Theology Final Exam
The Second Temple Period spans which dates?
520 BCE-70 CE
About what percentage of species that have ever lived are now extinct?
98
Which are principles of Catholic social teaching? (Mark all that apply.)
A preferential option for the poor and vulnerable Recognition of human rights and responsibilities Promotion of peace, especially through ensuring justice Protection of intermediate groups that facilitate social participation for individuals Respect for the human person
The pattern of outside empires conquering the Jewish people presented a theological problem for them because...
All of these
Which are ideas about Jesus, the Son of God, in the Gospel of John?
All things come into being through the Word, who was with God and is God. The Word took on flesh in the human person of Jesus Christ. The Word brings light and life, truth and grace to darkness. We know God through Jesus, God's Word made flesh.
Which are effects of the technocratic paradigm on the lives of individuals? (Mark all that apply.)
Alternative ways of being and acting in the world become more difficult to pursue. Even though individuals have a lot of choices, their choices are more constrained, and individuals experience less freedom. A sense of despair as individuals cannot find satisfaction or contentment against the desire for the more, the fast, the new.
In the ________________, the religious and political leaders of Israel were deported to Babylon, the Temple was also destroyed, and the Davidic dynasty of kings came to an end.
Babylonian Exile
Which are aspects of our ecological crisis discussed by Francis in Laudato Si'? (Mark all that are correct.)
Biodiversity loss Pollution Water depletion Climate change
Inspired by ___________ , the University of St. Thomas educates students to be ______________ who ____________ , __________ , and _________ to advance the __________.
Catholic intellectual tradition morally responsible leaders think critically act wisely work skillfully common good
Which are ways that the Global North could pay its ecological debt to the Global South? (Mark all that apply.)
Changing consumption habits in the Global North. Funding adaptation and mitigation expenses of poorer countries. Contributing to the ongoing development of the Global South. Bearing the costs of energy transition away from fossil fuels.
The Greek word for the Hebrew "messiah" is __________________.
Christ
Which are characteristics of Christianity, in contrast with the technocratic paradigm? (Mark all that apply.)
Christianity maintains the worth of creation apart from its utility for humanity. Christianity holds that experiences of awe and wonder shape who we are as moral beings. Christianity recognizes human limitations and sinfulness, while maintaining our responsibility to care for creation. Christianity upholds the fundamental dignity of every human person. Christianity views creation as God's loving plan in which every creature has value and significance. Christianity maintains that we ought to be ruled by justice, with the liberation of all people from poverty and oppression.
The "____________________" is a worldview within Christianity that holds that "liberating, healing, and inclusive love is the meaning of it all."
Christic paradigm
I have learned about climate change and want to change some of my personal behaviors. Which of the following might complicate my efforts?
Climate change seems so remote and abstract that I don't perceive a direct threat to inspire my action. I worry that addressing climate change will require government action, and I'm a supporter of small government--so better to ignore the data showing that climate change is happening and it's our fault. I sometimes don't know how to pursue the right course of action. When does the bus come? How do I compost? Is this recyclable? I don't have a sense of the value of nature because I don't really spend much time outdoors. I sometimes get so scared about the future that I distract myself from what I know I need to do. None of my friends or family is concerned about or cares about climate change, and I don't like making waves in my groups.
The ________________ is the sum of those conditions of social life which allow social groups and their individual members relatively thorough and ready access to their own fulfillment
Common Good
A ________________ is a sacred agreement between God and humanity in order to restore relationships broken by human sinfulness.
Covenant
_______________ is God's loving plan in which every creature has its own value and significance.
Creation
Environmental education, according to Francis, needs to include what goals? (Mark all that apply.)
Critique of the "myths" of a modernity grounded in a utilitarian mindset (e.g., individualism, unlimited progress, competition, consumerism). Consciousness-raising about the effects of human actions on the environment. Cultivating harmony within human persons, with others, with nature, with other living creatures, and with God. Teaching an ethics of ecology rooted in solidarity, responsibility, and compassionate care. Scientific information.
A Leviathan is likely what sort of animal?
