Explain the contribution to the development and expression of Christianity of pope john XXIII.

 Ordained bishop in 1925

 Became cardinal in 1953
 Angelo Giuseppe roncalli
 Gentle humanity, enterprising and active spirit saw him lead a needed revitalisation of the catholic church
 Initiated ideas and force that would affect the world when he convened the second Vatican council.
 Organised Vatican II, a series of meetings from 1962 – 1965 which brought changes to the roman catholic church
 Those who knew him described him and kind diplomatic, energetic, humorous and intelligent
 His beginning as a humble man began which is contrasted with noble origins of predecessor pope pius XII
 1892 – entered Bergamo seminary, ordained in 1904
 1925 – ordained bishop, left for Bulgaria, remained til 1935, named apostolic delegate in Turkey and Greece
 Elected pope, Oct 1958, taking the name of john XXIII
 Pope for less than five years, gentle humanity combined with enterprising and active spirit which saw him lead a
needed revitalisation of Catholic Church.
 Initiated ideas and forces affecting the world when he convened the second Vatican council
 Ecumenical councils occur infrequently merely summoning Vatican II a significant event.

Analyse the impact of pope john XXIII on Christianity

 Vatican II, met in Rome 1962 – 1964

 16 documents seeped change and reform
 John XXIII did not live to see changes brought about
 Local languages were allowed
 Priest faced the congregation
 Positive view of non-catholic Christians and other religions
 Laity in church performed a more important role
 Inclusion of new prayer and music
 Leap forward, XXIII one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20 th century
 Full and active participation in church ritual
 Parishioners did not only watch proceedings and listen to language they could not understand though play more
active role to allow a understanding of their religious worship
 After death, honoured by many protestant organisations as a Christian reformer
 Anglican and Lutheran commemorate John XXIII as the ‘renewal of the church’
 A lot of disagreements and division although 16 documents eventually produced leading to sweeping change and
widespread reform
 Changes made by pope john XXIII, did not live to see these changes
 The priest now faced the congregation instead of having his back to it
 Positive views of non-catholic Christians and other religions encouraged
 More important role was provided for laity in church. Lay people were now actively recognised as an important
components of the church and were able to play a role in some church rituals
 Inclusion of new prayers and music
 Decisions over 400 years prior, and before Vatican II were changed in the council sittings
 An oath taken against modernism by priests, was influenced to the church
 Vatican II and Pope John XXIII determination that church should ‘leap forward’ and he is considered to be one of
the most influential Christian leaders of the twentieth century.
 Reforms allowed more full and active participation in church rituals.
 Parishioners no longer just watching proceedings and listening to a language they often could not understand
though were able to play a more active role, enabling them a complete understanding of own religious worship.
 John XXIII, honoured by protestant organisations as a Christian reformer.
 Anglican and Lutheran denominations commemorate john XXIII as a ‘renewal of the church’
 Energetic, an instinctual, connection with people, possessed a vision for the church so that he was able to occupy a
particular crucial part of history.
 Won hearts of catholic’s, protestants and non Christians through his simplicity and charm
 Initiated change to church against hostile forces
 Placed motions ideas and forces to allow for a major number of the world’s population to be affected
 Pope John XXIII caused impact majorly through the Vatican II to have the catholic church renewed.

Describe and explain Christian ethical teachings on bioethics

 Christians are opposed to euthanasia and physician assisted suicide, on grounds it invades god’s territory of life and
death due to humans being made in god’s image
 Important in the church of catholic and Salvation Army that it is important to not interfere with death. Death is a
natural process.
 Uniting church has an open view of euthanasia and like to see it in terms of love and supporting a loved one
instead of whether individuals actions are right or wrong
 The voluntary euthanasia is problematic, viewed by many evangelical Christians
 If available on demand, people may use it for the wrong reason
 Burden to family leisure as they can die while they have money to pass to their children or carers apply it
unethically.
 God should determine when it ends
 Catechism: ‘whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to lives of handicapped,
sick, or dying persons.
 ‘thou shalt not kill’ says it is wrong to kill, ruling out act of euthanasia being considered morally right’
 Abortion has no specific instruction given by god in the bible
 Christians belief on abortion needs to be based on interpretation of passages that speak about sanctity of life
 Roman Catholic Church opposes abortion, deemed a ‘mortal sin’ – sin committed in full knowledge that it is wrong
and one that may result in external separation from god.
 Morally wrong as they interfere natural process of new life entering the world
 Human life is sacred from the time of conception til death – catholic belief
 Genesis 1:27 – humans created in god’s image
 God, values human life greatly a value demonstrated by sending Jesus to die for humanity.
 Denominations are softer arguing although never a positive thing, abortion is acceptable under some
circumstances e.g. danger to mothers health, extreme foetal disabilities.
 Uniting church – choice of whether to abort or not is up to the pregnant woman.
 Organ donation is encouraged by mainstream protestant, roman catholic, eastern orthodox and Pentecostal and
evangelical churches.
 Christians encouraged to help others in need, most Christians look upon giving blood, plasma and donation as an
act of brotherly love, as a concrete way of following Jesus’ example.
 Describe Saturday/Sunday worship and demonstrate how it expresses the beliefs of Christianity.

