1st High School Test

[Rogerteder]

As some know I teach theology at a Catholic high school. The first major exam is today. Take a look and tell me what you think. Some of you may want to take it and see how you do. God bless.
1.What is an indulgence? 2. What are the two types of indulgences? 3. Explain the difference between mortal and venial sin. 4. Please briefly explain the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity. 5. Please list Aquinas’ 5 proofs for the existence of God. 6. What does the Catholic church teach about proving God’s existence through reason? 7. Please define the Immaculate Conception. 8. Please define the Assumption of Mary. 9. What does it mean that Mary was a perpetual Virgin? 10. What is an ecumenical council? 11. When is an ecumenical council infallible? 12. When is the Pope infallible? 13. What are Jesus’ two natures? 14. What is the union of these two natures called/described? 15. What are the three theological virtues? 16. Which two theological virtues did jesus not possess? 17. Define Arianism. 18. What ecumenical council was called because of arianism? 19. What is purgatory? 20. Define justification. 21. What sacrament takes away original sin? 22. Why is it important to baptize infants? 23. true/false The Eucharist is the literal Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. 24. True/False Jesus Christ possessed great faith. 25 True/False Jesus knew all things past, present and future.
Extra Credit : The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” How then can Catholics believe that Mary never sinned?

 

[e61iuser]

Wow. I hope your class has the whole day to write out their answers to this test. I personally won’t be able to lift my pen from the paper for eight hours until I get all my thoughts down to make sure I have it all right.

What high school level is this test going to be in?

 

[Newbie2]

Are you going to post the correct answers?

 

[Scoobyshme]

I think you put numbers 21 & 22 too close together. Otherwise, I hope you gave them more than an hour to answer, unless you accept short, summary type answers.

 

[JPUSC]

How do you know your students aren’t reading this? lol!

 

[JPUSC]

1.What is an indulgence?
Something that takes away temporal punishment in purgatory.

1. What are the two types of indulgences?
   plenary and partial
2. Explain the difference between mortal and venial sin.
   Mortal sin is a serious break from God, which could lead to damnation if committed with full knowledge and consent of its gravity. It can be forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Venial sins are less serious sins, and you do not need to go to Confession prior in order to receive Holy Communion.
3. Please briefly explain the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity.
   Three Persons in one God. A mystery of the faith.
4. Please list Aquinas’ 5 proofs for the existence of God.
5. What does the Catholic church teach about proving God’s existence through reason?
6. Please define the Immaculate Conception.
   The Virgin Mary was conceived without sin in order to give birth to Jesus.
7. Please define the Assumption of Mary.
   Mary is taken into Heaven body and soul.
8. What does it mean that Mary was a perpetual Virgin?
   Jesus was not conceived by a human father and Mary remained a virgin for the rest of her life.
9. What is an ecumenical council?
   When bishops from the entire Church gather to discuss matters of doctrine and practice.
10. When is an ecumenical council infallible?
    When its topic is a matter of doctrine and dogma.
11. When is the Pope infallible?
    When he is speaking from the seat of Peter (ex cathedra).
12. What are Jesus’ two natures?
    Human and Divine.
13. What is the union of these two natures called/described?
    Hypostatic Union
14. What are the three theological virtues?
    Faith, hope, love.
15. Which two theological virtues did jesus not possess?
    faith, hope.
16. Define Arianism.
    A heresy that claimed Jesus was only divine and not human.
17. What ecumenical council was called because of arianism?
    Council of Trent
18. What is purgatory?
    The temporal place where souls are cleansed before entering heaven.
19. Define justification.
20. What sacrament takes away original sin?
    Baptism
21. Why is it important to baptize infants?
    To be guaranteed salvation, in case they should die.
22. true/false The Eucharist is the literal Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus.
    True
23. True/False Jesus Christ possessed great faith.
    False

25 True/False Jesus knew all things past, present and future.
True

Extra Credit : The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” How then can Catholics believe that Mary never sinned?

God gave her the grace, through her Immaculate Conception. She was exempt from original sin. She is blessed among women.

 

[LucyLou]

That is a lot of material to cover on one test. It pretty much covers most of the major points of our faith in one test. Wow. The Aquinas question alone could be a long answer, unless you are wanting the 4 word intro to the proofs.

 

[Rogerteder]

Short answers are accepted. I am not looking for doctorate dissertations. I’ll let you know how the students did.

 

[MonkeyTape]

As some know I teach theology at a Catholic high school. The first major exam is today. Take a look and tell me what you think. Some of you may want to take it and see how you do. God bless.
1.What is an indulgence? 2. What are the two types of indulgences? 3. Explain the difference between mortal and venial sin. 4. Please briefly explain the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity. 5. Please list Aquinas’ 5 proofs for the existence of God. 6. What does the Catholic church teach about proving God’s existence through reason? 7. Please define the Immaculate Conception. 8. Please define the Assumption of Mary. 9. What does it mean that Mary was a perpetual Virgin? 10. What is an ecumenical council? 11. When is an ecumenical council infallible? 12. When is the Pope infallible? 13. What are Jesus’ two natures? 14. What is the union of these two natures called/described? 15. What are the three theological virtues? 16. Which two theological virtues did jesus not possess? 17. Define Arianism. 18. What ecumenical council was called because of arianism? 19. What is purgatory? 20. Define justification. 21. What sacrament takes away original sin? 22. Why is it important to baptize infants? 23. true/false The Eucharist is the literal Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. 24. True/False Jesus Christ possessed great faith. 25 True/False Jesus knew all things past, present and future.
Extra Credit : The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” How then can Catholics believe that Mary never sinned?

