Warm Up 4 What is Theology and what does it have to do with religion?

What Is Theology? Ms. Mullin

Theology < Greek Theos + Logos  Theos = “ God ” –not a personal name, but a generic title for the divine being –“ God ” vs. “ gods ” (more on this below)  Logos = “ Word; Phrase; Speech; Reason ” –“ Talking about… ” ; “ Study of… ” Anthropo -logy = “ Study of Humans ” ; Bio -logy = “ Study of Life ” Geo -logy = “ Study of the Earth ” ; Zoo -logy = “ Study of Animals ”  Theology = “ Study of God ” ; “ Talking about God ” –God ’ s being, essence, nature, and/or attributes –God ’ s relation to human beings and the whole world

Philosophy < Greek Philos + Sophia  Philos = “ Love; Friendship ” –Four Greek words for “ love ” : eros, philos, agape, storge –Philadelphia = lit. “ Love of Brothers ” ( “ City of Brotherly Love ” ) –Philanthropy = lit. “ Love of Human Beings ” (i.e. Charity)  Sophia = “ Wisdom ” –Wisdom vs. intelligence vs. knowledge vs. understanding  Philosophy = “ Love of Wisdom ” –Socratic Method: asking questions! –Not just reading books, but dialogue between persons –About what? Everything! Including “ God ” ?

Break: Video 4 dkJWs dkJWs

Theology + Philosophy = ????? 4 THE STUDY AND EXAMINATION OF MORALITY/ETHICS! 4 In other words, what does it mean to be good and/or evil? 4 Can morality/ethics/values be subjective or objective?

Love of Wisdom / Talking about God Quest for Knowledge / Search for Truth 4 Ancient World: –Classical Greece: Philosophers –Ancient Israel: Prophets & Priests –Other Cultures: Magi, Physicians, Kings, etc. –No separately specialized “ Theologians ” 4 Medieval Universities: –Four Disciplines: Philosophy, Theology, Medicine, Law 4 Modern Universities: –Liberal Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Arts, Business, Education, Religious Studies…

Types of Belief in God(s) – lots of “ -isms ” 4 Theism 4 Atheism 4 Agnosticism 4 Gnosticism, Polytheism 4 Pantheism, Deism 4 Henotheism, Monotheism 4 Paganism, etc.

Types of Belief in God (I) 4 Theism –Belief in the existence of a God or any gods –The generic term, of which other –isms are subcategories 4 Atheism –The opposite: Belief that God and/or gods do “ not exist ” 4 Agnosticism –“ Not knowing ” whether God exists; overall non-belief 4 Gnosticism –A religious system that believes salvation comes through “ knowledge ” (Gk. gnosis ) of one ’ s divine origin and destiny

Types of Belief in God (II) 4 Polytheism –Belief in the existence of “ many ” (Gk. poly ) gods Egyptian: many gods, mostly in animal form Greek & Roman: a large family of gods, on Mount Olympus 4 Pantheism –Belief that divinity resides “ everywhere ” (Gk. pan ) The whole universe is divine; divinity is within everything that exists But there is no “ God ” separate from or external to the world 4 Deism –Belief that God created the world, but then abandoned it God exists, created us, but exerts no further influence on the world Based on 18 th -century rationalism (e.g. Thomas Jefferson)

Types of Belief in God (III) 4 Monotheism –Belief in the existence of “ only ” one God What others call “ gods ” are at most spirits, but not divine –Christians believe in one God, but Jesus & Spirit also divine “ Trinity ” = one divine “ nature, ” three divine “ persons ” (not 3 diff. gods) 4 Paganism –Religions of “ others ” who don ’ t believe in “ our ” God/gods Popular connotations negative: pagans, heathens, unbelievers Academic meaning neutral: all non-Jewish, non-Christian religions

Identifying God (Titles & Names) : 4 Generic Titles: –God / god, Deity, Divine Power, El, Elohim, etc. –Father, Mother, Creator, Lord, King, etc. 4 Proper Names: –Jewish: YHWH (Yahweh? Jehovah?); Ya/Ja –Mesopotamian: Asherah, Baal; Ishtar, Marduk, Tiamat, etc. –Egyptian: Aten, Horus, Isis, Osiris, Ra, Seth, Thoth, etc. –Greco-Roman / Olympian: Zeus=Jupiter; Athena=Diana; etc. –Muslim: Allah

Talking about God (Philosophically) : 4 God is Absolute (positive & negative) : –ALL: omnipotent (all powerful); omniscient (all knowing); omnipresent (everywhere); omni-benevolent (all merciful) –NOT: invisible (not seen); immutable (unchanging); immortal (not dying); infinite (not limited); etc. 4 Language is Limited (analogies & opposites) : –God is transcendent (beyond) & immanent (internal) –So God-talk is possible, but always analogical / inadequate –Both/and Approach: via positiva & via negativa

How to obtain favor with God? 4 Universal Phenomenon of all Faiths –a. Guide to The Answer: What is the meaning of life/Why am I here? –b. Answer to The Question: To make society better by becoming better myself. –c. The Golden Rule: Treat others like how you want to be treated.

Summary / Review 4 Philosophy & Theology – Philosophy < Greek Philos + Sophia – Theology < Greek Theos + Logos  Types of Belief in God ( “ -isms ” ) –Theism vs. Atheism vs. Agnosticism –Deism vs. Pantheism vs. Polytheism –Henotheism vs. Monotheism (incl. Trinitarian Christianity) 4 Talking about God –Generic Titles vs. Proper Names –Analogical Language: absolutes & opposites

Discussion (25 minutes) 4 What is a working definition of ethics? 4 Are ethics and morals the same thing? 4 How do ethics and morals influence personal and community values? 4 Are there some fundamental ethical principles that transcend all people?

Definitions? 4 Ethics: is the study of values, of how we ought to live. 4 Values: are defined as standards or ideals which serve as guides or standards by which we live and make decisions. 4 Morals: practical applications of ethical principles (i.e. modes of conduct).

Activity 4 At your tables: –Define 3 general ethical principles and state why these chosen principles apply to EVERYONE.

Activity 4 Read Packet 1. 4 DEFINITELY READ THE 5 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS.

Compare and Contrast 4 Your own ethical practices vs. the 5 ethical business behaviors. 4 Do you agree/disagree with the behaviours they read about?

Discussion 4 Why is it important to use ethical behavior? 4 Why would someone want to be ethical in his or her own life or at work? 4 Should you separate the two? 4 What steps to you take when making ethical decisions?

Activity: Ethics Role Playing 4 Read and discuss your assigned dilemma within your group. 4 Discuss your ethical course of action to take in this dilemma. 4 READ THE TOP 10 QUESTIONS DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR YOUR DILEMMA 4 Answer questions in Record Sheet.

Write 4 Prepare a written explanation and defense of your chosen response/course of action to your dilemma. 4 Prepare to present to the class.