the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ.

Outside the Church there is no salvation

The phrase ‘outside the Church there is no salvation’ is a very
old one and comes from the writings of early Christian thinkers.
For example, it occurs in one of the letters of St Cyprian, a
Catholic bishop in Africa in the third century. For St Cyprian,
and many others since, this phrase has expressed the belief that
only Catholics will go to heaven. This is the most straightforward
reading of the meaning of this phrase which can still be found in
the Catechism of the Catholic Church today (CCC 845). But does
the Church teach that anyone who is not a Catholic is going to
hell?
The Church does not teach this; but what it does teach needs to
be looked at carefully.
Firstly, the Church teaches that everyone is saved through Jesus
Christ’s death and resurrection – whether they know it or not.
The way you can be most certain of receiving salvation is to be a
baptised and practising member of the Catholic Church. This is
stated in the Catechism:

Jesus ‘explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby
affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter
through Baptism as through a door’, therefore, ‘they could not be saved
who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by
God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it’

(CCC 846, citing LG 16).

However, they also teach that the Church of Christ is wider than
the Catholic Church. Catholics believe that the full way to get to
God is through the Catholic faith. However, God is bigger than
the Church, so people who are not Catholics can be saved by God’s
power.
Secondly, they also teach that people who have not heard
the Gospel of Jesus but have lived good lives can be saved
because it is not their fault that they are not Christians. They
are sometimes referred to as ‘anonymous Christians’. This is
because Catholics believe these people are living good lives. So
the Church also believes that people who are not Christians can
also be saved:
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 ‘Those who, through no fault of their own, do
not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church,
but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere
heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions
to do his will as they know it through the
dictates of their conscience - those too may
achieve eternal salvation.’

(LG 16 cited in CCC 847)

The Catholic Church still believes that the
most certain route to salvation is to be a
baptised and practising member of the
Catholic Church, but it does believe that
other good people outside of the Church
Catholics believe the most certain way to get salvation is by being can be saved.
baptised into the Catholic Church

Tasks
1 Read the prayer below by St Teresa of Avila:
Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours,
yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion
is to look out to the earth,
yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good
and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now.
a With reference to the prayer explain what Catholics mean when
they say they are part of the body of Christ.
b How would Catholic beliefs that the Church is the body of Christ
and they are the people of God influence how they act in the
world?
2 Explain how a Catholic might respond to this statement:
‘Jesus died so that everyone will be saved.’
4 Sin and forgiveness

Summary
• The Church is the people of God.
• The Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic.
• Mary is a model of the Church as an example of discipleship, faith and
charity.
• The Church is known as ‘the body of Christ’ and ‘people of God’.
• There are multiple meanings of the phrase ‘outside the Church there is no
salvation’.

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 ■ Buildings

Buildings
Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• the architectural features of a Catholic church and how they reflect
Catholic belief and facilitate Catholic worship
• the sacred objects within a church and how they reflect Catholic beliefs.

▶ A place of worship
A Catholic church is the place of worship where Catholics gather
as a community to celebrate their faith. Most Catholics will attend
a local parish church. A parish is the local Christian community
around a church building. They are usually looked after by a
priest, who leads the community and celebrates the sacraments.
Christians call their church ‘the house of God’. Many Christians
believe that the community of believers (the Church) is more
important than the church building, which is simply a meeting
place for the Church.

▶ Inside a Catholic church

The interior of Roman Catholic churches can vary from very plain
and simple to fancy and ornate, but whatever the design, the
whole church will be focused on the sanctuary. Sanctuary means
‘holy place’. This is where the altar, lectern and tabernacle are. The
sanctuary is the centre of public worship. These are features you
would expect to find in a Catholic church:

The altar
The altar reminds Christians of the sacrifice A table, usually made out of stone. The main part of the Mass, the
and death of Jesus liturgy of the Eucharist, takes place at the altar. Mass is one of the
most important sacraments for Catholics and during the liturgy of
the Eucharist, the priest consecrates (blesses) bread and wine at the
altar and then the congregation comes to the altar to receive them.
The altar reminds Christians of the sacrifice and death of Jesus on
the cross and that Jesus offers salvation and redemption from sin.
The fact that the altar is also a table, reminds Catholics that they
are sharing in a meal, in the same way Jesus shared a meal with his
disciples at the Last Supper.
On or near the altar are candles, representing the Christian belief
that Jesus is the light of the world.

The baptismal font

This is a big basin, sometimes made of stone, fi lled with holy water
where baptisms are performed. Baptism is the sacrament by which a
person becomes a Christian; it is the first sacrament to be received.
Fonts were traditionally positioned by the main door to the
church to symbolise that people entered the Christian life through
The baptismal font holds the holy water for
baptism. Now the font tends to be at the front so that all those
the baptism ceremony
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 present can easily see a baptism when it takes place. Jesus himself
was baptised by John the Baptist and baptism was one of the very
earliest Christian practices, following Jesus’ final command to:
‘Go and make disciples of all nations ... baptise them in the name of
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’
Matthew 28:19.
Like the altar, the font is linked to the idea of salvation because it is
a sign of cleansing original sin (which all humans inherit through
the first sin of Adam and Eve) and promising to live a life that is
faithful to Jesus and his teachings. Such a life will lead to salvation.

The lectern
Near the altar is the lectern, or it is sometimes called an ambo, used
for the Liturgy of the Word. The lectern is a book stand where the
priest, deacon or reader stands to read to the congregation; they read
The lectern is a book stand from from a lectionary, which is a book containing a collection of scripture
which a priest or deacon reads to readings for use on a given day. Catholics believe that at Mass they
the congregation are spiritually nourished and fed by listening to the Word of God.

Hosts The bread used in Mass (or

The tabernacle
the Eucharist). Catholics believe A tabernacle is a safe-like box in which the consecrated (blessed)
that when it is blessed (conse- hosts are kept. The hosts are put
crated) it is transformed into the in the tabernacle after Mass so
actual body of Christ. that communion can be taken
Sanctuary lamp A small lamp
to the sick and those who are
showing that the Blessed
unable to come to church.
Sacrament is present.
The tabernacle is also a focus
for private prayer and devotion.
Catholics will genuflect (go down
on one knee) towards the
tabernacle in honour of the
presence of Jesus in the form of
the blessed bread and wine. The
tabernacle is often behind the
altar, but in some modern
churches it is sometimes placed
in a side chapel so that people
can pray in private. A sanctuary
lamp is found nearby, which
reminds Catholics of the
presence of God in the The tabernacle is a box in which the
4 Sin and forgiveness

hosts are kept

tabernacle.

The crucifix
In Catholic churches there is always a crucifix – a cross with an
image of the crucified Christ on it. It is usually on or near the altar.
It serves as a reminder of the suffering and death of Jesus. Catholics
believe that the death of Jesus was the price he paid for their
The crucifix serves as a reminder of the salvation. Catholics, like all Christians, believe that Jesus died for
suffering and death of Jesus them to pay for their sins and so that they could have eternal life.

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 The confessional

Buildings
This is a small room or box-like structure in which the Sacrament of
Reconciliation takes place. This is when Catholics confess their sins
to a priest. Inside the confessional there is a screen so that the person
confessing their sins (the penitent) can make their confession
anonymously. The priest sits on one side while the penitent kneels in
the other. When penitents confess their sins, the priest gives them a
penance. A penance is something that penitents have to do, for
example say a prayer. The priest then absolves them. They are given
the assurance that by the power of God they have been forgiven their
sins through the priest. By penance and absolution they are
reconciled to God, which means that their relationship with God is
restored. The fact there is a room dedicated to it shows how
important the Sacrament of Reconciliation is to Catholics.
The confessional is a room or box-like
structure where Catholics confess their
sins to a priest
Other features
As people come into the church they pass a holy water container or
stoup. Catholics dip their fingers in the water and make the sign of the
Absolution Forgiveness of sins. cross beginning on their head, down to their torso and then to their
left and right shoulder. This reminds them of the Trinity, the death of
Jesus and their own baptism. It also helps to focus their mind into a
respectful attitude as they enter the church.
Featuring importantly in a Roman Catholic church are the Stations
of the Cross. These are usually pictures or carvings of each of the
fourteen stages of Christ’s Passion (trials, death and resurrection).
They are especially used in Lent to focus worship on the death of Jesus.
Statues are usually found around the church to help people pray.
One of them will usually be of Our Lady (Mary – Jesus’ mother). In
front of the statues there will probably be votive candles, which are small
candles symbolising prayers. The statues are not worshipped in any way,
they are just used to focus the mind and as aids to prayer (see page 106).
Tasks
1 Acrostics are a good way of remembering key information. Complete the two acrostics below to show you
understand how the altar and font show Catholic beliefs about salvation.
A
L F
T Original sin is cleansed
All share a meal like Jesus did with his disciples N
at the Last Supper T
R
2 Match the sacred objects that can be found in a Catholic church with their function.
Sacred object Function
1 Lectern a Focus the mind and aid prayers
2 Crucifix b Catholics make the sign of the cross with holy water, reminding them of the Trinity,
Jesus’ death and their baptism
3 Confessional c Reminders of Jesus’ Passion and help focus worship on Jesus’ death
4 Stoup d Reminder of Jesus’ suffering and death
5 Stations of the Cross e Where Catholics receive absolution for their sins so their relationship with God
can be restored
6 Statues f Catholics are sustained by hearing the Word of God
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 ▶ The architecture and orientation of Catholic
churches
It is common for churches to be cruciform in
shape. This means that they are in the shape
of a cross. This is to signify the importance of
the death of Jesus.

Some churches have towers, others have steeples. The

tower or steeple can be seen from long distances away.
This helps the church to stand out from other buildings
as something special. Towers and steeples represent prayer
and worship rising up to heaven, a physical representation
of what takes place inside the building. Many towers have
bells that are rung to call people to worship.

Modern church buildings tend to

be simpler than those that were
built a long time ago. As a result
of Vatican II and the changes it
made to worship, some churches
built since the 1960s are radically
different from those that were
built before. For example, some
churches are circular in design
with the altar in the middle.
This signifies the oneness of the
worshippers and that they are all
sharing in the sacrificial meal at
the altar. It can also stand for the
eternity of God.
4 Sin and forgiveness

Traditionally, churches face towards the

east. This tradition is based on historic
practices. Following Jewish practices, the
first Christians prayed facing the Holy
Land, where Jesus was born, lived, died and
rose again. Also the sun rises in the east and
is a reminder of the resurrection of Jesus
bringing new life.
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 Buildings
Churches are often very
tall with domes or vaulted
ceilings. This creates a
space which is pointing up,
showing a connection with
God and heaven.

Very often stained glass is

used in churches. These
windows usually display
stories from the Bible or the
lives of saints.

Many churches have crosses or other

Christian symbols to mark them out
as Christian places of worship. It is
not unusual for Catholic churches
to have a re-creation of the Grotto at
Lourdes, a site of Christian pilgrimage
where a vision of Mary was seen in the
nineteenth century. This shows how
important Mary is.

Vatican II The Second Vatican

Council (1962–65) where the
leaders of the Roman Catholic
Church gathered to discuss the
position of the Catholic Church in
the modern world (see page 137).

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 Tasks
1 Answer three questions in a row. You can either chose a horizontal line or a diagonal. You must answer the
question in the middle. (The answers to the other questions should help you answer the one in the middle.)
Why are Catholic churches oriented to the How did church design change after
east? Vatican II?
Explain how the architecture of
How is stained glass used in churches? Why are many Catholic churches
Catholic churches helps Catholics
cruciform?
reflect on the mystery of salvation.
Why do churches often have high ceilings, What symbols are used to decorate
domes, towers and steeples? church buildings?

2 Not all Catholic churches and cathedrals have the features described here. Over time they have been influenced
by different architectural styles. Look up images of the following three buildings:
• Notre-Dame de Paris
• Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
• San Paolo Church, Foligno, Italy.
Discuss with a partner or in your class:
a Which building do you prefer personally?
b Do you think worshippers at all three buildings would all feel the same way when they arrived for worship?
c Do you think any of the buildings are better at helping the worshipper focus on worship and the mystery of
salvation?

Summary
• A Catholic church is the place of worship where Catholics gather as a
community to celebrate their faith.
• The focal point of a Roman Catholic Church building is the sanctuary. You
will find the altar and lectern here. The altar is the stone table at which the
liturgy of the Eucharist takes place.
• The font is a wooden or stone basin, filled with holy water where baptism
takes place.
• Other features of the building are the confessional, the stoup and the
tabernacle.
• Stations of the Cross and statues are there as aids to prayer.
• Some churches have towers or steeples which are symbolic of prayer
rising up to God.
• Traditionally, churches face towards the east and are built in a cruciform
shape.
4 Sin and forgiveness

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 ■ Sacraments

Sacraments
Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• the sacramental nature of reality and the meaning and effects of the
seven sacraments
• the meaning and significance of the Eucharist for Catholics and its role in
salvation.

What is a sacrament?
According to the Catholic Church, a sacrament is ‘an outward sign
of inward grace, ordained by God, by which grace is given to the
soul’.
Catholics believe that while Jesus was on earth, everything he
said and did was a visible sign of God’s love. People could see
him, hear him and touch him. When Jesus returned to heaven,
Christians believe that he left the Church to be his body, and the
way to ‘see’, ‘hear’ and ‘touch’ him is through the sacraments.

▶ The sacramental nature of reality

Catholics believe that the whole of creation shows the presence of
God. This means that God’s presence and love are all around us
every day. This means they see every natural and human thing as
a way for God to communicate with us. Through the sacraments,
Catholics experience God’s nourishing, forgiving, healing,
strengthening power in a special way. This helps them to build
their relationship with God and become more like Jesus.

The importance of the sacraments to Catholics

Catholics believe that God’s grace is at work in the sacraments.
God’s grace God’s love and mercy.
Central to every sacrament is the idea of a ‘sign’ which becomes
something through which God acts. Catholics believe that God
gives grace to people through ordinary things, like bread and wine
in the Eucharist, or water in baptism. This is what is meant by
‘outward signs’ of ‘inward grace’.
To Catholics, the sacraments are a meeting point with God. Each
one builds up an individual’s relationship with God in a different
way.
There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church: baptism,
confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders
and matrimony. These sacraments originated in the life, work and
teachings of Jesus.

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 The seven sacraments
Sacraments of initiation
These lay the foundation of every Christian life.

Baptism
For Catholics, baptism is the point at which they enter the Catholic
Church. At the service of baptism, water is poured on a baby’s head
while the priest says:
‘I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit.’
The person being baptised becomes part of the family of God.
Baptism takes away original sin (which all humans have inherited
through the first sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) and
gives a new birth in the Holy Spirit. The ‘sign’ through which they
receive God’s grace is the pouring of water.
Catholic families are encouraged to baptise their children soon
after birth, however sometimes people are baptised later, or even as
adults.

Confirmation
Confirmation completes the sacrament of baptism. As most
Catholics are baptised as babies, confirmation is done when they
are older. The person confirms the promises made on their behalf
by their parents/guardians when they were baptised and this is
a sign that they are mature enough to make the decision to be a
Christian on their own.
For Catholics confirmation gives them the strength to follow
Jesus and to become involved in the mission he left to the Church.
Its signs are the laying of hands on a person’s head, most often by a
bishop, and the anointing with oil.

E ucharist
At the Last Supper before Jesus’ death, he and his disciples ate bread
and wine. He told them that the bread was his body and the wine was
Anoint To rub with oil. his blood, which he would sacrifice when he was crucified. He asked his
followers to re-enact the meal
when they came together after
his death. Now when Catholics
come together at Mass they
take bread and wine in memory
of Jesus’ sacrifice. Catholics
4 Sin and forgiveness

believe that when the bread and

wine are consecrated (blessed),
although their appearance
doesn’t change, they are actually
transformed into the body and
blood of Jesus. By receiving
his body and blood, they are
nourished spiritually.
The signs are the bread and
wine.

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 Sacraments of healing

Sacraments
These celebrate the healing power of Jesus.

Penance (confession)
By confessing and expressing sorrow for their sins, Catholics
experience God’s forgiveness and healing through absolution
(forgiveness) by the priest. Their relationship with God and
their unity as a Church is made whole again. The signs of this
sacrament are the confession of sins and the priest’s words of
absolution.

Anointing of the sick

This unites a sick person’s suffering with that of Jesus and brings
forgiveness of sins. The individual is anointed with oil (a symbol
of strength) and receives the laying-on of hands from a priest. In
the past, this sacrament was only given to those close to death,
but more recently the Church has encouraged its use for illness
which is not necessarily life-threatening. The signs are the
anointing and the laying on of hands.
Sacraments at the service of communion
These help individuals to serve the community and bring about the
salvation of others.

Matrimony
In matrimony, or marriage, a baptised man and woman are united.
Laying-on of hands A bishop or Matrimony needs the consent of the couple, as expressed in the
priest placing their hands on marriage promises (vows). The couple and their wedding rings are
someone receiving a sacrament. the signs of this sacrament.

Holy orders
In holy orders, men are ordained as priests, deacons, or bishops.
Ordained Made a member of the
Priests serve as spiritual leaders of their communities, and deacons
clergy (e.g. priest).
serve to remind us of our baptismal call to help others. Bishops carry
on the teachings of the Apostles. The signs of this sacrament are the
laying on of hands and for a priest anointing with oil by a bishop.

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 Tasks
1 Copy and complete the table below so that you have notes on each of the seven sacraments, what they
mean and what their signs are.
Sacraments of initiation Description The signs

Sacraments of healing Description The signs

Sacraments at the service of communion Description The signs

2 Explain why the sacraments are so important to Catholics.

Try to include the following words and phrases in your answer:

Sacramental nature of reality Grace Relationship Body

▶ The importance of the Eucharist for Catholics

For Catholics, the most regularly celebrated sacrament is the
Liturgical service A church ser- Eucharist or the Mass. The Mass or Eucharist is the liturgical
vice that follows a set structure. service where Catholics gather to remember the Last Supper,
when Jesus took bread and wine and asked his disciples to
remember him when they did the same. Sunday, the day of the
Key Concept Resurrection, is the most holy day. To attend Mass on Sunday and
certain holy days is obligatory for all Catholics who are capable of
Eucharist Means ‘thanksgiving’. doing so. Mass is celebrated every day except Good Friday and
The name Catholics use to Easter Saturday.
describe the rite where the bread Eucharist is said to be ‘the source and summit of the Christian
and wine become the body and life’, because being unified with God is the most important thing
blood of Jesus and is received to Catholics. It is at the heart of their spiritual life and they
by the people. Also the name for become closer to God because they receive Jesus’ body and blood in
the Real Presence of Jesus in the communion.
Sacrament of Holy Communion.
▶ Mass re-enacts the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, so it is the
highest form of prayer that a believer can make.
4 Sin and forgiveness

▶ By receiving the blood and wine in communion, Christ’s body

and blood spiritually sustain the believer. In the Eucharistic
prayer, said by the priest to give thanks to God, the central part is
the ‘prayer of consecration’, when the priest repeats Jesus’ words
at the Last Supper:
▶ ‘This is my body … This is my blood...’
▶ Catholics believe that the bread and wine are transformed
into Jesus’ body and blood. The technical word for this is
‘transubstantiation’.
▶ It makes individual Catholics part of the body of Christ (the Church).

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 Sacraments
Catholics believe that the bread (in the form of a wafer) and wine in the Eucharist service
are transformed into the body and blood of Christ

Catholics believe that Christ is present in the Mass:

▶ in the consecrated bread and wine, which are Jesus’ body and blood
▶ in the readings (especially those from the Gospels)
▶ in the believers gathered together because Jesus said, ‘Where two
or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them’.
▶ in the person of the priest (Catholics believe that Christ works
through the priest to transform the bread and wine into his body
and blood).
Task
Answer three questions in a row. You can either chose a horizontal line or a diagonal. You must answer the
question in the middle. (The answers to the other questions should help you answer the one in the middle.)
At what event did Jesus establish the Give at least one source of wisdom
Eucharist? and authority a Catholic might refer
to to explain why the Eucharist is
Explain why Catholics refer to important.
Explain the meaning of transubstantiation. the Eucharist as the ‘source and When do Catholics celebrate the
summit of Christian life’. Eucharist?
Why do Catholics believe the Eucharist is the What are the four ways Catholics
highest form of prayer? believe Jesus is present in the
Eucharist service?

Summary
• A sacrament is ‘an outward sign of inward grace, ordained by God, by
which grace is given to the soul’. There are seven sacraments.
• The sacramental nature of reality means that God can speak to us
through the world.
• The Eucharist/Mass is at the heart of Catholic worship. It re-enacts the
sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and unites Catholics into the body of Christ.
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 ■ Mission and evangelisation

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• why the Catholic Church is compelled to evangelise
• how the Church evangelises today; locally, nationally and globally
• the benefits and challenges of mission in an increasingly secular and
multi-faith society
• the diversity of faith, belief, culture and tradition in Britain, as expressed
through laws, festivals and celebrations.

▶ Evangelisation
‘Go out and make disciples of all nations...’
Matthew 28:19
At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus gives his Apostles their mission.
Mission means the calling to go out into the world and spread the
Christian faith. This mission is also the mission of the Church.
Key Concept The mission of the Church is to go out into the world
Evangelisation Literally means
▶ to go out to the ends of the earth
spreading the ‘Good News’ which
▶ to baptise people into the Church
can be translated as ‘Gospel’. The
▶ to teach the teachings of Christ.
sharing of the Gospel and life of
Jesus with others. The Church began in Jerusalem and within a few decades of the
resurrection of Jesus it had spread through the Roman Empire.
Soon it reached the centre of the empire, Rome itself. St Paul,
whose letters make up a large part of the section of the New
Testament called the Epistles, was one of the first missionaries.
Persecuted Treated cruelly, often From Rome, missionaries went to many parts of the empire. Many
due to religion or belief. were persecuted or even killed for their beliefs.
Preach To spread the Good News of In the last 500 years, the Church has become truly worldwide.
Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Missionaries have gone from Europe and started churches in
To deliver a religious sermon to a Africa, South America and in Asia. Going out to preach the Gospel
group of people. is known as evangelisation.
Secular Not religious. In recent years the focus of evangelisation has changed and the
Church is no longer evangelising in places that have not heard the
Gospel before. Instead they are focusing on Western countries, like
European countries, which are becoming increasingly secular – this
means an increasing number of people are saying they don’t have a
4 Sin and forgiveness

religious faith.

Evangelii Gaudium
In 2013, Pope Francis wrote a letter to the world, called Evangelii
Gaudium, which, in Latin, means ‘The joy of the Gospel’. Its theme
is the Church’s mission of evangelisation in the modern world.
Helping the poor and those in need is Pope Francis says that the heart of the Christian message is love for
an important part of evangelisation as one another, which must motivate Christians to share the Gospel,
it puts Jesus’ teachings about love and help the poor and work for social justice. Catholics must care for
compassion into practice ‘the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are
increasingly isolated and abandoned, and many others.’
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 Pope Francis says that when God became human as Jesus, he

Mission and evangelisation

made himself lowly and poor. For this reason, the Pope wants ‘a
Church which is poor and for the poor’ (EG 198). He wants the
Church to have a special love and care for ‘above all the poor and the
sick, those who are usually despised and overlooked’ (EG 48).
Pope Francis also says that the parish (the local Church
community) is important in spreading the Church’s message.
As well as a church, many parishes have a Catholic primary and
secondary school connected to them. These provide Catholic
education and help to spread the teachings of Jesus. Parishes
should be welcoming places, ready to greet new people and receive
them into the community. The Pope says that Catholics should
be outward looking; this means they should look for new ways to
spread the Gospel message.
Tasks
1 Choose any three words from the table below and write an explanation of what they mean on a whiteboard
or tell your partner.
Evangelisation E vangelii Gaudium Social justice
Good News Mission Preach

2 ‘Evangelisation is about more than preaching the Gospel.’

