Theology Midterm Studying

Duns/Kelly Readings

Intro

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Printed Readings

The Problem of Religious Illiteracy By Dr. Susan Wood

6 in 10 U.S. adults say that religion is very important to them but only 4 in 10 attend worship services at least once a week. Only half knew basic facts about the bible

Religious literacy can inoculate against fanaticism and prejudice

We tend to fear the unknown

To be religiously literate is to be aware of the great diversity among belief systems and the nuances within them

Basic religious knowledge is necessary to “get” religious references made in books, films or in politics

Jews, Mormons and Atheists/Agnostics have the highest level of religious knowledge, catholics come in last

Methodological Assumptions and Analytical Frameworks Regarding Religion By Diana Moore

there is a difference between devotional expression of particular religious beliefs as normative and the nonsectarian study of religion that presumes the religious legitimacy of diverse normative claims

differing communities will have similar practices but with diverse theological justifications

Religions are internally diverse

religions evolve and change

religious influences are embedded in cultures

How to Find God: Six Paths by Fr. James Martin

the path of belief of faith gives meaning to the joys and struggles of life, faith in god means that you know you are never alone

many go through a path of doubt and confusion before they come to know god

ignatious finally accepted gods presence at an age when many of his peers were on a path to family and financial success

the path of independence separates ones self from organized religion but still believes in god, they might find church services meaningless, offensive, dull, or all three

path of independence could be from religious trauma, they see things in a fresh way which other paths may desperately need

the path of disbelief is for believers who started as atheists or agnostic, they seek proof for gods existence and when find none reject the theistic worldview completely

the path of returning to god is usually the case of someone beginning in a religious family as a child who has then drifted away from god

The path of exploration spend time exploring different types of religion and the right fit, for this group,

path of confusion crosses all the others at various points, they run hot and cold with their faith as a child. finding it easy to belief in god at times and hard during others. confusion can lapse into laziness

Meditation in a Toolshed by C.S Lewis

looking at vs. looking along

many expieriences cannot be fully understood from the outsiide only by particpating in them

dismissing the inside view missed the fullness of reality

looking at - scietific, detactehd observation

looking along- immersive, participtory, experimental understanding

you cant fully understand many aspects of life without participating in them

Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey

rest is not laziness

rest is a radical act of resistence against capitalism, white supremacy and productivity culture that dehumanizes people

society teaches us that our worth is tued to productivity and constant work

social media fuels distraction, anxiety and addiction

rest has been commodified

rest allows us to reclaim humanity

rest is tied to collective liberation not just self care

my worth is not in what i produce but in who i am

The Journey of Ignatius Loyola by Kevin O’Brien

Born in 1491 youngest of 13

wanted to be a knight in a war and to fall in love

leg was shattered by a cannon ball at the battle of Pamplona in 1521

while bedridden he began to read about christ and the saints and that made his start thinking about serving god rather then worldly glory, his first major spiritual awakening

lacked education and went back to become a student with school children at age 33

1534 Ignatius and others created the society of jesus (jesuits)

Intro to Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius of Loyola

goal is to help people move form self-centeredness to god-centered

4 week structured retreat

we are created to praise, reverence and serve god to save our souls

we must be indifferent to all things except as that help or hinder our purpose

discernment: learning to recognize spiritual movement (consolations vs, desolation)

the two standards is a spiritual battle between christ and Lucifer

contemplation for obtaining love is to realize how active and generous gods love is in all of his creation

the four reflections of obtaining gods love is: recalling gods gifts, see gods dwelling, see god laboring, and to recognize all good

detachment(indifference): letting go of attachments that keep one from god

Spiritual freedom: choosing what best leads to loving and serving god

Love in action: true love is shown more in deed then words; its reciprocal and self-giving

The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis by Lynn White Jr.

