Teachings of the Catholic Church - Questions     

Ratzinger, In the Beginning, pp. 59-77:

1. According to Ratzinger, what is the subject that has become almost everywhere today one of those subjects that is not spoken about?  Keep this in mind.  We will return to it below.

2. According to Ratzinger, what does the image of the garden represent?

3. What does the image of the serpent represent?

4. Cardinal Ratzinger claims that, “Temptation does not begin with the denial of God and with a fall into outright atheism.”  If not, what does temptation begin with?  What is the serpent tempting the man and the woman to do, according to Ratzinger?

5. Consider once again your answer to question #1.  What is the relationship between the serpent’s temptation in the garden and our modern tendency to avoid the subject of sin and guilt?  Are we living out, in our own way, the story of the man and the woman in the garden?

6. In his article, Cardinal Ratzinger states that, “This doubt about the covenant and the accompanying invitation to human beings to free themselves from their limitations has appeared in various forms throughout history and also shapes the present-day scene.”  He mentions two variations.  Describe each.  What attitude is similar to both?

7. What happens, according to Ratzinger, when human beings themselves want to be God?  What happens, not only to their relationship with God, but with their relationship with others?  What does the other become when a person wants to be God?

8. According to Ratzinger, what does original sin mean when we interpret it correctly?  How can we be saved – that is, be free and true – that is, become ourselves – according to Ratzinger?
 
 

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