Discuss this statement. Your answer should include:
• Specialist vocabulary
• Sources of wisdom and authority
• Knowledge and understanding of religious ideas, beliefs and practices
• Influence of beliefs.
Once you have written your answer, use a different colour pen for each of the success criteria above and check
you have included all the different aspects in your answer.

▶ Why and how does the Church engage in

evangelisation?
Why?
Catholics believe that Jesus brought salvation through his death
and resurrection. In doing this, he atoned (made up for) the sins of
humankind. However, to be ‘saved’, individuals have to have faith
in Jesus and believe in his atoning death and his resurrection. The
Catholic Church believes it has a duty and an obligation to spread
this faith as Jesus told his disciples to do, so that as many people as
possible can be saved.

How?
Locally
▶ This basic message of God’s love is passed on by the Church,
most importantly, through the whole life of the parish
(celebration of the Mass, sacraments, Bible study, charitable
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 work, social events, parish retreats, outreach events, etc.). Pope
Francis talks a lot about the parish and says that the parish
‘possesses great flexibility’, which means there are many ways they
can spread God’s message.
▶ Also the parish can engage with other organisations (other
Social cohesion Different parts of Christian churches, other faith communities, social workers and
a society functioning well together. agencies) to work for justice, social cohesion and the common
good, which is also part of evangelisation, because it is living out
the Gospel message of love.
▶ There may be local diocesan newspapers that the Church uses
to help people learn more about their faith, such as the Catholic
Pictorial in Liverpool or the Westminster Record in Westminster.

3 June 2017d.qxp_Cover 5/30/17 6:41 PM Page 1

Nationally
▶ On a national level, the Bishops’ Conference of a country helps
THE Catholics to know and share the Gospel.
TABLET
3 JUNE 2017 £3
www.thetablet.co.uk | Est. 1840

▶ In 2015, a national evangelisation initiative called ‘Proclaim

’15: building missionary parishes’ was introduced by the Church
by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of the Catholic Church in
A new England and Wales. It was designed to acknowledge all the good
Pentecost? work that is already being done by the Catholic community,
and to provide resources to develop new expressions of Catholic
Bradford E. Hinze on how
Francis is unleashing missionary outreach.
the Spirit in the Church
▶ There may be national Catholic publications used by the Church
Julia Langdon and
Peter Hennessy look behind
to help evangelise, such as The Universe, The Tablet, The Catholic
the election headlines
David Gardner questions
Herald and The Catholic Times.
President Trump’s dangerous
deal-making in the Middle East
Laura Gascoigne profiles the
monk and experimental poet
Sylvester Houédard
Globally
▶ The Catholic Church is a global presence. The Vatican has a
PLUS: CARMODY GREY • RICHARD LEONARD • ROSE PRINCE • JONATHAN TULLOCH
specific department that focuses on evangelisation called the
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The global reach of the
National Catholic newspapers can be
Church means it can share the message of the Gospel with the
important tools in the mission to spread
the message about Jesus
whole world, for example, through the global figure of the Pope
(e.g. World Youth Days) and through its own Vatican Radio and
TV station.
▶ The Church lives out the Gospel in the work of international
charities like CAFOD.
▶ Specific organisations exist, such as Missio, which is concerned
with overseas evangelisation.

Tasks
4 Sin and forgiveness

1 Research the missionary work being done by the following

organisations and give examples of the work they do:
• Your local diocese
• Sion Catholic Community for Evangelism
• Catholic Mission.
2 Explain why Catholics feel they must evangelise.
3 Considering the organisations you have researched, the information in
this section and your own experience, what do you think is the most
important form of evangelisation?

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 ▶ Evangelising in Britain

Mission and evangelisation

The UK is a multi-faith society in which people of different
religions, and no religion, live alongside each other. According
to the 2011 census, the profi le of religious belief in Britain has
changed considerably since 2001. Half of the people questioned
still consider themselves as Christian, but Britain is now a place
Task which has an increasingly diverse pattern of religious and non-
religious beliefs and practices.
1 ‘Evangelism isn’t This diversity brings benefits and challenges in evangelising in
appropriate in a multi-faith Britain. Although Christianity is still the largest religion, church
society like the UK.’ attendance is on the decline. This means that churches have had to
Discuss this statement. Use the close, making it less easy for the Gospel to be spread. There are now
framework below to help you fewer men becoming priests and existing priests are getting older.
write your answer in sufficient In the past, parishes might have two or more priests. Now priests
depth: have to serve several parishes, making celebration of the sacraments
• Why do Catholics think more difficult.
evangelism is important? Catholics are much more likely to come into contact with people
• What are the challenges of from different faith backgrounds than ever before. The Catholic
evangelising in a multi-faith Church teaches that people of other faiths should be respected and
society? Catholics should be sensitive to those who have no religious beliefs
• How can Catholics respond to yet still seek to do good. Catholics should try to respect difference
those challenges? and work in unity sharing common values such as respect, tolerance,
charity and non-violence.

The changing religious landscape in Britain

The results of the last government census poll in 2011 Religion not stated – 7.2%
showed a changing religious landscape in Britain.
Despite falling numbers, Christianity remained the
largest religion in England and Wales. Muslims were the
next biggest religious group and have grown in the last
decade. Meanwhile the proportion of the population who
reported they have no religion reached a quarter.
No religion – 25.1%
• In the 2011 census, Christianity was the largest
religion, with 33.2 million people (59.3 per cent of Christianity – 59.3 %
the population). This was a significant decrease from
2001 when 71.82 per cent of the population said they Other religion – 0.4%
were Christian (41 million people). Buddhism – 0.4%
• The second largest religious group were Muslims with Judaism – 0.5%
2.7 million people (4.8 per cent of the population); Sikhism – 0.8 %
this was an increase from 1.6 million in 2001 Hinduism – 1.5 % Islam – 4.8%
(2.78 per cent of the population).
• The numbers of people who were Hindu, Sikh, Jewish and Buddhist also increased between 2001 and 2011.
• 14.1 million people, roughly a quarter of the population in England and Wales, reported they had no religion in 2011.
In 2001, this figure had been 8.6 million.
• The religion question was the only voluntary question on the 2011 census and 7.2 per cent of people did not answer
the question.
• In 2011, London was the most diverse region with the highest proportion of people identifying themselves as
Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Jewish. The North East and North West had the highest proportion of Christians and
Wales had the highest proportion of people reporting no religion.

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 ▶ UK laws, festivals and traditions
Christianity was introduced to the UK by the Romans almost
two thousand years ago. This long history means that it is deeply
embedded in many of the laws, festivals and traditions of the UK.
The Church of England is the ‘established’ religion of England.
This means that it has links to the government and other official
bodies such as the judiciary (the court system).
In the sixteenth century, King Henry VIII broke away from the
Catholic Church and the authority of the Pope and made himself
head of the Church of England. Today as well as being Head of State,
the monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. All
monarchs are crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Traditions
Many of our customs and ways of life have their foundation in
Christianity, for example:
▶ ‘Keep holy the Sabbath day’ is a Commandment. Traditionally
Christians go to church on a Sunday and it was regarded as a ‘day
of rest’. As a result the hours shops can trade on a Sunday are
restricted.
▶ In a UK court of law witnesses giving evidence are asked to
swear they are telling the truth. They often do this on the Bible,
although if they are from a different religious tradition they can
swear on their own holy book or if they are non-religious they
can make a ‘witness affirmation’ where they promise to tell the
truth without reference to a holy book.
▶ Christian hymns and readings are often made at public events,
for example the National Service of Remembrance held each year
to commemorate those who died in the two World Wars and later
confl icts.
▶ Lots of people in the UK mark important life events, like
marriage in a church, even if they are not religious.

Laws
The UK parliament is the body that makes all UK laws by passing
Acts of Parliament. It is made up of two ‘houses’. The House of
Commons is made up of elected representatives, MPs. The House
of Lords is not elected and its members are of two types: Lords
Temporal are appointed by the monarch, but the Lords Spiritual
are 26 of the most senior Church of England bishops. For laws to
4 Sin and forgiveness

be passed they must be approved by both houses of parliament.

So the Church of England has a direct role in shaping UK law.
Meetings of both houses of parliament open with Christian prayers
and indeed, many of the laws of the UK reflect the teaching of some
of the Ten Commandments, such as ‘Do not kill’ and ‘Do not steal’.

Festivals
The Christian calendar influences UK public holidays. The two
major Christian festivals, Christmas and Easter, are still widely
celebrated in the UK. School holidays fall over these periods and
many businesses will close. Other Christian festivals such as St
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 Mission and evangelisation
Christian festivals such as Easter are still widely celebrated in Britain, although some argue that they are becoming more
commercialised and people have forgotten about the original Christian message

Valentine’s Day are also celebrated, though for most people the
religious context of the day is no longer important and it has
become a more ‘secular’ festival, celebrating romantic love.
As the 2011 census results show, the UK is a place where many
religions are practised. Today people of other religious traditions
may take time off school or work to celebrate their own festivals.
For example, the biggest celebration of the Muslim festival Eid
al-Fitr happens in Small Heath Park in Birmingham, where 75,000
people gather to celebrate the end of fasting during the month
of Ramadan. There are games, entertainment and food stalls and
people of all religious traditions (and none) are welcome to come
and celebrate.
There are also many other non-religious festivals celebrated in
the UK. Bonfire Night for example remembers the Gunpowder
Plot when plotters led by Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up
Parliament. Some non-religious festivals, for example the Notting
Hill Carnival that happens each summer in London, celebrate the
diversity of modern Britain with no specific focus on religion.
Non-religious groups, such as humanists, might recognise World
Humanist Day (in June) or Human Rights Day (in December) but
these are not widely celebrated in the UK.

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 Tasks
1 Copy and complete the mind map to show the influence of Christian tradition on the different areas of UK
society. Add examples from the text and any others you can think of:

Traditions

Laws
Festivals UK Society

Many laws are

based on the Ten
Commandments

2 The Sunday Assembly is a non-religious group that organises regular meetings. Research the significance of The
Sunday Assembly.
• What is the Sunday Assembly and why was it started?
• Why might non-religious people want to attend a group like the Sunday Assembly?
3 Discuss the following statement, making sure you consider different points of view:
‘Britain is a Christian country.’

Tasks The role of religion in education

1 Discuss: Today, about one third of state-funded schools in England and Wales are
a Should the state fund schools faith schools. This means that, although the bulk of their income comes
with a religious character? from public funds, these schools have a ‘religious character’.
b Should religious education be Of the 7,000 primary and secondary faith schools in England and Wales,
compulsory in state schools? 98 per cent have a Christian character: 68 per cent are Church of England
schools and 30 per cent are Catholic.
All pupils must, by law, be taught religious education and all schools should
provide a daily act of worship. Religious education should reflect the fact
that the traditions of the UK are, in the main, Christian. For state schools
without a religious charter, more than half of the acts of worship should be
Christian. However, many schools celebrate a variety of religious traditions
throughout the school year.
4 Sin and forgiveness

Summary
• The mission of the Church is to go out into the world and spread the Gospel.
• The 2013 letter by Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, deals with
evangelisation. It is all Christians’ responsibility to preach the Gospel by
loving one another, helping the poor and working for social justice.
• Britain is a multi-faith society which brings benefits and challenges for
evangelism.
• UK law and culture is rooted in Christian tradition. However, the influence
of other faiths and those of no faith has increased.
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 E nd of section review
▶ End of section review

Knowledge check
1 What is the difference between crime and sin?
2 What is the difference between absolute and relative morality?
3 Explain the different aims of punishment.
4 Explain why many Christians believe in both punishment and forgiveness.
5 Give three arguments for and three arguments against capital
punishment. Include Christian views.
6 Explain the Christian belief that Jesus’ death brought salvation.
7 Explain how belief in hell is compatible with the concept of a loving, merciful God.
8 Summarise the nature of the Church for Catholics in a mind map.
9 Why is the Church described as the body of Christ?
10 What does the phrase ‘outside the Church there is no salvation’ mean?
11 Draw a diagram of the inside of a Catholic church labelling the sacred
objects you would find there.

The big question

‘Christians shouldn’t force others to listen to their beliefs.’

Your task
Respond to this statement showing that you have thought about more than
one point of view.
• Do you agree?
• What arguments support the statement?
• Are they valid – do they make sense? Are they weak/strong?
• What arguments challenge the statement?
• Are they valid – do they make sense? Are they weak/strong?
Tasks
Your task
‘Catholics should always forgive others.’
Write down at least two religious responses to this statement. All your answers will follow a similar structure (Present,
Explain, Evaluate the validity of a point). They can all agree, all disagree, or agree and disagree with the statement.
Agree Disagree
(P) make a point (P) make a point
(E) explain the point fully – include religious language and (E) explain the point fully – include religious language and
teachings teachings
(E) evaluate the validity or strength of the point (E) evaluate the validity or strength of the point
(P) make a point (P) make a point
(E) explain the point fully – include religious language and (E) explain the point fully – include religious language and
teachings teachings
(E) evaluate the validity or strength of the point (E) evaluate the validity or strength of the point
In conclusion, I think . . .
give your own viewpoint and explain fully.

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 ▶ Exam focus
Sin and Forgiveness

Stickability
Key concepts: The Church as body of Christ
Absolutism Features of a Catholic church
Eucharist The importance of sacraments
Evangelisation The importance of the Eucharist
Forgiveness UK laws, festivals and traditions
Punishment Sources of wisdom and authority:
Relativism Matthew 18: 21–22
Salvation Matthew 6: 14–15
Sin St Augustine, Letter 134(4) and
Key teachings about: 153 (3) to Macedonius
Crime and sin Pope St John Paul II E vangelium
Absolute and relative morality Vitae 56
Aims of punishment Genesis 9:6
Capital punishment Exodus 21:24
Redemption Matthew 5:38
Grace, free will and salvation Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Paschal Mystery 846–848
The nature of the Church Pope Francis’ E vangelii Gaudium
Mary as a model of the Church 15, 48–49, 197–198, 264–265

Task
a Describe the teaching of Jesus on forgiveness. [5]
This question requires a description.
b Which response best answers the question, A or B? Explain why.
A B
When one of his Disciples asked Jesus Forgiveness is really important to Christians because
how often he should be expected to Jesus taught the importance of forgiveness and
forgive, Jesus replied ‘Not seven, I tell Christians look to him as the one to follow because
you, but seventy times seven’. Also, when he is believed to be God incarnate. Forgiveness also
he was teaching his Disciples the Lord’s stops you from building up hatred that can be very
Prayer, he reminded them that if they self destructive and cause someone to become bitter.
4 Sin and forgiveness

weren’t prepared to forgive other people, Gee Walker, whose son, Anthony, was murdered in a
then they could not expect God to race hate crime, said that she forgave the murderers
forgive their sins either; ‘Forgive us our because being vengeful would have damaged her ability
sins, as we forgive those who sin against to live a Christian life. Religious role models, such
us’. Jesus even forgave sinners and as Martin Luther King and Ghandi also taught the
adulterers and even the people who were importance of forgiveness, because they believed in the
crucifying him. teachings in holy books.

(b) Write a suitable question to go with the second response – it does not have to be another describe-type (b) question.

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 (d) questions

E xam focus
Task
d ‘Capital punishment is wrong.’
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than
one point of view. [15]
(You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
The arguments and counter-arguments below are mixed up. Write them
out in a logical, coherent order to demonstrate analysis and evaluation
of the statement. The opening statement has been completed for you.
The connectives are highlighted. Connectives are often helpful because
they move arguments forward, encourage different viewpoints and
demonstrate that the statement has been discussed.
Capital punishment is wrong according to many Christians because
the Bible says ‘Do not kill’ and that only God should take life away.
In contrast, the Bible often shows a God of justice and some
crimes are so awful, they deserve the death penalty because
that brings true justice.
A different view might be that society must be protected from
the most dangerous criminals and the only way to be sure of
that is if those criminals are dead.
Furthermore, Judaism teaches that only victims can forgive,
society should not forgive on their behalf, so it should be up to
them to decide if the death penalty is used.
However, some Christians would point to Bible teaching that
says ‘An eye for an eye, a life for a life’ and so justify capital pun-
ishment in some situations.
Also, most religious people think that even the most awful crim-
inals are capable of transforming their lives if they are given the
chance to repent.
Alternatively, if human life is sacred because of imago Dei, then
even the lives of murderers are sacred and we mustn’t play at
being God.
On the other hand, Jesus’ teaching was about ‘turning the other
cheek’ and ‘forgiving seventy times seven’, so capital punishment
can never be right.
A contrasting argument might come from non-religious people
who would disagree that human life is sacred and point to the
fact that the money it takes to keep someone in prison for many
years could be better spent elsewhere helping innocent people.
However, many, both non-religious and religious, would say that in
the past innocent people have been killed by capital punishment
and you can’t say ‘Sorry, we got it wrong’ once someone is dead,
whereas you can just let someone out of prison.
Furthermore, many criminals are victims themselves; victims of
poverty, up-bringing or lack of opportunity or education.
Finally, most religious people believe that our actions will be
judged by God anyway and that we will be rewarded or punished in
the afterlife, so in the end, it is in God’s hands, not ours.
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 Judaism
Key Concepts
Synagogue House of assembly; building for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly.

Shekhinah The place where God’s presence rests and can be felt.

Shabbat Day of spiritual renewal and rest. Beginning at sunset on Friday and closing at nightfall
on Saturday.

Kosher Means ‘fit’ or ‘proper’. Foods that are permitted to be eaten according to Leviticus 11.
It is also used to refer to the purity of ritual objects such as Torah scrolls.

Torah The five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).
Regarded as the holiest books of the Tenakh.
Mitzvot The term has a mix of meanings. It is often used to refer to duties (such as the 613 in the
Torah) and good deeds.

Messiah The anointed one who Jews believe will bring in a new era or age for humankind. This will
include rebuilding the Temple and bringing in an age of universal peace.

Covenant A promise or agreement between two parties. Covenants were made between God with
Noah, Abraham and Moses.

Core Questions

What is God like? What do Jews believe about Why are Abraham and
the Messiah? Moses important to many
Jews today?

Do Jews have free will? Why is life so special? What do Jews believe about
the afterlife?

Which is more important: Is keeping kosher still Why does a Jewish burial
the home or the synagogue? important for Jews today? happen as soon as possible
after death?

Do all Jews celebrate

What does Pesach celebrate? Shabbat in the same way?

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 ▶ Overview

Judaism
The section on beliefs and teachings explores the nature of God in
Judaism and how Jews’ relationship with God influences their beliefs
and daily life in twenty-first-century Britain. Throughout the chapter
you will see that there are many different Jewish beliefs and practices.
From a consideration of the nature of God you will then move on
to explore different beliefs about the Messiah. You will consider the
importance of covenants and the impact that God’s covenant with
Abraham and Moses has on twenty-first-century Jewish belief and
practice. You will then move on to consider the importance of life in
Judaism and the relationship between free will and mitzvot.
Finally, in beliefs and teachings, you will explore the different
beliefs and teachings about life after death and different beliefs
concerning judgement and resurrection.
Task As you move on to Jewish practices you will explore Jewish
practices and worship in twenty-first-century Britain. You will
Discuss some of the ‘core firstly consider the importance of the worship of God in Judaism
questions’ on page 200 in pairs. and how this happens both in the synagogue and at home.
Write a brief answer to one of Important prayers and the role of items used for worship will be
them, showing you have thought considered. You will then move on to recognise the importance of
about different perspectives. the synagogue as a place of worship, a place of study and a place
for the community. Opportunities will be given for you to consider
issues relevant to life in modern Britain.
Within Judaism there are many different rituals as part of the
lifecycle. You will study the importance and meaning of practices
connected with brit milah, bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, marriage and
mourning. The importance of the Tenakh will be considered – not
only the practice of keeping kosher but also for the origins and
celebrations of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach and Sukkot.
Throughout this chapter you will see there are many differing
views, which reflect not only the branches of Judaism, for example,
Reform and Orthodox, but also personal conviction and family
tradition.

In the next two chapters you will look at Jewish beliefs, teachings and practices in
modern Britain
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 ▶ What do Jews believe?
This is not an easy question to answer! As we will see there is a great
diversity of beliefs and practices among Jews. In the twelfth century
Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (known as Maimonides) put together 13
principal beliefs that were in the Torah. For many Orthodox Jews
these remain central beliefs. Some principles are accepted by all Jews,
such as the belief in one God. For some principles, such as a belief in
a Messiah, there are many different views and interpretations.

Maimonides’ 13 principles of faith

1 God exists, is perfect and created everything in existence
2 Belief in God’s unity
3 God does not have a physical body and so is not affected by the same
needs as humans
4 God is eternal
5 Only God should be worshipped
6 God communicates with people through prophets
7 Moses is the most important prophet
8 The Torah was given to Moses by God
9 The Torah is God’s law and cannot be changed
10 God is all-knowing and knows everything that is going to happen
11 God will reward good and punish evil
12 The belief that the Messiah will come
13 The dead will be resurrected

▶ Diversity of Judaism in Britain

As we will see throughout this chapter, Judaism is a worldwide
religion with many different Jewish communities. Britain has the
second largest Jewish population in Europe and the fifth largest
worldwide. Often Jewish people are labelled as if they all share the
same beliefs and practices, but they don’t. Although you belong to
a certain class in your school, each student in that class will have
different views and practices, as well as similarities. Sometimes
these views have been shaped by their family traditions or beliefs,
sometimes from the area they come from and sometimes from their
own reasoning.
This is the same with Judaism. As we will see, there are many
different views, beliefs and practices, some of which change over
time and some that don’t. Throughout the chapter, key questions
will be identified, about which there are many different views and
considerations.
The main Jewish groups in the UK include:
▶ Orthodox Jews – the largest branch of Judaism in Britain.
Orthodox Jews believe that God gave the Torah at Mount Sinai
Judaism

and Jews must follow it.

▶ Reform Jews – believe that Jewish practices have to be
harmonised with modern life.
Within each of these there is a diversity of beliefs and practices.
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 There are also differences in practices based on country of origin

Judaism
including:
▶ Ashkenazi Jews who have descended from Jews from France,
Germany and Eastern Europe.
▶ Sephardic Jews who have descended from Jews from Spain,
Portugal, North Africa and the Middle East.

Key Concepts
Torah The five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and
Deuteronomy). Regarded as the holiest books of the Tenakh.
Mitzvot The term has a mix of meanings. It is often used to refer to duties
(such as the 613 in the Torah) and good deeds.

There are many different views among Jews concerning the degree
of observance that is paid to the teachings of the Torah. Jews must
decide if they will follow it all as originally intended or whether they
believe that religion should adapt and change. The decision will
make a difference to the way in which they live their lives.

What shall
I eat?

Should I Can I drive

work on to the
Shabbat? synagogue?

Will there be
Can my sister music in the
be a rabbi? synagogue
service?