nature exists solely to serve humanity

how people treat the enviornment is based of f how they view themselves in relation to nature

god created the world for human use

humans are made in the image of god and thus above nature

christianity eliminated animism

LAUDATO SI’ A and B by Pope Francis

A

humans are created in the image of god giving then immense dignity

we all have self awareness and freedom

3 inter counted relationships rooted in human life are, with god, neighbors and the earth

dominion can be misinterpreted as domination

dominion- responsible stewardship, not exploitation

genesis 2:15 to till and keep the earth+ to cultivate and protect it

humans must be responsible with what they need and preserve it for future generations’

earth belongs to god not to us

biblical laws show that non-human creatures also deserve care

catechism: every creature has its own goodness and reflects gods wisdom

B

humans are unique spiritually and relationally

we must not reduce other creatures to objects for exploitation

all creatures have purpose, nautre relfects gods love and creativity

all creatures form one interconnedcted family

ecology includes justice for people, especially poor and vulerable

cruelty on animals relfects how we treat fellow huamns

ecological renewal requires a renewal of humanity and relationships with others and with god

relativism

The Great Silence by Ted Chiang

fermi paradox- humans search for intelliuegnt life in space but ignore iteeligent spiecies on earth

people over look intelligence unless it looks and sounds human

parrot and human both link launguage to being

not paying attention is a form of moral failure

parrots are vocal learners, they learn, understand, and communicate

the silence in the universe may mirror the silence imposed by humans on nonhuman spieces through extinction and ignorance

Augustine Confessions

Book 1

infants arent innocent and show early signs of sin

baby innocence points to orininal sin

begged god not to be beaten but his prayers were ot yet answered

childrens games are punished but adults games are praised as business

adults encourge behavior they punish in kids

Book 2

highlights gods mercy through reflection on lust and sin

couldnt discern real love from lust

his father encourage actual maturity

he mocked his mothers warnings

he was ashamed to be less sinful then others, boasted of sin to fit in

he stole pears for the thrill of sin

augusting love not the fruit but the decay and moral ruin it caused

augustine regests choosing lesser good over the highest good of god himself

his soul sought love but settled for lust and sin instead

The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula K LeGuin

Omelas is a beautiful city celebrating the festival of summer, they are perfectly content and free of guilt

Omelas has a dark secret, a single child is kept in abject misery. it is said that the entire happiness of omelas depends on the suffering of one innocent life

they claim it to be a necessary evil, everyone in the town knows about this child and accepts it. but if they don’t then they silently leave walking into the unknown

The Problem of Evil by Peter Kreeft

The problem of evil is the strongest objection to god, not just logical but deeply emotional and personal

If god is all good and all powerful, why is there evil and suffering in the world

god entered human suffering, jesus’ death was the grestest evil but led to the greatest good

the origin of evil is free will which makes love and goodness possible but also evil too

humans are not capable of understanding all of gods reasonings

hell is the eternal consequecne of free will/the permanent rejection of gods love

god entered into evil and will ultimately redeem it

Bible Readings

Genesis 1-2

god created earth in 7 days which is why there are 7 days in a week

day 1 god created light

day 2 god created the heavens and earths

day 3 god created wet and dry land along with vegetation on earth

day 4 the moon stars seasons and days were created

day 5 sea creatures and bird in the sky were created to reproduce

day 6 god made all animals and creature on land for food

day 7 was created for rest and holy day

god made the garden of eden along with Adam and eve and told then they could eat from any tree but not the one of the knowledge of good and evil

Pslam 104

reviews every thing that the lord has done and created to make earth possible

they praise the lord and rejoyce to god

Genesis 3

the first temptation and the first sin

god confronts man and woman about their disobedence

adam and eve are removed from the garden

he gave them clothes made of animal skins

sin seperates us from god

Exodus

14-15

god wants moses to spread the lord to the Egyptians

the parting of the red sea to save the israelites and destroying the egyptians

they blamed moses for the egyptains pursuing them

god promises to be their healer and protect them

chapter 15 is the song of the sea praising god and his protection from pharohs army

19-20

god forms a relationship with the isreailies after their exodus from egypt

he say the 10 comandments of what they may not do and he come to talk to them but they may not go up to mountain to him