C11 Theology Study Guide

Question for the Critical Thinking Module

What is Truth?

Answer of the Critical Thinking Module

Truth is that which corresponds with Ultimate Reality

Question of the Theology Module

Who/What is Ultimate Reality?

Answer of the Theology Module

The Triune God

Week 1 Question

Does God Exist?

Theme (brach of theology) of Week 1

Natural Theology

Definition of Theism

Belief in the existence of a god or gods, especially in one god as creator of the universe, intervening in it and sustaining a personal relationship to his creatures

Definition of Deism

Belief in a supreme being as the universe’s creator who set natural laws in motion, but does not intervene in worldly affairs.

Definition of Natural Theology

Knowledge of God based on reason and observed facts and experience of nature, apart from divine revelation.

Cosmological Argument

Teleological Argument

Moral Argument

Who wrote Summa Theologica?

Thomas Aquinas

What was the main point of Summa Theologica?

Argued for God’s existence using the cosmological argument

Who is Al-Ghazali?

Medieval Muslim, argued for God’s existence using the cosmological argument

Who Wrote The Watch and the Watchmaker?

William Paley

What was the main point of The Watch and the Watchmaker?

Argued for God’s Existence using the teleological argument.

Who wrote Mere Christianity?

C.S. Lewis

What was the main point in Mere Christianity?

Argued for God’s existence based on morality.

Abbreviated Question of Week 2

What is God Like?

Theme (branch of theology) of Week 2

Systematic Theology

Systematic Theology

Arranging of religious truths in a self-consistent whole

Doctrine of Trinity

1 Being, 3 Persons

Augustine’s 7 statements about the Trinity

• The Father is God

• The Son is God

• The Holy Spirit is God

• The Father is not the Son

• The Son is not the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit is not the Father

• There is only 1 God

Omnipotence

Unlimited power; able to do anything intrinsically possible

Omnibenevolence

Unlimited or infinite goodness

Omniscience

Knowing everything

Omnipresence

Being present everywhere at the same time

Omnicompetence

Ability to deal successfully with any task or situation

Transcendence

Existing apart from and not subject to the limitations of the material universe

Immanence

Presently pervading and sustaining the universe

Abbreviated Question of Week 3

What is God’s problem?

Theme (branch of theology) of Week 3

Theodicy

Theodicy definition

Reconciliation of belief in a good and/or omnipotent God with the existence of evil and suffering in the world.

Who wrote The problem of Pain

C.S. Lewis

Abbreviated Question of Week 4

What is God’s solution?

Theme (branch of theology) of Week 4

Practical Theology

Atonement definition

Reconciliation and restoration of unit between God and humankind through the cross and the blood of Jesus Christ

Justification definition

Declaring an unrighteous person to be righteous in the sight of God

Sanctification definition

The process of setting someone or something apart as holy or sacred; becoming purified.

Christus Victor View

The view that emphasizes how Jesus’ death and resurrection defeated Satan and thus set humankind free from Satan’s oppressive rule.

Satisfaction View

The view that Jesus’ death brought “satisfaction” between God and humanity by paying the penalty humanity’s sin deserved.

Subjective View

The view that the primary significance of Jesus’ life and death is that they serve as an example of how we are to live.

Penal Substitution View

The view that Jesus bore the punishment humanity deserved

Moral Government View

The view that God does not consider people holy because of what Jesus did. He wants us to actually live holy lives. This is the central reason why Jesus dies on the cross.