What Jewish people think about issues like

these will be based on their interpretations
of teachings from the Torah

Orthodox Jews
Orthodox Jews try to live as closely to the teachings of the Torah
as possible. They believe it came from God and so it cannot be
changed. God is the law-giver whose words must be obeyed rather
than interpreted. They will try to observe the 613 mitzvot. They
believe that God gave rules about how lives should be lived and
those rules are constant. Any technological or scientific advances
must be considered within Jewish teachings. Society may change
but Jewish teachings don’t.
It must be remembered that within the Orthodox community
there are many different communities. A growing movement in
Britain are the Charedi, sometimes known as ultra-Orthodox,
whose ideal lifestyle is dedication to the study and practice of
the Torah.

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 Reform Jews
It wasn’t until the Reform movement that large numbers of Jews
Talmud Commentary on the departed from more traditional Orthodox teachings. Most Reform
Mishnah, which includes Jews believe that only the ethical laws of the Torah are binding.
teachings and stories. The term Additionally, they believe that other laws, like those in the Talmud,
usually refers to the Babylonian were products of their time and place, and so it is not necessary to
Talmud, although there is also a treat them as absolute. Jews from the Reform movement consider
Jerusalem Talmud which is older. the Torah and its teachings important but they believe that religion
should move with the times and do not take the teachings of the
Torah literally. How far they interpret teachings depends upon
their own reasoning and conscience.

Secular Jews
Some Jews do not believe in God and do not see that the teachings
of the Torah are sacred. They are secular Jews who are born to
Jewish parents but do not observe the religious practices or
teachings of Judaism.

▶ Country of origin
Throughout history Jews have been forced to move between
countries. This is one of the reasons why there are small
communities of Jews throughout the world.
Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews are two distinct communities of
Jews. Although they have some different practices and use some
different terms in worship, they have the same basic beliefs.
▶ Ashkenazi Jews are the Jews of France, Germany, and Eastern
Europe and their descendants. Most British Jews today are
Ashkenazi and descend from Jews who emigrated from Germany
and Eastern Europe from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.
▶ Sephardic Jews are the Jews of Spain, Portugal, North Africa
and the Middle East and their descendants. Sephardic Jews are
often subdivided into Sephardim, from Spain and Portugal, and
Mizrachim, from North Africa and the Middle East. In Britain
there are about ten Sephardic synagogues with the oldest being
Bevis Marks Synagogue in London, which was built in 1701.

Tasks
1 What is the Torah?
2 Consider the quotes below. Decide whether a Reform or Orthodox Jew is more likely to say one or the other. Copy
and complete the table below.
Quote Reform or Orthodox?
The Torah is important but we have to move with the times.
The Torah came from God and must not be changed.
God gave the rules to live by and those are eternal.
Judaism

We need to interpret the mitzvot of the Torah according to the

circumstances in which we live.
3 In your own words explain why there are different beliefs and practices among Jews.

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 5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

■ The nature of God

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• that Jews believe in one God and how this belief is expressed in the Shema
• Jewish beliefs about God as creator, judge and law-giver
• what Jews mean by Shekhinah.

▶ God as one
A central belief in Judaism is that there is one God (monotheism)
who is all-knowing (omniscient), all-powerful (omnipotent) and
present everywhere (omnipresent).
Reverence Deep respect and awe. Reverence is so important that some observant Jews use Hashem
Shema A prayer declaring a belief (the name) or write G-D instead of God to represent their respect.
in one God. It is found in the Torah. The Jewish philosopher Maimonides wrote in the twelfth century
that no language exists to be able to describe the uniqueness of
God. A similar view is expressed by the twelfth-century Spanish
rabbi Judah Halevi: ‘if I understand Him I would be Him’. The
belief that God is unique runs throughout Jewish belief, worship
and lifestyle. Nearly 2,000 years ago Rabbi Akiba said that God’s
uniqueness is shown by him knowing the character of every single
creature and their minds.
The central prayer of Judaism, the Shema, affirms the belief that
there is only one God. This prayer is made up of three passages
from the Torah and is the most important prayer in Judaism. It is
recited daily by many Jews. The first paragraph declares a belief in
the one God and in his ruling over all creation.
‘Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one.’
Deuteronomy 6:4
Many Jews will say the Shema during their prayers in the morning
Task and the evening. The importance of the prayer is also displayed in
many other ways.
The belief that there is only one God is shown in the design of
The Shema is a part of many synagogues. Although they may be very decorative, with
my identity as a Jew. colourful glass windows, synagogues do not have any statues or
Miriam representations of human beings. It is God alone who should be
worshipped.
From the pictures and text on The belief in monotheism (one God) is central to Judaism.
pages 216 and 224 identify and However, throughout the Torah, God shows many different
describe four examples that characteristics. These characteristics show the different natures of
support Miriam’s view. God and are often used as names when describing God. Three of
these names are creator, law-giver and judge.
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 ▶ God as creator
The creation story
The Torah begins by showing how God created the world:
’In the beginning God created heaven and earth.’
Genesis 1:1
It continues to describe how he made day and night, the earth,
vegetation and animals.
‘God said, “There shall be light,” and light came into existence.
God saw that the light was good, and God divided between the light
and the darkness.
God named the light “Day”, and the darkness He named “Night”. It
was evening and it was morning, one day.’
Genesis 1:3–5
Until on the sixth day he not only created human beings but gave
them a special and individual role.
‘God said, “Let us make man with our image and likeness. Let him
dominate the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock animals,
and all the earth – and every land animal that walks the earth.”
God [thus] created man with His image. In the image of God, He
created him, male and female He created them.
God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fertile and become many.
Fill the land and conquer it. Dominate the fish of the sea, the birds
of the sky, and every beast that walks the land.” ’
Genesis 1:26–28
Some Jews believe that every detail of the creation as told in the
Torah is true, that God literally created the world in six days.
Others believe the details are examples of what might have
happened, but are not meant to be taken literally. For them
A traditional story is told about a the most important thing to understand from the creation
rabbi who wanted to show how story is that God is responsible for the creation of everything
the world was created. He turned a in existence. (See page 14 for more on creation.)
bottle of ink on its side so it poured
onto a poem. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘the Jewish beliefs about creation
For many Jews the world is too wonderful and complex to have
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

wind knocked over the ink and

spilled out a poem onto the paper.’ happened by chance. So it must have had a creator.
The people laughed at him. ‘Such Celebrating God as the creator is an important part of Judaism.
an act is impossible. Look at the Prayers said in Orthodox services illustrate how God created
poem. It has too much design the world:
for it to have been composed by ‘Blessed be He who spoke, and the world existed.’
accident.’ ‘Ah,’ said the rabbi, ‘then Each week, Jews celebrate the festival of Shabbat. This is a day not
how could you look at the world only of rest but also of celebration of creation. Just as
and think it was designed by God rested on the seventh day, so observant Jews do not work
accident?’ on Shabbat.

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 ▶ God as law-giver

The nature of God

Jews believe that God revealed to the prophet Moses laws and
duties that are expected of all Jews. These are recorded in the
Torah. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17) that God
gave to Moses are the framework of how a just society that is
close to God could be established.
God judges how each Jew follows the laws. By obeying the laws,
Jews are not only fulfi lling what God wants but they are forming
a close relationship with him.

Justice What is fair or right. When

everyone has equal rights and
opportunities. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments

▶ God as judge
Judaism teaches that God is a God of both justice and mercy
and that he will judge each person. Although God’s ways may
Tasks not be understandable by humans they are considered to be
just. God has no pleasure in judging humans wrongly, so any
1 Explain, in your own words, judgements he makes will be just. As Psalm 5:4 states:
three different ways that
‘You are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness.’
Jews show they believe there
is only one God. The Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah celebrates the creation of the
2 Amal has to answer an (a) world. At this time it is believed God will judge every person. The
type exam question: ‘What Talmud describes how God brings out scales to weigh the deeds
is meant by the Torah?’ The (mitzvot) of each person. On one side he places the good deeds and
answer is worth two marks. on the other the bad deeds.
Look at the marking grid on As God is believed to be a God of mercy, ten days are
page 4 to give a mark for his given after Rosh Hashanah before Yom Kippur (the Day of
answer: ‘the Jewish Bible’. Atonement). During this time, humans can try to make up
How could he gain full marks? for any bad deeds and ask for forgiveness. After death it is
impossible to repent so this time allows humans to reflect on
their deeds and make amends.
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 ▶ The nature and significance of Shekhinah –
‘the divine presence’
Key Concept
Shekhinah The place where God’s presence rests and can be felt.

Shekhinah is sometimes used to refer to God himself but more

usually to God’s presence in the world. Shekhinah derives from
the word ‘shakan’ which is used throughout the Torah to illustrate
God’s dwelling on the earth. There are different views regarding
where the Shekhinah rested after the destruction of the Temple.
Some believe the Shekhinah followed the Jews into exile. There is
also the belief that the Shekhinah never fully left the Temple area
and that is why Israel has special spiritual quality. These beliefs
are not contradictory as the Shekhinah is not limited to just one
place. In mystical Judaism it is often used to refer to the feminine
characteristics of God and is referred to as ‘she’.
When I light the candles
and bring Shabbat into my
If God is meant to be everywhere, what is special about the
home then I feel the presence Shekhinah? For most Jews they would explain that the Shekhinah
of God. is not just where God is but where the presence can be felt –
something that cannot be seen but can be experienced.

Leonard Nimoy, who acted the part of

the Vulcan Mr Spock in Star Trek, wrote a
book which included his interpretation of
Shekhinah. He was asked to explain how
Summary the presence of Shekhinah felt.
• Belief in one God is the central
‘I think – I hope that most people
belief in Judaism and it is
at one time or another in their lives
shown in the Shema, the central have a feeling of being in a state
prayer of Judaism which Jews of grace for a moment or two,
say morning and evening. feeling that all has come together
• Although there is one God, for them, that they’re in a sense of
God has many different harmony, a sense of inner peace,
characteristics. a sense of successful combining
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

• Jews believe that God created of instinct and will and the
the world and this is described coincidence of events that makes
in the Torah. Some Jews believe one feel that you’re in the right
that God created the world place at the right time and doing
the right thing.’
exactly how it is described in
the Torah while others believe
the creation account is just a
metaphor. Task
• Jews believe that God gave
Moses the laws that all Jewish In your exam you may be asked to explain the nature and the
people should live by and that significance of Shekhinah.
God will judge each person for a Select three points you would include to explain what the Shekhinah is
the way they have lived. (the nature).
• Shekhinah refers to the feeling b Select three points to explain why the Shekhinah is important
of God’s presence in the world. (the significance).

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 ■ Messiah (Mashiach)

Messiah (Mashiach)
Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• who the Messiah is, when Jews believe the Messiah will come and what
the Messiah will do
• Orthodox and Reform views on the Messiah.

▶ The Messianic Age and the Messiah

The Messianic Age is a term used for a future time of peace on earth
Key Concept when there will be no violence or hunger or crime. There are no
direct references to the Messianic Age in the Torah but scriptures
Messiah The anointed one who
are interpreted to explain what the Messianic Age might be like.
Jews believe will bring in a
Isaiah (11:1–9) talks of it being a time in which the wolf shall live
new era or age for humankind.
with the lamb, and in which the lion, like the ox, shall eat straw.
This will include rebuilding the
For many Jews the first step to this Messianic Age is the
Temple and bringing in an age of
coming of the Messiah and the resurrection of the dead. The
universal peace.
term ‘Messiah’ comes from the Hebrew ‘Mashiach’, which means
‘anointed’. ‘Anointed’ refers to the process of putting scented oil on
the head of a king or queen during their coronation. It showed they
were trusted by God to do a particular role.
For some Jews a belief in the Messiah is central to their faith.
Maimonides, a Jewish philosopher from the twelfth century, said
that a belief in the Messiah was one of the 13 Principles of Judaism.
This view is not shared by Reform Jews who believe that it will be the
good actions of humans that will bring a Messianic Age of peace.
In Judaism there are two main reasons why there are different
views about the Messiah:
▶ There are no definite teachings about the Messiah in the Torah.
This means that passages that Jews might think are relevant have
to be interpreted.
▶ In Judaism there is a strong belief that humans should focus
on the here and now. The world to come is beyond humans’
understanding.

When will the Messiah come?

What will the Messianic Age be like? What will the Messiah do?

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 ▶ When might the Messiah come?
There are no references in the Torah as to when the Messiah may
An old Jewish story tells of a
come. For some Jews this is because the Torah was written for
Russian Jew who was paid a ruble
people to understand and the idea of the Messianic Age is beyond
a month by the community council
understanding. Some rabbis have tried to calculate the exact arrival
to stand at the outskirts of town so
of the Messiah. Meir Loeb ben Yehiel, for example, said in 1868 that
that he could be the first person to
the Messiah would come in 1913. There have also been a number of
greet the Messiah upon his arrival.
false Messiahs, such as Shabbetai Tzvi in the seventeenth century
When a friend said to him, ‘But the
who convinced many thousands of Jews he was the Messiah until
pay is so low’, the man replied:
under the threat of death he converted to Islam.
‘True, but the job is permanent’.
The focus for most Jews is not on a date that the Messiah may
come but the particular actions that will bring about the Messiah.
Although some Orthodox Jews believe that God has a specific date
for the coming of the Messiah, most believe that the coming of the
Messiah will depend upon when he is most needed. This could be
because of the sins of the world or because the world is so good.
For Reform Jews there is little focus on the coming of the
Messiah. The main focus is on Jews looking forward to a better
society and working towards that goal.

▶ What will the Messiah do?

There are many different beliefs about the nature of the Messiah
and what he will actually do. The traditional belief is that the
Messiah will be a great political leader and judge who will bring the
world to an end. Some Jews believe he will not be a supernatural
King David A successful king of
being but a human who is descended from King David and an
the Israelites. Believed by many to
inspiration to others.
have written the Psalms.
Many Jews believe that in every generation a person is born with
the potential to be the Messiah.
Tenakh The Jewish Bible. The word In the Tenakh, three actions of the Messiah are referred to:
‘Tenakh’ is made up of the first
Hebrew letters of the Torah (five ▶ He will bring Jews back to Israel and restore Jerusalem.
books of Moses), Neviim (books of ▶ He will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This was the most
the Prophets) and Ketuvim (holy important place of Jewish worship which was destroyed in 70CE.
writings). ▶ He will bring about a time of peace when people will live together
without fighting.
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

One Day
The reggae singer Matisyahu is an American Orthodox Jewish rap artist. His song ‘One Day’ expresses the peace that
Jews hope for in the Messianic Age.
I’ve been praying for Treat people the same
For the people to say Stop with the violence
That we don’t wanna fight no more Down with the hate
There’ll be no more wars One day we’ll all be free
And our children will play And proud to be
One day (one day), One day (one day) Under the same sun.
One day this all will change

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 Messiah (Mashiach)
I don’t really think about the Messiah as it is important
to focus on what is happening in the world today.
Although I am Jewish and go to synagogue every week
I don’t believe in a being that is called the Messiah.
There is no mention of the Messiah in the Torah and
although throughout history people have claimed to be
the Jewish Messiah they have always been false. I long
for a Messianic Age of peace but don’t believe that will
come about by someone leading us. I believe it is far more
important to live the best life I can to help other people. It is
those actions that would bring about peace in the world.
Sophie

Although I believe that the Messiah will come and each day
I pray he will bring about the Messianic Age, I think more
about the actions I should be doing to make the world a
better place. In Isaiah 9:5–6 there is a description of what
the Messiah will be like. He will be a peaceful ruler and
introduce a peaceful time forever. He will sit on the throne
of King David, rebuild the Temple and rule justly. My
rabbi tells me not to try and work out when the Messiah
will come as the important thing is to live a good life.
Harry

Summary Tasks
• Jews believe that the Messiah 1 In your own words explain what the term ‘Messiah’ means.
will come to start the Messianic 2 Create a Venn diagram.
Age, which will be a time of
universal peace when the Temple In one ring make a note of three of Sophie’s beliefs and in the other ring
in Jerusalem will be rebuilt. a note of three of Harry’s beliefs. In the middle note any beliefs that they
• There are different views both hold.
about what the Messiah will be
like. Some people believe he
will be a supernatural being,
some think he will be a normal
human descended from King
David, others believe that every
generation has a potential
Messiah.
• Some Orthodox Jews believe
in a set date when the Messiah
will come. However, Reform
Jews don’t place much
importance on the coming of 3 Do you think Harry and Sophie are Orthodox or Reform Jews? Give two
the Messiah and instead believe reasons for your decision.
they should focus on living this 4 ‘It doesn’t matter whether the Messiah comes.’ Explain two reasons for
life as best they can. and against this view.

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 ■ Covenant
Key Concept Core learning
Covenant A promise or agreement By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
between two parties. Covenants • God’s covenant with Abraham
were made between God and Noah, • God’s covenant with Moses
Abraham and Moses. • the importance of the Ten Commandments
• what is meant by the Promised Land and how it relates to the covenants
with Abraham and Moses.

A covenant is an agreement between two people or groups of

people. As part of the agreement, conditions are made so each
of the groups benefits. It is similar to a contract when a promise
is made.
In Judaism the relationship with God is seen as a covenant. In
the Torah, God makes relationships with individuals or groups
through a covenant. Often the making of the covenant is marked
by a special sign.
Each covenant marks a special time in God’s relationship with
the Jewish people.

▶ Covenant with Abraham

Abraham is regarded as the founder of the Jewish people and is
often called ‘father’. He was the first person to teach that there was
only one God; before then, people believed in many gods. He was
originally called Abram but was given the name Abraham by God
as it means ‘father of many nations’.
He was a shepherd and came from Ur in Mesopotamia (in
modern-day Iraq/Syria). His father made statues (or ‘idols’) for
people to worship. In the Midrash, there are a number of stories
about Abraham smashing his father’s idols when he realised that
God’s covenants with humankind are often there could be only one God of heaven and earth. The scriptures
marked by a special sign. His covenant state that because of Abraham’s purity, God called out to him,
with Noah was marked by a rainbow commanding him to leave his homeland behind for a new life.
Abraham accepted this, and took his wife Sarah with him.
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

Midrash Collections of various There are three main parts of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Rabbinic commentaries on the
Tenakh. The Promised Land (Genesis 12:1)
God called Abraham from Ur to a land that he would give him
(Genesis 12:1). Abraham and his descendants found their new
home in the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:5). This land is now known
as Israel, named after Abraham’s grandson, whose descendants are
the Jewish people.
The land is often referred to as the ‘Promised Land’ because of
God’s repeated promise (Genesis 12:7, 13:15, 15:18, 17:8) to give
the land to the descendants of Abraham. Jews have lived in this
land continuously from the time of its original conquest by Joshua
more than 3,200 years ago until the present day, though Jews were
not always in political control of the land, and Jews were not always
the majority of the land’s population.
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 The promise of descendants (Genesis 12:2)

Covenant
God promised Abraham that he would make a great nation out of
him. That is why God changed his name from Abram to Abraham,
meaning ‘father of many nations’. This promise is shown in
Genesis 17:6–8 where God promises that nations and kings will
descend from Abraham:
‘I will increase your numbers very, very much, and I will make you into
nations – kings will be your descendants.
I will sustain My covenant between Me and between you and your
descendants after you throughout their generations, an eternal
covenant; I will be a God to you and to your offspring after you.
To you and your offspring I will give the land where you are now living
as a foreigner. The whole land of Canaan shall be [your] eternal
heritage, and I will be a God to [your descendants].’
Genesis 17:6–8

The promise of blessing and redemption

(Genesis 12:1–3)
God promised to bless Abraham and the families of the earth
through him.
God said to Abram, “Go away from your land, from your birthplace,
and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.
I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you great.
You shall become a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and he who curses you, I will curse.
All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”’
Genesis 12:1–3
As a part of this covenant God gave Abraham the rite of circumcision
as the specific sign of the Abrahamic Covenant. Circumcision involves
the removal of a boy’s foreskin on the eighth day after birth. It is
performed in front of a minyan (ten Jewish males). Boys are named at
the same time. All males were to be circumcised and so carry a lifelong
mark in their flesh of their relationship with God.
Task ‘You shall be circumcised through the flesh of your foreskin. This
shall be the mark of the covenant between Me and you.
Explain how each of the
words below is connected Throughout all generations, every male shall be circumcised when
with Abraham: he is eight days old. [This shall include] those born in your house,
as well as [slaves] bought with cash from an outsider, who is not
COVENANT
your descendant.
OBEDIENCE
CIRCUMCISION [All slaves,] both houseborn and purchased with your money must
ABRAM be circumcised. This shall be My covenant in your flesh, an eternal
FAITH covenant.
FATHER
The uncircumcised male whose foreskin has not been circumcised,
PROMISED LAND
shall have his soul cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.’
Genesis 17:11–14

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 ▶ Covenant with Moses
Another important covenant was the one made between God and
Moses. Moses is regarded by Jews as the greatest of the prophets
and some refer to him as Moshe Rabbenu (our teacher Moses).
Maimonides in the 13 Principles describes Moses as the father of all
prophets. Moses had a special relationship with God and is believed
to be the only person who has seen God face to face. Moses was a
great leader and teacher and is considered by many Jews as the first
rabbi. He is the deliverer of God’s words and the receiver of miracles
sent by God. It is through him that God acts.
There are many parts of Moses’ life that are important in
Judaism. Many Jewish people were living in slavery in Egypt but
Moses, who had been born an Israelite but brought up at the
Egyptian court, was called by God to rescue them. When the
pharaoh refused to let them leave Egypt, God sent ten plagues on
the Egyptian people. The pharaoh did eventually agree to let them
go, but then sent his army after them – God then parted the Red
Sea for the Jews to cross but brought it crashing back down on the
Egyptian army. The story of the ten plagues and crossing the Red
Sea is celebrated each year at the festival of Passover (Pesach).
‘ “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” said Moses to God. “And
how can I possibly get the Israelites out of Egypt?”
“Because I will be with you,” replied [God]. “Proof that I have sent you
will come when you get the people out of Egypt. All of you will then
become God’s servants on this mountain.”
Moses said to God, “So I will go to the Israelites and say, ‘Your
fathers’ God sent me to you.’ They will immediately ask me what His
name is. What shall I say to them?”
“I Will Be Who I Will Be,” replied God to Moses.
[God then] explained, “This is what you must say to the Israelites: ‘I
Will Be sent me to you.’ ”
God then said to Moses, “You must [then] say to the Israelites,
‘YHVH, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, sent me to you.’ This is My eternal name, and this is how I am
to be recalled for all generations.” ’
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

Exodus 3:11–15
Tasks
Pages 258–59 tell you about the important festival of Pesach. Read the pages carefully and then answer the
following questions:
1 In your own words explain how Moses and Pesach are connected.
2 On page 258 there is a Pesach card showing how Moses led the Jews out of slavery in Egypt. Look closely at the
card as there are clues there to help your answer.
a How did the Israelites escape from Egypt?
b Why is Moses considered a great leader?
c What was God’s role in the escape from Egypt?

