What it Means to Live a Virtuous Life

In class we briefly talked about virtue, but what is virtue how can we really apply virtue? There are many adjectives that are used to describe virtue, like clean or pure, but it is not always an easy task to act as a virtuous person at all times. Many people have to think about it and work at it everyday. I see virtue as doing and being good, which can make us spiritually clean.  After watching this video, I realized that there are many things I need to work on to become a virtuous person. With culture today, teen girls are influenced to be very thin, wear revealing clothing, and act a certain way around men, which make us forget the beauty we were blessed with. As a young woman today, I sometimes find it hard to avoid those messages the media is sending, because they are everywhere. One of the girls mentioned that being virtuous does not mean being perfect, which I agree with. Although we may not be perfect, the best thing we can do it try, and the worst would be to just ignore it all. I admire these girls for not being afraid of virtue, for striving to be spiritual young women. To live a virtuous life is up to us, because we decide the way we live our lives. What do you think virtue is?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR31kA_-JqM&feature=player_embedded

Human Nature and the Concept of Sin

In his column today in the New York Times, David Brooks raises the question of what it means to talk about evil in human beings.  His single case in point is the horrible killing of 16 Afghan civilians by Robert Bales.  As we consider the theological concept of sin in relation to the broader topic of salvation,  it may be helpful to consider this example.  There is a natural desire to bracket out actions such as this, that is, to consider them to be done by people who are completely evil.  Bales's situtation, however, challenges this; but it also raises some fundamental questions about the relationship between depraved actions and psychological conditions (such as PTSD).

Some questions to consider:

1. How do we describe human nature? If it is basically good, how should we account for events like the one described in this newspaper column? If it is basically evil, how should we account for the many, many noble actions of people? 
2. What is the relationship between evil or sinful  behavior and psychological diagnosis?  Is there any rationale to "pathologizing" such behavior?
3. Is immoral action simply a result of individual decisions, or is it possible to talk about sin and evil as social and/or systemic?

Posts for Week of March 19--Sacraments

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/special/default.aspx?id=29

I decided to focus on the sacraments in particular when posting to the blog this week.  This first link takes you to a website that gives a simple, clear explanation for each of the seven sacraments.  The author only wrote a couple of sentences about each sacrament, so it is easy to read and will not take much time to view.  The sacraments, listed in the order given on the website, are Baptism, the Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick.  This order happens to be the usual chronological order that Catholics receive the sacraments.  The website states Baptism is first because it is the “first step” in a lifelong membership in the Church.  The Eucharist is the next sacrament that Catholics receive in most cases.  The Eucharist represents Christ’s physical presence at the mass because the bread and wine at the alter become the Body and Blood of Christ.  Catholics often start receiving the Eucharist in early elementary school.  Reconciliation is a sacrament that allows Catholics to be forgiven for their sins be confessing them to a priest.  This sacrament is also first received during the elementary school years in most cases.  Confirmation is the next sacrament that Catholics receive, and they reaffirm their faith in Christ as the godparents did for the recipient in Baptism.  Confirmation is a sort of “maturation” because Catholics state their faith themselves instead of having someone else do it as in Baptism.  Additionally, Catholics receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation: Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, Piety, Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Counsel.  The last three sacraments are more optional than the first four.  In marriage, a husband and wife learn to love and serve each other in a total commitment.  In Holy Orders, a priest is ordained.  Lastly, Anointing of the Sick is given to Catholics when they are very ill or close to death, and this sacrament asks God for physical and spiritual health.

The second post to the blog is a video from Youtube.  In the video, Archbishop Aymond from New Orleans focuses primarily on the sacrament of Reconciliation and its importance in the Lenten journey.  He mentions that a lot of Catholics do not come to Reconciliation because they can simply confess to God on their own.  Moreover, he states that people do not like admitting that they have made a mistake.  To counter these arguments against going to Reconciliation, he points out that Catholics are welcomed into a truly intimate, overwhelming relationship with Christ in Reconciliation.  Christ not only heals the “brokenness” but forgives sinners and gives them the strength to face the need to change.  Then, Archbishop Aymond says that when Catholics sin, they harm not only themselves, but the community as well.  Coming to Reconciliation allows Catholics to reconcile with Jesus and the entire community.  I really like this video because Archbishop Aymond is really “down to earth” and speaks humbly about his beliefs.

Essay Question for Mid-Term

Question: "How does the claim of the divinity of Jesus affect Christianity?  Your answer should make direct references to Scripture and the early history of Christianity."

