MATSEC IM Religious Knowledge flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Deuterocanonical books

Seven Old Testament books plus additions accepted by the Catholic Church but excluded from Protestant canons, confirmed at the Council of Trent in 1546.

Synoptic problem

The question of the literary relationship among Matthew, Mark and Luke, explained by Markan priority and a shared sayings source commonly called Q.

Form criticism

A method that classifies biblical texts by pre-literary genre and life setting (Sitz im Leben) before they were written down, associated with Gunkel and Bultmann.

Four senses of Scripture

Literal, allegorical, moral and anagogical meanings, taught by the Church Fathers and summarised in the Catechism as the spiritual reading of the text.

Covenant

A binding agreement between God and humanity, as with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and the New Covenant inaugurated by Christ at the Last Supper.

Homoousios

Greek term meaning 'of the same substance', adopted at Nicaea in 325 to affirm the Son is consubstantial with the Father, against Arianism.

Hypostatic union

The union in one divine Person of the Son of two natures, divine and human, without confusion, change, division or separation, defined at Chalcedon.

Filioque

Latin addition to the Nicene Creed stating the Spirit proceeds from the Father 'and the Son'; a central point of dispute with the Eastern Churches.

Theotokos

Greek title 'God-bearer' given to Mary, affirmed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 against Nestorius, safeguarding the unity of Christ's person.

Purgatory

A state of final purification for those who die in God's grace but are not yet perfectly purified, distinct from hell and defined at Lyon and Florence.

Justification

God's act of making a sinner righteous through grace and faith in Christ; Catholic teaching holds it is both imputed and transformative, requiring human cooperation.

Edict of Milan

The 313 agreement between Constantine and Licinius granting religious toleration across the Roman Empire, ending the Diocletian persecution of Christians.

Council of Jerusalem

The apostolic meeting around 49 AD recorded in Acts 15 that decided Gentile converts need not be circumcised or follow the full Mosaic Law.

East-West Schism

The 1054 break between the Churches of Rome and Constantinople over papal primacy, the Filioque and liturgical customs; mutual excommunications were lifted in 1965.

Council of Trent

The reforming council held 1545-1563 that clarified Catholic doctrine on Scripture, justification, sacraments and the Mass in response to the Reformation.

Vatican II

The council held 1962-1965 that produced sixteen documents, including Lumen Gentium, Dei Verbum, Sacrosanctum Concilium and Nostra Aetate, renewing Catholic life.

St Publius

Traditionally the Roman governor of Malta who welcomed Paul after the shipwreck (Acts 28) and is held to be Malta's first bishop.

Transubstantiation

The doctrine that in the Eucharist the whole substance of bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ while the appearances remain.

Ex opere operato

Latin phrase meaning 'by the work performed': sacraments confer grace by Christ's power, provided the recipient does not place an obstacle.

Sacrosanctum Concilium

The 1963 Vatican II constitution on the liturgy that permitted vernacular languages and promoted active participation of the faithful in worship.

Easter Triduum

The three days from Holy Thursday evening to Easter Sunday, comprising the Mass of the Lord's Supper, the Good Friday liturgy and the Easter Vigil.

Sacramental matter and form

The material element and the words that together constitute a valid sacrament, such as water with the Trinitarian formula in Baptism.

Subsidiarity

The Catholic social principle that decisions should be taken at the lowest competent level, with higher bodies intervening only when necessary for the common good.

Double effect

A principle allowing an act with a foreseen harmful side-effect if the act itself is good, the harm is unintended and not the means, and proportionality holds.

Common good

The sum of social conditions enabling individuals and groups to reach fulfilment, involving respect for persons, social well-being and peace.

Rerum Novarum

Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical on labour and capital that founded modern Catholic social teaching, defending workers' rights and private property.

Cardinal virtues

Prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance: natural virtues that can be practised by anyone and are perfected by grace and the theological virtues.

Five Pillars of Islam

Shahada (faith), salat (prayer), zakat (almsgiving), sawm (fasting in Ramadan) and hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), the core obligations of Muslims.

Four Noble Truths

Buddhist teaching that suffering exists, has a cause in craving, can cease, and the Eightfold Path leads to that cessation.

Nostra Aetate

The 1965 Vatican II declaration on non-Christian religions that affirmed elements of truth in other faiths and repudiated antisemitism.

Maltese Constitution Article 2

The constitutional provision establishing Roman Catholicism as the religion of Malta while guaranteeing freedom of conscience and worship to all.

Village festa

A Maltese annual religious festival honouring a parish patron saint, featuring processions, band marches and fireworks, central to local Catholic culture.

Believing without belonging

Grace Davie's phrase describing people who retain religious belief but no longer participate regularly in institutional worship, typical of Western secularisation.