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 ▶ Moses and the mitzvot

Covenant
After taking the Israelites out of Egypt Moses led them through
Key Concept the desert near Mount Sinai. Here Moses went up the mountain
Mitzvot The term has a mix of
and disappeared in the thick cloud. During this time Moses was
meanings. It is often used to refer
learning the commandments that God wanted him to teach the
to duties (such as the 613 in the
Israelites – these make up the Torah. In the Torah there are 613
Torah) and good deeds.
mitzvot, which explain how Jews should live their lives. Some of
the mitzvot are no longer relevant now as they relate to practices
in the Temple in Jerusalem, which has been destroyed. Ten of the
Oral Torah the whole commentary mitzvot are the Ten Commandments. Moses is also believed to
that discusses the Written Torah. have been given the Oral Torah by some Jews. This is the whole
commentary that discusses the Written Torah.
For example, in the Written Torah it states:
The Oral Torah
‘Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.
The Oral Torah is all the traditions
that have been passed down to You can work during the six weekdays and do all your tasks.’
explain and interpret the Written Exodus 20:8–9
Torah.
For Orthodox Jews the Written But many questions might be asked about what keeping Shabbat
and the Oral Torah are God’s words holy actually means. Such questions are discussed through the Oral
which were revealed to Moses Torah:
which Moses then passed on to his ▶ How should Shabbat be remembered?
successors. The Reform movement ▶ How should Shabbat be kept?
tends to see only the Written ▶ What sort of work can and can’t be done?
Torah as divinely inspired. The Oral ▶ Does this mean that you have to work six days?
Torah is not regarded as a source
of authority, although it may be The importance of Moses is shown in many ways:
considered when, for example, ▶ Moses was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery to
decisions need to be made. the Promised Land (Israel).

‘Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit[s] of wisdom because
Moses had laid his hands on him. The Israelites therefore listened to
Tasks him, doing as God has commanded Moses.

1 Look back at the word No other prophet like Moses has arisen in Israel, who knew God face
association of Abraham to face.’
on page 213. What words Deuteronomy 34:9–10
would you select to show the
importance of Moses with ▶ God worked many miracles through Moses, such as the sending
the letters MOSES running of the plagues in Egypt.
through them? ▶ Moses spoke face to face with God.
M ▶ God chose Moses.
O ▶ God gave the Torah to Moses. This included the Ten
S Commandments.
E ▶ Moses established a covenant with God. As God’s chosen people
S the Israelites would keep the commandments.
2 Give a reason why you have ▶ Moses was given both the Written and Oral Torah.
selected each word. ▶ Without Moses, the Jews would never have become a people.
▶ Moses was the first rabbi.

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 ▶ The importance of the Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments are in the Torah in Exodus 20:2–14.
Jews consider the Ten Commandments as special for two reasons.
Firstly, they should be kept by every Jew. It doesn’t matter
whether they are young or old, rich or poor, male or female,
all the commandments should be obeyed.
Secondly, they are central to Jewish beliefs and practices. The
Ten Commandments were written on two different tablets because
they have different concerns. The first four commandments are
duties concerning humans and God, their creator. The other six
all deal with relationships between people. So the commandments
show that Judaism isn’t restricted to how people relate to God but
also relates to relationships between each other. Throughout this
chapter there are examples of where the Ten Commandments are
reflected in Jewish practice and worship.

The first four commandments refer to Jews’

relationship with God
1 I am God your Lord, who
The festival of Pesach (see page 258) celebrates the
deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
brought you out of Egypt,
from the place of slavery.

The Shema (prayer) shows the importance in Judaism of

there being only one God (see page 205). In synagogues 2 Do not have any other gods
there are no statues or representation of the human form that before me.
could be used for worship (see page 205).

3 Do not take the name of

God is considered so holy that his name must always be God your Lord in vain. God
respected. Some Orthodox Jews prefer to write G-D or Hashem will not allow the one who
(see page 205). takes his name in vain to go
unpunished.
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

Both Orthodox and Reform Jews consider the Sabbath or

Shabbat as a very holy time and a time for rest. There are
differences between how Shabbat is kept ‘holy’ but for many
4 Remember the Sabbath to
Jews it will involve special ceremonies in the home, attending keep it holy.
the synagogue and doing no work.

The next six commandments relate to people’s

relationships with each other
Respect for family members and particularly the old is an
5 Honour your father and
important practice in Judaism. A respectful parent/children
relationship is shown each week through the ‘blessing of the
mother. You will then live
children’ ceremony which is done by the mother or father on long on the land that God
Shabbat (see page 232). your Lord is giving you.

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 Covenant
Within marriage, sex is seen as important in Judaism. In
Genesis 1:22 God commands men and women to populate
the earth and make it holy. Adultery is seen as wrong and 6 Do not commit adultery.
this is one of the three mitzvot that cannot be broken even in
order to save a life (see page 219).

Honesty and trust are seen as important for any civilised

society.
7 Do not steal.

The saving of life (Pikuach Nefesh) is an important belief in

Judaism (see page 219). Jewish practice allows mitzvot to be
broken in order to save a life. All life is believed to be created 8 Do not commit murder.
by God. Therefore murder is completely wrong.

Tzedakah, or justice, is important in Judaism (see page

9 Do not testify as a false
222). This includes being fair to others in words and deeds. witness against your
neighbour.

10 Do not be envious of your

An important teaching in Judaism is that you should
always be content with what you have. In the Talmud, envy is
neighbour’s wife, his slave,
called an ‘evil eye’ while a ‘good eye’ is happy at other people’s his maid, his ox, his donkey,
successes. or anything else that is your
neighbour’s.

Summary
• A covenant is an agreement between two people, in • God also made a covenant with Moses – he saved the
this case between a person and God. Jewish people in Egypt from slavery and gave Moses
• God made a covenant with Abraham in which he 613 mitzvot (duties).
promised to give Abraham descendants, bless them • The Ten Commandments are ten of the 613 mitzvot
and promised that he would give them the land of that are special because all Jewish people should
Canaan – ‘the Promised Land’. obey them and they are central to Jewish beliefs
• Circumcision, which is performed on boys soon after and practices. Four of the Ten Commandments relate
birth, is a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham. to human relationships with God, the rest relate to
human relationships with each other.

Tasks
1 Kaz is preparing for a (d) type question, which is worth 15 marks.
‘Keeping the Ten Commandments is the most important part of Judaism.’
Discuss the statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view.
She has looked at the level descriptors (page 7) and is now planning her answer.
a What four arguments do you think could be included in her response?
b How could each of these arguments show the impact of the Ten Commandments on individuals, communities
or society?
c What five religious terms or key concepts could be used in the answer?
d What religious teachings could be referred to?
2 ‘The Ten Commandments are out of date.’ Discuss, giving reasons for your answer.
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 ■ Life on earth

Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• Jewish beliefs about Pikuach Nefesh
• the relationship between free will and the 613 mitzvot.

▶ Choose life!
In Judaism the emphasis is on life, not on death. God is the creator
Task who has given life.
‘God said, “Let us make man with our image and likeness. Let him
Using this page as evidence, dominate the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock animals,
answer the following question: and all the earth – and every land animal that walks the earth.”
How is human life shown as God [thus] created man with His image. In the image of God, He
important in Jewish belief and created him, male and female He created them.’
lifestyle?
Genesis 1:26–27
Not only should humans respect their life but they should live it to
the full. It is the way that they live their life that will be judged. The
‘My God, the soul you placed Torah is described as the ‘tree of life’ as its mitzvot can only be
within me is pure. You created it, followed in this world. Good deeds, like a tree, take root and sprout
you fashioned it, you breathed it into other good deeds.
into me.’
‘It is a tree of life for those who grasp it, and all who uphold it are blessed.’
A prayer said by many Jews
Proverbs 3:18
in the morning
The importance of life can be seen throughout Jewish worship and
lifestyle:
‘it is we who extol the Lord, both ▶ During celebrations, especially at weddings, ‘L’Chaim’ is said,
now and forevermore. meaning, ‘to life’. The word ‘Chaim’ is plural which some
Praise the Lord.’ authorities say shows that life alone is impossible. It can only be
Psalm 115:18 when life is shared that it is truly lived.
▶ When someone has died, the relatives are wished ‘long life’.

‘Before you I have placed life Extract from My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
and death, the blessing and the
curse. You must choose life, so On his way home from synagogue with his father, Asher sees a dead bird
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

that you and your descendants lying near their house.

will survive.’ ‘Is it dead, Papa?’ I was six added, ‘But may it be only
Deuteronomy 30:19 and could not bring myself after you live a long and
to look at it. good life, my Asher.’
‘Whoever destroys a single life is ‘Yes’, I heard him say in a I could not grasp it. I forced
considered as if he had destroyed sad and distant way. myself to look at the bird.
‘Why did it die?’ Everything alive would one
the whole world, and whoever
day be as still as that bird?
saves a single life as if he had ‘Everything that lives
saved the whole world.’ must die.’ ‘Why?’ I asked
Talmud ‘Everything?’ ‘That’s the way God made
his world, Asher.’
‘Yes.’
‘Why?’
‘You too, Papa? And Mama?
‘So life would be precious,
‘Yes.’
Asher. Something that
‘And me?’ is yours forever is never
‘Yes,’ he said. Then he precious.’
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 ▶ The nature and importance of Pikuach Nefesh –

Life on earth
saving a life
‘God said, “Let us make man with our image and likeness. ‘For You created my veins, You covered me in my mother’s
Let him dominate the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the womb. I shall thank You for in an awesome, wondrous way
livestock animals, and all the earth – and every land animal I was fashioned; Your works are wondrous, and my soul
that walks the earth.” God [thus] created man with knows it very well. My essence was not hidden from You,
his image. In the image of God, He created him, when I was made in secret, I was formed in the lowest parts
male and female He created them.’ of the earth.’
Genesis 1:26–27 Psalm 139:13–15

God is the one creator of life and therefore life is sacred.

Only he can give and preserve life.

‘When I had not yet formed you in the womb, I knew

you, and when you had not yet emerged from the womb,
I had appointed you; a prophet to the nations I made you.’
Jeremiah 1:5

Saving of life should take priority over everything – even if this

means breaking some of the mitzvot in the Torah. In the Talmud
God says his people will ‘live by’ the Torah – as opposed to ‘dying
by’ it. In Babylonian Yoma 84b descriptions are given as to how the
observance of Shabbat as a rest day can be broken if someone is ill.
So, the Torah is designed to promote life, and the saving of human
life is more important than the observance of the law.
‘Pikuach Nefesh’ is the term used to describe the setting aside
of certain mitzvot in order to save a life. To support life, all but
three of the 613 mitzvot can be broken – idolatry, incest and
adultery. This means, for example, that doctors are permitted to
answer emergency calls on Shabbat, even though one of the Ten
Commandments requires Jews to rest on Shabbat.
To preserve a life, it is permissible to remove organs from a dead
body (otherwise, Jews are forbidden to disturb a body except to wash
it, clothe it decently and bury it). To preserve a life one may travel on
Shabbat or even break the fast on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).

Once there was a dreadful plague which had made many people ill and weak.
The day of Yom Kippur was approaching – a most holy day in the Jewish calendar when Jews are expected to fast and
take no food or water.
The rabbi knew that the congregation needed their strength if they were to survive so he took food and wine into the
synagogue and ate that day so that the congregation would know they could break their fast to preserve their life.

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 ▶ The 613 mitzvot
It is difficult to find a word in English that really translates ‘mitzvot’
as it has more than one meaning:
▶ Keeping the duties given by God to Moses
▶ Doing good deeds
▶ Being given an honour such as reading from the Torah.
The Talmud refers to the 613 mitzvot in the Torah. This number is
represented by the number of knots on the tallit, which is worn by
many Jews during worship.
The 613 mitzvot are represented by the Today it is impossible to keep all 613 mitzvot as many were
knots on a Tallit connected with religious practices in the Temple, which has been
destroyed. For Orthodox Jews, keeping the mitzvot is an important
principle of Judaism. Although many Reform Jews also try to keep
Tallit Four-cornered garment with
the mitzvot many consider that some are no longer compatible
fringes.
with twenty-first-century life. Decisions about which ones to
Hillel A great rabbi and teacher observe are often based upon individual choices.
who lived in the first century. Just as with the Ten Commandments, the mitzvot either show how
people should relate to God or how they should relate to other people.
Through both types of actions Jews believe they build a
relationship with God. The Torah explains that the purpose of
human existence is to achieve closeness to God. This is attained
through observing the mitzvot as each is believed in its own unique
way to build a relationship with God.
Is any one of the 613 mitzvot more important than another?
A story in the Talmud (Shabbat 31a) tells how Hillel was asked
what was the central duty of the Torah. He replied:
‘That which is hateful unto you do not do to your neighbour. This is
the whole of the Torah, the rest is commentary. Go forth and study.’
This meant that although there are many mitzvot, it is through
the practice of treating people with respect that Jews build their
relationship with God.
Where can I find God?
I have studied
I have tried to pray Study hard then you hard but still
but can’t find God. might find God. can’t find God.
I need to go to a
new town.
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

I believe God is here,

I will take you to the where can I find him?
Where can I find God? Rabbi, he will help you.

You have come to the right Please, you are new to this town,
town, here you will find God. come and have dinner with us.
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 The next morning the man

Life on earth
sees an old lady being helped
with her shopping by another; You are no I think I have
Where is You look tired, a man helping a trapped longer asking now found God.
God in this come and stay animal; and someone helping where God is.
town? with us tonight. a man who has fallen.

Although most Jews would consider the actual mitzvot in the Torah
as important, how each mitzvah relates to modern-day developments
may be interpreted differently. For example, one of the mitzvot states
‘thou shalt not kill’, but this involves a number of issues:
▶ abortion?
▶ contraception?
▶ self defence?
▶ nuclear attacks?
▶ turning off life-support machines?
▶ killing animals?

▶ Mitzvah Day
Mitzvah Day was started in Britain in 2008 and has now spread
across the world. It encourages people to join together to make a
positive impact on their community.
Jews and non-Jews work together to try to
▶ reduce poverty
▶ care for the environment
▶ care for others.
The day is rooted in the values of the 613 mitzvot that are
important in Judaism and treating people with the respect that
they would want for themselves. Mitzvah Day also reflects another
meaning of mitzvah – that of doing a good deed for someone. The
deed is done, not because it is one of the 613 mitzvot, but because
it is a kind action.
There are three Jewish concepts that are particularly important
on Mitzvah Day:
▶ Tikkun olam – ‘healing’ or ‘perfecting’ the world. It shows a
shared responsibility for making the world better by helping
others, looking after the environment and supporting human
rights. One of Mitzvah Day’s achievements has been to create
partnership and inter-faith dialogue. Projects have included
Sunshine to Seniors which provides care to the elderly and
Plant a Tree on Mitzvah Day which involves planting trees in
the local area.
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 Task ▶ Gemilut hasadim – the ‘giving of loving kindness’ which expects
nothing in return. Every year on Mitzvah Day, over 37,000
Look through this textbook. participants do just that, through many projects based on the
If you had to select pictures principle of doing acts of kindness.
to show tikkun olam, gemilut ▶ Tzedakah – the ‘righteousness’ and ‘justice’ that is shown
hasidim and tzedakah, which through social action and acts of loving kindness; not because
three pictures would you select? it feels good but because the Jewish faith educates that it is the
For each you must explain your right thing to do.
choice.

▶ Free will
Judaism teaches that God is the creator of all life and he alone
decides when people are born and when they die:
‘Without your consent you were born, and without your consent you
live, and without your consent you die.’
From the Sayings of the Fathers 4:29
There are also many references to God continuing to watch over all
creation and provide care.
‘From his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth.’
Psalms 33:14
For many centuries people have discussed how far God
intervenes in human lives and events, and how far humans have
free will – that is, the ability to make their own choices. Many
questions are discussed, such as:
▶ Are the mitzvot a path that Jews should follow – a sort of
guideline?
▶ Are the mitzvot a path that must be followed or people will be
punished?
▶ Do people have free will to act and behave as they want without
Do humans make their own choices or are any intervention by God?
they controlled by God?
The Torah teaches that God has given
Jews a choice – the choice whether to
keep the mitzvot or not. As humans
they were made in the ‘image of God’,
and it is believed they have the mind
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

and the soul to help with that choice.

Judaism does not teach that
people are born sinful but that each
individual has been born with two
inclinations or natural ways to act:
▶ Yetzer ha tov – is the inclination
or natural urge to do
good actions.
▶ Yetzer ha ra – is the inclination or
natural urge to do evil actions.
Each individual has been born with two ways to act. Firstly yetzer ha tov (urge to
do good actions) and secondly yetzer ha ra (urge to do evil actions)

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 In Judaism it is believed that people are born with yetzer ha tov

Life on earth
and yetzer ha ra as a balance but as the person does more good or
bad actions so the balance changes. There is no belief in evil beings,
such as the devil, as the yetzer ha ra that is within everyone creates
the evil in the world – not another being.

There is a traditional story in which a Jew asks a rabbi response. Eventually he sits down by the house and
to drive out the negative thoughts in his mind. The falls asleep.
rabbi says he cannot do this but recommends another The next morning the master of the house appears and
person some distance away. Eagerly the man sets out welcomes the traveller inside. Confused the traveller asks
on the long journey. When he arrives at the house he why he had not been allowed into the house the night
sees a light on. With great relief he thinks he will be before. ‘Well’ said the rabbi, ‘I wanted to teach you a lesson.
welcomed into the house and given food and a bed The lesson is you are the master of your own house and of
for the night. He bangs on the door. No response. He your own actions. You can choose to resist pressure or to
bangs again on the door and on the windows. Still no give in.’

Tasks
Although humans are given free will, Judaism teaches that it is not
1 What is the connection possible to hide acts of evil from God. Nor is it believed that doing
between free will, yetzer one good action will suddenly make someone a good person. Each
ha ra and yetzar ha tov? is considered separately by God on the Ten Days of Repentance
2 What is the connection between between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Sins against God can
free will and Yom Kippur? be atoned for through showing repentance, prayer and giving to
3 What is the connection between charity. Any harm done to other human beings must be forgiven by
God as creator, free will, yetzer them before God can forgive.
ha tov and yetzer ha ra?

The problem of evil and suffering

At times of great tragedy and disaster people of all If God is all-powerful and all-knowing, then God must
religions often question why God could allow such events have the ability to foresee the future. If so, then why
to occur. doesn’t he intervene or stop tragedies happening?
The Talmud tells of a rabbi who was also an excellent healer. However, to do so would mean that people don’t have
One day someone came to him and said that if God wanted free will to act as they want. Such questions have
the man to be well, God wouldn’t let him be ill. The rabbi been asked through the centuries and particularly
replied that if God wanted people to be ill, then he wouldn’t at times of great tragedy and suffering such as the
have created the medicines to help people become well. Holocaust.

Summary
• Judaism focuses on life, not on death. Jewish people • Jews believe that humans are born with two
believe they should respect life and live it to the full. inclinations – yetzer ha tov is the inclination to do
• Jews believe that saving life is more important than good and yetzer ha ra is the inclination to do evil. They
anything else; Pikuach Nefesh means that certain believe that people have free will to choose between
mitzvot can be set aside in order to save a life. them and decide to follow the mitzvot or not.
• Today there are some mitzvot that can’t be followed,
e.g. because they relate to the Temple which has been
destroyed.
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 ■ The afterlife
The nature of the afterlife is not frequently considered in Judaism.
Core learning There are two main reasons for this:
By the end of this area of study ▶ What is important is living a good life now in preparation for the
you will know and understand: world to come – whatever that world might be.
• views about life after death and ▶ The ways of God are not for humans to understand so there is no
judgement from Orthodox and point trying to do so.
Reform Jews
• views about resurrection from
both Orthodox and Reform Jews,
including:
• spiritual and bodily
resurrection
• immortality of the soul
• the Jewish belief that it is most
important to focus on this life.

The afterlife in Judaism is called Olam Ha-Ba (the world to

come). This term is used to refer to a person’s afterlife and also
Tasks the Messianic Age in which some Jews believe. There are many
Complete the following: different views about the nature of the world to come but a belief
1 The Torah is . . . shared by all Jews is that the focus should be on this life and how
2 The Talmud is . . . it is lived in preparation for the life to come.
3 A difference between the ‘This world is like a lobby before the Olam Ha-Ba. Prepare yourself in
Torah and Talmud is . . . the lobby so that you may enter the banquet hall.’
4 From what you have learnt Mishnah
about Judaism give two
explanations why Jews might ‘This world is like the eve of Shabbat, and the Olam Ha-Ba is like
believe the following: Shabbat. He who prepares on the eve of Shabbat will have food to
eat on Shabbat.’
The Talmud teaches Talmud
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

that the Torah is like For many Jews this will include studying the Torah and observing
a plaster – it protects the mitzvot. This doesn’t mean, however, that people earn a better
human beings from afterlife. Judaism is not focused on the question of how to get a
any evil. better afterlife but on how to live a good life now.
There are no specific teachings about the afterlife in the
In your answer you must Torah. There are references to a physical place, called Sheol, to
refer to two of the following: which one ‘goes down’ following this life, but the nature of this
the Shema; mitzvot; Moses; place and who goes there is unclear. This means that many
Shekhinah. Jews’ beliefs about the afterlife are their own interpretations of
sacred texts.

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 Jewish beliefs about resurrection

The afterlife
Most Jewish ideas about the afterlife developed in post-biblical
times. Throughout the centuries different scholars and rabbis have
discussed interpretations of passages from the Torah and found
different answers. For example:
▶ Nahmanides, a twelfth-century Sephardic rabbi, taught that
Olam Ha-Ba would come after the resurrection of the dead.
Those who had lived good lives would be given an additional life.
▶ Maimonides, however, believed that Olam Ha-Ba referred to a
time even beyond the world of the resurrected. He believed that
the resurrected will eventually die a second death, at which point
the souls of those who had been good would enjoy a spiritual,
bodiless existence in the presence of God.
▶ Some rabbis argue that the resurrection of the dead will occur
during the Messianic Age.
▶ Others argue that resurrection will follow the Messianic Age.
▶ Some argue that only the righteous will be resurrected, while
others that everyone will be resurrected and then a Day of
Judgement will follow.
▶ Some rabbis argue, however, that there is no need of a Day of
Judgement after death as judgement happens every year on the
festival of Rosh Hashanah.
Many Orthodox Jews believe in some form of resurrection. This is
stated in daily prayers and at funerals. However, there are also some
prayers which refer to the soul being at rest under the wings of the
Shekhinah (divine presence of God).
Some Orthodox Jews believe in a resurrection that includes
the body as well as the soul being raised. This influences Jewish
attitudes to cremation, organ transplants and autopsies as they
believe they must be buried complete so they can be resurrected
whole.
Reform Judaism has rejected a belief in resurrection and references
Summary have been taken out of prayer books and worship. Some Reform Jews
• In general, Jews don’t think too believe that the memories of people live on through their actions and
much about the afterlife (Olam good deeds. Other Reform Jews believe the soul lives on after death
Ha-Ba), they believe it is more but there are different opinions about where.
important to focus on living a Although it is not a central belief in Judaism, some Jews believe
good life in this life. in reincarnation. By this they mean that in some form the soul of
• Many Orthodox Jews believe in the person will take on a different body to live again on earth. This
resurrection and some believe is a historic belief, with some rabbis in the Middle Ages discussing
in a bodily resurrection in which how this happened. Some Jews believe that if the mitzvot of the
the body as well as the soul is Torah have not been completed then a soul may be allowed a
raised. second chance through reincarnation.
• Reform Judaism rejects the idea As we have seen, it is difficult to explain what Jews believe about
of resurrection, although some the afterlife. There are so many different views.
Reform Jews believe the soul What all Jews share is a belief that doing good actions in this life
lives on after death. is more important than spending time thinking about what might
happen after death.

