Catholic Apologetics

Review for Semester Exam: May 2012

Bring:

  • At least one number 2 pencil with a clean eraser
  • A dark blue or black ink pen
  • Something to read or study in case you finish before the end of the hour(you cannot be dismissed early)

Format:

  • 24 True/False (1 point each)
  • 76 Multiple Choice (1 point each) = 120 point possible (20% of the semester grade)
  • 1 Essay (20 points)

There are 5 sections of the exam – each section corresponds with one of the five units and there are exactly 20 questions from each unit.

Covers:In addition to the notes, pay close attention to the chapter review questions, video handouts, and the notes.

Hints: These are topics that will appear on the exam. Most of them appear several times.

  • Sola Scriptura
  • Matthew Kelly’s Rediscovering Catholicism– see especially, the review questions
  • Truth
  • The tension between science and religion – including Galileo
  • The use of logic/reason by faith and religion
  • Proofs for God’s existence
  • The debate over intelligent design and Darwinism
  • The relation of faith and religion
  • Ecumenism and Catholicism’s relation to other denominations and religions
  • The Real Presence
  • The biblical canon
  • Reliability and interpretation of the Bible
  • Biblical typologies
  • Jesus: Old Testament prophecies, historicity, divinity, miracles, resurrection,
  • Peter: Jesus’ call, his role in the early Church
  • Papal infallibility
  • Four marks of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic
  • Apostolic Succession
  • Apostolic Fathers
  • Sacred Tradition vs. Sacred Scripture
  • Demonic possession
  • Judgment, hell, purgatory
  • Angles vs. fallen angels
  • The role of Mary and the saints in the Church
  • Communion of Saints

Essay Question:

Write a two to three paragraph essay (at least one side of a page) in reaction to the quote below from Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Explain his insight by integrating ideas we have studied throughout the semester It is imperative to include many examples.

There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Roman Catholic Church;

there are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church.

Some things you may consider including in your essay: The relation of faith and reason/logic; The importance of giving witness to Catholic faith; Anti-Catholicism; The search for truth; The path to holiness; The goal and purpose of the Christian life; Historical contributions of Catholics throughout twenty centuries; Scandal in the Church; Ecumenism; Catholic attitudes toward non-Christian religions; Science vs. religion; The Church as preservationist: Bible, literature, tradition, culture, law, science, etc.; Misunderstandings: Mary, the saints, purgatory, infallibility, morality, papacy, the Galileo affair, Crusades, Inquisition, Confession, infant Baptism, etc.; The four marks of the Church of Christ; Sacred Scripture vs. Sacred Tradition