The Word in the World - Exam 1

The Word in the World Test #1 Review

Key Definitions

  • Imagined Community: A group of people who may never meet yet share a sense of connection and belonging through shared identity and culture, contributing to a socially-constructed community.

  • Social Location: The social and cultural context that influences an individual's identity, including factors such as race, class, gender, and religion, and how these intersect to shape one's worldview.

  • Exegesis: what the Bible, especially small segments, mean in its context. The process of careful, analytical study of biblical passages undertaken in order to produce useful interpretations of those passages.

  • Absorption: The capacity to “focus in on the mind’s object,”—what we imagine or see around us, that allows individuals to engage deeply in experiences that enhance spiritual awareness or connection to their faith.

  • Kindling: The process of inspiring or igniting interest and passion in religious beliefs and practices.

  • Talent and Training: Refers to the innate abilities of individuals as well as the educational and experiential context in which these abilities are developed to facilitate spiritual engagement.

  • Faith Frame: A conceptual structure through which individuals interpret religious experiences, similar to how a frame allows an artwork to be perceived. It shapes expectations and perspectives in spiritual contexts.

  • Metacognition: The awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes, especially regarding how one thinks about faith and spirituality.

  • Historical-Critical Method: The use of contemporary tools to decipher the meaning & context of a text; we must interpret the Bible with ALL the modern tools we have at our disposal.

  • Hermeneutics: Branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation of texts in order to understand the fuller meaning, truths, & values of the Bible. What the Bible means for us today.

Concepts from the Introduction to Word in the World

  • The Meaning of "The Word in the World": We are the Word in the World, and it is our responsibility to be the Word in the World. God is found in all things, he is not “out there somewhere”, and God Needs Us to be as fully human/divine as we can be.

  • Incarnate Word: Refers to Jesus Christ as the manifestation of the divine Word as per Christian belief; God becomes human in the form of the Son.

  • Human Traits of Jesus: Traits such as compassion, empathy, and suffering reveal his divine nature by showing how he relates to human conditions, thus bridging the divine and humanity.

  • Christology from Above vs. Christology from Below:

    • Christology from Above emphasizes the preexistence and divinity of Christ. Jesus is divine, accepting this on faith, and applies doctrines and teachings about God the Father (Omniscient, Omnipotent, All Good/Benevolent, Perfect, unchanging/Impassable) to Jesus.

    • Christology from Below grounds itself in the human experiences of Jesus, highlighting his earthly life and relationships to derive understanding of his divinity. Grew from world events and experiences in the mid 20th Century, suffering of humanity in wars, starvation, etc. caused theologians to start thinking differently about Jesus.

Insights from Michael Himes, Seeing God in All Things

  • Sacramental Principle: The idea that all creation can reveal the divine presence, suggesting a relationship between the material world and religious experience. “What is always and everywhere the case must be noticed, accepted, and celebrated somewhere sometime.

  • Himes’ View of Sacrament: “any person, place, thing or event, any sight, sound, taste, touch, or smell that causes us to notice the love which supports all that exists, that undergirds your being and mine and the being of everything about us.” Sacraments are tangible signs of grace and divine engagement found within the physical world, facilitating deeper understanding of God's presence.

  • God as Mystery: This notion emphasizes that God transcends human understanding, and our discussions about Him are attempts to grasp the incomprehensible. Anything we see, or think about God is not God.

  • First and Second Commandments: According to Himes, the 1st Commandment stresses worship of one God while the 2nd highlights our relational duties toward others, representing fidelity to God and love for neighbor.

  • Least Worst Metaphor for God: LOVE. God gives Godself to creation by creating it; God gives agape, love. Creation is the result of love; God’s self-giving creates Creation.

  • Only Way to Talk About God: Himes posits that the only way to talk about God is through relational experiences and the genuine expressions of faith.

Christine Hayes, Academic Biblical Interpretation (Video)

  • BIG IDEA for Jewish Survival: GOD TRANSCENDS NATURE. The core belief that God is present in all circumstances and everything is a part of “God’s Plan.”

  • Five Myths of the Bible:

1. It is not a book but rather an anthology.

- It is a library, collection, anthology.