Crocodile or Sea Monster
____________________ is the theological conviction that the whole physical cosmos, which is united to God through the deep incarnation, will be redeemed, transfigured, and brought into the heart of God.
Deep resurrection
You would like to encourage friends, family, and classmates to care more about the environment and change their behaviors. Which might be the most effective strategies? (Mark all that apply.)
Do some research to build your own sustainability skills and teach them to others. "Here's how you take care of worms in vermiculture composting system!" Share experiences of close connection with the natural world (remember all of those great camping trips when I was little, Mom?) and connect those experiences to an emotional desire to protect Earth. Encourage everyone you see who is doing the right thing. Thanks for bringing your own reusable water bottle and silicone straw! Create a social network of like-minded friends, family, and classmates to support each other's behavioral change. Everyone likes doing new things with a group!
Which are characteristics of the dominion paradigm? (Mark all that apply.)
Dominion is misinterpreted as "domination." Human beings are seen as the apex of creation. Human beings are seen as God's representatives on Earth. Other creatures are seen as having no reason to exist other than for human use. The natural world is seen as wild and threatening to human beings.
In the ______________, God delivers the Hebrew people from slavery and oppression in Egypt.
Exodus
True or false, According the Francis, human beings are the absolute owners of creation.
False
True or false, According to Duns Scotus (and Karl Rahner), the union of God with humanity in the incarnation only came in response to human sin and wouldn't have happened if humanity had not sinned.
False
True or false, According to Pope Francis, each country bears similar levels of responsibility to address challenges to sustainability and justice.
False
True or false, Achieving herd immunity to COVID-19 through natural infection (not a vaccine) is a policy that fits well with advancing the common good.
False
True or false, Adam and Eve were actual, historical human beings.
False
True or false, Another way to define the common good is "the greatest good for the greatest number of people."
False
True or false, Apocalyptic passages of scripture, such as Revelation, should be read as a literal guide to the end times.
False
True or false, Because the population of the Asian Pacific region of the world is so large, the people of this part of the world have the largest ecological footprint.
False
True or false, Because we cannot realize the common good fully, we ought not participate in the process of advancing the common good.
False
True or false, Before Pope Francis, none of the popes discussed care for creation in Catholic social teaching.
False
True or false, Caiaphas and Pilate both see Jesus as a political criminal.
False
True or false, Catholic social teaching is addressed exclusively to Roman Catholics, with no concern for engaging other people in dialogue.
False
True or false, Catholic social teaching views human beings as isolated and independent individuals who are fully responsible for ourselves.
False
True or false, Catholics are the exclusive audience for Catholic social teaching.
False
True or false, Current forecasts anticipate that as many as one-tenth to one-quarter of the world's animals and plants are likely on a path to extinction within the next hundred years.
False
True or false, Ecological sustainability and social justice have nothing to do with each other.
False
True or false, Francis argues that human beings, and only human beings, bear dignity.
False
True or false, Francis argues that technical solutions should be able to solve the serious problems of our world.
False
True or false, Francis believes that the Global South owes an ecological debt to the Global North and that periphery countries should pay for the costs of repairing our environment.
False
True or false, Francis believes that the main contributor to our ecological crisis is excessive population, not extreme and selective consumerism.
False
True or false, Francis emphasizes that God is exclusively transcendent, separate from and above creation.
False
True or false, Giving ourselves to others in love will result in happiness.
False
True or false, God is present to each being in such a way that God impinges on the autonomy and freedom of creation.
False
True or false, Human beings are different from every other living creature in that we are more evolved, having evolved for longer than any other creature.
False
True or false, Human beings are different from every other living creature in that we are not the result of evolution.
False
True or false, Human beings are doomed to committing the worst kinds of behavior; we have no hope for change.
False
True or false, Human beings do not owe love and justice to God's created world; we are only required to treat other human beings lovingly and with justice.
False
True or false, Human beings have rights, but not responsibilities to others and the respect of their rights.
False
True or false, Human beings have the capacity to realize the common good fully.
False
True or false, In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains that he has come to replace the law and prophets, that is, the texts of the Old Testament, because he doesn't like how God is depicted in those texts.
