RLST 3000 Christian Traditions FINAL study guide
How does Helen Prejean's perspective on God influence her view on capital punishment?
(born 1939), Roman Catholic Nun - "if we call ourselves Jesus' disciples, we too have to keep ministering to the marginated, the throwaways, the lepers of today - the death-row inmates."
Cynthia Bourgeault
-Modern day mystic
Thomas Paine
Inspired the Patriots to declare independence from Britain
Pachomius
Leader of the desert fathers. Three steps to his beliefs: 1. Problem = pride 2. Cause = Satan (evil) 3. Antidote = Humility Uses the example of the weeping man. This gives strength because crying shows humility. Pride is the mother of all evils.
Indulgences
People paying to be absolved of their sins.
What is Mysticism?
defined in a spiritual sense as union with god. 3.the mystical experience is primarily non conceptual and it is had by individuals who properly open themselves to it. mystical experience is a heightened form of religious experience and it illuminates other forms that are obscure or subsumed
Sola Scriptura
"By Scripture Alone," the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness.
What is the connection between the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution?
"The discoveries of the Scientific Revolution suggested that the whole universe was not so mysterious and, indeed, might be subject to the control and domination of human ingenuity-This questioning was initiated by Martin Luther when he pointed out the immorality that existed in the Church and eventually reformed into Lutheranism. When Martin Luther questioned the church he had proved that the church could in fact be wrong about ideal beliefs. Therefore this created an opportunity for people to develop and develop their own ideas around science. Before the Protestant reformation it was hard to question or challenge any of the churches beliefs.
The Second Great Awakening
- Different from first Great Awakening in the sense that conversion was a personal choice whereas holiness was thought to be voluntary. - A personal relationship with God.
What is a connection between a view on women in Mormon doctrine and Elizabeth Cady Stanton's "The Women's Bible"? In her "Comments on Genesis 3," how does Stanton turn a traditional reading of Eve on its head?
- Not responsible for all of humanity's sins, for ruining utopia. - Adam is not necessarily blamed, mostly Satan/the serpent. -Revisiting the story of Eve in the Garden of Eden (she is viewed as a heroine rather than the cause for all evil). Little known seeds for a unique type of feminism not unlike . . . . Elizabeth Cady Stanton's "The Women's Bible": Comments on Genesis 3: "The conduct of Eve from the beginning to the end is so superior to that of Adam. . . ." (CR, p. 124) Yet . . . at the same time: Polygamy
Scivias
-Illustrations -Representations of the Church in human form, or as a city, to fallen angels, the Antichrist, the struggles of the soul, and the battles of the Virtues and Vices.
Rene Descartes
-Questioned everything -We could be dreaming kind of thinking -The only thing we can know is that we are thinking beings ("I think therefore I am": cogito ergo sum)
The First Great Awakening
-Revivalism -Need for salvation from Jesus Christ
Jonathan Edwards
A leading figure in the First Great Awakening
Liberation Theology
A movement in Christian theology, developed mainly by Latin American Roman Catholics, that emphasizes liberation from social, political, and economic oppression as an anticipation of ultimate salvation.
Centering Prayer
A popular method of contemplative prayer or Christian meditation, placing a strong emphasis on interior silence -Roots in works like The Cloud of Unknowing
What is an Icon? What is the perspective on icons in Orthodox/Eastern Christianity? What is the perspective on icons in Western Christianity? What does the term iconoclasm refer to?
An icon is a sacred image.
Purgatory
An intermediary state after physical death in which those destined for heaven undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven
Letter 23
By what authority does Hildegard speak (by a vision)? •Her "authority" comes from certain embodied experiences ("I heard these words in a vision") •She is composer, theologian, visionary. •Emphasizes music, angels sing in harmony, fallen Adam fallen = lost his angelic voice. •Through instruments and words one learns "about inward things."
What is the difference between deism and pietism? What is the relationship between deism, democracy and America's founders?
Deism - According to Deist belief, God created the world and filled it with reasonable people and discernable natural laws; one's task is to discover the laws of nature and to live according to one's reason- God doesn't involve himself in this universe after creation. Religious philosophy of the Enlightenment. Deism asks what the relationship is between the creator (God) and the natural world. Insistent on religious tolerance and freedom. Pietism - The Pietist movement combined the Lutheranism of the time with the reformed emphasis on individual piety and living a vigorous Christian life. It was a reaction to moral laxity, formalism, secularism, and religious indifference of the Enlightenment and Deism. -Stressed feelings over dogma -Rooted in sense of personal relationship with God -Religion was rich experience Dominant Characteristics: bible-centered faith, a keen sense of guilt and forgiveness felt in the heart, personal conversion, practical holiness in simple Christian living, and a concern for the needs of others. Relationship between deism, democracy and America's founders - many of the founding fathers of America were Deists: Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) and Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) believed that religion could be reduced to ethical consciousness and good moral conduct - many accents of Deism echoed in the Declaration of Independence: reason, religious toleration, optimism about the pursuit of happiness, and a trust in a reasonable God, - Deism attracted people b/c it stood in judgment of many of the troublesome religious trends of the time: dogmatism, sectarian infighting, enthusiasm, and clericalism Pg. 115 in Introduction to Christianity- everything above about Deism in America
What is the relationship between justice and peace for Dorothy Day?
