Category: Religion / Theology

christianity

October 3, 2020 Leave a comment APA (edition "APA 6"), Religion / Theology

1. God said to Samuel, it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king (1 Samuel 8:7).  How was the adoption of a king by Israel rejection of God?  How did God turn Israel’s rejection of God onto a promise by God?

2. Prophets are chosen by God.  Would you want to be one? Then and/or now? Why or why not?

3.  Pick a message of hope from Isaiah, Jeremiah, or Ezekiel and summarize it. How might one of the two global writers relate to your text (Be sure to quote something specific from their work in support of your analysis.)? Discuss the broader applicability of the text to something you have experienced or observed in a situation of loss.

4.  In the previous module I mentioned how at Moses’ time the book of Genesis would have contained foundational history that up to that point had been oral history. After Moses was the time of the prophets, beginning with Joshua. For the prophets, not just Genesis but all of the books of Moses (the Torah) would have been a foundational history book in the expanding Bible that the prophets were adding to. How might this expanding Bible have been comforting to God’s people after Moses at the time of the prophets? 

religion-hinduism

October 3, 2020 Leave a comment MLA, Religion / Theology

QUESTION:  Reflect on what you have learned about Hinduism. One approach is to talk about what Hindus see as the main problem that humans are trying to overcome and then to describe the solutions to the problem (the main paths, or yogas that are a part of this tradition). Another approach would be to write a response to someone who says that Hindus are polytheistic explaining why that isn’t true. Feel free to take a different approach if there is something that has been particularly striking for you.

Spiritual principles

October 3, 2020 Leave a comment APA (edition "APA 6"), Religion / Theology

Identify and briefly discuss three spiritual principles by which you live (or want to live) your life. For each, explain what you mean and why that principle is so important. For example you might write the following:

Principle 1: I will turn to God in repentance and faith as soon as realize I have disobeyed him, taking personal responsibility and not excusing my actions. In other words This principle is important because

Doctrine of perseverance.

October 3, 2020 Leave a comment APA (edition "APA 6"), Religion / Theology

Briefly explain the doctrine of perseverance. Then, identify and explain at least three factors that contribute to a Christian continuing in his or her faith until the end of life. For example, consider the relationship between daily Bible reading and perseverance. Asked differently, why do many self-professing Christians fall away from the Christian confessions and commitments that they made earlier in life?

Psalm 2:13

October 3, 2020 Leave a comment APA (edition "APA 6"), Religion / Theology

Sanctification involves two elements: being set apart for God and his purposes and becoming more holy (or pure) in our thoughts and actions.

However, we live in the world and there are people standing in hostile opposition to God, to his Messiah, to his ways, and to his people. Read 1 John 2:1517 and Psalm 2:13. As you survey our culture and reflect on the state of your own heart, identify and discuss at least two characteristics of the world. For example, you might suggest that the world celebrates and pursues sex outside the context of marriage. Then provide concrete evidence, documentation (where possible), and insights to support your observations.

what is your wold view

October 2, 2020 Leave a comment APA (edition "APA 6"), Religion / Theology

Read and journal Whats Your Worldview, by James N. Anderson. Points will be awarded for excellence and thoughtful engagement with the subject matter.

In paragraph format, use about 1500 words (no less than 1200 words, no more than 2000), to answer all of these questions:
(1)    What is your own answer to each of Andersons questions in Part 1, and why you believe your answer is true?
a.    **There are 21 Questions in Part 1.
(2)    Based on Andersons analysis, what is your own personal worldview? Why do you think this is so?
(3)    Does your worldview explain reality the best among the options?
a.    What are reasons you think your worldview is true?

(4)    What are the greatest strengths and weaknesses of your personal worldview according to Anderson?
a.    Do you agree or disagree with him? Why?
b.    You may contrast Anderson with Koukl and Sires books if you like.
(5)    Does it matter whether or not a persons worldview is true? Why?
(6)    What are some significant things you have learned about worldview from Andersons book?
a.    (You may include comparisons with Koukl or Sires books, if you like).

People of Philistines

October 2, 2020 Leave a comment MLA, Religion / Theology

This is a research paper on your choice of one of the neighboring peoples of the Ancient Near East, and a survey of some biblical passages illuminated by this study.  Specific instructions:
2-3 pages in length (a minimum of 2 pages, not to exceed 3 pages)

You must have two (and only two) sources.  Your main source must be the article you choose from the book Peoples of the Old Testament World (on reserve).  Your second source must be a print source (not online only).  Use the library and look for books on the people you are studying.  Good sources are also the series of InterVarsity Press Dictionaries of the Old Testament, or other biblical encyclopedias (in the library reference section). 

As this is a research paper, the expectation is that you fairly represent the information in the article from Peoples of the Old Testament World (summarizing its main points; or if it is especially long, its most important points), and in your second source as a supplement or confirmation of some point(s) of the article.  That is, you need not cover everything in your second source, and especially if it is a book, it will go into far more depth than you can cover. 

Also briefly discuss some biblical verses/passages that are illuminated by this study, that is, passages that you can now better understand because of your study of this people (who they are, where they were located, and their history and interactions with Israel).  Your sources will reference the biblical passages where this people is mentioned.

You must be careful to write this in your own words (and use quotations only very sparingly), and at the same time identify the source of every piece of information or idea that did not originate with you by using in-text parenthetical citation.

Special note: your bibliographical citations (works cited) must be properly formatted!  In the case of your primary source or the dictionaries, you must format correctly for an individually authored article in a multi-authored work, including: the article author, article title, book title, book editors, publishing information, and page numbers of your article.  DO NOT USE online citation generators for this; they will not get it right.  You will lose points on your paper for incomplete or improperly formatted citations.

Bible 364 Forum: Forum 4 (Module 6)

October 2, 2020 Leave a comment Chicago / Turabian, Religion / Theology

Topic: Paul

1.Did Paul die when he was stoned in Lystra? What is the evidence for each position, yes and no? Pauls testimony in 2 Corinthians 12 is often associated with this event. Is that valid? What are the reasons why it should or should not be associated with his stoning? Use the Bible, Ger, and one additional scholarly source to research this and to present your position.

2.Fresh on the heels of the Jerusalem Council, Paul insists on circumcising Timothy. Why would he consider this necessary? Was Paul being hypocritical, since the Council had just determined Gentiles need not be circumcised for salvation? Use the Bible, Ger, and one additional scholarly source to research this and to present your position.

THREAD

Your thread must answer the two questions in at least 300 words (150 words per question). This guideline promotes writing that is thorough, yet concise enough to permit your classmates to read all the threads. You must include references to the Bible, the textbook, and at least 1 additional outside source to support your positions. References must be formatted in the current Turabian style. First-person perspective (e.g., I or we) is allowed in all your posts.

The Post First feature has been activated in the Discussion Board Forums for this course. You will need to post your thread before you will be able to view and reply to other students’ threads.

Threads are due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of Modules/Weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6.

Any topic (writer’s choice)

October 2, 2020 Leave a comment Chicago / Turabian, Religion / Theology

Reflection Paper: Identify a critical pastoral care issue in your congregation or community (i.e. homeless families, empty nesters, mental illness, cross-cultural intolerance, gang violence, teen prostitution, etc.). Interview your pastor in order to gather further information/data/history about that particular ‘issue’ – such as how it is being engaged (or not) by your church or community, and what insights you may be able to bring into the situation.