Adam and Eve

the first humans created by God whose disobedience brought sin into the world

Biblical / Theological Truth

the truths the Bible teaches about God and His relationship with humanity

Cain and Abel

the sons of Adam and Eve whose story shows how sin harms relationships

Canonize

to officially declare someone a saint in the Church

Church

the community of God’s people and the Body of Christ

Concupiscence

the human tendency to be drawn toward sin even after Baptism

Contextualist Approach

reading Scripture by considering history, culture, and literary style

Covenant

a sacred promise between God and His people

Exodus

the story of God freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt

Fall, the

the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God, introducing sin into the world

Fundamentalist Approach

reading the Bible literally without considering context or symbolism

Genesis

the first book of the Bible telling the story of creation and early humanity

Great Flood, the

God’s cleansing of the world from widespread sin during Noah’s time

Heaven

perfect union with God forever

Historical Truth

facts about real past events

Noah

a faithful man chosen by God to survive the Great Flood

Original Holiness

the first humans’ grace-filled friendship with God

Original Justice

the harmony Adam and Eve had with themselves, each other, and creation

Original Sin

the first sin that affects all humans with a weakened nature

Particular Good

a good that benefits one person or group but is not the highest good

Philosophical Truth

truths discovered through human reason

Pope Leo XIII

a pope known for teaching about workers’ rights and social justice

Prefigure

to foreshadow something that will happen later

St

Damien of Molokai

a priest who served people with leprosy in Hawaii

Salvation History

the story of God’s saving actions throughout time

Scientific Truth

truths discovered through observation and experimentation

Sin

a choice to turn away from God’s love

Springsteen, Bruce

an American musician often referenced in cultural examples

Tower of Babel, the

a story showing the consequences of human pride when God confused their languages

Ultimate Good

the highest good, which is God Himself