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 ▶ End of section review

Knowledge check
Stickability 1 What does the term ‘covenant’ mean?
Key concepts: 2 In your own words, explain what is meant by the Pikuach Nefesh.
• Covenant 3 Draw a Venn diagram. In the middle write three beliefs that Orthodox and
• Messiah Reform Jews share. In the outer rings write two beliefs on which they have
• Mitzvot different views.
• Shekhinah 4 Explain what Jews believe about the afterlife. Remember there are
• Torah different views.
Key teachings about:
• the nature of God
• the Messiah
• covenants
The big question
• life on earth ‘It’s more important to think about what you do today than spend
• the afterlife time thinking about the afterlife.’

Your task
How do you think someone who is Jewish might respond to this statement?
■ Write a minimum of two developed paragraphs.
■ You must include two references to sacred texts and references to Pikuach
Nefesh, the Messianic Age, and God as judge.

Skills link
1 Explain different Jewish beliefs about resurrection.
2 ‘Keeping the Ten Commandments is the most important part of Judaism.’
Discuss the statement showing that you have considered more than one
point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)

Task
5 Judaism: Beliefs and teachings

You need to explain in detail religious teachings about the Messiah.. Use the guidance below to help you to write a
developed explanation for Judaism. Ensure that you use key terms fluently and frequently.
All/many/most Jews believe that ....................... .This comes from the teaching/Torah quote ....................... . This means
that/Because of this they ....................... .
Some/other Jews such as ............. believe that ....................... . This comes from the teaching/Torah quote ....................... .
This means that/Because of this they ....................... .
Finally, Jews such as .............. believe that ....................... . This means that/Because of this they ....................... .
Their beliefs do/do not differ because ....................... .

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 ▶ Exam focus

Exam focus
Judaism: Beliefs and teachings
(a) questions
These are always the first question in each unit. They ask you to
explain what the key concept means. Your explanation can include
an example. There are eight key concepts you need to know
for Judaism.
Remember there are only two marks for these questions so it is
important you are able to give an accurate definition which is to
the point.
Helen was asked:
(a) What is the Shekhinah? (2)
Her response of ‘God’s presence’ was only awarded one mark.
Why do you think that was?
Rewrite her answer to gain two marks.

Using religious language

To gain higher marks religious language must be used in your
answers. This includes using the key concepts where relevant as well
as any particular language specific to the religions you are writing
about.
Look at the answer to the question below and identify six places
where you would have included some specific religious language.
(a) Explain why Moses is important in Judaism? (8)
Moses is important in Judaism as he led people into a desert
out of slavery. Each year Jews remember how this happened
through an important festival. He was told to do this and
later he went onto a mountain and was told certain duties
and laws that Jews should live by. He led the Jews through
the desert to another country. The time when they did this is
celebrated each year through a special festival.

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 6 Judaism: Practices

■ Worship
Core learning
By the end of this area of study you will know and understand:
• the services that happen in the synagogue including the Shabbat service
• the importance of prayer and in particular the Amidah
• the differences between the way Orthodox and Reform Jews worship in
the synagogue
• the importance of worship in the home
• how Jews celebrate Shabbat
• what Jewish people wear for worship.

Judaism teaches that we should connect with God every day. This
takes many forms:

Prayer Worship in the synagogue

Celebrating festivals Helping others

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 ▶ Orthodox and Reform synagogue services

Worship
Prayers may be said anywhere in Judaism. For many Jews, however,
it is important to join with others for communal prayers. In order
for this to happen, a minyan (ten men) has to be present. This is
to create a more spiritual experience than people can have on their
Key Concepts own. It is believed that communal prayers are less selfish than
Synagogue A house of assembly; individual prayers. When praying with others there is a communal
building for Jewish public prayer, responsibility, and prayers are said for the whole community.
study and assembly. Although each synagogue usually has daily prayers, the time
Shabbat A day of spiritual renewal when the community comes together is for the Shabbat service.
and rest, beginning at sunset on Shabbat service in the synagogue
Friday and closing at nightfall on
Saturday.
Although it is very important for Jews to have a private relationship
with God it is also important to unite the community through
worship. Important ceremonies happen at festival times but each
week the Shabbat service brings the community together. Many
Jews attend synagogue services on Shabbat even if they do not do
so during the week. Services are held on Shabbat eve (Friday night),
Shabbat morning (Saturday morning), and late Shabbat afternoon
(Saturday afternoon). Fixed periods of prayer correspond with the
time when sacrifices were offered in the Temple.
The Shabbat morning service is the longest of the week and can
last between two and three hours. The service will include
important prayers such as the Shema, Amidah and Kaddish. At
Haftorah A passage from one of each service selected portions of the Torah and haftorah are read.
the books of the Neviim (Prophets) It is common for rabbis to deliver a weekly sermon which draws
which is read after the Torah reading. upon the meaning of the readings from the Torah and haftorah.
After the service a Kiddush is usually held. This is the special blessing
recited over a cup of wine or Shabbat wine before Friday night dinner.
The service in a Reform synagogue is based on traditional elements,
but contains more use of the language of the country in which the
service is taking place and far less Hebrew. Reform Judaism has made
changes to services to reflect the differences in their beliefs from those
of Orthodox Judaism. Prayers and readings usually leave out beliefs
about bodily resurrection, a personal Jewish Messiah, and references
to angels. Reform services often play instrumental or recorded music
while Orthodox synagogues will have unaccompanied singing.

▶ Prayer
For an observant Jew, prayer is not simply something that happens
in the synagogue once a week but is a part of everyday life. Jews can
communicate with God through prayer individually or collectively
at home, in a synagogue or as they go about their daily life. For
many centuries rabbis have taught that prayer is one of the best
ways of communicating a love of God. It forms the bridge between
humans on earth and God.
Prayer is so important that a whole area of the Talmud, called
Berakhot, is based on prayer.
Historically there were no special prayers but as time progressed
many set prayers were established. Observant Jews will pray before
performing mitzvot, upon seeing unusual things like a rainbow,
when good or bad things happen, and before going to bed at night.
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 are performed by some Jews three times a day every weekday and at
additional times on Shabbat and other festivals.
There are different types of prayer:
▶ Praising God – This involves praising God for his qualities. By
thinking of specific qualities of God such as justice, Jews think
about the qualities they should aim for.
▶ Requests of God – These aren’t just requests for what people
want but what God thinks is best for them.
▶ Thanksgiving – These show gratitude for the life God has given
and the blessings granted.
Examples of these prayers can be found in the prayer book (siddur),
which contains many of the prayers used in daily life and festivals.
Some Jews prefer to recite their prayers in Hebrew as they argue this is a
holy language and it connects all Jews worldwide. Other Jews consider
it more important to understand what is being said. Orthodox services
normally include many prayers in Hebrew while Reform services have a
mixture of prayers in Hebrew and in the language of the country.
Although all prayers are important in Judaism, the Amidah and
the Shema (see page 205) are considered two of the most important.

▶ The Amidah
The Amidah is the core of every Jewish worship service, and is
therefore also referred to as HaTefi llah, or ‘The prayer’. Amidah
literally means ‘standing’ and people stand throughout the prayer
to show they are in God’s presence. The Amidah consists of
18 blessings and can be divided into three sections, each of which
reflects a type of prayer. The Amidah contains the three types of
prayer: praise of God, requests of God and thanksgiving.
The Amidah is recited silently by all members of a congregation
or by individuals praying alone – and then, in communal
settings, repeated aloud by the prayer leader or cantor, with the
congregation reciting ‘Amen’ to all the blessings of the Amidah.
The Amidah formally concludes with the recitation of the line:
‘May God who brings peace to the universe, bring peace to us and all of
the people, Israel. Amen.’
This is recited while taking three steps backward, bowing to both
sides, and taking three steps forward again, formally retreating
from God’s symbolic presence.
Tasks
1 Choose three different features of a Shabbat service in a synagogue. Explain why each is important.
6 Judaism: Practices

2 Read about the importance of the Shema on page 205 and about the Amidah above and then create and
complete a table like the one below.
Shema Amidah
What is it?
Why is it important?
How is the prayer shown to be important?
3 A famous rabbi once said:
‘Prayer is for the soul what food is for the body.’
Rabbi Halevi (1095–1150)
Explain in your own words what you think he meant.
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 ▶ Worship in the home

Worship
The importance of the family home is greatly valued by many
Jews who consider it a sanctuary. It is a place where the values and
beliefs of Judaism are learnt and reinforced.

Continuity of practice and values

The home is also a place where Jewish practices and values are taught.
In his book Faith in the Future, the former Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
shows the importance of the home for future generations:
‘Its effects stay with us for a lifetime. It is where one generation passes
on its values to the next and ensures the continuity of a civilisation.’

In most Jewish homes there will be a pushke box in which money is

collected for charity. In Judaism giving to the poor is not considered
an act of charity but an act of justice or tzedakah (see page 222).

Prayers
The home is a place of worship and prayers; they are an important
part of daily life. For many Orthodox Jews on waking up in the
morning they will thank God by saying the modeh ani while still in
bed: ‘I offer thanks before you, living and eternal king, for you have
mercifully restored my soul within me. Your faithfulness is great.’
The shema is a declaration of faith recited three times throughout
the day at prayer but also during the day.
Mezuzah
Many Jewish families will have a mezuzah on the front doorpost
of their house and each of the doorposts inside, apart from the
bathroom. The mezuzah is a parchment scroll which is placed inside
a case. On the scroll is written the Shema prayer (see page 205).
The parchment is prepared and written by a scribe, called a sofer,
in indelible black ink with a special quill pen. It must be written on
parchment made from the skin of a kosher animal, such as a cow,
sheep or goat.
Usually on the back of the parchment the word ‘Shaddai’ is written.
This means ‘Almighty’ and is one of the many names for God. The
mezuzah case is affixed on the right-hand side of the door as you
enter the room. It should be placed at a slight angle, with the top of
Touching the mezuzah case is a reminder the mezuzah pointing toward the inside of the room and the bottom
to live by the words of the Shema pointing toward the outside. Often Jews will touch the case as they
pass through the door and then kiss their fingers as a reminder that
the family should live according to the words of the Shema. For many,
the mezuzah symbolises God’s protection of the house.
Siddur
The siddur is an important part of Judaism that guides Jews
through daily prayers both in the synagogue and at home. It
begins with the modeh ani and contains prayers for daily services
as well as those for Shabbat and other holidays. Just as the Torah
is considered a gift from God, so the siddur is considered a gift
to God. The siddur is considered holy and as such if it falls to the
ground it will be picked up as quickly as possible and kissed.
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 ▶ Shabbat
Key Concept
Shabbat Day of spiritual renewal and rest, beginning at sunset on Friday
and closing at nightfall on Saturday.

[The Jews were being Shabbat is the weekly festival that is celebrated from sunset on a
taken in crowded trucks to Friday to sunset on a Saturday. The keeping of Shabbat obeys the
concentration camps.] mitzvot contained in the Torah. Shabbat involves two interrelated
commandments.
One elderly woman had a small
bundle with her and with a ‘The Sabbath to remember and to keep it holy.’
lot of effort slowly managed Exodus 20:8
to open it. She drew out two Remembering Shabbat means remembering the importance of it
candlesticks and two hallot. as a celebration of creation and also of the freedom of the Israelites
She had just prepared them for from slavery in Egypt. Keeping Shabbat means showing it is holy
Sabbath when she was dragged through worship in the home and synagogue. For many Jews
from her home that morning. observing Shabbat means recognising the types of activities and
They were the only things she work that are not allowed.
had thought worth taking with Shabbat is considered by many Jews as the most important
her. Soon the Sabbath candles festival. It is seen by many as a gift from God when weekday
lit up the faces of the tortured worries can be forgotten. Throughout history Shabbat has been an
Jews and the song of Lekhah important festival for Jews. Even in times of persecution Jews tried
Dodi transformed the scene. to celebrate Shabbat.
Sabbath with its atmosphere There are many different opinions among Jews regarding what
of peace had descended upon can and cannot be done on Shabbat. For many observant Orthodox
them all. Jews all forms of work must be avoided unless it is a matter of life
Extract from The Sabbath by
and death. Also articles should not be carried between private and
Dayan Grunfeld, 1981 public places. In some areas this has led to Orthodox Jews creating a
special enclosure (eruv) in their neighbourhoods. This allows Jewish
residents or visitors to carry objects from one place to another inside
the eruv on Shabbat.

Eruv makes a difference in Manchester

Observant Jews are prohibited from pushing or carrying everyday items
between sundown on Fridays and sundown on Saturdays unless they are
in a special area known as an eruv. This includes pushchairs, wheelchairs,
house keys or mobile phones. In some parts of Britain, like Manchester,
6 Judaism: Practices

an eruv is created using physical features, like walls and hedges, railway
lines and roads, to completely enclose an area of land and so create one
area. To be accepted, it must satisfy strict laws, including being ‘completely
enclosed’ by existing natural boundaries or by wires from the top of posts.

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 ▶ Shabbat in the home

Worship
Each family celebrates Shabbat in their own way, although there are
some features which are common to most Shabbat celebrations.
Shabbat starts a few minutes before sunset on Friday night.
There will be different timings depending upon the location and
the time of the year.

Shabbat times 15 April Shabbat times 25 December

Begins Friday 7.43 p.m. Begins Friday 3.41 p.m.

London
ends Saturday 8.49 p.m. ends Saturday 4.51 p.m.

Begins Friday 7.48 p.m. Begins Friday 3.29 p.m.

Leeds
ends Saturday 9.02 p.m. ends Saturday 4.48 p.m.

Begins Friday 8.09 p.m. Begins Friday 3.37 p.m.

Glasgow
ends Saturday 9.24 p.m. ends Saturday 4.52 p.m.

Begins Friday 7.42 p.m. Begins Friday 3.47 p.m.

Bournemouth
ends Saturday 8.57 p.m. ends Saturday 5.05 p.m.

Examples of the variation in Shabbat times around the country at different times of year

Task
Look at the difference in times for Shabbat between December and
April. What differences to someone’s lifestyle might this make?

The woman of the family lights two candles to bring the presence
of Shabbat into the home. This is a ritual that happens worldwide
as night falls.
In many families the father welcomes Shabbat in the synagogue
and when he returns home the family sits down to a special meal.
All the preparation will have taken place before Shabbat begins.
Meals begin with a blessing over two loaves of bread, usually
braided loaves (challah). These two loaves symbolise the double
portion of manna, which was eaten by the Israelites in the desert after
the Exodus from Egypt.
The Kiddush prayer is recited over a cup of wine at the beginning
of Shabbat meals. The meal is a time of happiness and relaxation
with all the family, if possible.
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 Candles are lit, loaves are blessed and the Kiddush prayer is said
over a glass of wine at the start of the Shabbat meal

Shabbat continues as a day of rest until sunset the next day. On

the Saturday morning the family usually goes to the synagogue for
the Shabbat service. For Orthodox Jews it is important that they walk
to synagogue as driving a car would be considered as work, which is
forbidden. After the synagogue service most families relax and enjoy
the day. For Orthodox families it is important that anything that
could be considered work is avoided. This might include turning on
electricity, cooking or driving.

Shabbat unplugged
Having a day off from technology is becoming increasingly common for
non-Jews as well as Jews. An increasing number of people now close down
computers and phones for a day so they can focus on friends and family.
For the past six years, Shlain and her family have observed Technology
Shabbat, a modernised version of the Jewish day of rest. They turn off every
screen in sight – phones, laptops, TVs – before dinner on Friday night and
do not reconnect for 24 hours.

At sunset on Saturday the importance of Shabbat is shown again

as the family joins together to say ‘goodbye’ to Shabbat. This is
shown through the lighting of the havdalah candle – a plaited
candle. Havdalah means separation and symbolises that the
distinction between Shabbat and the rest of the week is now over.
6 Judaism: Practices

A glass of wine is also passed around for the family community

to take a sip from and a sweet-smelling spice box is sniffed to
symbolise the hope of a sweet week ahead.
Shabbat is celebrated through many rituals in both the home and
the synagogue. What is most important is people’s intention during
Shabbat. Their behaviour shows that Shabbat is a special day and
God is worshipped by people being kind to each other.

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 Worship
The Chief Rabbi’s Shabbat UK
The weekend’s festivities usually commence on the
Thursday with mass ‘Challah (plaited loaves) Makes’ in
various locations and communal meals, and culminates
in a huge Havdallah concert to welcome in the new
week. Synagogues, Jewish schools and other Jewish
organisations across the UK organise series of events to
mark the weekend. Everybody can participate in Shabbat
Each year there is a special Shabbat when Jews celebrate UK, from the most observant Jews to those who may
Shabbat regardless of their level of religious observance have never experienced the beauty of a Shabbat.

Tasks
1 Select three words from the word puzzle below. Explain why each is important.

Shabbat
friday

kiddush
relax
candles
friday siddur
Saturday
dinner
reflect

blessings Saturday
Shabbat meal
candles Shabbat
service fun
dinner
friends service Shabbat
prayer songs
reflect
meal

2 Identify which of the following statements you think are likely to be said by an Orthodox or Reform Jew or both.
Reform and
Statement Orthodox Reform Orthodox
It is not up to us to question the ways of God. The Shabbat laws are to
be obeyed.
By keeping the Shabbat we are showing our thanks to God.
If we can’t work then how can rabbis lead the Shabbat services?
We have to act on our conscience and remember we live in modern times.
The duties given to us by God do not change over time. They are eternal.
Practising a religion is not picking the bits of a religion you want to obey and
ignoring those you don’t.
3 Complete the following acrostic adding in a relevant statement about Shabbat that begins with the first letter of
each line. Three examples have been completed for you.
Sunset on Friday starts Shabbat
H
All the family together at home
B
B
A
Time for rest, family and reflection

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 ▶ Items worn for worship
The kippah has become a Many Jews consider it a duty to wear special clothing for worship. There
source of identity for Jews are many views regarding when such items are worn and by whom.
so I wear mine with pride.
Kippah (plural kippot)
As I believe the whole of The exact meaning of the kippah is unknown but for most Jews it
my life is worship to God I is a symbol of identity and a sign of respect to God. Throughout
wear a kippah all the time Jewish history the attitude toward head-covering has varied.
as a symbol of my respect. Drawings from the third century depict Jews without hats but in the
Middle Ages many Jews wore hats during prayer and study. Today
I only wear a kippah in the there is much debate regarding why the kippah is worn and whether
synagogue as I don’t it is a duty to wear the kippah all the time or just at worship.
always feel safe to wear it The shape and size of the kippah also differs depending upon
in the streets where I live. the community.

Tallit
The tallit is a four-cornered garment which has fringes (tzizit)
attached. The tzizit relates to the duty in Numbers 15:37–41 to
wear fringes in the corners of clothes. Originally clothes were worn
with fringes at each corner but later the practice was introduced of
wearing a garment which had fringes to represent the 613 mitzvot.
There are two types of tallit:
▶ The tallit gadol (large) is a large garment made of wool or silk. It is
worn across the back and draped over the arms. It is often called a
prayer shawl as it is only worn during prayers and worship. After
death the tallit is sometimes wrapped around the body like a shroud.
▶ The tallit katan (small). Many observant Jewish males wear a
tallit katan under their everyday clothes throughout the day. It
has a central hole that goes over the head and covers the front and
back of the body with the tzizit hanging down from the corners.

Tefillin
Tefi llin are worn by Orthodox Jewish males at morning prayer each
day, apart from on Shabbat and festivals. The tefi llin is made up of
two leather boxes. The tefi llah shel rosh is bound to the head with a
strap. In each of its four compartments there is a small handwritten
scroll containing the first two paragraphs of the Shema. The tefi llah
A Jewish man prepared for worship shel rosh is a reminder that the wearer must serve God with his mind
by developing good thoughts. The second box is called the tefi llah
shel yad. It is bound with a strap to the upper arm and leans slightly
6 Judaism: Practices

towards the heart. It has one compartment which contains a single

scroll of the same passages from the Shema. It is a reminder that the
wearer must serve God with his heart through acts of compassion.
When the tefi llin is in place then a special prayer is said:
‘Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified
us with His commandments as to wear tefillin.’
Usually tefi llin are only worn by males on weekday mornings
during morning prayers.
There are, however, an increasing number of women who want
to wear tefi llin and tallit for worship. This has resulted in many
different views being expressed.
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 Worship
The Mishnah shows women
don’t need to wear tefillin.
‘Women, slaves and minors are
exempt from the recitation of
Maimonides said women
Shema and from tefillin, but are
could wear tzitzit if they wanted but In the Talmud there
obligated for the Amidah Prayer,
they were not allowed to recite a blessing. is an example of a
mezuzah, and Grace after
woman wearing tefillin.
‘Women are exempt from the biblical meals.’ Berakhot 3:3
law of tzitzit. Women who want to wear ‘Mikhal the daughter of
tzitzit, wrap themselves in it without King Saul used to wear tefillin,
a blessing … if they want to perform and the sages did not protest.’
them without a blessing they Eruvin 96a
are not prevented.’

Both women and men are

In the Torah the biblically forbidden to wear
reference to wearing tallit clothing normally associated with
in Numbers 15:38–39 the other gender. For example,
does not say it men may not wear skirts. Tefillin
only applies to males. and tallit are for males.

Women should be By wearing tallit and

allowed to do whatever tefillin, women are drawing
men can do. attention to themselves and that
goes against Jewish teaching.

Tasks
1 What is the difference between a tallit katan and a tallit gadol?
2 ‘A kippah is just a hat.’ How might someone who is Jewish respond to this?
3 For his homework Henry has to write an answer to the following statement:
‘Jewish women shouldn’t wear tallit and tefillin.’
His teacher has told him he must include arguments for and against and references to sacred texts.
a Look at the arguments above and decide which are for and which are against the argument.
b Henry needs to develop each of his arguments so he is only going to select four that he thinks are the
strongest. Which four would you select? Give reasons for your answer.

Summary
• Communal worship is important in Judaism and Jews • The home is very important for Jewish people as it is
assemble weekly in the synagogue for the Shabbat where Jewish values and beliefs are learnt. Home is
services. a place to worship and pray. The siddur is the Jewish
• Orthodox services are more likely to be said in Hebrew prayer book that guides Jews in their daily prayer; it
and have unaccompanied singing, while Reform begins with the Modeh Ani.
services are likely to be said in the local language, • Many Jewish households will have mezuzah on
be adjusted to reflect Reform beliefs and involve doorposts to symbolise God’s protection of the house.
instrumental or recorded music. • Shabbat is a weekly festival celebrated from sunset
• Prayer is part of everyday life for Jews and is one of on Friday to sunset on Saturday. It is celebrated in
the best ways of communicating with God. Prayer synagogue services but also in the home with a special
might include praising God, making requests of God or meal. It is a time for the family to come together without
thanksgiving. the distraction of work.
• The Shema and the Amidah are two of the most • Many Jews wear special clothes for worship; these
important Jewish prayers. The Amidah is at the core of include the kippah, the tallit and the tefillin. These are
every worship service. traditionally worn by men but increasingly there are
women who also want to wear them.
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 ■ The synagogue
Key Concept
Synagogue A house of assembly; building for Jewish public prayer, study
and assembly.