- Written over a long time by different people with different questions and concerns

- Different genres such as law, prophecy, poetry, psalms, proverbs, history

2. It is not a book about pious saints.

- It doesn't moralize, but displays their mistakes & does not praise said mistakes

3. It is not for children.

- Issues and stories are very adult and show that life is full of pain & conflict.

4. It is not about theology or religion.

- The bible shows people who are simply part of a community & lived a life that was separate from their religion, it is not one single thing or concept.

5. God did not write the Bible.

- Humans wrote the Bible as evidenced by all the variety & contradictions in it; they were inspired by God. Divine inspiration is completely compatible with it being written by humans; not all is truthful.

  • Bible Authors According to Catholic Teaching: The Catholic perspective holds God as the primary author, using human writers as instruments; this influences the understanding of biblical truth as divinely inspired yet humanly composed.

  • Documentary Hypothesis: A scholarly theory proposing that the Bible was written by 4 authors (J, E, P, D) which were edited together by one editor.

  • Clues for Authors:

  • Duplication of phrases, Contradictions in the text, Different names for God, Different theological Perspectives, Different stages of language development

Definitions of J, E, P, D

  • J (J/Yahwist): Simple/direct; Yahweh for God; focuses on anthropomorphic views.

  • E (Elohist): Prefers Elohim as God’s name; emphasizes dreams of God. Human emotions.

  • P (Priestly): School of scholars; Concentrates on rituals, worship, and was written during exile in Babylon; maintains an orderly, stately rhythm.

  • D (Deuteronomist): Associated with the book of Deuteronomy; Moses’ speeches; books of moral legislation.

Catholic Scriptural Interpretation

  • Literal vs. Catholic Interpretation: A literal interpretation treats texts as historical facts and dictated by God, whilst Catholic interpretation involves a context-aware & human understanding that considers tradition and scholarly insight of the humans who wrote the Bible being inspired by God.

  • Inerrancy of the Bible: BELIEF THAT BIBLE IS INERRANT—HAS NO ERROR AT ALL. WHAT IT SAYS IS LITERALLY TRUE. Evangelicals typically view the Bible as wholly without error in all matters, which can be dangerous.

  • Diverse Interpretations: The Catholic Church acknowledges the reality of varied interpretations among communities, supporting dialogue and understanding around scriptural texts.

HGBR—Chapter 1, The Faith Frame

  • Faith Frame Definition: A sustained, intentional, deliberative commitment to the idea that there are invisible beings who are involved in human lives in helpful ways.

  • Similarity to the Play Frame: In both frames, individuals do not confuse the play world with the “real” world. But the play world IS real

  • Luhrmann’s Fundamental Basics of Religion: 1. People go to a great effort to make contact with “invisible others” through religion and 2. People who are religious want change. They want to feel differently than they do.

  • Belief and Worship Relationship: The puzzle of religion is not the problem of false belief, but the question of how gods and spirits become and remain real to people and what this real-making does for humans. Does belief foster worship, or does worship cultivate belief?

  • Religious Beliefs’ Secondary Status: Religious beliefs are viewed as contingent upon and shaped by experiential knowledge, which may prioritize everyday understandings. Religious people of all types distinguish between the realness of the material, everyday world and the realness of the realm of the invisible others

  • Evangelical Fear about Prayer: Evangelicals feared that ceasing prayer would lead to God disappearing from them and thar their faith would wither and die.

  • Importance of Rituals: Rituals remind people that gods and spirits matter. People need rituals because they need to be reminded that spirits are present, and they need to act in order to get them prepared.

  • Cognitive Science of Religion: Explains belief as a natural human tendency, promoting a sense of connection to invisible beings or forces. Humans can generate numerous intuitions that can support a more reasoned, deliberative belief in supernatural presences.

HGBR—Chapter 3, Talent and Training

  • Talent and Training Definition: Describes the greater ability to have and cultivate spiritual experiences that some individuals are born with, along with development of that ability through practice and involvement in faith.

  • Types of Training: Spiritual exercises and physical practices that enhance faith engagement. EX: Meditation and Mindfulness, Study of Spiritual Texts, Rituals, Ceremonies, Journaling/Self-Reflection.

