Preliminary Question and Answer Session: Fall 2015
Period 1: (Ecumenism—Seniors)
25 Roman Catholic
1 Baptist
1 Hinduism
1Agnostic
1 None
Does the Church support or at least not oppose gay marriage in a legal sense such as in the U.S.; if not why?
How do we know God has the ability to save every human being?
Can women be priests? Does the Church recognize gay marriage?
How do we know that Jesus is actually there in the Eucharist? Why do we still have to go to confession if we
are actually sorry for our sins? What stance does the Church take on space exploration?
How does evolutionary theory tie into the Catholic faith? How is the Catholic theory different from the
Creationist theory?
Is there any chance the devil seeks redemption; should we pray for this sinner or is there no hope? Why don’t
we see more modern miracles; millions of people could use one?
What happens after death to people of other religions? What if they never knew God?
Are Christians expected to read the bible once before they die? What happens if you receive the Eucharist
while in sin?
Do atheists who are good people go to heaven?
How do you become possessed; can anyone become possessed?
Do most other religions believe in heaven, hell, and purgatory?
What is the Church’s view on aliens? Do you think there is life beyond here on Earth?
What do people of other religions think of Jesus?
Do Catholics worship Mary?
Why are there no modern day miracles or prophets?
What are the Church’s views on science?
What is the difference between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox?
How was God created?
Why are there so many different religions that people believe in instead of just one.
Why did God choose us to be his people?
How do science and religion truly coexist?
Why do people believe in the Bible over science?
Do Christians need to obey the OT now? Do you automatically go to hell if you don’t follow the Christian
faith?
Do aliens exist? Does God exist; explain? Why is there something rather than nothing? If we haven’t been
visited by people from the future yet, does that mean time travel will never be invented? If one was
omnipotent, could he or she create a rock so heavy they couldn’t lift it?
What is the difference between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox?
Can God make a boulder that is too heavy for him to lift? Why did you drop out of ministry?
Can someone be saved without repenting?
If God said to be fruitful and multiply why did we discover multiplication much later? If God does all why
can’t he just control the devil or delete him? Why does God through the process of Jesus dying;
couldn’t he have done that with a snap of the finger?
Period 3: (Ecumenism—Seniors)
21 Roman Catholic
1 Lutheran
1 Presbyterian
2 Non-denominational
5 None
What does “hosanna in the highest” mean? Why do we draw a cross on the forehead, lips, and heart for the
gospel reading at mass?
Why is it a sin to not go to mass every week if you still live out a good Catholic life in your community?
How can the Church both accept the theory of the Big Bang and the Creation story at the same time?
Should all our morals have a direct line to the Bible or Jesus’ teachings; if no direct link should we be able to
justify them?
How could someone buy into the belief of scientology?
How can we determine what is literal or figurative in the Bible? Can near death experiences be clear cut
evidence of there being a heaven? How does God decide if someone gets into heaven if they grew up
with bad influences and did not treat others well on earth?
Why have we not seen a large miracle or act of God like the parting of the Red Sea since biblical times?
Why do Catholics base their religion on a 2000 year old book? How is the Church holy when people high in
power have sinned?
Why aren’t women allowed to be priests? What is the Church’s standpoint on murdering to protect yourself
and others?
What is the point of being an atheist if they have nothing to lose when considering ideas such as the afterlife? If
Protestants are Christians but don’t believe in mortal sin, would they still go to heaven if they committed
a mortal sin before death without confession?
What is the Church’s defense for why non-religious people such as Britney Maynard should not commit
assisted suicide?
How much prayer is enough or is it possible to pray enough?
Why do people call the Church sexist even though we have many female saints and hold Mary in high esteem?
Why are there so many different variations of the Bible?
Is there a right Catholic religion? What is a state of grace?
Can confession or personal repentance really wipe away all the sin a person has committed; e.g. the murders of
Hitler?
Why are people in hell eternally punished for sinning in their short life?
How do angels become and angel?
Why do people believe that life doesn’t start at conception, yet there is evidence to show that?
Why doesn’t the Church teach/reveal more about the anti-Christ?
How do we know our religion is the right one?
What are the Church’s views on stem cell research?
Why does God take his best soldiers first; every person I know who has died has had a positive impact on my
life?
What if you were never taught about faith, God, and morals so you lived a sinful life; is it your fault and what
are your chances of going to heaven?
Why are so many other religions looked down on? Why do people say that the only way to heaven is to become
Christian/Catholic?
What is the Catholic Church’s stance on evolution?
Period 4: (Paschal Mystery—Sophomores)
15 Roman Catholic
2 Lutheran
1 Presbyterian
1 Methodist
4 Non-denominational
1Hindu
If Jesus was God couldn’t he have come down from the cross if he wanted to; why didn’t he?
If killing someone goes against the 10 Commandments, how does that apply to our service men and women; if
Christ is the only way for us to get into heaven, what does that mean for Muslims, Jews, and Hindus that
live good lives?
Did Jesus have any siblings or was he an only child?
What is the Church’s belief on gay marriage being legalized in the U.S.? What relationship do philosophy and
theology share and what topics do they conflict on?
Is the theory of evolution connected to creationism; which teaching is more correct? If God the Father loves us
and Jesus so much, why did he send Jesus to die on the cross?
Do other religions go to heaven? Is prayer stronger as a group or is it the same as an individual? How can I
become closer to God?
Why do Catholics separate themselves from other Christian denominations instead of trying to unify all
denominations as Christians?
What is our purpose here? Why do innocent people suffer? Why are so many people born with defects or have
mental illness?