Tasks
1 What is a synagogue?
2 Explain, with examples, two challenges for synagogues in Britain.
3 Draw a table like the one below. Under each heading list the relevant activities that take place in the
synagogue.
A place of worship A place of study A place for social and community events

▶ Worship, social and community functions in Britain

The synagogue is the central focus of Jewish life. In Hebrew it is
called Beth ha Knesset which means ‘house of assembly’.
Core learning Most synagogues have three main functions:
By the end of this area of study ▶ As a beit tefi lah, a house of prayer. It is the place where Jews
you will know and understand: come together for community prayer services. Although Jews
• how synagogues are used for can pray anywhere there are certain prayers that can only be said
worship and for community in the presence of a minyan (ten adult men, although in some
functions traditions women are included).
• the main features of a It is for this reason that many observant Jews will go to the
synagogue. synagogue each evening.
▶ As a beit midrash, a house of study. Indeed many Ashkenazi
Jews refer to their synagogue as ‘shul’ from the Yiddish word
for school. For the observant Jew, the study of sacred texts is a
lifelong task. Thus, a synagogue normally has a well-stocked
library of sacred Jewish texts for members of the community
to study. It is also the place where children receive their basic
religious education.
▶ As a social hall for religious and non-religious activities. The
synagogue often functions as a sort of town hall where matters of
6 Judaism: Practices

importance to the community can be discussed. Each synagogue

normally has a programme of social events, which will include
opportunities to learn more about religious and cultural issues.
An important role of the synagogue is its function as a social
welfare agency, collecting and dispensing money and other items
for the aid of the poor and needy within the community. Many
are connected with Jewish Care agencies.

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 The synagogue
Care and shopping services: Providing personal Kosher meals and activity clubs: Providing nearly
support and advice and co-ordinating clubs and 5,000 kosher meals each year. The cooks work
activities to meet the needs of the community. to provide what may be for some recipients the
Shopping services for those unable to shop for only hot kosher meal they receive each week
themselves. through the weekly lunch club and meals on
wheels for senior citizens.

Carers' services: Giving short respite breaks

for carers. Yom Tovim: Arranging celebrations for Jewish
festivals. They provide traditional food at the parties
and, through the meal-delivery service, every Friday,
Financial support: Giving financial advice and relief a traditional meal is delivered for Shabbat. At Rosh
grants to families and individuals in financial need. Hashanah, cards, apples and honey are sent to all
Merseyside Jewish
those who use the meal service.These are
Community
particulalrly important for people with no family.
Care initiatives
Hospital visiting: Visiting and supporting patients
in hospital.
Visual Support Group (VSG): Arranging support and
organising activities such as keep fit and visits to
The Gesher Group: Providing a support group for the theatre.
adults with learning disabilities and mental-health
or stress-related problems.
Funerals: In some cases the deceased may have no
synagogue affiliation, relatives or friends. Under
Supported Living Scheme: Merseyside Jewish these circumstances, the synagogue organises the
Community Care is operating the first Jewish funeral and ensures a Jewish burial. They work
Supported Living service for adults with learning closely with the Chevra Kadisha (burial society)
disabilities in Liverpool. of the synagogue (see page 249).

Although the synagogue is important for worship, learning and

community activities there are many challenges synagogues face in
modern Britain.
There has been a decline in the number of practising Jews and
many synagogues have very small memberships. This is a situation
also relevant to many churches but the issue with synagogues is more
difficult because Orthodox Jewish law prohibits travelling on Shabbat,
so synagogues need to be situated within the Jewish neighbourhood
and accessible on foot. Many Jewish communities need to make
decisions regarding the upkeep and role of the synagogue.

WANTED: A RABBI SECURITY ALERT AT LOCAL SYNAGOGUE

Synagogue has been without a rabbi for two years!

There are few people who are willing to take on the The Community Security Trust provides security and
role of and be trained as a rabbi; sometimes small vigilance at times of worship and when the building is
communities can only afford to pay a rabbi a low wage; empty; synagogues are often vandalised, sometimes
areas where there are small Jewish communities find with anti-Semitic graffiti. In some countries there have
it difficult to attract a rabbi; some rabbis disapprove been terrorist attacks on synagogues.
of some of the customs that the community have
adopted such as driving to synagogues.

CARDIFF SYNAGOGUE TURNED INTO

DECREASING NUMBER OF WORSHIPPERS
OFFICES

Many synagogues were built in the 1900s and are often Some synagogues have been converted into houses
larger than needed today. There are changing patterns of and even a spa. Other uses have included becoming
residence as Jews move out of areas to other locations a museum.
and there is an increase in the number of elderly Jews
who are unable to attend places of worship.
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 ▶ Features of a synagogue
There are many different designs of synagogues. Often they reflect
the architecture of the country they are in.

The Jubilee Synagogue in Prague

Older synagogues are often large so that they can hold a large
number of worshippers. Today when synagogues are built they are
A synagogue in China often smaller and easily accessible for older and disabled people.
6 Judaism: Practices

A Sephardi synagogue

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 Tasks All of the synagogue is considered a place of sanctuary

The synagogue
and holiness. Although there are many differences in design,
1 What is the difference one common feature of all synagogues is a lack of statues or
between Sefer Torah and the representations of living beings.
Torah? ‘Do not represent [such] gods by any carved statue or picture of anything
2 Create a leaflet for Year 6 in the heaven above, on the earth below, or in the water below the land. Do
pupils that explains the not bow down to [such gods] or worship them. I am God your Lord, a God
structure of either a Reform who demands exclusive worship. Where my enemies are concerned, I keep
or an Orthodox synagogue. in mind the sin of the fathers for [their] descendants, to the third and
You will need to include three fourth [generation].
pictures showing either In the next two pages each main area will be explained. There are
Reform or Orthodox features. references to the specific differences between Reform and Orthodox
3 Answer the following communities.
question with between 30
and 35 words. Aron hakodesh
Why don’t synagogues have
The aron hakodesh or ark is the most important place in a
statues or pictures in them?
synagogue as it is here the Torah scrolls are kept. It is permissible
In your answer you need to to sell the seats or the reading desk and apply the proceeds to the
include the following: Shema, purchase of an ark, because they have a lesser holiness, but it is
idolotary, monotheism. forbidden to sell an ark even in order to build a synagogue. In the
Sephardic tradition the ark is called herkal or sanctuary.
During certain prayers the doors and curtain
of the ark may be opened or closed. Many have
a curtain either outside the doors of the ark
(Ashkenazi custom) or inside the doors of the ark
(Sephardi custom).
There are several customs connected with
the ark. It is opened for certain prayers and
during the Ten Days of Penitence between Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Opening the ark
emphasises the importance of the prayer. In
Britain there are many different designs of arks,
with some being made from glass and concrete.

An open ark
The Torah scrolls
The Torah scrolls are the most sacred part of any
synagogue. They are made from animal skins and
are handwritten. Each scroll is one continuous
Torah written in columns. Each end is stitched
to a pole, called the ‘tree of life’. Each scroll is
wrapped in silk or velvet when not used and
often decorated with silver. The scrolls are carried
carefully to the bimah during a service where the
weekly portion of text is read.

The Torah scroll being read with a yad (often referred to as a Torah
pointer)

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 The ner tamid
In front of and slightly above the aron hakodesh, is the ner tamid,
often called the eternal lamp. This is kept continually burning and
should never be extinguished. This lamp symbolises the menorah
(seven-branched lamp) which was kept burning in the Temple.
Many Jews consider it as a symbol of God’s eternal presence. The
ner tamid used to be an oil lamp but now most are fuelled by gas,
The ner tamid electric lightbulbs or solar power.

The bimah
The bimah is a central platform in the synagogue on which stands
the desk from which the Torah scrolls are read. In Orthodox
synagogues the bimah is usually in the middle so the rabbi faces
the congregation. In Reform synagogues everyone sits together
and the bimah is at the front, combined with the ark, rather than
in the middle.
The bimah

Women’s seating

Summary
• The synagogue is a place of
sanctuary and holiness for Women sitting in a Reform synagogue Women sitting in an Orthodox synagogue
Jewish people. There are many
different designs of synagogue
The seating for women is one of the main differences between
but they have some common
Orthodox and Reform synagogues. In Orthodox synagogues
features:
there is a separate area where women are seated. This might be an
• Aron hakodesh – where the
upper-floor balcony or an area separated by a wall or curtain. The
Torah scrolls are kept
Talmud argues that men and women can concentrate more on
• The Torah scrolls – these are
their worship if they are separated. There are different practices
read from each week and are
among Orthodox synagogues. Some argue that, although men
the most sacred part of the
and women should be separated, they should each be close
synagogue
to the ark. For some synagogues it is important to have an
• The ner tamid – the eternal
6 Judaism: Practices

opaque curtain separating the women’s gallery so that the male

lamp and a symbol of God’s
worshippers cannot see the women’s gallery.
presence
In Reform synagogues there is no partition between males and
• The bimah – the platform
females and they may sit together throughout the worship.
from which the Torah scrolls
are read.
• In addition to worship, Worshipping at home and worshipping in the synagogue
synagogues are used for study cannot be separated. The way I celebrate Shabbat shows the
and for many community link between home and synagogue.
functions.

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 ■ Rituals

Rituals
▶ Birth ceremonies
The birth of a baby is considered a happy occasion in Judaism.
As in some other religions, Jewish baby rites differ for male and
female babies.

▶ Naming of babies
It is traditional for the child to receive his or her name at the first
Core learning public gathering after their birth. Girl babies are named at the
By the end of this area of study first public reading of the Torah at the synagogue after their birth.
you will know and understand: Traditionally, fathers are given the honour of reciting the blessing
• what happens at a brit milah before and after a section of the Torah. The child receives her
and how it relates to covenant Hebrew name at the same time. After the service, both mother and
and identity father are honoured at a congregational kiddush.
• what happens at a bar mitzvah Originally, Judaism had no special home celebration to welcome
ceremony female babies into the covenant. For some Reform Jews it is
• different Orthodox and reform considered important to have a special service at home (brit bat).
views on the bat mitzvah and These ceremonies are created by the families and often include
bat chayil ceremonies singing, blessings and thanksgiving to God as creator.
• features of the Jewish marriage Boys are usually named at a special ceremony called brit milah.
ceremony
• how Jewish people mourn their rit milah is the Hebrew term used to describe the religious
loved ones. circumcision of boys at eight days old or of males converting
to Judaism. It can be carried out in a hospital, home or
synagogue, and is carried out by a mohel (male) or in some Reform
Kiddush A prayer sanctifying communities a mohelet (female). Circumcision involves the removal
Shabbat and many holy days, of the foreskin on the eight day after birth. It is performed in front of
usually said over wine. a minyan. The baby is placed on a cushion on an empty chair that
is known as Elijah’s chair. This represents an ancient belief that the
spirit of Elijah (a prophet) visits every circumcision. The child is
then placed on the lap of the sandek. A sandek is someone chosen
by the parents as a great honour. After the circumcision, the father
recites a blessing.

elationship with God is shown through the circumcision. It

represents the covenant made with Abraham (see page 212).
Brit milah, literally translated, means ‘the covenant of
circumcision’. As a part of this covenant God gave Abraham the rite
of circumcision as the specific sign of the Abrahamic covenant.
During the Brit a prayer is said which shows the importance of the
ceremony in a child’s relationship with God:
‘That as this child has entered into the covenant, so may he enter into
the Torah, the marriage canopy and into good deeds.’
dentity is reinforced through the ceremony. During the Brit the
boy is given his Hebrew name. This is the one that will be
used in the synagogue and on formal occasions. The ceremony
does not make the child a Jew, but it is a symbol that the baby has
entered into the covenant. The importance of this is shown by the

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 fact that adult males who are wishing to convert to Judaism must
have a circumcision in Orthodox Judaism.
While the Reform movement does not require that converts
to Judaism become circumcised, it is increasingly recognised and
practised as an important aspect of becoming a full member of the
Jewish people.

oday brit milah is a traditional ritual which is celebrated by

most Jewish families. Traditionally, only men attend the
ceremony. Liberal and Reform communities encourage all to
be present regardless of gender, but this is an individual’s choice.
Within the Reform movement the circumcision can be carried out
by a mohelet (a female circumciser).
Within and outside the Jewish community there are some people
who object to the brit milah ceremony as they believe the child is
unable to give consent and therefore it goes against human rights.
In Britain an organisation has been formed (Milah UK) to explain
the reasons and practices of Jewish circumcision. The organisation
represents all members of the Jewish community. They argue that
parents make many decisions about their children, such as if they
should have vaccinations or have their ears pierced.

Tasks
1 What is the Abrahamic covenant?
2 In your own words explain three important features of brit milah.
3 Explain the connection between identity and brit milah.

▶ Bar mitzvah
What is a bar mitzvah?
At the age of 13 a boy becomes bar mitzvah – he enters into
Jewish adulthood. From this time on he will be able to form
part of the minyan (the minimum group of ten needed for
certain prayers). According to Jewish law, at the age of 13 a boy
is considered responsible to fulfi l the mitzvot in the Torah. The
term ‘bar mitzvah’ means ‘son of the mitzvah’. At this age it is
believed that a young male can enter into a covenant relationship
with God.
In the years before his bar mitzvah ceremony a boy learns
6 Judaism: Practices

Hebrew so he can read a portion from the Torah in the synagogue.

A rabbi teaches him about religious duties and the importance of
prayer.

How is a bar mitzvah celebrated?

The bar mitzvah ceremony varies between communities.
Traditionally the Jewish custom has been to mark this important
event with a synagogue ceremony on the Shabbat after the 13th
birthday. This includes the boy being called up to the bimah to
recite a blessing on the Torah and reading a part of the Torah

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 in Hebrew. Friends and relatives watch in the

Rituals
synagogue. After the boy has read his passage
from the Torah his father recites a statement in
which he thanks God.
Although young boys are trained to keep all
the mitzvot even before their bar mitzvah, tefi llin
are the exception. A boy does not put on tefi llin
until he approaches the age of 13.

Bat mitzvah and bat chayil

Traditionally girls did not have such large
ceremonies as bar mitzvahs because they do
not have the same religious duties to fulfi l.
Orthodox Jewish girls have a ceremony called
a bat chayil (daughter of worth) when they
are 12. Usually this includes a special service
in the synagogue followed by the girl giving
a presentation of some of the things she has
learnt in her study of Judaism.
Reform Jewish girls become bat mitzvah at
the age of 12 and can also form part of a minyan
(the minimum group of ten needed for certain
prayers). There are different customs among
Reform synagogues but often there is a ceremony
at her synagogue during the Shabbat morning
service. She may lead prayers and read from the
Torah scroll. The bat mitzvah demonstrates that
she is taking on these additional privileges and
A boy putting on tefillin after his bar mitzvah responsibilities.

▶ Bar and bat mitzvahs today

For most Jews bar mitzvahs remain an important celebration
and occasion. For some families these include parties after the
ceremony in the synagogue for family and friends to enjoy. What
remains most important is the beginning of a deeper relationship
with Judaism and an increased involvement in the Jewish
community. Many boys and girls show this responsibility by
focusing on charity events as a way of celebration.

Jonah Jayson, Toby Onona, James Levy, Joseph Henley, Jonah Lazarus
and Elijah Djanogly wanted to help other people as part of their bar mitzvah
celebrations. They decided to complete a sponsored challenge of climbing
Mount Snowdon. As a part of the climb they walked 18 kilometres and
experienced temperatures of –6°C (wind chill factor) with wind speeds
of 45 mph. Jonah Jayson said ‘This may feel tough for us climbing Mount
Snowdon but just think how tough it is for the lonely, elderly people and the
homeless teenagers who are the same age as us. It makes me very grateful
for what I have.’

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 Although most boys and girls have their bar and bat mitzvah
ceremonies at 13 there are some people who were unable to
celebrate their special event. The ceremony is considered such an
important event that it is never too late to celebrate.

When I was 13 I was in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

There was no one I could talk to about my bar mitzvah. I
survived alone in the world, and I am excited by my bar
mitzvah because I couldn’t celebrate in real time, and I
didn’t have parents anymore to consider a celebration.

Holocaust survivors celebrating becoming

bar mitzvah

I grew up thinking my mother was Christian. It wasn’t

until I was 21 that I found out she was Jewish.

When I was 13 my synagogue didn’t have any bat

mitzvah celebrations. Although I am 80 now I wanted a
special ceremony to show my relationship with God.

People can become bar or bat mitzvah at Tasks

any time of their life
1 In your own words explain what you think being a ‘son of the
mitzvah’ means.
2 There are many different considerations families make regarding
celebrations. Read the letter below from a father to a rabbi about his
son’s bar mitzvah.

Dear Rabbi
My son is having his bar mitzvah ceremony at the Reform
synagogue. We want to invite a relative who is an Orthodox Jew. Will
they be able to attend?

Sam

In the rabbi’s response below he mentions some things to consider but

doesn’t give any details. For each of the areas explain what the father
might need to consider.

Dear Sam
6 Judaism: Practices

Yes, definitely invite them! But you must keep in mind some of the
differences between Reform and Orthodox practices.
You need to think about:
▶ Seating in the synagogue
▶ Food at the bar mitzvah celebration.
The best way forward is to explain to your relative what will be
happening and then let them decide.

Rabbi

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 ▶ Marriage

Rituals
Marriage is seen as an important religious and spiritual ceremony
in Judaism. It allows procreation, fulfi lling the duty to ‘be fruitful
and multiply’ and the bonding referred to in the Torah.
‘A man shall therefore leave his father and mother and be united with
his wife, and they shall become one flesh.’
Genesis 2:24
Marriage is considered as God-given, which can be seen by the
word kiddushin (holy or sanctified) which is used for the betrothal
ceremony and the first part of the ceremony. The second part of
the ceremony is called nisuin which finalises the marriage. There are
many different features in each wedding ceremony.

K etubah – This is the marriage contract made between bride

and groom. It is a legal document in which traditionally the
husband promises to support his wife. Traditionally these were
‘When two souls destined to be written in Aramaic but they are written in many languages today. The
together find each other, their ketubah remains the property of the wife throughout the marriage.
streams of light flow together,
and a single brighter light goes I ntentions – Entering into marriage both partners must have
the right intentions. It is considered a meeting of soul mates
and a spiritual experience in which respect and faithfulness to
forth from their united being.’
each other are expected.
Baal Shem Tov, founder of the
Hasidic movement, 1700–1760
D own the aisle – Although a wedding can happen in a
synagogue, home or other suitable place, the bride will usually
walk down the aisle and join the groom and bridesmaids under the
chuppah where the rabbi conducts the main parts of the ceremony.

D eclaration in front of witnesses as a ring is placed on the bride’s

finger. The groom will declare ‘Behold you are consecrated to
me by means of this ring according to the rituals of Moses and Israel’.
He also reads out the promises made in the ketubah. In the Sephardic
community this is read to the groom before the ceremony begins.

U nder the chuppah – The main part of the ceremony takes

place under the chuppah. This is a shelter with four sides
open and symbolises the Jewish home. Across the chuppah there
will often be a blessing written in Hebrew. Two blessings are said in
the kiddushin – one for the wine and the second for the
commitment that the bride and groom are making to each other.

S tamping of glass. At the end of the ceremony a glass is

stamped on by the groom. Many reasons are given for this
custom such as a reminder that marriage is fragile (like glass) or a
‘‘Any man who has no wife lives reminder of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.
without joy, without blessing,
and without goodness.’ H appiness in Judaism is considered an important value,
especially in the context of the service of God. Marriage is
seen as a blessing and a joyous occasion. It is referred to as a
Talmud, Tractate Yevamoth, 62a
simcha, meaning a joyous celebration.
‘Be thou consecrated unto me
with this ring according to the
I ndex finger. The ring is placed on the bride’s index or
forefinger on her right hand. It’s believed that that is the finger
connected to the heart. The round ring is a symbol of eternity.
Law of Moses and Israel.’
N isuin is the second part of the ceremony in which seven further
blessings are said to finalise the marriage. These blessings praise
God for creating the human race and bringing happiness to the couple.

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 In twenty-first-century Britain there are many different types
of marriage services for Jews but most will try to include the
main features.

A Jewish wedding ceremony in the UK

Differences might occur because Jews are Orthodox or Reform or

Ashkenazi or Sephardic. There are also differences if it is a same-sex
wedding, as allowed in some synagogues.

Sephardic weddings will often include a henna ceremony A same-sex wedding of Reform Jews
6 Judaism: Practices

Tasks
1 What is a chuppah?
2 Explain, in your own words, the importance of a ketubah.
3 Explain why you think weddings are called simchas (joyous occasions).
Refer to sacred texts in your answer.

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 ▶ Mourning rituals

Rituals
There is a pattern of rituals that takes place when someone has
died in the Jewish community. How far the pattern is followed
depends on the individual and the branch of Judaism they practise.

At death
If possible, a person’s last moments should be spent reciting the Shema.

Chevra Kadisha
The burial society (Chevra Kadisha) attached to the synagogue
prepare the body for burial. This includes washing the body and
putting the body in plain white gowns. Great care is taken by these
volunteers as it is believed the body is the earthly container for the
soul and so should be treated with dignity.

After death
The funeral is arranged by the onan (main mourner). The onan will
take charge of the burial. They are exempt from all mitzvot apart
from preparing for the burial. A dead person should not be left
alone and someone will stay with the body until the burial. This is
an act of respect for the body created in God’s image as the earthly
vessel for the soul.

Burial
For most Jews the body will be buried rather
than cremated and this should be done as
quickly as possible.
The funeral is simple, and psalms are often
read. The funeral should be kept as plain as
possible and the coffin should be an unpolished
box with no brass handles to show that rich and
poor are alike in death. Once the grave is fi lled
the mourners pray and the Kaddish are recited
with a memorial prayer as the service concludes.
Sephardic Jews will often walk around the coffin
seven times and recite prayers for the angel of
mercy to accompany the coffin.
After the burial the main mourner is no longer
an onan but continues to follow a pattern of
mourning.

Shiva
There are set rituals after the funeral, which
represents the fact that life cannot immediately
carry on as before after a loved one has died. The
first week is known as shiva (meaning seven).
During this time most mourners will stay in their
homes and be visited by relatives and members of
the synagogue. Male mourners will recite Kaddish,
which is a prayer declaring God’s greatness and a
A Jewish grave prayer for the coming age of peace.
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 Some mourners sit on low stools during the shiva, except on
Shabbat when no mourning should take place. Mirrors are often
covered and music is not played in the house.
Tasks A candle is kept burning day and night to represent the person’s soul:
1 Explain the meaning of ‘A person’s soul is the candle of the Lord.’
each of the following: Proverbs 20:27
• onan Once the shiva ends there are many other rituals to remember the
• Kaddish dead.
2 Read the teachings about the For the first four weeks of mourning (the shloshim) parties and
afterlife on pages 224–225. the cutting of hair are avoided and throughout the year after the
In the poem by Rabbi Allen death Kaddish prayers are said.
S. Maller, what does he say
is the most important way Tombstone and consecration
to remember someone who Before the end of the first year after the death the tombstone is
has died? erected. This ceremony is called the unveiling and the Kaddish
3 How does the poem reflect is recited. It is seen as important to visit the grave and to leave
the teachings of Judaism stones, not flowers, as a mark of respect. Some believe this custom
about the importance of life? originated because Abraham used a pebble to mark the spot where
his wife Sarah was buried.
A yahrzeit ceremony is held each year to mark the death. Prayers are
said and a candle burns for 24 hours to symbolise the departed soul.

