THEOLOGY Unit 1.

THEOLOGY Unit 1

Discussion Questions What is the difference between an agnostic and an atheist? What is the anthropic principle?

i. Basic terminology 1. Agnostic – In Greek, the alpha letter is at times attached to a word to mean “without or not.” Gnostic comes from the Greek word gnosis, which means knowledge. Hence, this term refers to someone who believes persons do not have access to certain knowledge, especially in relation to the existence of God. 2. Anthropic Principle – the theory that the universe contains all the necessary properties that make the existence of intelligent life inevitable.

i. Basic terminology 3. Atheism – this term refers to someone who is without god or who does not believe in god.

Discussion Questions How does the field of teleology relate to the Genetic Information Theory?

i. Basic terminology 4. Cosmology – This term is made up of two words (cosmos – universe; logia – word or reason). As a result, this term refers to the study of the universe, especially matters dealing with its origin. 5. Genetic Information Theory – the theory that the complexity and information within DNA molecules reveal evidence for design.

i. Basic terminology 15. Teleology - the study of design or purpose in nature. 16. Theism – the belief in the existence of God or gods

Discussion Questions How does monotheism differ from polytheism and pantheism? Give an example of each belief (internet research).

i. Basic terminology 7. Monotheism – This term is made up of two words (mono – one; theism – belief about God). Consequently, the concept refers to the belief in one God. 8. New Atheism – a contemporary from of atheism that not only denies the existence of God but also contends that religion should be vehemently criticized, condemned, and opposed.

i. Basic terminology 10. Pantheism – This term is made up of two words (pan – all, everything; theos – belief about God). For this reason, it refers to the belief that everything is god. 11. Polytheism – This term is made up of two words (poly – many; theism – belief about God). Thus, it refers to the belief in many gods. 12. Reincarnation – the belief that after biological death, the soul is reborn in a new body – either animal, human, or spirit – to continue its quest for enlightenment.

Discussion Questions What is liberation theology?

i. Basic terminology 6. Liberation Theology – a political movement that interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ as a call to liberate the poor from the materialistic conditions of social, economic, and political oppression.

Discussion Questions How does the concept of panspermia differ from reincarnation?

i. Basic terminology 9. Panspermia – the belief that life exists throughout the universe and has been dispersed by interstellar bodies, such as asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.

Discussion Questions What is the difference between descriptive pluralism and prescriptive pluralism? Create a hypothetical conversation that highlights these differences.

i. Basic terminology 13. Religious Pluralism – the acknowledgement that many different religions exist in today’s diverse society. Descriptive Pluralism – the belief that we should be tolerant of competing religions in order to get along with one another Prescriptive Pluralism – the belief that we should be tolerant of other religions because no single religion can be universally true for everyone.

Descriptive or Prescriptive
EBAY: Many extremely conservative religious practitioners object to the implication of equivalence between their religious iconography and that of others. Zealous practitioners of conservative Islam cite the Shahada, the first pillar of Islam, which states “There is no God but Allah.” Conservative Christians quote the first commandment, which states “I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.” These practitioners are concerned that the spread of multicultural thinking represents a threat to human salvation. Both religions, though, ultimately council humility. The Quran states “God will judge between those who believe,” suggesting that it isn't for people to decide what others believe.” Similarly, John Macquarrie, one of the most well-known Christian theologians of the 20th century, wrote “I do not deny for a moment that the truth of God has reached others through other channels.”

i. Basic terminology 14. Second Law of Thermodynamics – a scientific law that states that the amount of usable energy in a closed system will decrease over time.

Discussion Questions What is theological suspicion? Have you ever met someone who embraces this? Explain.

i. Basic terminology 17. Theological Suspicion – a general distrust toward any religion claiming to know absolute truth about reality.

i. Basic terminology 18. Theology – This term is made up of two Greek words (theos – God; logia – word or reason). Consequently, theology refers to the study of God "LAYMEN SOMETIMES THINK they need not be theologians. That, however, is a very great mistake. They do need to be theologians; at least, they should be amateur theologians. In fact, that is the one vocation every man is obliged to follow. A layman does not need to be a plumber, a carpenter, a lawyer, a doctor, a teacher, a laborer, a housewife. These are all possibilities, not necessities. A layman may be one of these or the other as he chooses. But he must be a theologian. This is not an option with him but a requirement." - John Gerstner

Discussion Questions How does theism compare and contrast with Trinitarian Monotheism?

i. Basic terminology 19. Trinitarian Monotheism – the belief in one God recognized as three separate and distinct persons: Father, Son, and Spirit.

