Made in the Image
What does it mean to be human?
We have many aspects to us:
*physical
*intellectual
*emotional
*spiritual
Maturity
A process evolving with age and experience whereby we enter more fully into our own personhood
But what does maturity mean for us?
As human beings we possess dignity and free will that make us unique from all other creation
[we are concerned with our MORAL maturity and the development of our conscience]
we will answer these questions
1. What makes us human?
2. What does it mean to be made in God's image?
3. How do we make moral decisons?
4. What is the importance of truth and integrity for our society today?
We are magnificent creatures, the summit of God’s creative activity. God has put humans in charge of the rest of creation,
commanding us to lovingly care for and use it for human betterment.
God freely created humans out of love. God is the Creator; we are not. We are God’s creature
s.
Christian beliefs about creation
Humans are Made in the
Divine Image
Inherent
means inborn
or inherited, something
that does not need to be earned
or acquired
Dignity is the quality of being worthy of
esteem or respect. Every human
person has worth and value
because each person
is made in God’s
image.
Human Dignity
Why the two Creation Stories? What did we learn?
The two stories together help to give us the BIGGER picture that God instills order, but is not restricted by time; God
oversees all creation, but is intimately involved; God is infinite, but is also with us.
Man and woman are EQUAL, made in God's image --> they are complementary
We have a soul: the innermost or spiritual part of a person, the soul is eternal (God giving man the "breath of life")
We have dignity
We are called to stewardship: the proper use of the gifts God has given us, in particular the care for creation that will
allow the earth and its resources to flourish and be long lasting
What do we learn about human characteristics from creation
Daily Journal
Read Genesis 3: The Fall and give a brief summary in your journals. Then answer the question: who is to blame for
original sin?
Original Sin
Tree of life vs. Tree of knowledge of good and evil
What is the only command God gave man and woman?
What does this mean that man and woman had to understand?
So what is the condition of man and woman before?
Additional Qualities we possess....
intellect: the faculty of reasoning and understanding objectively
free will: the capacity to choose among alternatives--> power rooted in reason and will...to perform deliberate actions on
one's own responsibility.
conscience: a person's most secret core and sanctuary that helps the person determine between good and evil
So what did Adam and Eve do?
sin: an offense against God through a violation of truth, reason, and conscience
This is Original Sin: the fallen state of human nature into which all generations of people are born. Christ Jesus came to
save us from Original Sin
Did we commit Original Sin?
We commit personal sins
mortal sin: a serious violation of God's law of love that results in the loss of God's life in the soul of the sinner
grave matter
full knowledge
complete consent
venial sin: a sin that weakens and wounds our relationship with God but does not destroy divine life in our souls
We inherit Original Sin
concupiscence: an inclination to commit sin. It can be found in human desires and appetites as a result of Original Sin
What can help us to avoid sin?
We are initiated into the faith: BAPTISM--> "the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the
door which gives access to the other sacraments"
Jesus came and died for our sins!
Paschal Mystery: the saving love of God most fully revealed in the life and especially the Passion, Death, Resurrection,
and ascension of Jesus Christ
Daily Journal
What tools do you think will help you to avoid sin? How do you know what is right from wrong?
Morality
putting your faith and religion into practice through making good decisions in word and action
Our faith and religion: Catholic: Greek word for universal--> one, holy, apostolic, and catholic
monotheistic vs. polytheistic agnostic and atheist
What about the Trinity??
We need to be in a routine to make good choices
virtue: good habits that help us live a moral life
vice: bad habits linked to capital sins
Can we be forgiven?
YES!
**Reconciliation: another term for the Sacrament of Penance, in which Christ extends his forgiveness to sinner through
the aboslution conferred by a priest
Sin alienates us in 3 ways:
1. from God
2. from others
3. from ourselves
The Divine Dilemma
Tree of Life
live in harmony with God
Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
Death
Creation would be eternally separated from God (against God's rule)
Because of Original Sin, Jesus had to take on the form of a human body to correct the sin that man first committed against
God
Natural Law: our participation in the Divine Law--> what we can discover about human nature and its moral duties
independent of God's gift of Revelation
Seven
Capital
Sins
Pride –
excessively
high opinion
of oneself
Greed –
desire for
earthly
goods
Envy –
sorrow over
another’s
good
fortune
Anger –
desire
for revenge
Lust –
craving for
sexual
pleasure
Gluttony –
immoderate
consumption
of food or
drink
Sloth –
laziness
Do good and avoid evil
Love your neighbor
Don't murder
Don't steal
What we lack God reveals to us:
Revelation:the way God communicates knowledge of himself to humankind
The Law of Moses: summarized in the Ten Commandments--> sets the stage for the New Law, Law of Christ
The Ten Commandments: summarize the major precepts of the Old Law, expressing the truths of the natural law that
human reason can discover on its own
First three: love for God
Last seven: love for neighbor
1. I am the Lord your God: You shall not have strange gods before me
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day
4.
Honor your father and mother
5. You shall not kill
6. You shall not commit adultery
7. You shall not steal
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife
10.You shall not covet your neighbor's goods
So let's review: We use our conscience and free will to make choices--> we can know right from wrong
Natural law: things we can know on our own ability
Revelation: when God helps by communicating with us
---> Ten Commandments (Old Law)
**next quarter: New Law (Jesus Christ)
we must be aware of our actions because they can develop in habits: bad=vice (capital sins) good=virtue
So what are good habits we can develop to make better choices?
Cardinal Virtues: the "hinge" virtues from which all other virtues come
Theological Virtues: three important virtues bestowed on us at Baptism that relate us to God
Prudence: common sense and wisdom
"right reason in action"
Justice: consists in a person's always giving his or her due to God or neighbor
Fortitude: courage, enables a person to conquer fears, even fear of death, for a just cause
Temperance: moderates a person's attractions to pleasures and helps balance the way we use created goods
Faith: belief in and personal knowledge of God
Hope: trust in God's salvation and his bestowal of the graces needed to attain it
Charity: love of God and love of neighbor