Summary ‘When All That’s Left Is Love’ by Rabbi Allen S. Maller

• Male children are traditionally When I die
named in a ceremony called
If you need to weep
brit milah. The ceremony takes
place at eight days old and in it Cry for someone
the child is circumcised, which Walking the street beside you.
is a sign of the covenant God You can love me most by letting
made with Abraham. Hands touch hands, and souls touch souls.
• A bar mitzvah is a ceremony
that takes place when a boy You can love me most by
reaches the age of 13 and Sharing your Simchas [ joys] and
enters into Jewish adulthood. Multiplying your Mitzvot [good deeds]
• In Reform Judaism girls can You can love me most by
also become bat mitzvah but in
Orthodox Judaism they have a Letting me live in your eyes
separate ceremony at the age And not on your mind.
of 12, called a bat chayil. And when you say Kaddish for me
• Marriage is considered God- Remember what our
6 Judaism: Practices

given in Judaism and there are

Torah teaches,
two parts to the ceremony – the
kiddushin and the nisuin. Love doesn’t die, people do.
• There is a pattern of rituals that So when all that’s left of me is love
take place when someone dies. Give me away.

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 ■ Daily life

Daily life
For many Jews their religion is a way of life and reflects the
Core learning teachings of the Torah. In Chapter 5 we learnt about the giving of
the Torah and the importance of it for Jews today.
By the end of this area of study For centuries Jews have copied the Torah onto parchment scrolls,
you will know and understand: studied it and meditated on it. It influences their home, their values
• how the Tenakh and the Talmud and the way they worship. The teachings of the Torah are central
influence daily life for Jewish to all. Although most Jews would not have a Sefer Torah at home
people they would often have a Chumash. This is a copy of the Torah that
• the importance of dietary rules shows the passage that should be read each day.
for Jewish people The Tenakh is made up of the Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim.
• why Jewish people keep kosher Although the Neviim and Ketuvim are not seen as having the
in Britain and what are the same authority as the Torah they are still very important for
challenges they face. Jewish daily life.
▶ Neviim (books of the prophets) – The Neviim are written as a
Tasks history with a main purpose to teach about the history of the
religion. They show the covenant relationship, which is shown in
Answer the questions below. the Shema.
If you need help then reread ▶ Ketuvim (holy writings) – The purpose is to record how the
pages 44, 210, 215. Jews behaved towards God and how that has affected their own
1 What is the Torah? history. It includes the Psalms, which is a collection of praises
2 What is the Oral Torah? to God.
3 What is the Tenakh? Jews read and reflect upon the meaning of these stories
4 What is the connection for their own lives. Some of them are also used in personal and
between the Torah and the communal worship, such as Psalm 121 or 130 which is often said
613 mitzvot? before praying for someone who is ill. Extracts from the Neviim are
5 What are the differences in read in the synagogue at the end of the Torah readings.
attitudes to the Torah and the The Talmud is a combination of the Mishnah and Gemara.
Oral Torah between Reform
and Orthodox Jews? ▶ Mishnah – For hundreds of years the leaders of Judaism handed
down the Oral Torah by word of mouth. By about 200CE Jews
were moving around the Roman Empire, often because of
persecution. People feared that as Jews became dispersed they
would forget the oral traditions. Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi wrote
down the oral traditions so that Jews did not grow apart but
had a central text to follow for their daily life. The Mishnah also
contains the Halakhah (teachings on issues of Law) and the
Haggadah (guidance on teaching).
▶ Gemara – This is the commentary on the Mishnah, giving further
details on many issues of law and worship.
Extracts from the Talmud are used in public and private worship
and also in the siddur. When extracts from the Torah are unclear
then explanations will be given from the Talmud.
Today there are many colleges throughout the world where Jews
continue to study the Torah and Talmud. These are called yeshiva.
Historically, they were attended only by males. Today, all non-
The Yeshiva in Gateshead Orthodox and a few Orthodox yeshivas are open to females.

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 ▶ Dietary laws and keeping kosher in Britain
Kosher means something that is fitting or proper according to
Key Concept Jewish law. Although it can be used to describe certain actions it is
more often used to describe foods that can and cannot be eaten by
Kosher Means ‘fit’ or ‘proper’. observant Jews. The opposite of kosher is treifah, which is used to
Foods that are permitted to be describe actions and food that are forbidden.
eaten according to Leviticus The laws concerning kosher food date back to the Torah.
Chapter 11. It is also used to There are many references about not only what can and cannot
refer to the purity of ritual be eaten but also the way foods should be prepared. According to
objects such as Torah scrolls. Genesis 1:29 the first humans were vegetarians. It was only after
the flood that God allowed Noah and his family to eat meat.
Leviticus 11:1–23 refers to many issues of keeping kosher that
influence the lifestyle of many Jews today. In this passage God gives
to Moses instructions regarding what the Israelites can and cannot
eat. Forbidden are
▶ many types of birds
▶ shellfish
▶ fish without fins and scales
▶ animals that don’t chew the cud or have hooves completely parted.
Animals that are allowed to be eaten are only considered kosher if
they are killed in a certain way. Causing pain to any living creature
is strictly forbidden in Jewish law and so a method is used called
shechitah, which is supposed to cause less pain to animals. The
animal’s throat is cut with a razor-sharp knife, causing immediate
loss of consciousness and death. The slaughter of animals for
meat is carried out by a person called a shochet. The role of a
shochet is very important and a shochet must live a good ethical
life. They must be Jewish as they are killing the animal as a form of
dedication to God. The Torah commands Jews not to eat the blood
of animals and birds so meat is then laid out to let the blood drain
away before rinsing.
Keeping a kosher diet doesn’t just mean selecting the right
animals to be eaten and preparing them in a fit way. There are certain
combinations that are forbidden. Exodus 23:19 states:
‘Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord
Tasks your God. Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.’
1 What does ‘kosher’ mean? For Jews who keep kosher homes this means that meat and dairy
2 Kieran has been asked products must be kept separately as they should not be eaten in
to consider the following the same meal. Although meat and milk dishes should be kept
statement: ‘Keeping kosher is separately there are foods that can be eaten in any meal. These are
6 Judaism: Practices

not important anymore.’ called parev and include vegetables, eggs and plants.
From Sara and Tanya’s There are many different decisions that families have to make
discussion, identify six regarding how far to keep kosher. Both religious and practical
different points he could considerations can impact upon their practice.
make in his answer. Sara is from an observant Orthodox Jewish family. She has
invited Tanya, her non-Jewish friend, to a kosher restaurant.

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 Daily life
Here’s the menu – don’t look so worried.

But how will I know what to eat. I know

there are many things you can’t eat
and I don’t want to offend you.

Sara Tanya
This is a kosher restaurant. Did you see the certificate on the
shop window that shows that it has been inspected and all What do you mean ‘fit and
the preparations of the food are fit and proper? proper’? Do you mean they
are clean?
Well yes. But it’s more than that. This is a ‘meaty’ restaurant
so there will be no dishes here with milk and all the meat will
have been killed according to certain rules. Is that why I don’t see
cheeseburger on the menu?
Exactly. At home we have a set of plates for our meaty dishes
and a set for our milky dishes. They are all kept in separate
areas of the kitchen. But that must be really
expensive.
It is. To buy kosher food can be really expensive. Especially
where there are no Jewish shops. I know some people who have
had to give up keeping kosher because they can’t afford it.
What happens to them?
What do you mean? Do you think they would be struck down
by thunder and lightning! Well, each individual has to
make their choice and then live by it. I consider it a blessing But those rules come from
to keep a kosher lifestyle. It helps my relationship with God. ages ago. They can’t be
He gave us the duties we should follow. relevant to today.

That’s what some of my Jewish friends say as they are eating

their bacon sandwich! It has to be an individual choice as our
relationship with God is individual. For me I keep kosher and But how do you know
hope I always will. It binds us together as a family. I also what to eat? Here it’s easy
think that God made those rules for all time and I shouldn’t as all the menu is kosher
change them just because it is difficult. but what about if you are
somewhere else?
It’s natural to me now. It’s just like people who have gluten free
diets know what they can and can’t eat. I look at the food labels
and there will be signs that tell me if it is kosher or treifah. Also All this talk of food is
technology helps. My friend has a device, which lets them know making me hungry – let’s
what they can eat. It’s really useful when she is travelling. order.

Summary
• For many Jews the teachings in the Torah and the • Animals are only considered kosher if they are killed in
Tenakh influence their homes, their values and the a certain way.
way they worship. • To be kosher, food must also be prepared in the correct
• Kosher means fitting or proper, according to Jewish way, for example meat and dairy must be kept separate.
law, and is used to refer to food that can be eaten by • Kosher food can be quite hard to find in Britain and quite
observant Jews. Treifah is food which is forbidden. expensive.
• Laws concerning kosher food are found in the Torah.
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 ■ Festivals
In the Jewish calendar there are many festivals.
Core learning Although they may be celebrated differently by Jewish
By the end of this area of study you will know communities they all share two features.
and understand the meaning of the following ▶ They remember a great event in Jewish history.
festivals to Jews in Britain and also how they ▶ They provide an opportunity to build a relationship
are celebrated differently in different traditions: with God and to stop thinking about day-to-day life.
• Rosh Hashanah Festivals are often called ‘moed’ in Hebrew. Moed
• Yom Kippur means ‘date’. So, for many Jews, a festival is a time to
• Pesach have ‘a date with God’.
• Sukkot.

I often go to Sephardic There are many different My daughter is vegetarian

celebration festivals. There ways Jews celebrate festivals so we don’t have a lamb’s
will be different foods and in Britain. This may depend bone on our seder plate.
music which remind me how upon:
Judaism is a global religion.
▶ how observant they are
This year the London
▶ whether they are
Marathon was run on the
Ashkenazi or Sephardic second day of Pesach. My two
Since my husband died I go ▶ family traditions daughters were due to run.
to a hotel in Bournemouth to ▶ personal circumstances One decided not to run but
celebrate Pesach. Although ▶ impact of religious beliefs. observe Pesach. The other
I don’t know other people decided to run and raise
it reminds me we are one money for charity. They were
Jewish Community. tough decisions.

▶ Rosh Hashanah (New Year)

Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and ten days later Yom Kippur (Day of
Atonement) are known as the Days of Awe. For many Jews the two
days are connected in a process of judgement and atonement. Many
Jews believe that on Rosh Hashanah God judges
all people for their deeds for the past year and
that on this day these decisions are written down
by God. On Yom Kippur that book is then sealed.

Origins and meaning

Traditionally Rosh Hashanah is the celebration
of the day when God created the world and
marks the New Year. Rosh means the ‘head’
6 Judaism: Practices

or beginning. In Jewish tradition the head

reflects not just the start of the year but its
future direction. It is also called the Day of
Remembering when Jews think about God and
the creation of the world. Sometimes it is called
Front and inside of a Rosh Hashanah card the Day of Judgement as it prepares people to
think about their deeds over the last year.
Rosh Hashanah is a happy and serious festival. It is a happy time
when the new year is celebrated with many family celebrations. It is
also a serious time when Jews consider their actions over the past
year and how they could have done better.
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 Celebration

Festivals
The eve of Rosh Hashanah is the last day of the old year and special
services are held at the synagogue. The shofar will not be blown.
Special fruits such as pomegranates are bought. The evening
prayers address God as a king sitting in judgement over the world.
As people leave the synagogue they will wish each other: ‘May you
be written down for a good year’.
At home, kiddush is made and slices of apple dipped in honey
are eaten. The challah (plaited bread loaf) is a different shape from
that eaten at Shabbat. At Rosh Hashanah the challah is round as a
reminder of the cycle of the year. At the morning service the shofar
is blown 100 times with notes sounding like crying. This is meant to
represent the crying of the soul asking to be reunited with God.
Later after the service many Jews will recite a special prayer at a
running stream or river. This is called tashlikh (‘casting away’), when
crumbs from pockets are thrown, with the hope that sins are cast away
(into the water) and that God will overlook them and allow New Year.

▶ Ten days of returning

Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the ‘ten days of returning’.
During this time Jews consider their deeds over the past year. They try
to make amends and plan ways to do better in the next year. Judaism
teaches that God does not forgive a wrong done to another person
unless that person has already been asked for forgiveness.

▶ Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

Origins and meaning
This is the holiest day of the year when many people will attend the
synagogue. It is the end of the ten days of repentance and is a day
of forgiveness.
It is a day of self-denial in five areas; food, wearing of perfumes,
drink, sex and wearing of leather shoes.

Celebration
The day before Yom Kippur is a time of preparation. Some Jews
traditionally take chickens to the poor or give money to charities to
help the poor. Some Jews will visit the mikveh (pool of natural water)
for a spiritual cleaning. Yom Kippur begins in the home. An early
dinner is eaten to allow arrival at the synagogue before sundown.
After the meal, the table is often covered with Jewish books to show
Yom Kippur is celebrated not by eating but by fasting and prayer.
Yom Kippur is a 25-hour fast during which many Jews take no
food or water. Because of the importance of life in Judaism (see
Pikuach Nefesh, page 219) people who are ill and too young do not
have to fast. Although it is a very solemn day, many Jews look forward
to the day as it gives them a chance to atone for their wrongdoings.
There are five prayer services throughout Yom Kippur. At the
heart of each is the confessional prayer made to God.
Before the service in the synagogue begins the Kol Nidrei (All
Vows) is sung. The story of Jonah is told in the afternoon service of
A festive card for Yom Kippur Yom Kippur. The story is particularly relevant as it teaches of God’s
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 willingness to forgive those who fully repent. Rabbis and cantors will
Cantor Leader of reading and
often be dressed in kittels (white robes) and the Torah scrolls will be
singing in the services of some
dressed in white as white symbolises forgiveness. During the prayers
synagogues.
Jews will confess their sins and ask for forgiveness. Throughout the
service the doors of the ark are open to symbolise that the gates
Tasks of heaven are open. Confessions can only be made to God not to a
person. They are always said quietly so no one can hear them.
1 Explain in your
our own words An important part of Yom Kippur is the Yizkor (memorial
the connection between Rosh service) when family and friends who have died are remembered
Hashanah and Yom Kippur. and charity is given in their honour. There are five prayers during
2 Look at the greeting card for the day, ending with the Neilah (the closing of the gates). The
Rosh Hashanah on page 254. service is ended by reciting the Shema.
Identify and explain the meaning After nightfall a single blast of the shofar announces the fast
of the symbols on the card. is over. Back at home, families make havdalah (see Shabbat,
3 Why do you think Yom Kippur page 234) and break their fasts. It is a custom that during the
is such an important day in evening children will start building their sukkah (booth or hut)
the Jewish year? ready for the festival of Sukkot.

▶ Sukkot
Origins
Sukkot begins on Tishri 15, the fifth day after Yom Kippur (the Day
of Atonement). It is an important festival and is counted as one of the
mitzvot that Jews should keep. It is a harvest festival to thank God.
It commemorates the 40-year period during which the children
of Israel were in the desert, living in temporary shelters:
‘During [these] seven days you must live in thatched huts. Everyone
included in Israel must live in such thatched huts.’
Leviticus 23:42

Meaning
Sukkot celebrates the Israelites’ journey through the desert on their
way to the Promised Land. The sukkah represents the temporary
shelter that many Jews used in the desert. As a makeshift booth it
represents humans’ vulnerability before God.
In Leviticus reference is also made to two special objects
associated with Sukkot:
▶ the lulav (palm, myrtle and willow placed in a woven palm holder)
▶ the etrog (a citrus fruit).
Palm, myrtle, willow and etrog have come to be known as the four species:
6 Judaism: Practices

▶ the lulav represents the spine – your actions (long and straight)
▶ the myrtle represents the eye – how you see life (small and oval)
For an etrog to be considered kosher it ▶ the willow represents the mouth – your speech (long and oval)
must have a hard piece of the skin at the ▶ the etrog represents the heart – your emotions.
end of the fruit
There are many different interpretations of the meaning of the four
species. One version says they represent parts of the body.
‘On the first day, you must take for yourself a fruit of the citron tree,
an unopened palm frond, myrtle branches, and willows [that grow near]
the brook. You shall rejoice before God for seven days.’
Leviticus 23:40
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 All of these parts have the potential to sin, but should join together

Festivals
to perform the mitzvot (commandments).
The second version says the four species represent different types
of Jews:
▶ The etrog represents Jews who have knowledge of the Torah and
perform mitzvot (it has a pleasing taste and smell).
▶ The palm represents Jews who have knowledge of the Torah but
lack in mitzvot (it produces tasty fruit but has no smell).
▶ The myrtle represents Jews who perform mitzvot but have little
knowledge of the Torah (it has a strong smell but no taste).
▶ The willow represents Jews who have no knowledge of the Torah
and do not perform mitzvot (it has no taste or smell).
Bringing the four species together is a reminder that all kinds of
Jews are important and should all be united.

Celebration
Sukkot lasts for seven days and no work is permitted on the first
and second day of the holiday.
During the festival, Jewish families build a sukkah, a temporary
shelter such as those lived in by their ancestors during the 40 years in
the desert. The roof of a sukkah is called a sekhakh and must be made
of something that has grown in the ground (for example, bamboo).
The sukkah must have three walls and the roof must be sparse enough
that the rain can get through and that stars can be seen through it.
Jewish families might live in the sukkah
for the eight days of the festival, have
meals in it or sleep in the house. The
commandment to ‘dwell’ in the sukkah
can be fulfi lled by simply eating meals in
it (especially in colder countries) but if the
climate permits, as much time as possible
is spent in the sukkah, including sleeping
in it. Many families decorate their sukkah
with children’s drawings, prayers and
explanations of the festival. It is common to
have a table and chairs and refreshments for
those who visit the sukkah.
On each morning of Sukkot, except
Shabbat, people put the lulav in their right
A sukkah is a temporary shelter built by Jewish families during Sukkot to
hand and say a blessing to God. The lulav
remember those their ancestors lived in while in the desert
and etrog are waved in six directions: front
(towards Jerusalem), right, back, left, up and down. This indicates that
God’s power is everywhere.
Many synagogues have a sukkah.

Task
In the previous chapter we learnt about the importance of Moses.
Test yourself with these questions:
1 Why is Moses important in Judaism?
2 How did he lead the Israelites out of Egypt?

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 ▶ Pesach
Origins and meaning
Pesach celebrates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt, led
by Moses. Jewish tradition teaches that the festival is known as Pesach
(Passover) as God passed over the houses of the Israelites during the
tenth and final plague – death of the Egyptian firstborn.
God commanded that the Israelites should celebrate this festival
each year as a mark of freedom.
‘This day must be one that you will remember. You must keep it as a
festival to God for all generations. It is a law for all time that you must
celebrate it.’
Exodus 12:14
The festival is often called the Festival of Freedom. Each year
prayers are said for those who aren’t free.

Preparation and celebrations

Leavened Made light by aerating, Many Jews remove all chametz (grain products that are swollen or
as with yeast or baking powder. capable of swelling) from their house, and during the festival no
chametz are eaten. As leavened goods, such as bread cooked with
wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt, and items made from yeast, such
as beer, are banned during the holiday, the weeks leading up to
Pesach are spent cleaning to get rid of even the tiniest forbidden
crumb. There are different reasons given for this custom. Some
Jews believe that chametz is a source of pride as it swells when it
has water on it. For other Jews they believe having no chametz is
important as when the Israelites left Egypt they didn’t have the
time to let the bread rise. The house is searched for chametz and
any found is eaten or burnt before Pesach begins. Crockery that has
been used for chametz will often be replaced by different crockery.
Pesach is welcomed into the house with the lighting of candles.
Families often go to the synagogue and on their return there is a
special meal. The seder meal is a central part of the festival and is
eaten on the first and second nights of the festival. All the readings
and instructions for the seder are in a book called the Haggadah
(a book containing the service used at Pesach).
The meal begins with questions from the youngest child, asking
about the Pesach rituals. The origins and symbolism are then
explained.
A festive card for Pesach
On the table there are many symbolic foods served on a special
dish. These include:
6 Judaism: Practices

▶ a lamb bone – a symbol of sacrifice. On the first Passover, God ordered

Jews to kill a lamb and mark their front doorposts with blood
▶ a roasted egg – a symbol of the new life Jews had after their
escape from Egypt and of new life in general
▶ a green vegetable to dip in salt water – to remember the tears
when the Jews were in captivity
▶ bitter herbs made from horseradish – reflecting the bitterness of
slavery
Leavened goods are banned during Passover ▶ a paste made of chopped apples, walnuts and wine called
so Jews eat matzah, which is unleavened charoset – representing the mortar the Jewish slaves had to use
flatbread when building.
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 One of the main foods eaten over Pesach is unleavened bread

Festivals
called matzah. It is said that when the pharaoh finally freed the
slaves, the Israelites were made to leave so quickly that they did not
have time to let their bread rise, and took flat bread instead.
At the start of the dinner, three matzot are laid on top of each other,
the middle matzah is broken and the largest piece is hidden. The
children then hunt to find the bread, and the winner receives a prize.
The meal is accompanied by four small glasses of wine
symbolising joy, happiness and the freedom of the Israelites. One
glass is left by an open door to welcome the prophet Elijah, who
Jewish people believe will return at the end of Passover to announce
the coming of the Messiah.

Tasks
1 Explain why Passover is called the Festival of Freedom.
2 Each year the seder meal remembers people who aren’t free. Which
people would you select this year and why?

Summary
• Rosh Hashanah (New Year) is when many Jews believe God judges them
for their actions of the past year. It is celebrated in the synagogue and in
the home.
• Ten days after Rosh Hashanah is Yom Kippur and these ten days are
the ‘ten days of returning’ when Jews think about their actions, make
amends and plans to do better in the future. Yom Kippur is celebrated
by helping the poor, fasting for 25 hours, attending prayer services,
remembering the dead and having a meal in the home.
• Sukkot is five days after Yom Kippur and lasts for seven days. Families
build a hut (sukkah) representing the shelters Jews built during their
40 years in the desert. The family may stay in the hut. The four species
(palm, myrtle, willow and etrog) have special significance.
• Pesach celebrates Moses freeing the Jews from slavery in Egypt.
Leavened goods are banned. Jews celebrate in a synagogue service and
in a special meal in the home.

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 ▶ End of section review

Knowledge check
1 What does the term ‘Shabbat’ mean?
2 Write a short paragraph (roughly three sentences) to explain what is
meant by ‘brit milah.’
3 In your own words, explain what is meant by ‘keeping kosher’.

Stickability
Key concepts:
The big question
• Kosher ‘Festivals in Judaism are just a time for friends and relatives to celebrate
• Shabbat together.’
• Synagogue
Key teachings about: Your task
• worship • How do you think someone who is Jewish might respond to this statement?
• the synagogue • Write a minimum of two developed paragraphs.
• rituals • You must include references to two Jewish festivals.
• daily life
• festivals

Skills link
1 What are ‘mitzvot’?
2 Describe how Jewish women might worship differently to men.

Task
You need to explain in detail religious teachings about the synagogue. Use the guidance below to help you
to write a developed explanation for Judaism. Ensure that you use key terms fluently and frequently.
All/many/most Jews believe that ....................... .This comes from the teaching/Torah quote ....................... .
This means that/Because of this they ....................... .
Some/other Jews such as ........................ believe that ....................... . This comes from the teaching/Torah quote
....................... .
This means that/Because of this they ....................... .
Finally, Jews such as ....................... . believe that ........................ This means that/Because of this they ....................... .
Their beliefs do/do not differ because ....................... .
6 Judaism: Practices

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 ▶ Exam focus

E xam focus
Judaism: Practices
(c) questions
These questions expect you to ‘explain’ a key practice, belief or issue
in the religions you have studied. There is a maximum of eight marks
for this type of question. To gain full marks you should be able to
show detailed knowledge which shows the impact on individuals
and communities. You need to use appropriate religious terms and
relevant sources of wisdom or sacred texts. Look at the question
below:
(c) Explain why Shabbat is important in Judaism. (8)
The question is asking you to explain the importance of Shabbat.
It is important that you don’t just give a description of what
Shabbat is. Eight marks are available, so it is important that your
answer is detailed, using religious language/texts and referring to
different beliefs or practices within Judaism and the impact that
Shabbat might have on the individual or community.
Draft an answer that focuses on the importance of Shabbat.
Remember to show there are different beliefs and practices among
Orthodox and Reform Jews.

