Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Religion for Baccalaureate

Jesus' Mission and Christian Life

1. For some, he would restore strict observance of the law; for others, he would be a military leader who would liberate the Romans. Others expected him as a manifestation of divine power.

2. Jesus healed the sick at the pool of Bethesda. But it was Saturday, and the Pharisees reproached him for carrying his mat after being cured. Jesus used this situation to explain the depth and sense of his mission. He says he acts like his Father and cannot do anything on his own, but seeks the will of the One who sent him.

3. Paul had a past life in Judaism; he was Jewish and a Pharisee who persecuted the Church vehemently. He changed his life because God called him and was pleased to reveal his Son in him, commissioning him to proclaim

This document explores Jean-Jacques Rousseau's perspectives on the distinction between natural religion and revealed religion, as well as his views on the problem of theodicy.

Natural Religion vs. Revealed Religion

Revelation is understood as a divine manifestation where God reveals and communicates hidden and sacred truths to humanity. All religions founded on some kind of revelation are called **revealed religions**. Rousseau identifies **particularism** as a natural element in any dogmatic expression of revealed religion. Particularism is linked to an intellectualist conception of virtue, requiring knowledge of ritual and fundamental truths. Particularism fosters ethnocentrism, bigotry, and intolerance. Revealed religion is a form of religion...

The Christian Concept of God

The Christian image of God is defined as the sole creator and the Almighty Father (the Savior). Christianity is not merely a philosophy, but a faith that provides final answers regarding the creation of the world and the nature of reality.

The Nature of the Christian God

God is not a mere philosophical concept; the Christian faith asserts that God's existence is the foundation of all knowledge. Without divine argitzapena (illumination), true knowledge would be impossible.

Monotheism and Divine Power

• Monotheism: Christianity is strictly monotheistic. Despite early persecution, it eventually became the dominant religion, contrasting with the polytheistic traditions of the Roman Empire and the schools of Plato and Aristotle.

Cognitive Conditions

The four cognitive activities of the soul. The first two (conjecture and belief) lead to opinion, resulting from the knowledge of sensible beings. The other two (intelligence and discursive thought) lead to science, true knowledge because it is the fruit of the knowledge of intelligible beings.

Soul

That which essentially defines man. Its nature is that of a living body. It has a tripartite nature: rational soul, irascible soul, and concupiscible soul.

Analogy

A relation of similarity among distinct things. Reasoning based on analogy consists of attributing similar attributes to different things.

Arts (Mathematical)

The components that make up the distinct branches of mathematics. Two are cited: Geometry and Arithmetic. A consequence...

Creation According to St. Augustine

St. Augustine was a creationist. He believed that God, using words, created everything out of nothing in six days. This act was sudden, free, and willed by God.

God established rules and principles that govern the world, influencing generations, shaping human experiences (both good and bad), and fostering the development of culture.

St. Augustine's Philosophy of History

1. St. Augustine and the Importance of History

St. Augustine is considered the first thinker to provide a comprehensive explanation of universal history within the philosophy of history. His schematic approach helps us understand actions and events.

2. The Event: The Fall of the Roman Empire

The decline of the Empire and the sacking of Rome served...

The Stoic School of Ancient Philosophy

The Stoic School emerged in Athens around 300 BC. Its name derives from the Stoa Poikile (Painted Porch), a public colonnade in Athens where its members gathered. Its founder was Zeno of Citium.

Stoicism was not merely a school of thought; it was a comprehensive way of living and conceiving the world. Its profound influence extended across Greek and Roman cultures, shaping Western thought for centuries. Due to its enduring presence, the quality and variety of its representatives, and its significant impact, researchers typically divide Stoicism into three distinct periods:

Periods of Stoicism

• Early Stoa (3rd and 2nd centuries BC): Key figures include Zeno of Citium, Ariston of Chios, Cleanthes of Assos, and

Cantar de Mio Cid (Poem of the Cid)

Historical Context

Cantar de Mio Cid (Poem of the Cid) depicts real events, such as the exile and imprisonment of the Count of Valencia. However, the faces of the corporation and the tournament are fictitious. The first person singular highlights verisimilitude, while the second and third person emphasize the legendary nature of the tale.

Characters and Plot

The Cid's daughters were named Cristina and Maria. They married the Count of Barcelona and the King of Navarre. El Cid suffered exile and the King's enmity for a period. He consistently faces the Moors but also contends with the Count of Leon and the nobility. The poem's purpose is to degrade the nobility.

Social Structure

The social estates depicted are the...

Family: A group of individuals directly linked by kinship ties, whose adult members are responsible for the care of children.

Relationship: Kinship ties are established between individuals through marriage or by linking genealogical lines as blood relatives.

Marriage: A socially approved sexual union between two adult individuals.

Nuclear Family: Two adults living together with biological or adopted children.

Extended Family: Includes the married couple and children, as well as other relatives.

Monogamy: A culturally approved sexual relationship between one woman and one man.

Polygamy: Being married to two or more persons at the same time (concept studied by George Murdock).

Polygyny: One man married to more than one woman at the same time.

Polyandry:

Historical Context: The Religious Monarchies

After the defeat of the Roman Empire, the Church was the only institution that maintained a stable structure of monarchies. By the 12th century, it achieved a unified network of existing fiefdoms, becoming the new point of reference.

The Western Schism and the Universities

The Western Schism occurred in 1378 with the election of two popes. In 1394, Cardinal Benedict XIII of Aragon was elected Pope. The Council of Constance resolved the conflict, deposing two popes and appointing one of concord, but Benedict XIII retired to the castle of Peniscola and did not accept this solution. The Church had become the main center of cultural promotion.

The Role of the Writer

Throughout the Middle Ages, the writer...

Moral and Religious Literature

During the 14th and 15th centuries, a profound spiritual crisis influenced the evolution of society. Preachers sought to address this shift through evangelization and moral guidance. Three key figures defined this era:

Key Religious Figures

• Francesc Eiximenis: A devout Franciscan friar, bishop, and patriarch who traveled extensively across Europe. His work possessed a clear educational and informational intent, targeting both religious and secular audiences through engaging narratives. Notable works include Llibre de les dones and Llibre dels àngels.
• Vicent Ferrer: A Dominican friar highly influential in the intellectual formation of the Papal Court. He played a significant role in the Compromise of Caspe and the