  • Absorption in Faith: A heightened state of spiritual involvement leading to intensified & “real” experiences of divine presence.

  • Sensory Delight Scale: Experiences of individuals scoring high on this scale may include claims that God speaks to them, that they can see, hear, and/or feel God, and have more images and sensations during prayer.

  • Role of Imagination in Religion: Imagination fosters relational connections with the divine and enhances personal understanding of faith-related experiences.

  • Inner Sense Cultivation: This encompasses the deliberate, repeated use of “inner visual representation” and other inner/imaginative/meditative experiences that develop a deeper awareness of the divine, leading to transformative spiritual experiences.

  • St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises: These exercises focus on “inner sense” cultivation and have had a lasting influence on Christian spirituality and education to this day.

  • Training Results: Significant training may lead to heightened spiritual awareness, community engagement, and personal transformation.

HGBR—Chapter 6, Why Prayer Works

  • Metacognition in Prayer: The process where individuals pay attention to their inner experience of thoughts, images, and awareness of one’s body during prayer, fostering deeper understanding of their intentions and spirituality.

  • Goal of Mindfulness: to be present and aware and to detach from thoughts that distract us from the present moment. Acknoweledge those thoughts, sensations, and emotions, but let them drift away — do not engage them.

  • Types of Prayer:

    • Gratitude: Expression of faith that God is good, no matter what.

    • Confession: Acknowledging sins, remembering the past, and giving it meaning.

    • Adoration: About creating attachment and social relationship rather than cognitive reframing. Offers what a human friend might offer.

    • Asking/Petition: Asking God for help, which is an assertion of hope, making one feel effective.

  • Transformation through Prayer: Each type of prayer leads to personal change, whether through reconciliation, deeper connection, or increased hope.

  • Confession’s Relation to Future: Acknowledging past wrongs allows individuals to change future actions aligned with their faith.

  • Prayer of Petition as Hope Assertion: Asking God for assistance symbolizes belief in divine intervention and future possibilities.

HGBR—Chapter 7, A God Who Responds

  • Intensity of Religious Conflicts: Contemporary religious conflicts often stem from deeply held beliefs and identity crises, in which one’s relationship with God defines them; criticism of their beliefs can feel like one is saying that who they are is wrong, leading to polarized views.

  • Importance of Mutual Response: The necessity for interpersonal connection and divine acknowledgment enhances the richness of the spiritual experience.

  • Descriptions of God’s Response: Feels like something that came from outside of you/beyond your inner world, not something made up, and feels real.

  • Connection’s Effect on Physiology: Relationships, including those with God, influence physical and mental health, like immune system, decreasing blood pressure, and making you happier— highlighting the interconnectedness of faith and well-being.

  • Aspiration vs. Acceptance in Faith: Evangelical faith is characterized by striving and seeking rather than passively accepting information; it is an active pursuit of a relationship with God.

  • Political Conservatism and Faith: Many evangelicals connect their spiritual beliefs with conservative ideologies, as their belief that everyone should be constantly improving themselves can be obstructed by progressive "handouts” from the government.

Possible Essays for Test Preparation

Essay 1: Interpretation of Biblical Authorship

  • Hayes’ Assertion that “God did not write the Bible”: Explore scholarly views regarding the authorship of the Bible, including the documentary hypothesis, various sources, and perspectives on divine revelation.

Essay 2: Historical Biblical Interpretation

  • Three Interpretative Methods Discussed: Analyze diverse biblical interpretations throughout history, incorporating the Catholic perspective, and reflect on personal views on the best approach.

Essay 3: Faith and Imagination Connection

  • Luhrmann’s Perspective on Faith and Imagination: Explain how faith intertwines with imagination, affecting relationships with invisible entities, creating the faith frame, and techniques used for training—discuss strengths and weaknesses of this theory.

Essay 4: Understanding Prayer's Purpose

  • Prayer According to Luhrmann: Delve into Luhrmann’s insights on prayer, contrasting common perceptions with her views on what prayer genuinely facilitates and achieving results through various types of prayer, including their strengths and potential weaknesses.