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SYMBOLS & THE SACRAMENTS. Religious Studies 3, Class #9. JOURNAL QUESTION:. What activity/aspect/cultural or ethnic connection do you think best defines you? Or, when other people see you, how do you think they define you?. Sacramental Awareness
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SYMBOLS & THE SACRAMENTS Religious Studies 3, Class #9
JOURNAL QUESTION: • What activity/aspect/cultural or ethnic connection do you think best defines you? Or, when other people see you, how do you think they define you?
Sacramental Awareness • Know what it means and be prepared to give examples of it • The belief that the sacred is all around us. • The ability to see God’s presence all around us.
Sacramental Dullness (Sacramental Blindness) • Know its definition and the three main causes of it • Why don’t people see God in creation? • People are too busy Example: • A great deal of pain & suffering exists in the world Example: • People do not know where to look or what to look for Example:
Grace • What’s the best definition that our book and our notes offer? • Grace is the: • CREATIVE • SUSTAINING • TRANSFORMING Self-gift of God that is always offered to us.
The three main ways humans experience grace There are three main ways humans experience grace: • Through creation (“God’s body language”) • Sacraments • They are meant to provide an experience of God • Friendship • Think of your best friend…
Sacramental Skills • Two necessary skills for sacramental awareness: • Examples of these two skills • Listening… • AFFIRMING: • NONJUDGMENTAL: • Responding… • Genuine responses flow out of us naturally • Sacramental experiences call for a response
Symbols • It’s Greek origin • Qualities and characteristics of symbols • Examples of symbols • From the Greek symballein, meaning “to throw together” • It has a multiplicity of meanings (“overplus of meaning” according to Rahner) • It is naturally connected to what it symbolizes • It evokes more than just one response from us
Signs • How are these different from symbols? • An object that represents some other reality • It gets its meaning by reflecting something else
Cultural Symbols vs. Universal Symbols • Definition and examples of both Cultural • Change their meaning over time • Are limited to a certain group of people in a certain place Universal • Their meanings can be understood by people of many different cultures
Literal Thinking • Definition and times when literal thinking is important LITERAL • That’s all there is • Concerned with visible, observable facts • Useful for precise measurements
Symbolic Thinking • Definition and why it’s necessary for celebrating sacraments SYMBOLIC • There’s more than meets the eye • Concerned with the meaning beneath the surface • Useful for sacramental awareness