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Question 1: Catholic Beliefs (a) Outline three Catholic beliefs about the Incarnation - Edexcel - GCSE Religious Studies B - Question 1 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 1
Question 1: Catholic Beliefs (a) Outline three Catholic beliefs about the Incarnation. (b) Explain two characteristics of God shown in the biblical account of Crea... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Question 1: Catholic Beliefs (a) Outline three Catholic beliefs about the Incarnation - Edexcel - GCSE Religious Studies B - Question 1 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
Outline three Catholic beliefs about the Incarnation.
Answer
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God became human in Jesus: This belief emphasizes that Jesus, as part of the Holy Trinity, took on human form to fully understand and relate to humanity.
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Jesus is true God and true man: According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Jesus possesses both divine and human natures in perfect unity.
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The Word became flesh: This refers to the belief that 'the Word' (Logos) became incarnate in the person of Jesus, making God accessible to humanity.
Step 2
Explain two characteristics of God shown in the biblical account of Creation.
Answer
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God's benevolence: The biblical account of Creation illustrates God's goodness, as seen in Genesis where God declares creation to be good. This reflects His loving nature towards all living things.
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God's omnipotence: The narrative emphasizes that God is all-powerful, as He alone has the capability to create the universe and all that is in it, thus showcasing His supreme authority over all existence.
Step 3
Explain two Catholic beliefs about salvation.
Answer
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Salvation is achieved through faith and grace: Catholics believe that salvation comes from believing in Jesus Christ and accepting His sacrifice for humanity. This is supported by the Bible in 1 Peter 1:9, which affirms that salvation is found in no one else.
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The necessity of sacraments for salvation: The Catholic Church teaches that sacraments, particularly Baptism, are essential as they confer grace and initiate individuals into a life of faith, as described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1224.
Step 4
Evaluate this statement considering arguments for and against.
Answer
Arguments for the statement:
- Purgatory is a sign of God's love as it allows those who die with unconfessed sins to be purified, thus achieving holiness necessary for eternal happiness (Catechism 1030).
- It represents a process of purification where venial sins are removed, preparing the soul to meet God in heaven.
Arguments against the statement:
- Some Christians consider purgatory unnecessary, believing that those who accept God go directly to heaven, while the non-believers go to hell.
- The Church of England does not accept purgatory, viewing it as a doctrine without clear scriptural support, as outlined in the 39 Articles of Religion.
- Further, some argue that Jesus' sacrifice atones for all sins, making purgatory redundant as all people will be judged based on their faith without additional purification.