Describe one of the basic themes discussed in the course so far e.g. revelation, tradition, creeds, scriptures, Trinity, creation. Relate it to the dimension of human experience to which it is relevant and suggest some basic truth that it enunciates for human beings as to their identity or morality. This is a formal essay with referencing. “By love, God has revealed himself and given himself to man. He has thus provided the definitive, superabundant answer to the questions that man asks himself about the meaning and purpose of his life” Catechism of the Catholic Church, Online ed., 68.. This insight into the meaning of life, insight into God’s will for us and knowledge of the nature of God is known as revelation. God reveals Himself to us because He desires us to attain holiness and sanctification. “Ever since the creation of the world, His invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse” (Rom 1:20, ESV). God created the universe as the first Church for man to know God in as an “enduring witness to Himself in created realities” Vatican II Council, Dei Verbum (hereafter DV), Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, par. 3.. “The obvious order, power and beauty of the material world are a clear indication that the universe did not come into existence randomly, but is the result of … an all-powerful, divine being” Rafe, Simon. "What is Revelation?". Apologetics. Saint Michael's Media Inc., (Ferndale, MI: 2010), http://www.catholicbasictraining.com/apologetics/coursetexts/1i.htm.. In natural revelation, by reason and study of creation, we can know certain truths about God and morality etc. When we discover these truths by our natural ability during life, it is called natural revelation Charles, Coppens, S.J., "Chapter 1 - The Nature of Revelation." A Systematic Study of the Catholic Religion. (St. Louis, MO: University of Notre Dame, 1903), http://maritain.nd.edu/jmc/etext/sscr01.htm.. There is knowledge of God that we can know and deduce naturally, but there are also concepts and knowledge that humans cannot attain to by our natural endowments, yet which God reveals of Himself for the benefit of mankind which is known as supernatural/divine revelation. Through divine revelation, God chose to show forth and communicate Himself and the eternal decisions of His will regarding the salvation of men. That is to say, He chose to share with them those divine treasures which totally transcend the understanding of the human mind DV, 6.. The deposit of faith which Jesus Christ entrusted to the Church as Divine Revelation are found in Scripture and Tradition. Saint Paul instructs his disciples to “stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter” (2 Thess 2:15). In modern times, the (oral) Tradition of the Church is recorded in catechisms, encyclicals and council documents. These documents are given to us from the Magisterium of the Church (Pope) and they contain such things as rules for living, they define morality and explain the meaning of life. As Catholics, and in fact for all mankind, these Truths of morality and God, which are enunciated in Scripture and Tradition, are our best guide to living out the will of God in our daily life. Although the moral teachings of the Church can be difficult to live by, and certainly counter cultural in the modern era, they are indisputably divinely ordained and are beyond human wisdom. The moral teachings and precepts of the Church are a time tested golden rule to true happiness and most importantly, the blue print to life with God hereafter. There can be no higher personal pursuit in life than the attainment of personal holiness as revealed by God to the Church – these revelations on how to live are the key to our eternal salvation and the true meaning of life.  Bibliography Catechism of the Catholic Church, Online ed, 2003. Charles, Coppens, S.J. “Chapter 1 - The Nature of Revelation.” A Systematic Study of the Catholic Religion. St. Louis, MO: University of Notre Dame, 1903. Rafe, Simon. “What is Revelation.” Apologetics. Ferndale, MI: Saint Michael's Media Inc., 2010. The Holy Bible. RSV. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006. Vatican II, Council. “Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation - DEI VERBUM.” November 1965. THCT 100 – What Christians Believe S00152525 Joseph W. Moloney Page | 3