False
True or false, In the Sermon on the Mount, the author of the Gospel of Matthew portray Jesus as a new David.
False
True or false, Interpretation of "dominion" in Genesis 1:28 reflects an accurate reading of the text using historical critical method.
False
True or false, Jesus dies on the cross, but the second person of the Trinity, the Son, does not.
False
True or false, Jesus' death at the hands of the Roman empire has no moral implications for Christians to resist injustice, advocate peace, or oppose violence.
False
True or false, Laudato Si' didn't change anyone's mind about anthropogenic climate change.
False
True or false, Laudato Si' had no impact on the 2015 Paris Climate Talks.
False
True or false, Matthew 25:31-46 is one of many passages in the New Testament that describe the last judgment.
False
True or false, Matthew was the first gospel written.
False
True or false, Natural resources and energy are uniformly extracted from the environment around the world, while waste and heat are also uniformly distributed around the world.
False
True or false, Our possibilities for action are limited to the private and personal level.
False
True or false, Pain, suffering, and death in the natural world are caused by the original sin of Adam and Eve.
False
True or false, Pain, suffering, and death inflicted by humanity, beyond what is intrinsic to the natural world, are morally neutral--neither good nor bad, in essence.
False
True or false, People are free so long as they have the freedom to consume.
False
True or false, People living in poverty are no more vulnerable to ecological crises than are people who are affluent.
False
True or false, People with the right ideas consistently do the right actions.
False
True or false, Peter and another unnamed male disciple discovered the empty tomb.
False
True or false, Pope Francis proposes an interpretation of Genesis that upholds Lynn White Jr.'s Christian axioms.
False
True or false, Pope Francis teaches that technology is evil.
False
True or false, Portrayals of heaven as a place in the clouds with pearly gates are accurate interpretations of biblical accounts of the afterlife.
False
True or false, Questions about human, family, work-related, and urban contexts are irrelevant for analyzing environmental problems.
False
True or false, Resurrection is basically the resuscitation of a dead body.
False
True or false, Science offers no insight into how humanity, life on Earth, our planet, or our universe will end.
False
True or false, The beatitudes lift up and describe the virtues that were valued in the early Christian community: pride, belligerence, spite, dishonesty, and vindictiveness.
False
True or false, The book of Job explains that people suffer as a result of their evil and unrighteous choices, exhibiting God's justice.
False
True or false, The church has never been concerned about how human beings create communities and societies, build economies, or conduct politics.
False
True or false, The lex talionis teaches that people should exact proportional violence against other people who have committed a sin.
False
True or false, The main test for whether someone will enter the kingdom of God, according to Matthew 25, is whether they believe the right things.
False
True or false, The parable of the last judgment indicates that we cannot experience the kingdom of God in any way here and now and that we have to wait until the end of time to participate in God's reign.
False
True or false, The right to private property is understood to be an absolute and inviolable right in Catholic social teaching.
False
True or false, Theologians have clear and uniform answers to questions about what salvation entails in Christianity.
False
True or false, Theologians in the 20th and 21st centuries who are reassessing Christian soteriology are making up their answers without attending to scripture or tradition.
False
True or false, To fix our ecological crisis, it will be sufficient to engage in individual-level behavior change, such as recycling or installing solar panels.
False
True or false, We can just skip over genealogies in the Bible because they don't mean anything.
False
True or false, We shouldn't be too worried about our individual actions because they do not matter so much in the big picture of environmental degradation.
False
True or false, We will be able to fix our ecological crisis if each of us individually makes more sustainable choices.
False
True or false, We, in 2020, share nothing in common with the people of Jerusalem in the first century.
False
True or false, When Francis writes that "nature as a whole not only manifests God but is also a locus of God's presence" (88), he challenges Johnson's argument that creation is the dwelling place of God.
False
True or false, When God says to Job in 38:21, "Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great," God is praising Job's knowledge and wisdom.
False
True or false, When Pope Francis writes, "One Person of the Trinity entered into the created cosmos, throwing in his lot with it, even to the cross," he disagrees with Johnson's discussion of "deep incarnation."
False
True or false, When a species goes extinct, its loss has no ripple effects on Earth's ecosystems or on human beings.
