Religion 11 S2 Ch. 4 The Reality of Sin

23. Why is 'mortal sin' a serious offense?

A mortal sin is a radical 'No' to God; it is a total turning of one's back on God, his offer of life and love, and on the divine plan of goodness for creation.

20. How does one commit a 'sin of omission'?

A person who knowingly and freely chooses not to do something good that he or she has the responsibility to do and can do commits a sin of omission.

4. What choice did Adam and Eve make regarding their relationship with their creator?

Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and reject their original relationship with their creator.

6. What was lost as a result of Adam and Eve's choice to sin?

Adam and Eve lost the harmonious relationship with God, within themselves and between each other, and with the rest of creation. They lost the peace and harmony of living in the state of 'original innocence'.

27. What did Claudine Thévenet witness during the French Revolution?

Claudine Thévenet witnessed many people, including her two brothers, being executed.

30. What Religious Congregation did Claudine Thévenet found?

Claudine and her companions founded the Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary on October 6, 1818.

28. Before their execution, what were her brothers' last words to Claudine?

Claudine's brothers' last words to her were, 'Forgive, Glady, as we forgive'.

7. Give two examples of 'social sin'.

Genocide and racism are two examples of 'social sin'.

17. What is the meaning of the words hattah, pescha, and awon, from the Old Testament, to describe the consequences of sin?

Hattah is a quality of people who are so distracted that they make erroneous judgments. As a result, they do not achieve the goal they set out to accomplish. Pescha refers to a rebellious spirit. It is the deliberate refusal of a person to adhere to their obligations and commitments to God. Awon often has the sense of a 'heavy burden' associated with the guilt a person experiences over sinning. Sin distorts the sinner. It limits severely the exercise of our freedom. It disables us from being our best selves.

16. What are some of the false 'gods' or idols in today's culture that distracts from our relationship with God?

In our world, false 'gods' or idols that distract from our relationship with God are likely to be things such as money or power, fame or pleasure.

29. What impact did the dying words of her brothers have on Claudine?

Inspired by the dying words of her brothers, Claudine decided to devote herself to the relief of suffering caused by the French Revolution. She dedicated her money, time and energy to providing food, clothing, shelter, and education to the destitute, particularly the orphaned and abandoned children, whom she saw as being among the weakest and most vulnerable members of society.

2. Why is it important for people to form good moral habits?

It is important for people to form good moral habits to deal with their inclination to evil.

13. What is the responsibility of a Christian toward someone who is acting contrary to the moral law of God?

It is the responsibility of a Christian to show care and concern for a person if he or she is acting contrary to the moral law of God. We are to love the sinner and hate the sin.

11. What is the premise of 'moral relativism'?

Moral relativism presents a false understanding of tolerance. Moral relativism teaches that moral rules and standards are irrelevant. It teaches that no act is good or evil in and of itself.

24. What is the effect of mortal sin (also called grave sin) on our relationships?

Mortal sin is a serious offense that gravely ruptures one's life-giving relationship with God, with people and with creation.

18. Describe St. Paul's struggle with the temptation to sin.

Paul vividly describes human life as a battle with sin. He often finds himself behaving in ways contrary to how he would like to behave: his body is at war with his mind! When sin has a power over him, Paul finds himself doing the very things he does not want to do.

8. What is the scriptural term used to describe the first announcement of the Messiah?

Protoevangelium is the term used to describe the first announcement of the Messiah in Genesis 3:15.

3. What does Genesis Chapter 3 reveal about the human, God-given gift of freedom?

Scripture reveals, beginning with the account of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, that human beings can misuse and abuse their God-given gift of freedom.

9. What are some of the effects of sin which are contrary to God's plan of goodness and salvation in Christ?

Sin corrodes our character and undermines our integrity. It prevents us from finding true happiness both here and hereafter.

5. In what ways are sins committed against the eternal law?

Sin is 'an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law'.

15. What are some of the English words that capture the concept of chesed?

Some English words that capture the concept of chesed include steadfast loyalty and faithfulness, love and devotion, kindness and mercy, justice and righteousness.

22. How does the Catechism of the Catholic Church describe racism?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes racism as the 'unjust discrimination on the basis of a person's race; a violation of human dignity, and a sin against justice'.

1. What does the Gospel command of Christians?

The Gospel commands that Christians stand up against violence and injustice.

10. Following the example of Jesus, what advice does the Spiritual Works of Mercy give regarding our reaction to sin?

The Spiritual Works of Mercy guide us to follow the example of Jesus: We are to admonish and help those who sin; we are to teach those who are ignorant of God's law, and we are to forgive those who trespass against us.

26. How can one repair the effects of venial sins?

The effects of venial sins can be repaired by acts of love, compassion, and justice.

19. List the seven Capital or Deadly, sins named by the Catholic Church.

The seven Capital or Deadly sins named by the Catholic Church are avarice (greed), anger, envy, gluttony, lust, pride, and sloth.

14. What does the term chesed, used in the Old Testament, mean?

The term chesed was used by Ancient Israel to describe the loving and faithful covenantal commitment of the Lord God to his people.

12. Describe one means that people use to deny responsibility for sin.

There are many ways in which we can refuse to face up to the reality of sin and deny our responsibilities for its evil and harmful consequence. One means is to use language to soften the reality of an evil that has taken place.

25. How do 'venial sins' differ from 'mortal sins'?

Venial sins are of lesser gravity than mortal sins. Venial sins do not sever our friendship with God and do not deny a person the gift of sanctifying grace.

21. How can the choice to commit 'personal sin' have an effect on a group or society?

We can contribute to a group or a society developing a sinful attitude that infects its very structure by supporting one another in sinful actions, or by taking part in the sin of a group, or by not speaking out against sin.