theo 201 Study Notes

Study Notes for RLGN 350

• Course Offerings

  • Course fills quickly; 300 level.

  • Focus: Understanding major religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity).

  • Engaging formats: synagogue visits, mosque prayers, Buddhist monastery tours.

• Special Guests

  • Invited Rabbi for Passover teaching.

  • Islamic speaker: Chairman Rizwan Jaka emphasizes Islamic tenets on peace and interfaith dialogue.

  • Discussions on common beliefs vs. differences between Christianity and Islam.

• Key Concepts of God

  • Major Attributes: Holiness (essential), Righteousness, Justice, Love, Mercy, Grace.

  • Grace is unique to Christianity, embodied in Jesus.

• Worldviews

  • Theism: Belief in one God (monotheism vs. polytheism).

  • Atheism: Denial of God, Agnosticism: Uncertainty about God.

  • Secular humanism: Man as the measure of all things.

  • Pantheism: God is synonymous with the universe.

  • Monism and Dualism discussed in contrast to theism.

• Attributes of God Overview

  • Holiness: Distinct from creation, central attribute.

  • Righteousness: God acts justly.

  • Love: Key attribute defining God—related to grace.

  • Justice: Essential for moral considerations across religions.

• Exam Preparation

  • Focus on five attributes of God.

  • Review specific biblical verses linked with Christian doctrines:

  • II Timothy 3:16

  • II Peter 1:21

  • I Corinthians 2:12

  • Titus 2:11

  • Ephesians 3:20

  • Revelation 22:18

  • Key Theologians to know: Irenaeus, Martin Luther, Karl Barth, Marcian (heretic).

• Cults and Non-Christian Groups

  • Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons critiqued in terms of their beliefs.

  • Differences from historic Christianity discussed.

• Relationship with Other Religions

  • Fundamental beliefs about Jesus differ notably between religions.

  • The importance of understanding interfaith differences and commonalities in class discussions.

• General Knowledge for Exam

  • Be prepared to discuss worldviews, attributes of God, and key theological insights.

  • Examine implications of religious texts and their significance.

• Class Discussion Highlights

  • Importance of understanding cultural differences, avoiding Islamophobia, and promoting interfaith dialogue.

  • Address misinformation about religions through education and discussion.

  • Prayer as a reflection of faith and God's sovereign nature.

  • Emphasis on moral development beyond technological advancements (AI's limitations).

• Final Thoughts

  • Engage critically with material, focusing on preparing for the exam with a grounding in course content and discussions.