 Sunday worship is the Christian belief in sacredness power and efficiency of the lord’s word (scripture) and the
central sacrament to them being the Eucharist, as the Lord’s Supper.
 Gathering as a community, collecting money, singing and raising each other’s minds and hearts to god.
 Confirms the belief of Christians that all exists in and through Jesus Christ (JN 1:3)
 The wisdom of god is present throughout all creations
 Sabbath day allows an opportunity to imitate the creator’s joyful rest
 Achieved by remembering links between god and human beings is essential
 ‘remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy’ is one of the most detailed and specifically orders that no one must
work on this day
 The Sabbath should not be followed in a legalistic manner
 Mainstream Christian denominations have specific days.
 Genesis provides the account of how God created the world in six days, and the seventh ‘rested from his labour’
 Exodus – a description of how God gave the law to the Israelites via the Decalogue
 Fourth commandment ‘remembers the Sabbath day by keeping it holy’.
 New testament develops the old testaments teachings on the Sabbath, declaring it should not be followed in a
legalistic manner
 Roman, Anglican and orthodox have specific days of worship; many provide opportunities for church-based
worship on other days.
 Songs of worship, and praise, or hymns as they as known in traditional churches, encourage worship and exaltation
of God to help provide more joyful atmosphere and encourage hope and prayers
 Hymns and songs of worship use versus and words from the bible enabling Christians to express beliefs
 Catholic homilies express catholic view of the bible, Anglican are bible based, Pentecostal vary in how they use the
bible in services and sermons.
 The inspiration for Sunday worship originates from Jewish practice of the Sabbath (Saturday)
 Importance in Judaism is evident in naming of the days of the week from ‘the first day’ to the ‘sixth day’ and a
special title given for the ‘Sabbath’ or ‘seventh day’
 Sabbath is a day where no work is performed in accordance with the Ten Commandments
 A day devoted to physical restoration, spiritual nourishment and intellectual stimulation
 Followers to Jesus continue their observance of every seventh day holy though transferred the day to Sunday
 Christian communities Sundays were designated as being the most appropriate for communal worship and
‘breaking of the bread’.
 Many Christian churches regard Sunday as the Lord’s Day that is to be observed as the primary holy day of
obligation.
 Analyse the significance of Saturday/Sunday worship for both the individual and the Christian
community

 Worship is a way which people respond to god who gave them life and continues to sustain their life
 Worship for many reasons including
o Reminded of God’s faithfulness and goodness
o Sacraments, as a symbolic act
o Catholic belief, bread and wine become body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation)
o Protestant churches remembrance of taking the bread and wine as symbol of blood and body of Jesus
(consubstantiation)
 Eastern orthodox refers to the Saturday/Sunday worship as the liturgy beyond the liturgy
 Anglican, catholic, orthodox, and uniting denominations view the communion as a sacrament – not only do they
believe that Jesus commanded his followers to participate in it but believe god’s grave falls on those whom receive
it.
 ‘Inner spiritual grace’ with bread and wine as elements of Jesus’ sacrifice.
 Coming together in prayer and worship
 Christians are expected to worship god every moment of their life’s, traditionally more concerned in
Saturday/Sunday with a church service usually containing a sermon or some sort of formal teaching.
 Sermon = priest gives a presentation to teach or instruct believers on how to live according to their faith
 Prayer is essential in Christian services with short prayers interspersed throughout the service
 Communion set liturgical prayer may be offered especially in a catholic or Anglican church
 Part of worshipping god is being in a community = most do not see their attendance as an obligation though do
view as obligatory to attend services
 A joyful opportunity to learn more about god, serve god by serving others
 Learn more about the bible and feel a part of the community whether as a individual or family
 Public affirmation of faith
 Source of spiritual direction and ‘discovering the mind of god’ and an opportunity to gain perspective on life, and to
show thanksgiving and repentance
 Expression of mutual support, comfort and encouragement
 Teach the congregation and give direction for action in the life’s of the community for the rest of the week
 Two bible readings can be offered: 1 from the Old Testament and 1 from the New Testament
 Pentecostal services are viewed as less bible-based, attracting criticism
 Songs are spaced out in the service in Baptist and Pentecostal where the service begins with a period of extended
singing,
 Prayer – before/after collection of money, beginning an end of sermon and end of the service
 Longer prayers said by the priest, offer combining thanks, praise and petition to God.
 Christians come together as family to honour their father in heaven
 Important for Christians to worship with others (Hebrews 10: 24 – 25)
 Personal prayers, bible study and fellow believers, day of worship helps develop each of these
 Communion – weekly in Catholics and Anglican, only monthly in protestant
 One body, one family, remember death of Christ in the lord’s supper ( 1 Corinthians 11:26-34)
 Joyful opportunity to learn more about God, serve God by serving others, learn more about the bible by formal
teaching and feel part of community.
 Transubstantiation: (orthodox, roman catholic) the belief in the physical change of the bread and wine into the
body and blood of Christ without change to the physical appearance of the host
 Consubstantiation: (Lutheran) the belief in the real presence of jesus Christ during the eucharist without physical
change, to the bread and wine = protestant