Discussion QUESTIONS How important was theology to Thomas Aquinas ( )? Is theology typically more or less valued in today’s society? In your opinion, is this a good or a bad transition? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What qualities and beliefs accompany the New Atheists (175-176)?
Discussion QUESTIONS Secularism What qualities and beliefs accompany the New Atheists ( )?

Discussion QUESTIONS What is the theological view of Secularism?
If the theology of Secularism is correct, what implications would this have for humanity?

Skeptical Children's Book
discussion QUESTIONS Skeptical Children's Book

II. theologies Secularism 1. Secular Humanists embrace atheism.
2. Participants in this camp are humanists. Humanism is the belief that humans are the highest of all beings; thus, science and rationality are the best sources to utilize in one’s quest for truth. 3. This view has been greatly influenced by the Humanist Manifestos (1933, 1973, and 2000). Humanist Manifesto I - “The time has passed for theism.” Humanist Manifesto II - “We find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of a supernatural; it is either meaningless or irrelevant to the question of the survival and fulfillment of the human race. As non-theists, we begin with humans not God, nature not deity No deity will save us; we must save ourselves.” 4. A current Secular Humanist voice is the Free Inquiry, a magazine for skeptics and non-theists.

II. theologies Secularism

Discussion QUESTIONS What is the theological view of Marxism (177)?
Why did Lenin insist on the necessity of atheism (177)?

discussion QUESTIONS Marxism
“Religion is the sigh of the oppressed, the sentiment of a heartless world, as it is the spirit of spiritless conditions. It is the opium of the people.” What is liberation theology? How does this concept allow Marxism to influence the Christian Community?

II. theologies Marxism

II. theologies Marxism 1. Marxists embrace atheism. The idea of God is an enemy to progress. 2. The Communist Manifesto (1848) is the Bible of the Marxists. It was written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. *Ludwig Feuerbach – “It is clear as the sun and evident as the day that there is no God; and still more, that there can be no God.” *Frederick Engels – “We have once and for all declared war on religion and religious ideas and care little whether we are called atheists or anything else.” *V.I. Lenin – “Religion is opium for the people. Religion is a sort of spiritual booze …”

Discussion QUESTIONS Were Derrida and Rorty atheists (179)?
Postmodernism Were Derrida and Rorty atheists (179)?

discussion QUESTIONS Postmodernism
What is the theological view of Postmodernism? Descriptive vs. Prescriptive Pluralism

II. theologies Postmodernists
1. Postmodernists are suspicious on all theological Big story claims. 2. Because Postmodernists reject universal truth-claims, they embrace religious pluralism.

II. theologies 3. The Evolution of Postmodernism
4. Postmodernists believe that theological expressions should be expressed in communities, but they reject all metanarrative claims. 5. Postmodernists are deconstructionists. Deconstruction is a fairly recent interpretive method; this method allows the reader to determine the meaning of any given text (window versus mirror).

discussion QUESTIONS New Spirituality
“There are many ways to talk about God. Does that mean that everything that everybody ever says about God is right? Does that mean the God is everything? YES! God is everything great and small! God is everything far away and near! God is everything bright and dark! And God is everything in between! If everything is God, God is the last leaf on a tree, if everything is God, God is an elephant crashing through the jungle.”