Answer the question by making a central point (a thesis) and supporting that point with good evidence.  Your essay should  be 750-1,000 words in length.  Essays longer than 1,000 will be have marks deducted.  You must answer in full and properly constructed sentences. 

This essay component is due by 11am CST, Friday morning, 9 March 2012.  Please upload a PDF version of your essay to your Google Docs folder and share it with the instructor.   Essays made available later than 11am on the due date will have marks deducted. 

Question Set

Below are the edited questions from Monday's session.  I will take the questions for the exam from these, plus add some of my own.  Please remember as you study that full marks will be awarded to answers that are factually accurate, written in coherent sentences, and any opinions are backed up with evidence.   Since you have had the questions in advance, the bar is set pretty high for accuracy.

Study well and see you on Wednesday.

1. Briefly define and explain the differences between the Latin terms fides qua and fides quae.
2. What is one major difference between the teachings of the Apostle Paul and Jesus Christ?
3. Identify one major contribution Martin Luther made to the Christian community.
4. What was the impact of Martyrdom on early Christian community?
5. Explain how the dominant theme of covenant in the Old Testament is demonstrated in the account of Moses in the book of Exodus.
6. Describe and give an example of Jesus acting as Prophet in the New Testament.
7. How did women become leaders in the early church?
8. Why were the topics of Faith, Grace, and Works so important for the sixteenth-century reformers?
9. What were the effects/results of the Council of Nicaea?
10. What are the two principles pertaining to the traditional Augustinian Hermeneutic?  What was the later principle added to this movement?
11. How does the Old Testament relate or connect to the concept of salvation?
12. What does the muliple authorship theory of Genesis tell us about ancient Judaism?
13. What is the composition of the New Testament?
14. Why doesn’t the Jewish community accept Jesus as the messiah?   
15. Do you see Jesus as a savior, Hellenistic hero, man of social change, or a man of the spirit?  Provide examples that support your opinion.
16. How would a Lutheran or a Calvinist explain the terms fides quae and fides qua?
17. Describe the different beliefs of Arius of Alexandria.
18. How is Jesus a confronter? Give an example.
19. What are the two mainstreams of Reform in the sixteenth century? Define them and give examples
20. Describe the roles of Jesus as Priest.  How can they been seen in Scripture?
21. What is one principle of Augustinian hermeneutics and how does it relate to the reading of Scripture?
22. How did Arius’s teaching affect Christainity’s understanding of spirituality?
23. Explain how God uses Scripture to reveal himself and how God’s people can relate back to him from there.
24. Explain the OT people’s need for salvation*
25. Explain the functions of each person of the Trinity.*
26. State the difference between philosophy and theology.*
27. Explain how theology can relate to academic institutions and how it cannot.
28. Explain the Catholic understanding and way of reading Scripture and compare it to how Martin Luther and John Calvin read and understood Scripture.*
29. Explain three of the Early Church's beliefs that caused controversies, explain how they resulted in heresy, and discuss how the Church responded to uphold these beliefs.*
30. Discuss the "apostolic" community in Acts, specifically they responded to the following topics: Moasic Law, faith vs. works, and the responsibilities of the community as a whole.
31. Write down the three Old Testament sections and discuss their topic and name some of the important books in each.
32. Name the three claims connected to Jesus and discuss one of the three claims.
33. What are the main themes in the Old Testament? Give examples for each one from the scripture readings.
34. How is the gospel of Matthew different from the other Gospels?
35. What are the three things that Jesus shows himself as? Give an example of each from the scripture readings.
36. Explain the three key principles of the third century theology
37. Compare the dominant themes of the New Testament to the Old Testament.
38. How does God engaging in covenant relate to theophany and God revealing himself to us?
39. Describe each of the three theological claims about Jesus
40. How did martyrdom change when the Christian religion was legalized?