(d) questions
These are very important questions as they are worth 15 marks.
The questions require you to:
▶ read and understand a statement
▶ discuss this statement showing that you have considered more
than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in
your answer.)
You are expected to apply your knowledge and understanding from
the whole of your study to the question.
Take, for example, the following question:
‘You have to go to the synagogue to be a Jew.’
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more
than one point of view. (15)
(You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
The evidence could come from any relevant part of your study.
For example, you might refer to your study about the home and
argue that many festivals are celebrated in the home.
Look at the following four areas. For each consider how this
might be used as evidence in your answer:
▶ Shabbat service
▶ minyans
▶ worship in the home
▶ synagogue as a place of worship, learning and social events.

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 Glossary
Absolution Forgiveness of sins. Evangelisation Literally means spreading the ‘Good News’
Absolutism The belief that there are certain actions which are which can be translated as ‘Gospel’. The sharing of the
always right or always wrong. The belief that moral laws exist Gospel and life of Jesus with others.
eternally and are not just human inventions. Evil The absence of good and the impulse to seek our own
Adoration Greatly loving and worshipping. desires at the expense of the good of others, which often
Anoint To rub with oil. results in suffering.
Anti-Semitic Hostile or prejudiced towards Jews. Evolution The process of mutation and natural selection
Apse An area with curved walls and a domed roof at the end of which leads to changes in species over time to suit particular
a church. environments.
Artefacts Objects made by humans. Fasting Not drinking or eating for a period of time.
Atheism Believing there is no God. Forgiveness The act of pardoning someone for the offences
Authority Having the power to make decisions and be in they have caused you. Overlooking a person’s faults.
charge of something. Four evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; the authors
Bal tashchit Referred to in the Torah. Literally, it means ‘do of the four Gospels of the New Testament that tell us about
not destroy’. Jesus’ life.
Blessed Sacrament The name given to the bread and wine after Free will The decision making part of a person’s mind is called
they have been blessed (consecrated) by the priest during the will. A will is free if the person is able to choose right
Mass. Catholics believe that after the consecration the bread from wrong without being controlled by other forces.
and wine become the body and blood of Christ: the real Fundamentalists Christians who believe the Bible is a factual,
presence of Jesus in the form of bread and wine. historical record of events.
Book of the Gospels A specially produced book that just G8 A forum that brings together eight global leaders to address
contains the Gospel readings used at Mass. international issues and challenges. It comprises Canada,
Canon of Scripture The list of texts that make up the Bible in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the USA.
the Catholic tradition. Gemilut hasadim Making ‘acts of loving kindness’. It
Cantor Leader of reading and singing in the services of some emphasises the need to be charitable, caring for others and
synagogues. for the world.
Catholic Mass The most important liturgy in the Catholic God’s grace God’s love and mercy.
Church. Good News The news that Jesus was God incarnate and by
Conception The point at which the sperm fertilises the egg. dying on the cross he paid the price for human sin and
Conscience Human reason making moral decisions. The meant that Christians could hope for eternal life with God
knowledge we have of what is right and wrong and the God- after death.
given compulsion within all human beings to do what is Goodness The quality of being like God; seeking the well-being
right and to avoid what is evil. of others selflessly.
Creation ex nihilo ‘Creation out of nothing’. Before God Haemorrhage Heavy bleeding.
created the universe, nothing existed. Only God can create Haftorah A passage from one of the books of the Neviim
out of nothing. (prophets) which is read after the Torah reading.
Creationists Christians who believe that the universe was Heaven Those who have accepted God’s grace and forgiveness
created by God exactly as told in the Bible, e.g. God took in this life will enjoy an eternal existence in God’s presence in
exactly six days to create it. Creationists are literalists. the next life. This face-to-face encounter with God is what is
Death The end of physical life. When the physical body ceases called ‘heaven’.
completely to function. Hell Those who, through the exercise of their own free will,
Destiny The events that will happen to someone. ultimately reject God’s grace and forgiveness, will have
Devotion Forms of prayer used by Catholics which are not chosen to live eternally outside of God’s presence. This total
part of liturgical worship. For example, the Rosary or lack of God for all eternity is what is called ‘hell’.
Stations of the Cross. Hillel A great rabbi and teacher who lived in the first century.
Dignity Being worthy of honour or respect. Holy Week The week leading up to Easter.
Divine Perfect or God-like. Homilies Talks on a religious matter (sermon).
Doctrine A belief or set of beliefs. Hospice A place where people with terminal illness can go for
Ectopic pregnancy When a fertilised egg implants outside the control of the symptoms and pain of a terminal illness. This
womb, often in the fallopian tube. maintains their dignity during their end-of-life care.
Encyclical A letter sent by the Pope to all Catholic bishops. Hosts The bread used in Mass (or the Eucharist). Catholics
Eternal life The term used to refer to life in heaven after death. believe that when it is blessed (consecrated) it is transformed
Also, the phrase Jesus uses to describe a state of living as God into the actual body of Christ.
intends, which leads to a life in heaven. Humanism A belief system based on rational and scientific
Eucharist Meaning ‘thanksgiving’. The name Catholics use to thought and the importance of humans rather than a
describe the rite where the bread and wine become the body supernatural God/s.
and blood of Jesus and are received by the people. Also the Imago Dei ‘In the image of God’. The belief that human beings
name for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Sacrament of Holy are uniquely a reflection of God’s personhood. Unlike the
Communion. other animals, human beings are rational, free and moral.
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 Immanent The belief that God is involved with creation by Monotheism Believing in one God.

Glossary
making himself known or understood by humans. Moral evil Evil that is the result of human actions.
Implantation The point at which the fertilised egg attaches to Mysteries The Rosary mysteries are reflections on periods of
the wall of the womb. Jesus’ birth, life and death that we cannot fully understand.
Incarnation Meaning ‘made flesh’. The Christian belief that Myth A story that isn’t true but has a deeper, hidden, symbolic
God became man in the person of Jesus, fully human and meaning.
fully divine. Natural evil Events that cause suffering but aren’t the result of
Inspiration ‘God breathed’. The belief that the Spirit of God human actions.
guides an individual to act or write what is good and true. Natural law The moral laws of right and wrong which are
Intercede To act on behalf of someone else. universal and not dependent on human laws. The belief in
Interpret To find an explanation of the meaning of the Bible. natural law is the belief that the moral law is discoverable by
Jesus’ Passion The events of the last period of Jesus’ life ending every human being and is the same for all human beings in
with his crucifixion. ‘Passion’ means suffering in Latin. all places at all times.
Judgement The belief that each individual will be held to Natural selection (survival of the fittest) The idea that certain
account by God for the things they do, or fail to do, during characteristics help animals survive, so that animals with
their lives. that characteristic are more likely to live long enough to
Justice Fairness in the way people are treated. breed and pass that characteristic on. This leads to a certain
Kashrut Jewish dietary laws. characteristic becoming more common over time and
Kiddush A prayer sanctifying Shabbat and many holy days, eventually leads to new species developing.
usually said over wine. Olam Ha-Ba The afterlife. It means ‘the world to come’.
King David A successful king of the Israelites. Believed by Omnipotence The belief that God is all-powerful.
many to have written the Psalms. Oral Torah The whole commentary that discusses the Written
Kosher (‘fit’ or ‘proper’) Foods that are permitted to be eaten Torah.
according to Leviticus Chapter 11. It is also used to refer to Oral tradition Stories passed down by word of mouth rather
the purity of ritual objects such as Torah scrolls. than being written.
Lay people People who are members of the Church but not of Ordained To be made a member of the clergy (e.g. priest).
the clergy (e.g. not the priest/bishop/deacon). Ordination Making someone a member of the clergy (e.g. a
Laying-on of hands A bishop or priest placing their hands on priest).
someone receiving a sacrament. Original sin The first sin ever committed – when Adam and
Leavened Made light by aerating, as with yeast or baking Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. The action
powder. that brought sin and evil into the world.
Lectionary The book of scripture readings that can be used for Palliative care Care that focuses on relieving pain and
public worship. suffering.
Lepers People suffering from leprosy, an infectious disease Papal infallibility The belief that, with God's assistance, the
that, in extreme cases, can cause deformity. Pope is without error when he proclaims definitively what
Literal Understanding something exactly as it is written. the Church teaches on faith or morals.
Liturgical colour In the Catholic Church each season has a Parable of the Good Samaritan A story told by Jesus about
colour with a special meaning. a Samaritan who helps an injured Jewish man even though
Liturgical service A church service that follows a set structure. Samaritans and Jews did not get on.
Liturgy of the Eucharist The part of the Catholic Mass Pentecost A Christian festival 50 days after Easter to mark
including a thanksgiving prayer over the bread and wine when the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles.
that become the body and blood of Christ, and the holy Persecute Consistently treat cruelly.
communion when the congregation receives Christ in the Persecuted Treated cruelly, often due to religion or belief.
form of bread and wine. Persecution Being treated cruelly, often due to religion or
Liturgy of the Word The part of the Catholic Mass that belief.
includes reading from scripture and a homily. Petition A prayer asking God to do something.
Liturgy The official public worship of the Church. Pilate Roman governor and the judge at Jesus’ trial.
Magisterium The teaching authority of the Church, Prayers of intercession A prayer where you ask for God to help
exercised by the bishops in communion with the Pope. The someone else.
magisterium is given grace by the Holy Spirit to faithfully Preach To spread the Good News of Jesus’ life, death and
interpret the Scriptures and Tradition. resurrection. Deliver a religious sermon to a group of people.
Mediator A go-between. Principle of double effect The idea that if doing something
Mercy Forgiveness. good has a bad side effect, it is morally acceptable to do it
Messiah (Mashiach) The one who will be anointed as king to as the bad effect wasn’t intended, even if you knew the bad
rule in the world to come. effect would happen.
Midrash Collections of various Rabbinic commentaries on the Privation The loss or absence of a quality or something that is
Tenakh. normally present. Evil is a privation of good.
Mishnah The Oral Torah. Procession People walking together in a formal way.
Mitzvah Although usually translated as duty or Prophecy A prediction of what will happen in the future.
commandment, it can also refer to kind deeds. Punishment The consequences of a wrong decision and a
Mitzvot The term has a mix of meanings. It is often used to penalty imposed by a person in authority on the person who
refer to duties (such as the 613 in the Torah) and good deeds. has committed wrongdoing.

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 Pushke box Money boxes displayed in Jewish homes to Soprano A high singing voice.
encourage charitable giving. Soul The eternal part of a human being given at conception
Quality of life The extent to which life is meaningful and which lives on after the death of the body. Also a name for a
pleasurable. human being’s rational nature – their mind.
Reconcile To forgive and restore relationships. Sources of authority Sources people can refer to for guidance
Relativism The belief that there is no moral law and that rules when trying to understand something or make a decision.
that govern what is right and wrong are human inventions St John One of the twelve Apostles.
and change from place to place and from age to age. Stewardship The duty to care for creation responsibly, as
Religious pluralism The existence of different religious beliefs stewards rather than consumers, and to protect it for future
within a society. generations.
Repent To feel sorry for or to regret something. Suffering Pain or loss which harms human beings. Some
Resurrection The raising of the body to life again after suffering is caused by other human beings (often called
death. Christians believe that Jesus has already experienced ‘moral evil’); some is not (often called ‘natural evil’).
resurrection and that all people will experience it at the end Symbolism Where symbols are used to represent something
of time. else, e.g. an idea or belief.
Revelation The word used to describe all of the ways in which Synagogue A house of assembly; building for Jewish public
God makes himself known to human beings. Christians prayer, study and assembly.
believe that God does this finally and fully in the person of Synod When the Pope calls the bishops and other advisers for a
Jesus Christ. series of meetings on a specific issue.
Rite A ritual or series of rituals which often have symbolic Tallit Four-cornered garment with fringes.
meaning. Talmud Commentary of the Mishnah which includes teachings
Sacrament A ritual through which Christians believe they and stories.
receive God’s grace. Catholics sometimes use the phrases Tenakh The Jewish Bible. The word ‘Tenakh’ is made up of
such as ‘a visible sign of invisible grace’ or ‘outward sign of the first Hebrew letters of the Torah (five books of Moses),
inward grace’. Neviim (books of the Prophets) and Ketuvim (holy writings).
Salvation The belief that through Jesus’ death and resurrection Tikkun olam Means ‘repair the world’. Jewish people believe
humanity has achieved the possibility of life forever with it is important to work to make the world a better place for
God. Being saved from sin. everyone.
Sanctity of life The Christian belief that life is precious or Theologian Someone who studies the nature of God and
sacred because it has been given by God. religion (theology).
Sanctuary lamp A small lamp showing that the Blessed Thomas Beckett Archbishop of Canterbury 1161–1170.
Sacrament is present. A Saint in the Catholic Church.
Scapegoat Someone who is blamed for something they did not Torah The five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
do or were not completely responsible for. Numbers and Deuteronomy). Regarded as the holiest books
Scribe A record keeper. of the Tenakh.
Secular Not religious. Transcendence Existing outside of space and time; God exists
Shabbat Day of spiritual renewal and rest. Beginning at sunset in a way that makes him nothing like anything that exists,
on Friday and closing at nightfall on Saturday. above and beyond creation.
Shekhinah The place where God’s presence rests and can be Twelve Apostles Jesus’ closest followers who went on, after
felt. Jesus’ death, to spread the word about his life, death and
Shema A prayer declaring a belief in one God. It is found in the resurrection and so established the Christian Church.
Torah. Vatican II The Second Vatican Council (1962–65) where the
Sin Acting against the will or laws of God. Deliberate immoral leaders of the Roman Catholic Church gathered to discuss
action, breaking a religious or moral law. the position of the Catholic Church in the modern world.
Social cohesion Different parts of a society functioning well Vestments Items of clothing worn by priests or other Church
together. officials.
Social justice Promoting a fair society by challenging injustice Virtues Good moral behaviours.
and valuing diversity. Ensuring that everyone has equal access Vocation A feeling that you should do a certain type of work.
to provisions, equal opportunities and rights; there has been a Word of God Christians believe God inspired the writers of the
variety of documents produced by the Catholic Church that is Bible so in this way the Bible is the words of God.
collectively known as Catholic Social Teaching.
Glossary

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 Index

Index
A the environment 35, 36–38, 65–66 do not resuscitate orders 126
abortion 24–30 Eucharist 186, 188–89 double effect principle 26
Abraham, covenant with 212–13, 243 evangelisation 190–93
Adam and Eve 14, 32, 33, 77–78 evil 76–79 E
Creation of Adam 46–49 evolution 19 education 196
afterlife funeral rite 148–50 environment 34
Catholic belief 122–23, 127–34, 147–48 goodness of God 81–82 Catholic beliefs 35, 36–38, 65–66
eschatology 132–34 heaven and hell 132–33, 172 humanist views 38–39
heaven and hell 132–33, 172 imago Dei 22–23 Jewish views 39
Jewish belief 224–25 inter-faith dialogue 59–62 stewardship 33, 36–38
popular views 130–31 judgement 132 eruv 232
praying for the dead 153–54 magisterium 135–39 eschatology 132–34
purgatory 134 Mary 174–75 eternal life 122–23, 147–48
resurrection 127–31, 171, 225 music 145–48 Eucharist 186, 188–89
Amidah 230 painting 46–49 euthanasia 124, 125
Anglican Church popular devotion 111–15 evangelisation 190–93
abortion 27–28 prayer 113–15, 149, 151–54 evil
Eucharist 177 resurrection 127–31, 171 in Catholicism 76–79
aron hakodesh (ark) 241 sacraments 169, 185–89 the challenge of 82–84
art sanctity of life 21–22, 125 free will and 84
music 145–48 sculpture and statues 106–9 the incarnation and 97–99
painting 46–49 suffering 84–86 in Judaism 81, 223
sculpture and statues 106–9 Catholic Social Teaching 55–59 suffering and 80, 84, 97–99, 223
symbolism 50–53 charities 63–67 evolution 17–20
artefacts 140–44 the Church 173–78
Ashkenazi Jews 203, 204 as body of Christ 176–78 F
assisted suicide 124, 125 buildings 179–83 festivals
Augustine, St 10–11, 78–79, 92–93, 164 nature of 173–75 Catholic 194–95
circumcision 213, 243–44 Jewish 254–59
B conscience 23, 103–4 forgiveness 163
baptism 143, 186 covenant 212–17 free will
bar mitzvah 244–46 creation in Catholicism 22, 33, 169
bat chayil 245 Big Bang theory 16–17, 20 evil and 84
bat mitzvah 245–46 Catholic beliefs 11–13 in Judaism 222
The Beatitudes 100–1 evolution 17–20 Fundamentalists 14, 20, 24, 44
bees 39 ex nihilo 10–11, 12 funeral rites
Bible 41–44 Genesis accounts 11–14, 32–33 in Catholicism 148–50
interpreting 43–44 Jewish beliefs 14, 39, 206 in Judaism 248–50
as Word of God 43, 135 non-religious views 15–17
Big Bang theory 16–17, 20 other Christian beliefs 14, 20 G
bimah 242 Creationists 14 God
brit milah 243–44 crime 160 goodness of 81–82
punishment 161–62 nature of 205–8
C grace 168–169, 185
capital punishment 164–67 D
Catherine of Siena, St 23 Darwin, Charles 17–18 H
Catholic Agency for Overseas Development Dawkins, Richard 18–19 Hawking, Stephen 16–17
(CAFOD) 64–66 death heaven and hell 132–33, 172
Catholic Christianity abortion 24–30 Hick, John 80
abortion 26–27 assisted suicide 124, 125 Holy Spirit 90–91, 171
afterlife 122–23, 127–34, 147–48 capital punishment 164–67 in art 51
capital punishment 164–67 Catholic teaching 122–24 human rights 54
charities 63–67 euthanasia 124, 125 humanism 18
the Church 173–78 praying for the dead 153–54 abortion 28–29
churches 179–83 right to die 125–27 the environment 38–39
conscience 103–4 death penalty 164–67 right to die 125–26
creation 11–13 dietary laws 252–53 Hume, David 82

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 I L P
imago Dei (image of God) 22–23, 33, 47 laws 194, 207 painting 46–49
Catholic Social Teaching and 55–59 life Paschal candle 142–43
incarnation 94–99 after death see afterlife Paschal Mystery 169–71
problem of evil and 97–99 on earth 218–23 Pesach (Passover) 258–59
inter-faith dialogue 59–62 eternal life 122–23, 147–48 Pikuach Nefesh 30, 219
humanist views 28–29 pilgrimage 111–13
J preserving 25, 26 Jewish view 112
Jesus quality of life 25–26, 27, 123, 125, 126 prayer
the example of 100 sanctity of life 21–22, 24, 33, 125 in Catholicism 113–15, 149, 151–54
incarnation 94–99 saving a life 30, 219 for the dead 154
Jewish view 93 Lourdes 112–13 in Judaism 14, 39, 205, 229–30, 231
moral authority and 100–4 the Rosary 113–15
Paschal Mystery 169–71 M Shema 93, 205, 231, 249
the Passion 85, 140, 141 Mackie, John 83–84 principle of double effect 26
representations of 50 magisterium 135–39 punishment 161–62
teachings of 100–2 Maimonides 44, 202, 225, 237 capital punishment 164–67
the Trinity 89–90 marriage forgiveness 163
Judaism ceremonies 247–48 purgatory 134
abortion 30 same-sex 248
afterlife 224–25 Mary 174–75 Q
beliefs and teachings 202, 205–27 Messiah 209–11 quality of life 25–26, 27, 123, 125, 126
covenant 212–17 Messianic Age 86, 209
creation 14, 39, 206 mezuzah 231 R
daily life 251–54 Michelangelo 46–49, 108–9 redemption 168–71
dietary laws 252–53 Mishnah 251 Reform Jews 14, 202, 204, 220, 225
diversity in Britain 202–4 Mitzvah Day 221–22 abortion 30
the environment 39 mitzvot 215, 218, 219, 220–22 bat mitzvah 245–46
evil 81, 223 moral authority synagogue seating 242
festivals 254–59 conscience 103–4 synagogue services 229, 230
goodness of God 82 Jesus and 100–2 Reform Judaism 245
judgement 207 natural law 102–3 reincarnation 131, 225
life on earth 218–23 moral decisions 160 resurrection
marriage 247–48 Moses, covenant with 214 Catholic belief 127–31, 171
Messiah 209–11 mourning rituals 248–50 Jewish belief 225
Mitzvah Day 221–22 multi-faith Britain 60–61 right to die 125–127
mourning rituals 248–50 music 145–48 rituals, Jewish 243–50
nature of God 205–8 Rosary 113–15
pilgrimage 112 N Rosh Hashanah 14, 254–55
practices 228–59 naming of babies 243–44
prayer 14, 39, 229–30, 231 natural law 102–3 S
resurrection 225 natural selection 17 sacraments 169, 185–89
rituals 243–50 ner tamid 242 St Vincent de Paul Society 66–67
saving a life 30, 219 New Testament 43 salvation 168–69, 177–78
sculpture and statues 108 New Year (Rosh Hashanah) 14, 254–55 same-sex weddings 248
Shabbat 229, 232–35 Nicene Creed 88 sanctity of life 21–22, 24, 33, 125
suffering 86, 223 sarcophagi 140–41
synagogue 229, 238–42 O saving a life 30, 219
worship 228–37 Old Testament 42 schools 196
judgement Oral Torah 44, 215, 251 sculpture 106–9
in Catholicism 132 original sin 77–78 Second Vatican Council 137–39
in Judaism 207 Orthodox Jews 14, 44, 202, 203, 220, 225 secular Jews 204
other Christian views 133 bat chayil 245 Sephardic Jews 203, 204
eruv 232 Shabbat 229, 232–35
K prayers 231 in the home 233–34
kenosis hymn 96 Shabbat 232, 234 Shekhinah 93, 208
kippah 236 synagogue seating 242 Shema 93, 205, 231, 249
kosher food laws 252–53 synagogue services 229, 230 sin 160
Index

tefillin 236 original sin 77–78

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 Singer, Peter 29, 39 T V

Index
slippery slope argument 126 tallit 236, 237 virtues 104
social justice 55, 139 Talmud 251
speciesism 29, 39 tefillin 236–37, 245 W
statues 106–9 Ten Commandments 26, 30, 207, 216–17 women
suffering Tenakh 210, 251 items worn for worship 236–37
Catholic view 84–86 Torah 44, 215, 251 synagogue seating 242
evil and 80, 84, 97–99, 223 Torah scrolls 241 worship
Jewish view 86, 223 traditions 194 Catholic 145–48
the suffering servant 86 Tree of Life mosaic 50–53 items worn for 236–37
virtues and 104 Trinity 88–93 Jewish 228–37
suicide, assisted 124, 125 music and 145–48
Sukkot 39, 256–57 U
symbolism 50–53 Universal Declaration of Human Rights 54 Y
synagogue 229, 238–42 Yom Kippur 255–56

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Text acknowledgements
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Translations of sacred texts
Quotations from the Bible: THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved
worldwide.
Quotations from the Torah: The Living Torah by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan.

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