Discussion QUESTIONS New Spirituality
What is the theological view of New Spirituality? How do New Agers attempt to justify their beliefs with science (181)? What logical route do New Spiritualists take in an attempt to justify their viewpoint (182)? How is New Spirituality different from Christianity (182)? What is reincarnation?

discussion QUESTIONS New Spirituality

II. theologies New Spirituality
1. New Spiritualists embrace pantheism. They believe that everything is god, and god is everything. 2. This worldview is also referred to as the New Age movement. Kevin Ryerson – “What is God? God is the interlinking of yourself with the whole.” David Spangler – “We can take all the scriptures, and all the teachings, and all the tablets, and all the laws, and all the marshmallows and have a jolly good bonfire and marshmallow roast, because that is all they are worth.” John White – “Sooner or later every human being will feel a call from the cosmos to ascend to godhood.” George Lucas, produce of Star Wars, said the following in an interview: “With Star Wars, I consciously set about to re-create myths and the classic mythological motifs. I wanted to use those motifs to deal with issues that exist today … I see Star Wars as taking all the issues that religion represents and trying to distill them down into a more modern and easily accessible construct … I’m telling an old myth in a new way.”

discussion QUESTIONS Islam What is the theological view of Islam?
According to the Quran, what are the penalties for blasphemy? What are your thoughts on Chrislam? How is the Islamic understanding of God different from Christianity and Judaism?

II. theologies Islam

II. theologies Islam 1. The word Islam means “submission.”
2. Muslims believe in Unitarian Monotheism - the belief that one God exists in one person. 3. The Pillars of Islam a. The Confession – There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet b. Prayer – Muslims are commissioned to pray 5 times, facing Mecca. c. Ramadan – During this period, Muslims are expected to fast food, smoking, and sex during daylight hours. d. Almsgiving – Muslims are expected to give 2.5% of their annual income to the poor. e. Pilgrimage – Every Islamic believer is obligated to travel to Mecca at least one time in his or her lifetime.

II. theologies 4. There are three prime sources that Influence Islamic thought. a. Qur’an b. Hadith c. Sunnah 5. The Concept of Jihad Jihad - means holy war. This concept is primarily used in two ways.

discussion QUESTIONS Christianity
What is the theology of Christianity? What four scientific discoveries support the idea of God’s existence?

discussion QUESTIONS Christianity
The book claims that “a careful reading of the Old and New Testaments reveals five characteristics among those central to our understanding of God” (187). What are these characteristics? According to the Christian community, how do the other worldviews fall short of the “complete truth” ( ). Christianity

discussion QUESTIONS "I now believe that the universe was brought into existence by an infinite Intelligence. I believe that this universe's intricate laws manifest what scientists have called the Mind of God. I believe that life and reproduction originate in a divine Source Why do I believe this, given that I expounded and defended atheism for more than a half century? The short answer is this: this is the world picture, as I see it, that has emerged from modern science. Science spotlights three dimensions of nature that point to God. The first is the fact that nature obeys laws. The second is the dimension of life, of intelligently organized and purpose-driven beings, which arose from matter. The third is the very existence of nature. But it is not science alone that has guided me. I have also been helped by a renewed study of the classical philosophical arguments I must stress that my discovery of the Divine has proceeded on a purely natural level, without any reference to supernatural phenomena. It has been an exercise in what is traditionally called natural theology. In short, my discovery of the Divine has been a pilgrimage of reason and not of faith." Anthony Flew (There is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind)

II. theologies Christianity
1. Christians adhere to Trinitarian Monotheism – the belief that one God exists in three persons. 2. Christians believe that God reveals Himself via general revelation and special revelation. 3. The Bible is the main source of influence for Christians. J.C. Ryle – “Let us receive nothing, believe nothing, follow nothing which is not in the Bible, nor can be proved by the Bible.”

II. theologies Christianity – The Formation of the Trinity
Normative Christians embrace the Trinity because the Bible upholds the following three affirmations: 1 – The Oneness of God 2 – Diversity in Unity 3 – Three Distinct Persons Partake of the Divine.

II. theologies 1) The Oneness of God
The Israelites were adamant on avoiding the polytheism of their pagan neighbors. Deut 6:4 – Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Is. 45:5 – I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is none besides me. Monotheism is also upheld in the New Testament. 1 Tim. 2:5 – For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

II. theologies 2) Diversity within Unity
Does the concept of oneness rule out Trinitarianism? When we look at Scripture, this is not the case; many times oneness includes, or even requires, multiplicity. Example When a couple marries, the two become “one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). This oneness does not exclude but actually requires two distinct persons. Also, the same word for “one” is use in Deut. 6:4. Israel’s one tabernacle was composed of many parts (10 curtains, fifty loops, etc.).