How far would you go to defend your faith

Hey guys! I know it's midterms week and all, but while I was taking a study break, I stumbled upon this article on the web. The article(s) are about Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and the persecution that he is facing while living in Iran. The Iranian government tried to force him to convert to Islam, and when he resisted, they sentenced him to death for not renouncing his faith. While it is unclear as to whether he actually underwent the execution, it is safe to say that he is still suffering a tremendous amount of persecution, all for his faith.
His situation and what he is going through also exemplify much of what we were talking about in class these past few weeks about Christian community, and also martyrdom. There are people of many different religions that are fighting and praying for his release, and this shows how a Christian community (or simply community united by a common cause) can band together and unite, not just to worship or in a place such as a church, but also when a brother or friend is undergoing suffering. Nadarkhani's situation also takes the concept of why Jesus matters to an extreme by proclaiming that his faith means his life to him. They are very interesting articles, I encourage you to read them!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/religious-right-now/post/youcef-nadarkhanis-case-unites-people-around-religious-liberty/2012/02/28/gIQAtQDigR_blog.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/youcef-nadarkhani-iranian-pastor-death-execution_n_1297262.html

Key Terms and Concepts for Mid-Term Review

Below is the list of key terms and concepts you all put together at Friday's class.  I have edited them down to their bare essentials so you can use the list for reviewing your own notes and going over the readings again.

feel free to use the comment section on the to raise questions or offer ways of defining this items.  As I said, on Monday we will create a question set based on this list.

Section 1: Language, Texts and the Concept of God

• Being human,
• Revelation & reason: 
• Bible: New & Old Testament (Jewish Scriptures). 
• Literary modes of expression. 
• The Trinity
• Scripture and history
• Scripture and human enquiry 
• “Word made Flesh”
• Fides quae
• Fides qua
• Augustinian Hermeneutic 

Section 2: Why the Old Testament Matters

• The dominant themes of the Old Testament (plus role of Genesis in setting up these themes): Covenant, Movement to monotheism, Salvation
• 2 approaches to understanding the Old Testament (Manichean, Unfolding Revelation)
• 3 different topics in the Old Testament (prophecy, law, writings)
• What are the four different author types in Genesis (JEDP Theory)
• Theophany
• Mosaic Covenant
• OT sectons: Torah (teaching), Ketuvim (writing), Nevi’im (prophets)

Section 3: Why the New Testament Matters

• Gospels-(Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John)
• Synoptic Gospels,
• ‘Q’ source
• Acts- Greek and Roman History
• Ars dictaminis
• Pauline, and Deutero-Pauline letters
• Apocalypse 
• Jewish-Christianity
• Jesus as the messiah
• Struggled with resistance to Jesus’ message against Palestinian Jew
• Sack of Jerusalem in 70 CE.
• Gentile Church
• Nature of Christian Life: Gnosticism, Leadership, Faith and works

Section 4: Why Jesus Matters

• Heavenly Christ
• Man of the indefinite past
• Hellenistic Hero
• Revolutionary
• Man of the spirit
• Prophet of Social Change
• Apocalyptic Prophet
• Savior
• Jesus as prophet, priest, and king
• Savior and mediator
• atonement and redemption
• antagonists in the “passion” narrative
• Prophet as Confronter and foreteller
• The Kingdom of God
• Jesus’ relationship with society’s outcasts and rejected  

Section 5: Why Chistian Community Matters: the Early Church

• Geographic growth of Christianity: (Judea, Syria, Asia Minor, Lower Nile [Egypt], North Africa)
• Lex Orandi and Lex Credendi
• Bishops,  priests, deacons
• Martyrdom and Martyrs
• Monks, Nuns, Hermits
• Edict of Milan
• Impassibility of God
• Created and Uncreated
• Perfection of unity and imperfection of multiplicity
• Arius of Alexandria and Arianism
• Council of Nicaea
• Nicene Creed
• Homoousios

Section 6:  Why Christian Community Matters: the Sixteenth Century Reformation

• Martin Luther
• “Faith Alone”
• John Calvin
• Anglicans
• Anabaptists
• Puritans
• Magisterial Reform
• Radical Reform
• Remnant Theory
• Reform Issues
• Faith, Grace, Works
• penitential system 
• Indulgences
• Renaissance
• Authority
• Canon Law
• Tradition

Christian Community Interactions with Non-Christians

Following along with the weeks topic of "Christian communities" I found a though-provoking article written by Chris Stedman for the Huffington Post. Chris is a homosexual man who details his religious experiences and thoughts since he was a teenager. He talks about adoring his first pastor and participating in church events, and then suddenly not believing in God a few years later. Throughout his life he was trying to "reconcile [his] sexual orientation and [his] conservative religious beliefs". This led to him moving to a more progressive church community. It was here that he met Matthew, who would eventually become a pastor. Interestingly, Stedman talks about how he was accepted to a Lutheran College and wanted to become a pastor as well. This struck because you don't typically think of pastors and homosexuality in the same sentence, unless it's negative. That said, Stedman says that what he "didn't fully understand then was that [his] desire to help others and be in community existed apart from the theological claims of Christianity, which never sat as easily with [him]".

