Teachings of the Catholic Church - Questions     

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, In the Beginning: A Catholic Understanding of the Story of the Creation and the Fall, 1-39:

“God the Creator”

1. When, according to Cardinal Ratzinger, did creation become a dominant theme for the Jewish people?  What insight about God was gained (that perhaps could not have been gained elsewhere)
during this particular place and time?

2. According to Cardinal Ratzinger, during this time, the Jewish faith in creation had to find its own contours vis-a-vis what?

3. Why, according to Cardinal Ratzinger, should the Jewish creation account be seen as the decisive “enlightenment” of history and as a breakthrough out of the fears that had oppressed humankind?  [NB: Ratzinger mentions this theme as well at the beginning of the present chapter – on page 5, to be precise.  Look there for a nice summary of his position.]

4. As Cardinal Ratzinger points out (p. 14), the classic seven-day creation story is not the only creation text in sacred Scripture.  The others, it is important to note, do not stick to the same seven-day structure.  What conclusion does Ratzinger draw from this fact?

“The Meaning of the Biblical Creation Accounts”

5. Ratzinger notes that the words “God said” appear ten times in the creation account.  What does he think this signifies?

6. He also notes that the number of days of creation is seven.  What does he think this signifies?

7. Ratzinger says that the profound idea that the universe exists for the sake of worship is frequently misinterpreted.  In what way?  Explain.  Why, according to Ratzinger’s interpretation, did God create the universe?

8. According to Ratzinger, why is it important that the people not reject God’s rest and worship?  In this regard, read the article by Josef Pieper called “On Leisure” and compare Ratzinger’s points with Pieper’s.  How are their concerns similar?

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