II. theologies 2) Diversity within Unity
Gen 1:26 – God said, “Let Us make man in our image.” It is very unlikely that the Us refers to angelic hosts because only man was created in the imago dei. Thus, this is referring to the triune Godhead. Ps. 110:1 – The Lord says to my Lord; sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. Matt. 28:19 – baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Name = Singular Father, Son, and Holy Spirit = plural John 1:1 – The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

II. theologies 3) Three Distinct Persons Partake of the Divine.
Father – undisputed Son Mark 2 – Jesus claimed to be able to forgive sins John 1:1 – The Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 8:58 – Before Abraham was born, I am. Holy Spirit Equal with God - Acts 5:3-4 - But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own power? why have you conceived this thing in your heart? you have not lied unto men, but unto God (also see 1 Cor. 6:19) Personal – The Holy Spirit has a mind (1 Corinthians 2:10) and emotions (Ephesians 4:20). He also has a will and makes decisions (Acts 16:6), such as expressing love (Romans 15:30).

II. theologies Question: Is the Trinity a contradiction or a mystery?
Law of non-contradiction – something cannot be x and non-x at the same time in the same way. Mystery - anything that is kept secret or that cannot be fully explained.

II. theologies Practical Applications
1) God is internally a relational God, but the fellowship within the Trinity is absolutely pure. We ought to avoid isolation, and we should pursue pure fellowship with others. 2) The being of God demonstrates holy diversity. Our churches and lives ought to strive for various expressions of biblical truth. Also, we ought to be multi-cultural insofar as the cultural practices conform to Scripture. 3) Each person within the Trinity is equally divine, yet they perform various roles. Christians ought to encourage each member of the body of Christ to use his or her gifts to the glory of God.

Debate – Is faith in God Reasonable

Cosmological Argument

THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
Premises Notes 1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause. God’s eternality makes Him exempt from this premise. 2. The universe began to exist. Hubble Telescope 2nd Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion Therefore, the universe must have had a cause. Matter, Time, Space, Energy = had a beginning point.

THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
The finitude of the universe leaves individuals with one of two leading interpretive options: THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT 1. The universe came into existence via “spontaneous generation." Evaluation The theory of “spontaneous generation” is highly improbable on both scientific and logical grounds. Science It contradicts the law of biogenesis. This well-established law demonstrates that life cannot arise from non-life, let alone will itself into existence. Why should we believe that an exception took place at the beginning? Logic How can an entity will itself into existence? In other words, an act cannot be made prior to the existence of an entity with acting competency. 2. The universe came into existence by God. The overwhelming proof in favor of a finite universe greatly helps the case for the existence of God. Since the physical realm had a beginning, it must have been . . . a. caused by an immaterial entity b. caused by an uncaused cause c. caused by a personal agent God fits the description. As a spirit, He is immaterial. As an eternal being, He is the uncaused cause. As a mind, He is a personal agent.

PSALM 102:25 - In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

Teleological Argument

Premises Notes 1. In most instances, Intelligent Design is the only reasonable option for explaining the origin of things that are functional, specific, and highly complex. NASA COMPUTER PROGRAMS 2. On a micro and macro level, the present universe is functional, specific, and highly complex. MICRO – DNA MACRO - EXPANSION OF UNIVERSE AND GRAVITATIONAL FORCE 3. Alternative theories, such as unguided processes or physical necessity, do not adequately explain the present universe. Intelligent Design does adequately explain the present universe. Conclusion Therefore, Intelligent Design is the best explanation for the present universe.

Probability Teleological Argument What about evolution?

Iv. Arguments against God’s Existence

PROBLEM OF EVIL If God is perfectly loving, He must wish to abolish evil. If He is all powerful, He must be able to abolish evil. Evil exists. Therefore, an all-powerful, loving God does not exist.

