Chapter 8
Tradition: Handing On a Living Faith
1. What is meant by saying that Catholics share a unity of faith? Who symbolizes and guarantees the church's unity?
2. What is the meaning of church Tradition?
3. What is the Catholic understanding of a "Scriptures and Tradtion" approach to knowing God's truth?
4. What is the church's Magisterium? Why is it needed?
5. Give three examples of ways that church teaching may be expressed by the Magisterium. Be able to list all five the forms of
6. What are doctrines? What are dogmas? Give three examples of dogmas from the text.
7. What is meant by infallibility.
8. What is a creed?
9. Give the "simple" explanation of the Trinity. Offer one image or metaphor of the Trinity fromt he text and tell how it corresponds with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Cite its source.
10. Describe the first lesson we learn from the doctrineof thte Trinity.
11. What is meant by a sense of the the sacramental?
12. Describe the Catholic understanding of how reason and faith are both needed to know God, the meaning of life, and how to live.
Vocabulary
� Tradition � pope � tradition � dogmas � doctrines � � unity of faith � credo � encyclical � Magisterium
Some essays from the teacher's text
1. What is the difference between traditions and Tradition? Where do Catholics believe God reveals sacred truth? Does God�s truth ever change?
2. Explain the difference between a �Scriptures only� approach and a �Scriptures and Tradition� approach. Make a case for the latter approach.
3. Who has authority to bring together and interpret church members� experience and reflections into the essential Tradition? Why is this authority important to the church?
4. Give examples of two different forms of church teaching and examples of two dogmas. Explain the doctrine of infallibility.
5. What are the two Christian creeds? In what ways are they alike and different? Which is usually recited at Sunday Mass?
6. Explain the Trinity. Use one of the images used by Tertullian or Saint Augustine in your explanation. What lessons have you learned for your own life by understanding God as Trinity?
7. Offer an example of each of the four special gifts that help make up the unique character of Catholicism. Which of these gifts means the most to you? Why?