religion and science quiz 1

Miracle

An event that is commonly understood as contradicting the laws of nature.

Modern understanding of miracles

Miracles are often viewed as events that contradict the regular and consistent laws of the universe.

Ancient understanding of miracles

Ancient people did not understand nature as a closed system governed by consistent scientific laws and often understood unusual events as the direct actions of supernatural powers.

Scientific Revolution

A period centuries after the Bible when laws of nature were increasingly understood through observation experimentation and scientific investigation.

Nature as a closed system

The modern idea that the natural world operates according to consistent laws and can be studied scientifically.

Gilbert Chesterton's example

The rising and movement of the sun could be understood by ancient people as happening because God commanded it to happen.

Thomas Jefferson Bible

A version of the Bible created by Thomas Jefferson that removed the miracle stories from the Gospels.

Context and miracles

The same event can be interpreted differently depending on a person's knowledge perspective and personal involvement.

Obstetrician example

An obstetrician may describe a birth scientifically while the parents may describe the same birth as a miracle from God.

Scholarly approach to miracles

Scholars should use the same methods and criteria to study miracle stories in Christianity Buddhism Hinduism and other religions.

Oral tradition

The process of telling and retelling stories before they were eventually written down.

Biblical oral tradition

Stories about events and sayings were passed down orally and could be retold many times before being written.

Embellishment

The process by which a story can become more detailed or elaborate through repeated retelling.

Miracle stories in Buddhism

Stories describing supernatural events associated with Buddhist figures such as the Buddha's enlightenment.

Scholarly neutrality

The idea that scholars should apply the same methods of evaluation to miracle stories regardless of which religion the stories come from.

Faith and historical proof

The lecture cautions against basing faith entirely on historical or scientific proof of biblical events.

Danger of proving miracles

If faith depends on proving a miracle historically or scientifically then new evidence could potentially challenge that foundation of faith.

Bible as a history book

The lecture argues that viewing the Bible strictly as a modern history book can impose a modern framework onto an ancient religious text.

Bible as religious guidance

The Bible can be understood as providing guidance for Christian faith and practice rather than functioning solely as a modern history textbook.

Irreducible minimum of Christianity

The question of what is minimally required for someone to be considered a Christian.

Paul's formula for salvation

Salvation equals grace plus faith.

Literal interpretation

Understanding biblical passages as directly describing exactly what happened or what should be done.

Symbolic interpretation

Understanding some biblical passages as symbols rather than interpreting every statement literally.

Cultural context

The idea that some biblical teachings and practices may have been influenced by the culture and historical circumstances in which they originated.

Conservative Christianity

An approach that generally emphasizes traditional beliefs authority of scripture and resistance to changing traditional understandings.

Liberal Christianity

An approach that generally allows greater revision of traditional beliefs in light of reason changing circumstances and new knowledge.

Mercer Continuum

A framework adapted by Calvin Mercer that compares broad conservative and liberal religious orientations within Christianity.

The Divine in conservative Christianity

God-centered or theocentric with a low view of human beings as sinful and flawed.

The Divine in liberal Christianity

More anthropocentric or human-centered with greater emphasis on human ability given by God and God's work through creation.

The World in conservative Christianity

Otherworldly with emphasis on heaven hell the afterlife and the spiritual realm.

The World in liberal Christianity

Thisworldly with greater emphasis on present problems and life in the here and now.

Revelation in conservative Christianity

Religious truth comes from God through special communication such as sacred writings institutions traditions or personal religious experience.

Revelation in liberal Christianity

Scripture and tradition remain important but human rationality is viewed as essential for interpreting discerning and applying religious truth.

Tradition in conservative Christianity

Religious understanding passed down from previous generations is highly valued and change is generally opposed.

Tradition in liberal Christianity

Traditional beliefs may be revised or updated in response to changing circumstances and new knowledge.

Attitude in conservative Christianity

Generally dogmatic with commitment to beliefs viewed as indisputable because they are considered supernaturally revealed.

Attitude in liberal Christianity

Uses God-given rationality to interpret scripture and theology pragmatically and considers how faith can address problems and needs.

Christianity in conservative Christianity

Generally exclusive and views true Christianity as the only way to God.

Christianity in liberal Christianity

Generally more inclusive and may emphasize dialogue cooperation and mutual respect with other religions.

Fundamentalism

An ultraconservative minority perspective within the broader Christian landscape.

Radical left

An ultraliberal minority perspective within the broader Christian landscape.

Conservative versus liberal Christianity

Both are found within Christianity and the terms describe broad patterns rather than every belief held by every Christian.

Religious labels

Terms such as conservative and liberal can help situate religious belief systems within a wider landscape of perspectives.

Empathy in religious conversations

The importance of listening respectfully meeting people where they are and being willing to learn during sensitive conversations.

Respectful dialogue

Having conversations across different beliefs without assuming that one must immediately convince the other person.

Religious silos

Situations where people primarily interact with others who already share their beliefs and therefore rarely encounter opposing perspectives.

Sprinkling a seed

The idea that respectfully introducing a different perspective may influence someone's thinking even if they do not immediately change their mind.

Energy in difficult conversations

People have different amounts of emotional and mental energy for engaging in difficult conversations and may have more capacity during some seasons of life than others.

Shared good work

People with different religious or ideological beliefs can be motivated by their beliefs to work toward the same positive goals.