False
True or false, When one repays a debt, it's a matter of charity, giving above and beyond what is necessary and due to other people.
False
True or false, When the Word became flesh, Jesus was tied only to human beings, and not to the rest of the whole biological world.
False
True or false, When we pursue the common good, we sacrifice ourselves so that our own good is not served.
False
The _______ , or _______ , was a Greek philosophical term for the unifying principle of all creation, the power that underlies all of creation, and the principle of order in the universe.
Flesh, Sarx
__________________, an apostolic constitution promulgated by the Second Vatican Council in 1965, is the most significant and authoritative document in the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching.
Gaudium et Spes
David
God promises that someone in this person's line will always rule over Israel
Moses
God provides law that will turn the people into a holy nation and priestly people
Abraham
God will grant this person's descendants land and a great nation, making them a blessing upon all of humanity
Noah
God will never again destroy creation in a flood
From the Greek meaning "good news," a ___________________ is a genre of text that shares the joyful message of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
Gospel
What made Jorge Cardinal Borgoglio's ascent to the papal throne as Pope Francis unusual? (Mark all that apply.)
He chose the name Francis to uphold the heritage of St. Francis of Assisi. He is a Jesuit, and Jesuits do not seek high office in the church. His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, was not dead.
Based on Herman Daly's model of ecological economics, what do human beings return to the environment after production? (Mark all that are correct.)
Heat Waste
A behemoth is likely what sort of animal?
Hippopotamus
Which are true of historical criticism? (Mark all that are correct.)
Historical criticism seeks to understand "the world behind the text." Historical criticism asks about the social, cultural, economic, and political contexts of authors and their audiences.
Which are questions addressed by the "judge" step in the method of Catholic social teaching? (Mark all that apply.)
How do we interpret the signs of the times in the light of the gospel? What moral and theological resources will help us to understand and respond to these circumstances? What does justice require in response to our circumstances? How do we love creation and our neighbors as God calls us in this moment?
Which are characteristics of the community of creation paradigm? (Mark all that apply.)
Humans beings are seen as members of the community of creation, like other living beings. All life is understood to be interdependent with a common origin, history, and goal. All of life is seen as connected to and sustained by God. All life on Earth is seen as forming a community. Humans beings are understood to be dependent on other creatures, often more so than other creatures are dependent on human beings. This paradigm is theocentric, not anthropocentric.
_______________ is an approach to ecology that is comprehensive and all-encompassing, addressing the interconnections among politics, economics, law, infrastructure, culture, religion, and our everyday lives within a broader ecological context.
Integral ecology
Which are significant in the context of the good news Matthew is sharing? (Mark all that apply.)
Jesus has announced that God's reign has come near. God has liberated Israel before through the exodus from Egypt. Several other empires since Egypt have ruled Israel: Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Macedonia (Greece), and Rome. Jesus dies at the time of Passover, commemorating a great, liberating sacrifice. Matthew sees Jesus as the savior of his people responding to conditions of exile. Romans have destroyed the Temple at the time the author of Matthew is writing. Matthew sees Jesus as fulfilling the covenants of Abraham, Moses, and David.
Which are ideas about Jesus, the Son of God, in the Gospel of Matthew?
Jesus is "Emmanuel," God with us. Jesus is the Son of God. Like Moses, Jesus will deliver his people from exile and oppression as a prophet and lawgiver. Jesus is a response to exile and oppression—from the Babylonian Exile to the oppression of the Romans, exemplified in the destruction of the Second Temple.
Jesus' death on Passover has what implications?
Jesus' death will be sacrificial and liberating. Jesus is like a new Moses, delivering his people from oppression and captivity. Matthew sees Jesus as the "lamb of God."
Stewardship theology retains which of the problems of the dominion paradigm? (Mark all that apply.)
Like the dominion paradigm, it obscures God's relationship with creation prior to and apart from humans. Like the dominion paradigm, it views the natural world as a passive recipient of human action, as with Cartesian dualism. Like the dominion paradigm, it tends toward self-aggrandizement of humanity, supposing that we can actually have control (even if positive) over the natural world. Like the dominion paradigm, it remains deeply hierarchical, with human beings at the apex of and separate from the rest of creation, as with hierarchical dualism. Like the dominion paradigm, it lacks a deep ecological sensibility.