What happens next is what interested me the most though. After he decided to drop his pursuit of becoming a pastor in favor of atheism, he said that he "realized [he] was missing opportunities to learn from and with those who saw the world differently than [he] did". He became a part of the Christian community once more to meet with unlike minds and to learn from them. His overall experience is both inspiring and unconventional. He is still an atheist, but partners with a Christian community to tackle the broader problems throughout the world like hunger and disease.

His overall message is that we should embrace those with different views and put religion aside. While this is certainly going to create a degree of controversy, the idea itself isn't terrible. A world of peace is a world of similarities. He embraced the Christian community without actually being a religious part of it, but a part of it nonetheless.

Link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-stedman/why-this-atheist-still-ne_b_1308171.html

The rights of people with disabilities in christian communities.

I found this article about people with disabilities in Kenya and how others mistreat them in their community especially in their Christian Communities.
Here is the link to the article:
http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/988/1164
I was shocked that people actually think that people with disabilities have been punish for some terrible deed(s) that their family has done and that they don't deserve to be close to God. Anyway read the article and see what you think.

Religion and Politics

            One of the most interesting debates of the Presidential and primary races in the United States this year is the religion of Rick Santorum.  Santorum is a practicing Catholic and running for the GOP nomination against Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and Mitt Romney—a practicing Mormon.  The controversy revolving around Santorum is the belief that if a Catholic is elected President of the United States, he would listen to Pope, ultimately having the Pope run the country.  Because of this overwhelming concern of the American population towards the hierarchical system in place within the Catholic Church, only one other practicing Catholic has held the office of the President: John F. Kennedy from 1961-1963.  During Kennedy’s Presidency, he immediately attempted to dispute the concept that he would concede to the Pope’s will because he was Catholic and vehemently attempted to prove his individuality from the Pope.  During his address to the nation when the issue of Catholicism in the Church arose, Kennedy stated “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute--where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act… where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source” (beliefnet.com).  Kennedy, by these remarks discussed how he believes in religion, the Church, and the Pope, but refuses to take direct orders from these people in order to protect the sanctity of separation of church and state.  The same issues have risen before Santorum during his campaign and he follows along the same rhetoric as Kennedy in not following direct orders from the Pope because he is the one to lead the country.  Although Kennedy and Santorum have similar views about their individuality in regards to the Pope, Santorum has taken the argument a different way from Kennedy, as seen in the article posted below, in order to make that point that he is a religious man and will take that religion to the Presidency.  Although Kennedy does not explicitly state that he will forget his Catholic background, Santorum believes that by talking about separation of religion and government, Kennedy wanted to lose all aspects of faith in government.  Santorum took the exact opposite approach saying that his faith background will constantly be with him, makes up his moral core, and will always be presents.  He wishes not to keep church and state separate, but intertwine them so that people from different religions can become involved in one government.  Santorum and Kennedy both bring up interesting and highly charged ideas about religion, government, and power.  In regards to religion and government, there are different positives and negatives for both Santorum and Kennedy’s arguments.  Kennedy, with his idea of separation of Church and state, is one of the pillars on which America was founded, but taking all religion out of government completely could impact the nation on moral grounds.  This ties into Santorum’s argument about Church intertwined with state in that without religion and faith, the moral compass in the nation as a whole could shift because politicians could not bring their own faith and morality into politics.  Religion is actively involved in and around politics with everyone having a faith and different moral code, which should be represented in the government.  Santorum’s argument gets attacked because America was founded on the thought that America would not be a theocracy or run by religion and Santorum explicitly states he wants religion involved in politics.  Both arguments revolve around morality and history and it is a difficult debate to take a side on because the arguments provide both important aspects to American values.  Also involved in the Catholic’s in politics debate is the belief that politicians will be controlled by the Pope.  Technically this should be true that Catholics must listen to the Pope because his word is infallible, but that would disqualify Catholic’s from politics because they would have to follow every order from the Pope.  These questions of morality and hierarchy within the Church not only are at the forefront of Catholic lives, but also are extremely important in American politics and the election of the President of the United States of America.

Here is the link to the article discussing the faith of Rick Santorum and the debate about whether religion should or should not be involved in politics.

http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/11044-huffington-post-urged-to-apologize-for-anti-catholic-hate-screed