Dorothy Day sees a positive correlation between peace and justice. She is a pacifist who believes that non-violence is the only way to justice. She is a supporter of non-violent protests such as sit-ins and picketing. In her lifetime she was detained several times for her non-violent protests.
John Wycliffe
Early dissident in Roman Catholic Church. One of the earliest opponents to Papal authority. Wanted the Bible translated into common language so that everyone could understand it.
How does James A Cone understand the cross? What is the connection between the cross and the lynching tree?
James A Cone understands the cross as a parallel to the lynching tree. He sees the lynching tree as a cross for African Americans. The wrongful lynching of African Americans directly correlates to the wrongful killing of Jesus. James A Cone foregrounds lynching and its threat as the concrete denial of African American's claims to a recognition of their full humanity and of their citizenship in the household of God. He wants people to rethink the theology of the cross in a way that modern America can relate to what happened over 2000 years ago.
What is John Wesley's "hermeneutical theory of textual interpretation"?
John Wesley was influenced by Pietism. He was interested in "a more heartfelt religious experience" (a religious awakening) The passages on Wesley's "hermeneutical theory of textual interpretations of reading scripture in CR 107-109 talk about first the way in which Wesley believes you should read scripture in order to "know the best knowledge of the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent." He lists these steps: 1)Set apart a little time every morning and evening to read the scriptures. 2) Each of those times read a chapter out of the Old and New Testament or just one if there's no time 3)Read it with a single eye, to know the whole will of God, and a fixed resolution to do it. 4) In order to know His will you should have a constant eye to the analogy of faith 5) Serious and earnest prayer should constantly be used before we consult the oracles of God and the reading should be closed with prayer that what we read may be written on our hearts 6) We should also examine ourselves by what we read, in our hearts and lives. He also talks about how a minister must know about his office and the work he is called to do, knowledge of the scriptures and the literal meaning of every word, verse and chapter, Knowledge of the original tongues of scripture, Knowledge of Profane history and ancient customs, Knowledge of the sciences- metaphysics, natural philosophy, geometry, Knowledge of the fathers, and finally Knowledge of the world, of men.
In terms of Enlightenment thinking, how did Hume "awaken Kant from his dogmatic slumber"?
Kant saw rationalist metaphysics as being "dogmatic" because they doesn't question the grounds from which the claims are justified. Hume "awoke" him by showing how difficult it is to justify knowledge claims at all. He argues that we have no rational justification for believing in cause an effect - that is that every effect has a cause - because it is human nature to believe this. This led to Kant Questioning ("deconstructing") all forms of knowledge/authority, even one's own sense of self/being in the world. How can one "believe" in God when one can't even believe one's own sense perception of the world is accurate? Rather than needing to prove that God doesn't exist, one needs to prove instead that God DOES exist.
Of the clips of films about Jesus we viewed in class, which do you think portrayed a more liberal perspective? Which portrayed a more conservative perspective? Why?
Liberal means to be open minded and comfortable with ambiguity and understanding that it's complex. It is a communal experience, adaptive and nonconformist. Tend to be left wing. Conservative prefer certainty, all conclusions about the Christian faith are fixed, believe God disclosed a plan for Salvation and have complete trust in the Bible. Out of the movies we watched The Passion of the Christ was the most conservative because the director followed a strict path of keeping Catholic teachings of the Bible and upheld the Latin and Aramaic language. The rest of the movies were liberal. They were liberal in different ways, for example, Jesus Christ Superstar was pop art incorporating the era of the time. Dead Man Walking, Helen Prejean was the Spiritual Advisor to death row inmates. Liberal - The film where they were singing on the cross. Didn't look like they were in much pain, their feet weren't nailed to the cross - they were standing on a stump. It looked as though they could get down if they chose to. The angle of the camera was eye level. This film was more light-hearted. Conservative - One of the films was very gory and a close image of descriptions in the bible. You saw the nails being hammered into Jesus's feet and hands. You saw the humility that he was feeling. The camera angle was looking up at him
Who was Martin Luther (be able to describe his personality/character)? What was the role of the church in the lives of people during Luther's time? What was the message of John Tetzel and what effect do you think his message would have had on the people when he lived?
