Answer questions

number Answer Questions St. Perpetua’s and Julian’s understanding and experience of Divine revelation Perpetua’sexperiences are out of her expectations. She for example, expects to rejoice with the lord after being a martyr. In her vision, she is able to climb a golden ladder, stepping on the dragon’s head to reach the kingdom of God; where she will be more joyful. Julian however, has no future expectations. She seeks answers to her revelations. For example, she had a longing for God. It was revealed to her that it is sin that prevents her from reaching God. According to her, God has a purpose for sin, and soon people will rejoice forever when the mystery behind the existence of sin will be revealed. There is hope in her revelation, but she says it as explained to her by Jesus.
Both revelations and experiences preach the love of God, and the need to have a strong belief in him. Perpertua’s revelation shows God’s love and power, she saw a sign of victory over the devil. Julian’s revelations are also explanations of God’s love. She explains that irrespective of suffering caused by sin, God has a reason for it, and that reason is love. In one of her revelations, she explains how God loves us, and HE knows it is not our fault to sin, but he knows that sin brings pain, and so warns his people against sinning, but all is well for people will rejoice when they will understand the purpose of sin.
2. The connection between St. Augustine’s understanding of human nature, and Paul’s understanding of human nature
They both understand human nature as having the body different from the soul and the spirituality of human beings. The body is considered the weak feature which leads humans to sin. St. Augustine for example, indicates that the sins committed by humans are of the flesh, but they corrupt the soul. Paul also indicates that flesh is the weak and powerless feature, therefore vulnerable to sin.
Transformation in the human heart and soul comes from interaction between the features of human nature. Pauls believes that living by the Spirit is living a life free of sin. Augustine considers himself, a fully grown person spiritually, for he was no longer driven by ambition which was accompanied by “ heavy servitude in the hope of wealth and reputation”
3. Issues that reformers wanted changed before Martin Luther
They include; the excessive adoration of saints, corruption within the church, the justification that one must be saved through the church and faith, and the low intellectual and moral standards of the ordained priests, and that the scripture and tradition are of the same inspiration in Christianity.
Martin Luther achieved these two: That one is only saved by faith, and that Christ is the only mediator, and one has not to pass through a priest to reach God.
4. The second Vatican council was formed for the church’s saintly renewal and adjustment of its position in the contemporary world.
Major areas of reform included the tight rules that the church held such as Catholics not eating meat on Fridays. The church loosened up to make this optional.
Masses could now be celebrated in respective languages of countries in which they were held.
People were encouraged to have active participation in the church
It developed ways of promoting human dignity
The attitude towards other religions was loosened and Catholics were now allowed to visit other denominations.
They embraced their Jewish roots.
What was not changed but previously advocated for were; the excessive adoration of saints, and that the scripture and tradition are of the same inspiration in Christianity.
5. The use of prologue
The prologue describes Jesus the person, and his ministry. In his interaction with Nicodemus, Jesus is shown as the son of God, and the teacher. The son of God is through his works that Nicodemus acknowledges, hence he believes. The beginning of Nicodemus’ belief is a sign of the power of Jesus’ ministry and its proclaimed intentions in the future.
In the story of Jesus and the man born blind, Jesus is the light of the world, for he will make people see. The sight that people will gain is through salvation, which again is revealed in his interaction with Nicodemus. He is the saviour as prophesised before. In the story with the Samaritan woman, Jesus is the source of eternal life, and his ministry proclaims equality among all.