Lutherans believe that the earth is 6,000-10,000 years old; do all Catholics also believe in this Day-Age theory?
What is the best way to go about living life as a true man?
What is the Paschal Mystery in detail?
Why didn’t Jesus fight back when he was being killed?
Why did God sacrifice his Son when Jesus was so young? Why did Jesus allow himself to be sacrificed so
easily?
How did God create himself? What is the difference between theology and philosophy?
How exactly did Jesus walk on water? Which modern animals did Noah take or not take on his ark? Why did
God choose Mary of all people to carry and be the mother of Jesus?
Is Baptism required for salvation? Why is God so distant from humanity?
How did God create everything; where and what did he start with; was there nothing before him? What does
heaven look and feel like? Is it bad to question God if something goes wrong or right?
Could Jesus do anything he put his mind to? If so, why didn’t he save the lives of innocent people that were
killed during his life?
Did Jesus have a middle name? How did we find out about God and Jesus?
When you die, do you go straight to heaven or do you wait somewhere and then go? Why is it optional to drink
the wine at mass?
If Jews are the Chosen People, why are we not Jewish?
Why doesn’t God just tell us what we are meant to do in life?
What effect does the Holy Spirit have in the Old Testament?
Period 6: (Church History—Seniors)
15 Roman Catholic
1 Eastern Catholic (Chaldean)
1 Jewish
2 Presbyterian
1 Pentecostal
1 Methodist
1None
Do we as Catholics believe in the evolution of animals after God created the first ones.
Do the saints in heaven get upset when they see people on earth, especially their loved ones, sinning or in bad
situations?
How can we be sure about our faith when everyone doesn’t receive a direct sign? Why does the Church seem
to be so strict on some principles?
Why does God allow horrible things to happen to innocent and good people? How am I supposed to believe in
heaven?
Is the story about Adam and Eve real?
Is God male or female? How can God watch all people at once? How do we know there is a God? Why are
there other religions? Why did Jesus not make the world perfect? Why does God allow people to
suffer?
Are there really gates to heaven?
How do we know/how is it possible that Mary is without sin; how could Mary be born without sin if her
parents had sin?
How relevant was excommunication in the early years of the Church?
If someone challenges your Christian religion, what are some answers you can give to prove the existence of
God?
Why is it that all the facts the Church teaches are not proven but taken as fact without proof or the proof is an
unproven fact?
How do I know God is real?
Why do so many people follow the Catholic Church?
How do we know Jesus was real or really God without using books of the Church as a reference?
How do you think Jesus’ second coming will happen? What is your favorite color?
Why does God get angry in the Old Testament & punish the Hebrews despite having infinite patience & mercy?
Is it a sin to kill somebody as a soldier in the military?
After death why is Jesus still considered the Son of God if he is God?
Why would God answer our personal prayer requests when he already has a salvation plan; wouldn’t it interfere
with that? If miracles are real and caused by God, does he ever have to use mind control or break laws
of physics to make them happen? Are miracles real and caused by God?
Period 7: (Paschal Mystery—Sophomores)
22 Roman Catholic
1 Orthodox (Antiochan)
1 Methodist
1 Non-Denominational
1 Jainism
1 Unsure
1 None
Is it okay for an Orthodox person to take communion at a Catholic church? How could Mary have been born
without sin if Mary’s mother sinned?
Why didn’t Jesus show those who doubted him that he was the Son of God by using his power? What does God want me
to do to show my faith in him? What scientific beliefs contradict my faith?
Can one experience anything objectively? What forms a person’s personality?
How does one know that all of this is true? How can they go into so much detail about these things?
What are the steps of becoming a saint? Why does the Church save body parts of the saints?
Are all priests and popes called by God to spread his word?
What purpose do we serve on earth; why did God create all of us? How can God forgive us even after we betray him?
Is there one religion that is more correct and true than others since so many have different sets of beliefs; if so which one
and why?
Why is Mary such an important figure in the Catholic Church when she isn’t for Protestants?
Why does God reveal himself? Why did God send Jesus instead of just telling people and inspiring people?
What can I do to be a better (Catholic) Christian? Who is the oldest saint?
How can we further understand our faith with the increased use of science? Is God a figure in the clouds or is he
someone more complicated?
If Jesus came down to save us from sin, why is there still suffering and trouble in the world?
How are the members of the Trinity separated?
If other religions don’t believe in heaven or hell, where will they go when they pass?
How do we know Jesus and his disciples wrote the Bible and that it is not just some book?
How do we know that God exists? Are there any 100% true facts or proof that God is real?
Why is Vatican City the center of Catholicism and not Jerusalem? Do Catholics recognize Muhammed as an important
prophet or in any way?
What is the man difference between Catholics and creationists?
Why do we never see things today that could obviously be described as the works of God such as miracles, destruction of
cities, visions of Our Lady of Guadalupe…?
Given knowledge about Catholic proofs for the existence of God, are there other religions that can prove their god is real;
if not, why do these religions not see that Christianity holds a better proof that our God is the real god?
What is the difference between Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox beliefs?
The Bible is the inspired Word of God but there are some very outdated beliefs (slavery, homosexuality, women, …); if
the Church no longer teaches these things, why are the books that support them still often read from?
If you were able to save everyone over going to heaven would you do it?
Why hasn’t God sent himself down or somebody else down to prove his existence? How do we know he still cares about
us? Why doesn’t he stop everyone from killing each other and suffering? Why do people hate God so much and
cheer for his death?
What does Catholic teaching say about other religions? When did the concept of God really begin?