all gifted with understanding and
free will; and they have all been created for the same end--God.

Q. 129. Do not men differ in many things?
A. Men differ in many things, such as learning, wealth, power, etc.; but
these things belong to the world and not man's nature. He came into this
world without them and he will leave it without them. Only the
consequences of good or evil done in this world will accompany men to
the next.

Q. 130. {1} Who made the world?
A. God made the world.

Q. 131. What does "world" mean in this question?
A. In this question "world" means the universe; that is, the whole
creation; all that we now see or may hereafter see.

Q. 132. {2} Who is God?
A. God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things.

Q. 133. {3} What is man?
A. Man is a creature composed of body and soul, and made to the image
and likeness of God.

Q. 134. Does "man" in the Catechism mean all human beings?
A. "Man" in the Catechism means all human beings, either men or women,
boys, girls, or children.

Q. 135. What is a creature?
A. A creature is anything created, whether it has life or not; body or
no body. Every being, person, or thing except God Himself may be called
a creature.

Q. 136. {4} Is this likeness in the body or in the soul?
A. This likeness is chiefly in the soul.

Q. 137. {5} How is the soul like to God?
A. The soul is like to God because it is a spirit that will never die,
and has understanding and free will.

Q. 138. Is every invisible thing a spirit?
A. Every spirit is invisible--which means can not be seen; but every
invisible thing is not a spirit. The wind is invisible, and it is not a
spirit.

Q. 139. Has a spirit any other quality?
A. A spirit is also indivisible; that is, it can not be divided into
parts, as we divide material things.

Q. 140. What do the words "will never die" mean?
A. By the words "will never die" we mean that the soul, when once
created, will never cease to exist, whatever be its condition in the
next world. Hence we say the soul is immortal or gifted with
immortality.

Q. 141. Why then do we say a soul is dead while in a state of mortal
sin?
A. We say a soul is dead while in a state of mortal sin, because in that
state it is as helpless as a dead body, and can merit nothing for
itself.

Q. 142. What does our "understanding" mean?
A. Our "understanding" means the "gift of reason," by which man is
distinguished from all other animals, and by which he