Which are examples of highly industrialized core countries, according to Immanuel Wallerstein's world systems theory? (Mark all that apply.)
Member nations of the European Union Canada The United States
Match the level of action to the appropriate description. Micro Meso Macro
Micro: Individuals, families and households Meso: Organizations, business, institutions, congregations, towns, and cities Macro: Nations and the international community
____________________, a subgenre in gospels, are accounts of healings or miracles by Jesus that demonstrate Jesus' special relationship with God.
Miracle stories
Based on Herman Daly's model of ecological economics, what do human beings remove from the environment for production? (Mark all that are correct.)
Natural Resources Energy
________ is a system that can be studied, understood, and controlled, whereas creation can only be understood as a gift from the outstretched hand of God.
Nature
The gospels are the first books in which part of the Bible?
New Testament
An __________________ is a letter from the pope addressed to the world and the Catholic church as a whole.
Papal encyclical
_____________________ are "short stories by Jesus," a subgenre in the gospels that uses short fictional narratives or riddles to compare objects or imagery from common life with the kingdom of God.
Parables
Which are characteristics of parables? (Select all that apply.)
Parables help to convey aspects or features of God's reign. Parables are metaphorical and require interpretation. Parables are "little tiny bombs thrown into the status quo," trying to upturn what we think we know about God's reign. Parables function as an invitation to reflection or discussion about their meaning.
Which is not the name of a gospel in the New Testament?
Paul
To understand our economic impact on the environment, which three factors must we account for?
Population, Affluence, and Technology
Which models of the relationship between science and religion does Pope Francis employ? (Mark all that apply.)
Practical Cooperation Dialogue
______________ is a more intensified pace of life and work at our current historical moment.
Rapidification
Which are effects of the technocratic paradigm on the workings of society? (Mark all that apply.)
Rapidification, throwaway culture, and consumerism. Emphasis on profit and growth in measuring the strength of a society. The exertion of power by the financial sector over political life.
"__________", or in Greek,__________ ,means to think after--that is to change one's mind and purpose, to think differently in response to new knowledge, to perceive in a new way.
Repent, Metanoia
________________, promulgated by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, is the first modern document in the tradition of Catholic social teaching.
Rerum Novarum
Francis discusses several convictions of Christian faith that enrich the meaning of an ecological conversion. Connect the convictions as he describes them to ideas we've touched on throughout the semester.
Sacramental Principle: "Each creature reflects something of God." Deep Incarnation: "Christ has taken unto himself this material world and now, risen, is intimately present to each being, surround it with his affection and penetrating it with his light." Doctrine of Creation: "God created the world, writing into it an order and a dynamism that human beings have no right to ignore." Community of Creation: "We are not disconnected from the rest of creatures, but joined in a splendid universal communion." Human Beings as "Evolving Singularity": "We do not look at the world from without but from within, conscious of the bonds with which the Father has linked us to all beings... We do not understand our superiority as a reason for personal glory or irresponsible dominion, but rather as a different capacity which, in its turn, entails a serious responsibility stemming from our faith." Doctrine of the Trinity: "The Father is the ultimate source of everything, the loving and self-communicating foundation of all that exists. The Son...united himself to this earth when he was formed in the womb of Mary. The Spirit, infinite bond of love, is intimately present at the very heart of the universe, inspiring and bringing new pathways."
After the end of the Babylonian Exile, the Jewish people rebuilt the Temple, thus beginning what historians call the ____________.
Second Temple Period
What are the steps of the method of Catholic social teaching?
See, Judge, Act
Matthew 5-7 is also known as the ________________________.
Sermon on the mount
What are some ways that we can have an impact through the organizations (e.g., schools, workplaces, businesses, clubs, etc.) in which we participate? (Mark all that apply.)
Sharing ideas about sustainability. Creating and using durable products in our organizations. Changing organizational processes and procedures to make sustainable behavior easier.
______________________ is an area of theological inquiry concerned with salvation.
Soteriology
______________ is an affective state of anxiety and anguish that arise in response to pain.
Suffering
What our some ways that we can influence our social networks for sustainable behavior? (Mark all that apply.)
Teaching and persuading people we are connected to. Taking leadership roles to guide others' behavior and facilitate their success. Supporting others' efforts. Sharing material goods.
The ________________ is a paradigm that exalts the concept of a subject (powerful human beings) who, using logical and rational procedures, progressively approaches and gains control over an external object (that is, less powerful human beings and the natural world).
Technocratic Paradigm
The feeding of the 5,000 indicates what about the kingdom of God? (Select all that apply.)
That God's reign serves life, whereas the reign of the empire serves death. That, contrary to the feasts of the Roman empire, in God's reign, there is plenty and abudance. That empire only serves death. That, contrary to the feasts of the Roman empire, in God's reign, no goes hungry and no one is excluded from the heavenly banquet.
The healing of the hemorrhaging woman indicates what about the kingdom of God? (Select all that apply.)
That faith is necessary to experience the kingdom of God. That social isolation, poverty, and vulnerability will come to an end in the kingdom of God. That physical ailments will be relieved in the kingdom of God. That all spiritual separation from God will come to an end in the kingdom of God.
The Greek term sarx, translated as "flesh," in the Gospel of John has which of the following connotations? Select all of that apply.
The finite quality of the material world which is fragile, vulnerable, perishable, and transitory. The world as sinful, selfish, opposed to the spirit. Earthly existence.
Which are features of the technocratic paradigm? (Mark all that apply.)
The fragmentation and specialization of knowledge that makes it difficult to see the big picture. A throwaway culture. A hegemonic, comprehensive, and globalized logic that takes over and replaces other paradigms. Rapidification. Consumerism.
Which are features of a worldview rooted in integral ecology? (Mark all that apply.)
The improvement of human life—that is, human development—must attend to our environmental dependence. Everything in reality is interconnected. We depend on our ecosystems for our ongoing existence. We need robust, healthy institutions on multiple levels to uphold laws, norms, and practices that are sustainable and just. Responses to environmental and social problems need to be responsive to and respectful of the particularity of each people and each place.
What are features of a good economy, according the Francis? (Mark all that apply.)
The internalization of environmental costs so that parties directly involved in an exchange pay for their damage. Diversification and innovation. Use of technology to solve urgent human problems and not just consumer desires.
Which ideas reflect the gospel writers' understanding of the kingdom of God, or kingdom of heaven?
The kingdom of God has not yet been fully realized. The kingdom of God has already begun being realized through Jesus Christ. The kingdom of God is God's kingly rule, regardless of who has this-worldly power. The kingdom of God is the condition in which God is sovereign and God's people live in peace, justice, and obedience.
Which core truths in Christian tradition point to the possibility that God will save the whole of creation and each individual part? (Mark all that apply.)
The life-giving presence of the Spirit who empowers all creation is also the power of resurrected life for all beings. Creatures are part of the flesh of the world that the Word of God joined via incarnation. God's love encompasses all creatures even in their suffering and dying. The death and resurrection of Jesus offers hope of redemption for all flesh. The living God creates and cares for all creatures.
A ___________________ is an explanation of why evil exists in the universe if God is good and powerful
Theodicy
What are purposes of miracle stories in gospels? (Select all that apply.)
To show Jesus' power and authority over spiritual realities. To indicate appropriate responses to Jesus' message. To give the audience a preview of God's reign. To show Jesus' power and authority over bodily realities.
A danger of theodicies is that they can gloss over the effects of evil in concrete experiences and rationalize the existence of evil, which is essentially illogical.
True
True or false, A prophetic and contemplative life that awakens us to the beauty of God's creation is not a sacrificial burden; rather, it is liberating, offering possibilities of joy and peace, according to Francis.
True
True or false, According to Catholic social teaching, when we own something, we should use and administer it in such a way that it serves the good of all.
True
True or false, According to Francis, the technocratic paradigm currently dictates economic decisions, interests, and practices, which then dictates politics.
True
True or false, According to Karl Rahner, Jesus' death doesn't cause God to forgive humanity; rather, God's forgiveness of humanity leads to Jesus' death.
True
True or false, Accounts of salvation from the 12th century onward tend to reflect theological challenges with hierarchical dualism and patriarchal androcentrism.
True
True or false, Achieving justice and sustainability will require public pressure on people in positions of power coming from citizens.
True
True or false, Anselm of Canterbury's account of salvation draws on medieval feudalistic metaphors for God that compare God to a Lord deserving of proper obedience and honor from the people under his rule.
True
True or false, Because Jesus Christ is crucified, God is united in solidarity with victims of state violence and oppression, knowing fully the depth of their suffering in God's being.
True
True or false, Because the sixth mass extinction event is not natural, it is the result of human sin.
True
True or false, Biblical law places limitations on human domination over creation and over less powerful human persons, thus challenging the technocratic paradigm.
True
True or false, Catholic tradition teaches that human beings experience our full development and fulfillment when we give ourselves to others in love.
True
True or false, Christian theology distinguishes between pain, suffering, and death in nature, which are intrinsic parts of the process of evolution, and pain, suffering, and death carried out by human beings, which can be unnecessary and evil.
True
True or false, Christians believe that because Jesus is God-Incarnate, we can look to his word and deeds during his life in order to better understand God.
True
True or false, Death is necessary for the emergence of new life in nature.
True
True or false, Each creature has its own purpose.
True
True or false, Each individual country must pursue its own policies for justice and sustainability.
True
True or false, Extinction erases testimony of God's goodness found in the presence of nonhuman creatures.
True
True or false, Extinction occurs naturally at a somewhat constant rate, with variations only during mass extinctions events (caused, for example, by massive volcanic eruptions or asteroid impacts).
True
True or false, Francis argues that the Bible teaches that when we mistreat other people, we hurt the land, and when we hurt the land, we mistreat other people.
True
True or false, Francis argues that the mythic creation narratives in Genesis teach the moral and theological insight that human beings uniquely bear God's image, unlike other creatures.
True
True or false, Francis argues that the ultimate purpose of all creatures is to move forward with humanity toward arrival in God, in that transcendent fullness where the risen Christ embraces and illumines all things.
True
True or false, Genesis 3 teaches that human beings use the freedom given to them by God to transgress God's boundaries, worsening conditions of violence, conflict, suffering, and death in creation.
True
True or false, Government and law serve important roles in oversight and coordination of efforts for sustainability.
True
True or false, Healthy politics, according to Pope Francis, require ensuring that the people most directly impacted by human and environmental degradation have a seat at the decision-making table.
True
True or false, Human beings are causing a sixth mass extinction event, contributing to extreme biodiversity loss.
True
True or false, Human beings are distinctive and unique creatures, unlike any other living creature.
True
True or false, In Matthew 25, the people who are deemed to be "sheep" are those who care for the least of these simply out of agapic love of neighbor.
True
True or false, It is possible that through the incarnation and resurrection God redeems not only humanity, but creation as a whole and in its every part.
True
True or false, It is possible, from a Christian perspective, that dogs, pelicans, and bears, among all other creatures, will be redeemed in God's future.
True
True or false, It is unjust to meet the human development needs of today by compromising the sustainability of the Earth for future generations.
True
True or false, It will take more than 200,000 generations of humankind before levels of biodiversity comparable to those of the start of the twentieth century might be restored.
True
True or false, Jesus of Nazareth was Jewish.
True
True or false, Jesus' anointing in Bethany is a signal in the Gospel of Matthew that he is the messiah, or Christ.
True
True or false, Laudato Si' is a document in Catholic social teaching based on Pope Francis' recognition that what we do to the environment has social impacts and vice versa.
True
True or false, Learning to see and appreciate beauty in the natural world is an important part of ecological education because when we stop and admire something beautiful, we are less likely to treat it as an object to be used and abused without scruple.
True
True or false, One impact of the technocratic paradigm and consumer culture is a leveling effect on cultures, resulting in the diminishment of the immense variety of human cultures.
