Mixed Deck — All ARK Topics Flashcards

The Society of Jesus (Jesuits), founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1540, became especially prominent in:

Answer: Education, missions, and defending Catholic doctrine

The Jesuits became the Catholic Church's most effective instrument for education, foreign missions (Japan, China, Americas), and countering Protestantism through the Counter-Reformation.

In Christian theology, the term 'kenosis' refers to:

Answer: Christ's self-emptying of divine attributes in the Incarnation

Kenosis (from Greek 'to empty') refers to Christ's voluntary self-limitation of divine attributes when taking on human form, based on Philippians 2:7.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process by which:

Answer: Adults convert to and are fully initiated into the Catholic Church

The RCIA (now called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the multi-stage process through which unbaptized or non-Catholic adults are initiated into full membership in the Catholic Church.

What is the Jewish concept of "Covenant"?

Answer: A sacred agreement between God and the Israelites

The covenant in Judaism refers to the sacred agreement between God and the Israelites, starting with Abraham and later reaffirmed with Moses.

In Hinduism, the three paths to liberation (moksha) outlined in the Bhagavad Gita include jnana yoga, bhakti yoga, and:

Answer: Karma yoga

The Bhagavad Gita presents three primary paths to moksha: jnana yoga (path of knowledge), bhakti yoga (path of devotion), and karma yoga (path of selfless action).

According to the Letter to the Hebrews (9:4), what three items were contained in the Ark of the Covenant?

Answer: The tablets of the Law, Aaron's staff, and a jar of manna

Hebrews 9:4 states the Ark contained the golden jar of manna, Aaron's staff that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

In Catholic teaching, what is the relationship between Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition?

Answer: Both flow from the same divine source and together form one sacred deposit of the Word of God

The Catechism teaches that Scripture and Tradition together make up the single sacred deposit of the Word of God, entrusted to the Church.

According to the Nicene Creed, which of the following is identified as 'the Lord, the giver of life'?

Answer: The Holy Spirit

The Nicene Creed explicitly states, 'We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified...' This identifies the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity who imparts life.

According to Genesis 1, on which day of creation did God create human beings?

Answer: Sixth

Genesis 1:26-27 describes the creation of human beings in God's image on the sixth day of creation.

The theological virtue of faith in Catholic theology involves:

Answer: Both intellectual assent and personal trust in God who reveals

Catholic faith involves both fides (intellectual assent to revealed truth) and fiducia (personal trust in the God who reveals) — it is neither blind nor merely intellectual.

What is the theological term for the study of the 'last things' — death, judgment, heaven, and hell?

Answer: Eschatology

Eschatology is the branch of theology dealing with final events, including death, the afterlife, the end of history, and ultimate destiny.

Which term describes Pope John Paul II's contribution to Catholic Social Teaching that emphasized the importance of human work and the dignity of workers?

Answer: Laborem Exercens

Laborem Exercens ('On Human Work,' 1981) placed human labor at the center of social teaching, arguing that work is fundamental to human dignity and self-fulfillment.

Which sacred text is divided into 114 chapters called 'suras' and is regarded as the direct word of God in Islam?

Answer: Quran

The Quran is the holy scripture of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God (Allah) as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Jibril (Gabriel).

What is a common outcome when interfaith dialogue is successful?

Answer: Greater mutual respect and cooperation among different faith communities

Successful interfaith dialogue often leads to greater mutual respect and cooperation among different faith communities.

Which patriarch was commanded by God to offer his son as a sacrifice, a command that God ultimately prevented?

Answer: Abraham

Genesis 22 recounts God testing Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac; God provided a ram as a substitute at the last moment.

In Catholic Social Teaching, what does 'integral human development' mean?

Answer: Development of the whole person in every dimension — spiritual, moral, social, and material

Integral human development, emphasized by Pope Paul VI and Pope Benedict XVI, means authentic development of the whole person and all people in every dimension.

What is the 'epiclesis' in the Eucharistic Prayer?

Answer: The invocation of the Holy Spirit upon the gifts to consecrate them

The epiclesis (Greek: 'invocation upon') is the prayer calling the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into Christ's Body and Blood in the Eucharistic Prayer.

In Catholic tradition, the examen prayer, developed by Ignatius of Loyola, involves:

Answer: A daily review of one's actions, feelings, and God's presence in the day

The Ignatian examen is a daily prayer of consciousness — reviewing the day to notice God's presence, give thanks, examine how one acted, and plan for tomorrow.

Which of the following correctly describes the 'sensus plenior' in biblical interpretation?

Answer: A deeper meaning intended by God but not fully grasped by the human author

Sensus plenior ('fuller sense') refers to the deeper meaning God intended that transcends what the human author fully understood when writing.

The concept of 'typology' in biblical interpretation means:

Answer: OT persons, events, and institutions that foreshadow and are fulfilled in Christ and the NT

Typology is the interpretive method of reading OT persons (Adam, Moses, Jonah), events (Exodus, Passover), and institutions (Temple, priesthood) as types or foreshadowings fulfilled in Christ.