Introduction
How can we know God? See Parent Book p. 28 and Activity Book p. 14.
Breakout 1: Reason
What can we know about God?
Review the 5 attributes of God on p. 30 of the Parent Book.
Pick one of the following two activities:
Option 1: Discussion. For each attribute, discuss: how might this truth bring comfort to someone during a difficult time? Give an example for each.
Option 2: Scripture Search. Look up and copy the scripture verses relating to each attribute into p. 17 of the Activity Book.
Breakout 2: Revelation
There are 12 doctrines in the Apostles Creed (found on p. 24 Parent Book and p. 13 Activity book).
Underline the 12 doctrines in your activity book.
Borrow a missal from the church and look up the Nicene Creed (p. 9).
Which 2 of the 12 doctrines are present in the Apostle’s Creed, but NOT the Nicene Creed? (the answer is in the “Additional Resources” section below)
Why the difference? “The creeds were never intended to be an exhaustive catalogue of Christian doctrine. Rather, they specify the core of our faith and guide us in the interpretation of Scripture. They are meant to be expounded, the basis for the elaboration of the whole of our faith.” (source)
The Nicene Creed is very focused on the Son’s relationship to the Father, and the Holy Spirit’s relationship to the Father and the Son. This was to combat Arian and Gnostic heresies (learn more about them here). It affirmed that Jesus is truly God, as is the Holy Spirit.
Breakout 3: Creation
Divide your family into two teams. One team reads Genesis 1:1 – 2:2. The second reads Genesis 2:3 - 2:25. When you’re done, answer the following questions:
In your version of the story, what order does God create things and people?
How are the two stories alike? How are they different? (a Venn Diagram could be useful here)
Together, write your family’s Genesis Story (Parent Book p. 38) and keep it in your folder in your mailbox (if you’re new and need a new folder, just ask!)
Additional Resources:
On Reason
A very in-depth discussion of divine attributes is available here.
There’s a podcast episode about St. Thomas Aquinas’s 8 divine attributes here.
There’s also a series of homilies on the topic here.
On Revelation
The two phrases “decended into hell” and “communion of saints” are included in the Apostle’s Creed but not the Nicene Creed.
On Creation
An important question that is likely to arise is, “Well, which way is the actual way God created the world?” or “Is this story really true anyways?” These stories are both true in the sense that they tell us great truths about ourselves and our relationship to God. They are not meant to be a blueprint for the actual mystery of Creation. (source) The Bible is a literary book, not a scientific document.
Did Creation only take six days? (Catholic Answers)
Catholic Teaching on Creation vs. Evolution (Catholic Answers)
Book: In the Beginning (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI)
The Genesis Problem by Fr. Robert Barron (The Integrated Catholic Life)