Rebuttals Free Will Defense Greater Good Response

“I used to think that wrath was unworthy of God. Isn’t God love? Shouldn’t divine love be beyond wrath? God is love, and God loves every person and every creature. That’s exactly why God is wrathful against some of them. My last resistance to the idea of God’s wrath was a casualty of the war in the former Yugoslavia, the region from which I come. According so some estimates, 200,00 people were killed and over 3,000,000 were displaced. My villages and cities were destroyed, my people shelled day in and day out, some of them brutalized beyond imagination, and I could not imagine God not being angry. Or think of Rwanda in the last decade of the past century, where 800,000 people were hacked to death in one hundred days! How did God react to the carnage? By doting on the perpetrators in a grandfatherly fashion? By refusing to condemn the bloodbath but instead affirming the perpetrator’s basic goodness? Wasn’t God fiercely angry with them? Though I used to complain about the indecency of the idea of God’s wrath, I came to think that I would have to rebel against a God who wasn’t wrathful at the sight of the world’s evil. God isn’t wrathful in spite of being love. God is wrathful because God is love.” Miroslav Volf (Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace) An Alternative Syllogism God is good; therefore, He wants to abolish evil God is all-powerful; therefore, He is able to abolish evil Evil has not yet been abolished. Therefore, an all-powerful, good God will eventually abolish evil. Evil Proves God’s Existence Evil is objectively wrong. Objective moral standards necessitate God for their existence. Evil exists. Therefore, God exists. (If there is no God ... ) FLIP THE SCRIPT God-Centered Approach How can a holy God allow something so contrary to His nature to exist in His presence?

The book of Job 1, 2, and 42:7-12 – Beginning and the End
29-31 – Job’s posture before he experienced God 38-40:2 & 40: God’s Wisdom 40:3-5 & 42:1-6 – Job’s Response God is wise; Job is finite (limited). Job can trust that the ALL-WISE GOD knows what He is doing.

The Normative Issue Experiential Dilemma Logic is usually not the problem. By logic, Christians can point to the past and the future to in part explain the existence and annihilation of evil. Most people focus on the present: Why is this happening to me now? It is usually more emotional than philosophical. Response Ultimately, we don’t know, but no worldview is exempt from this dilemma. There are only a variety of options to choose from in dealing with suffering. Options = New Age, Atheism, Karma, Christianity

HEBREWS 4: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

CHRISTIANITY IS AS EMOTIONAL CRUTCH Christianity is an emotional crutch for those unable to deal with the reality of life without God. People embrace Christianity merely for comfort.

CHRISTIANITY IS AS EMOTIONAL CRUTCH
Response: It is just as easy to argue that atheism is an emotional crutch Christianity is not the most comforting belief system For an idea to be comforting there must be a reason to believe that it is true. “Most of us worry about money at some point in our lives. Isn’t it great, though, to think that if you ever run up debts that you can’t repay, all you have to do is to look down the back of the sofa and you’ll find enough loose change to cover the bill? Isn’t that thought comforting? No?” (Existence of God)

Argument: Can God create a stone so heavy that he cannot lift it?
PARADOX OF THE STONE Argument: Can God create a stone so heavy that he cannot lift it? 1. Either God can create such a stone or he can’t. - If he can’t, then there is something that he cannot do, namely create the stone; therefore, he is not omnipotent. - If he can, it continues, then there is also something that he cannot do; therefore, he is not omnipotent. 2. Either way, God is not omnipotent. A being that is not omnipotent is not God. God, therefore, does not exist.

Response: PARADOX OF THE STONE This is a loaded question
2. The argument assumes a faulty definition of omnipotence. Christian Definition - God can do anything consistent with His perfect character If God could do something outside of His perfect character, then He would not be God because He would not be perfect. God cannot lie because He is not evil Titus 1:2 - God, who cannot lie God cannot create a rock heavier than Himself because He is not unwise and irrational Conclusion: God’s omnipotence means that He can do anything consistent with His perfect character; thus, this dilemma is inapt to the Christian deity.

Response: PARADOX OF THE STONE
Finally, the situation is similar to asking, “Can God create a married bachelor?” A married bachelor is not something. This idea is logically incoherent and practically unachievable; thus, it is like asking, “Can God create nothing?” The point is that God can create everything that is logically possible and consistent with His character.

THEOLOGY Unit 1.

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "THEOLOGY Unit 1."— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback

Log in

Auth with social network:

THEOLOGY Unit 1.

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "THEOLOGY Unit 1."— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback