Chapter 1 Religion Definitions

Prophets

One who speaks before others. God entrusted the Hebrew Prophets to deliver to Divine message to the rulers and the people

Virtue

"Firm attitudes, stable depositions, habitual perfections of intellect will that govern our actions,order our passions, guide our conduct according to reason and faith" (CCC, 1804)

Agnosticism

A belief that God's existence cannot be known

Dogma

A central truth of Revelation that Catholics are obliged to believe.

Faith

A gift from God personal knowledge of God

Conscience

A practical judgement of reason that helps a person decide the goodness or sinfulness of an action or attitude

Irreligion

A vice that is the opposite of the goodness of religion that directs us away from what we owe to God in justice.

Omnipotent

An attribute of God that he is everywhere, unlimited, and all powerful

Deposit of Faith

The heritage of faith contained in Scared Scripture and Tradition, handed down in the Church from the time of the Apostles

Sacred Tradition

The living transmission of the Church's gospel message found in the Church's teaching, life, and worship.

Magisterium

The official teaching authority of the church

Religion

The relationship between God and humans that results in a body of beliefs and a set of practices: creed, cult, and code Religion is available to all people it expresses itself through worship services.

Original Sin

The sin of disobedience committed by Adam and Eve that resulted in their loss of original holiness and justice and their becoming subject to sin and death.

Salvation History

The story of God's saving action in human history

Divine Revelation

The way God communicates his knowledge to humankind.

Sacred Scripture

The written record of Divine Revelation found in the books of the New and Old Testament

Theological Virtues

Three foundational virtues that are infused by God into the souls of the faithful: faith, hope, and charity.

Covenant

an agreement between God and his people in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from them in return

Monotheistic

believing that there is only one god (Chritianity, Judaism, Islam)

Secularism

indifference to religion and belief that religions should be excluded from civil fairs and public education

Atheist

someone who denies the existence of god

Polytheistic

worshipping or believing in more than one god