True
True or false, Our taking from the environment and wasting into the environment is not evenly distributed around the planet because of histories of injustice rooted in colonialism and postcolonialism.
True
True or false, Pain and suffering are outcomes of evolution, the result of the natural selection of organisms with sensitivity to and awareness of danger.
True
True or false, Pain, suffering, and death in the natural world are morally neutral--neither good nor bad, in essence.
True
True or false, Pope Francis supports the important role of scientific research and academic freedom in giving us a better understanding of ecology and human interaction with our environment.
True
True or false, Ravaging of people and ravaging of the land on which they depend go hand in hand.
True
True or false, Scripture and tradition offers numerous metaphors for salvation, such as liberation, reconciliation, healing, justification, and fullness of life.
True
True or false, The "See" step in the method of Catholic social teaching seeks to understand the "signs of the times," the realities that mark our moment in history.
True
True or false, The Last Supper is the first celebration of the Eucharist, one of the most important rituals, or sacraments, in Christian tradition.
True
True or false, The Roman Empire is responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus.
True
True or false, The common requires a particular concern for the well-being of the poor and vulnerable in a society.
True
True or false, The conditions of social life necessary for relatively thorough and ready access to human development and fulfillment map onto the principles of Catholic social teaching.
True
True or false, The gift of the Earth with its fruits belongs to everyone, not just to those who own the land.
True
True or false, The idea of the common good has roots in ancient Greek philosophy and was incorporated into Christianity early in the tradition.
True
True or false, The inspiration of Catholic social teaching can be found in Jesus' instruction in Matthew 25 to love "the least of these": people who are hungry, thirsty, naked, imprisoned, and sick.
True
True or false, The international community has solved previous ecological crises such as the international trade of endangered species and the depletion of the ozone layer.
True
True or false, The opening of the Gospel of John alludes to the opening of the book of Genesis, connecting the Word to creation.
True
True or false, The series of sayings in which Jesus quotes biblical law and then says, "But I say to you...," invite readers to adopt virtues that make it unnecessary to consult the law when discerning a moral course of action.
True
True or false, The theories of evolution and special creation are examples of two opposing paradigms.
True
True or false, To address our ecological crisis, we need to take into account the fundamental rights of the poor and underprivileged.
True
True or false, We can learn our first habits for justice and sustainability within our family lives.
True
True or false, When Jesus instructs his followers to turn the other cheek, he is directing them to use nonviolent strategies to expose the injustice of persecutors while asserting the dignity of the persecuted.
True
True or false, When a species goes extinct, there is also the loss of the possibility of future evolution from its branch of the tree of life.
True
True or false, When the Word became flesh, God's own self-expressive Word personally joins the biological world as a member of the human race, unifying God with the whole biophysical cosmos of which human beings are part.
True
True or false, With advancing the common good, we are concerned about achieving the good of every single individual and of society as a whole.
True
What characteristics distinguish human beings from other living creatures? (Mark all that apply.)
We are capable of complex morality and ethics. We are the only species resulting from evolution that can decipher the process of evolution. We use complex language. We have a uniquely high level of cognitive power. Our evolution is both biological and cultural.
Which are Christian claims about the end of everything? (Mark all that apply.)
We can anticipate the resurrection of the dead. The end of the universe is not a final annihilation. The destiny of everything lies in the loving hands of God, who offers a blessed ultimate future. The cosmos will be renewed in a new transfigured life with God.
The ________, or ________, was a Greek philosophical term for the unifying principle of all creation, the power that underlies all of creation, and the principle of order in the universe.
Word, Logos
The phrase "____________________" signifies the radical reach of the divine through human flesh into the the whole of biological existence.
deep incarnation
____________________ is an area of theological inquiry concerned with the end of everything.
eschatology
A ______________ is an anointed one.
messiah
A ________________ is a set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality.
paradigm
A _______________ is a transition from a less adequate to a more adequate way of viewing reality.
paradigm shift
A ________________ is a person who manages another's property or financial affairs, one who administers material wealth as the agent of another.
steward
Francis argues that we are living in a ___________________ based on a linear take-make-waste model of production and consumption that contributes to our ecological crisis.
throwaway culture