This shouldn’t be that bad if there was significant classroom discussion leading up to it, and perhaps questions on similar topics on some quizes. I am heartened to hear about teachers who are taking religious education seriously - good job.

I have said to others that education is key. Most Catholics get the equivalent of an 8th grade education is their faith and then wonder why they don’t understand something. One would not expect a person to be very successful in life in general with only an 8th grade education so why would they expect to understand and live their faith properly with only the same level of education? Keep up the good work.

 

[Rogerteder]

This shouldn’t be that bad if there was significant classroom discussion leading up to it, and perhaps questions on similar topics on some quizes. I am heartened to hear about teachers who are taking religious education seriously - good job.

I have said to others that education is key. Most Catholics get the equivalent of an 8th grade education is their faith and then wonder why they don’t understand something. One would not expect a person to be very successful in life in general with only an 8th grade education so why would they expect to understand and live their faith properly with only the same level of education? Keep up the good work.

Thank you !! yes we have had significant classroom discussion and three quizzes leading up to this major exam. I am grading the tests RIGHT NOW and they are doing quite well overall. Pray for the students!!! thank you!!!

 

[Catholic_Dude]

1.What is an indulgence?

It is the removal of the temporal punishment due to sin through special acts of love. By “special” that doesn’t mean extraordinary prayers and acts and such, but rather the Church assigning a special value to even common prayers which facilitates the removal of temporal punishments.

1. What are the two types of indulgences?

Partial and Plenary (full removal).

1. Explain the difference between mortal and venial sin.

Mortal sin severs the relationship you have with God by removing the sanctifying grace from your soul. Venial sin stunts growth in your relationship and makes it easier to commit a mortal sin, but it does not destroy your relationship. Think of it as the difference between a child abandoning his parents versus the child misbehaving in the home.

1. Please briefly explain the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity.

This one seems hard. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the Three distinct Persons of the Blessed Trinity, they each fully possess and act through the one Divine Nature.

1. Please list Aquinas’ 5 proofs for the existence of God.

I don’t know this. If I had to guess I would say (1) Divine Revelation, (2) the “first cause” argument, (3) observing nature.

1. What does the Catholic church teach about proving God’s existence through reason?

It infallibly teaches that it can be done through natural reason alone (ie apart from Divine Revelation). That does not mean it is easy, but it is also not impossible. Also, this does not entail a full blown orthodox understanding of God and the Trinity, but rather the realization of One, eternal, omnipotent Deity.

1. Please define the Immaculate Conception.

Through a special grace, the Blessed Virgin Mary was - at the moment of conception - preserved from the effects of Original Sin (ie did not suffer the absence of sanctifying grace), and was given the graces to avoid all actual sin throughout Her lifetime.

1. Please define the Assumption of Mary.

When She had reached the fullness of Her time on Earth, God saw it fitting that - by a special grace - by His power Assumed (drew up to Heaven) the Blessed Virgin Mary, both body and soul.

1. What does it mean that Mary was a perpetual Virgin?

That She did not cease to be a Virgin when Jesus was conceived in Her womb, nor did She engage in relations or in any other conceivable way cease to be a Virgin throughout Her lifetime.

1. What is an ecumenical council?

A council in which Bishops from all (or vast) parts of the Church, in union with the Pope, are called to define/defend/explain a teaching of the faith.

1. When is an ecumenical council infallible?

In those parts which are ratified by the Pope, and these are basically the main definitions and the “anathemas” following the definitions.

1. When is the Pope infallible?

When speaking either Ex Cathedra (giving a special and solemn definition), or when teaching through the Ordinary Magisterium (proclaiming what the Church has always held to be true, and taught by all the Bishops)

1. What are Jesus’ two natures?

Divine and human natures.

1. What is the union of these two natures called/described?

The Hypostatic Union.

1. What are the three theological virtues?

Faith, Hope and Love (actually “Charity,” which is often confused with charitable donations rather than acts of Love done primarily out of love for God rather than personal gain).

1. Which two theological virtues did jesus not possess?

It would have to be Faith and Hope, because being Divine they are not needed.

1. Define Arianism.

The teaching that the Word/Son is substantially inferior in nature to the Father. (ie the heresy of saying there was a time when the Word did not exist)

1. What ecumenical council was called because of arianism?

The (First) Council of Nicea, 325AD.

1. What is purgatory?

A place/state of the purification of the soul for those temporal punishments not remitted while on earth.

1. Define justification.

The transformation from being a “child of Adam,” a soul devoid of sanctifying grace and outside of a relationship with God, to (by the infusion of grace) becoming an “adopted child of God.”

1. What sacrament takes away original sin?

Baptism.

1. Why is it important to baptize infants?

Because even they suffer the effects of Original Sin.

1. true/false The Eucharist is the literal Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus.

True.

1. True/False Jesus Christ possessed great faith.

False. Being God, He did not need the virtue of Faith.

25 True/False Jesus knew all things past, present and future.

By His Divine Nature, True. In His Human Nature, False.

Extra Credit : The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” How then can Catholics believe that Mary never sinned?

First of all, the context is describing actual sin rather than original, and it is clear infants and the mentally handicapped are incapable of actual sin, thus not every person is literally in view here and Paul was speaking in general terms, rather than very specifically. Thus, it would not be a contradiction for the Blessed Virgin to be an exception here. Secondly, the Bible teaches us that Mary was “full of grace,” which is an exception in human history, and we know that even people like St John the Baptist in Lk 1 was sanctified in the womb (though he was not conceieved without Original Sin, as Mary was), so the notion of immaculate conception is not unreasonable.

Good test! If this is the kind of stuff you are teaching students, and they are understanding it, I am really impressed.