Martin Luther is a German monk who sparked the reformation of Roman Catholics. According to the movie, he has a passion in teaching children. He believed that God is graceful, and with faith only we can reach salvation. Martin believed that the bible speaks total truth. The role of the Church in the lives of people during Luther's time was to control and govern human social life. John Tetzel was a Roman Catholic who was trying to sell indulgence, and this practice upset Martin. His message instilled fear in people, which led them to pay the church to secure their position in the afterlife.
What is Monasticism in both the East and West (How are they different? How are they the same?)
Monasticism in Orthodox Christianity- EAST *Stressed communal life *Encouraged Monks to practice manual labor, obedience, prayer and work *Follow wisdom of St. Basil *In the eastern church contemplation and mysticism- remained contemplative [review: quote, IC, p. 69] Western Monasticism - WEST *Stresses work and prayer *Supposed to live a traditional monastic life but called to teach, be political advisors, be missionaries, etc. *Based on rule by Benedict -developed a more active church community Life •Note that the differences between Orthodox Christianity and Western Christianity have to do with outward authority.- Papal Claim •Also note how the similarities between Orthodox and Western Christianity have to do with inward religious devotion/experience.[quote, IC, p. 71] Both East and West Agree. . . . on the principle of tradition. Both see a need for an extra-biblical religious authority. . . . Scripture without tradition lacks vitality, tradition without Scripture lacks foundation, and either of them without observance and practice lacks credibility" (p. 57).
Book of Mormon
One of the sacred books of the Mormon Church, published in 1830 by Joseph Smith, and believed by Mormons to contain the sacred history of the lost tribes of Israel in the Americas and to prophesy the appearance of Jesus after the Resurrection to establish religious order. Translated from Gold Plates written in "Reformed Egyptian"; had scribe; used implements ("Urim and Thummim"/seer stone) to help with translation.
"Half-way Covenant"
Originating in 1662 in New England in a Puritan Church. Partial Covenant was free partial membership in the congregation which allowed the family to be baptized but not communion or voting rights as opposed to full covenant.
Covenant Community (Theocracy)
Puritans viewed themselves as a chosen people with a special bond with God. They saw the "city upon a hill" parable as talking about them and they formed a covenant community as a result of the covenant theology they believed. There are two signs of living in a covenant community: 1) Personal Conversion Experience 2) Work/calling [public commitment to a useful vocation]: A calling was an opportunity to demonstrate ascetic self-denial and spiritual discipline. Theocracy •Puritan form of government followed the hierarchical model of social harmony governed by a spiritual aristocracy who were endowed with what were considered divine gifts and experience.-Anti-Democratic! •Puritan covenant community was based on principles of inclusion (conversion and calling) but also (in order to maintain spiritual purity), on exclusion (public humiliation, confinement, banishment and execution). -Vigilance was necessary to maintain the purity of the community in order to create a pure domain of Christian faith, conduct, and social order.
Liberal Protestantism
Refers to an understanding of Christianity that emphasizes its humanitarian impulses rather than dogmatic propositions or emotional conversion. More liberal in its interpretation of Scripture. -Inspired by the rationalist philosophy of the Enlightenment and Deism, and often in reaction to the emotionalism of revivalism -The term liberal is not used in its traditional sense- freedom from prejudice and a readiness to welcome new ideas and progress in religion.
Council of Trent
Roman Catholic council held periodically from 1545 to 1563 to counter to Protestantism. Until the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), Trent was the most comprehensive statement of Catholic belief and practice. It was the embodiment of the Counter-Reformation. Countering Martin Luther. -It affirms that original sin creates a weakness in human nature termed concupiscence. Concupiscence weakens the will of human, and influences him/her toward evil. •Justification of the soul is a work of grace by the Holy Spirit. It is the transformation of the soul from the state of original sin to that of grace through Jesus Christ. -The cause of justification of the soul- See quote, CR, p. 369. The efficient cause is God; its final cause is the glory of God, Christ and eternal life; its meritorious cause is Christ; its instrumental cause is baptism; its formal cause is sanctifying grace. On Sacraments: •Seven Sacraments: Baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, extreme unction, order and matrimony. •It is "with the most holy sacraments of the Church, [that] all true justice either begins, or being begun is increased, or being lost is restored" (CR, p. 369).
St. Anne
Saint Anne (also known as Ann or Anna, from Hebrew Hannah, meaning "favor" or "grace) of David's house and line, was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ, according to Christian and Islanmic tradition. Mary's mother is not named in the canonical gospels, nor in the Qur'ran. Anne's name and that of her husband Joachim come only from New Testament apocrypha, of which the Protevangelium of James (written perhaps around 150) seems to be the earliest that mentions them.
Hesychasm
Spiritual technique of sitting and inwardly repeating a (silent) prayer. •Inversion of typical approaches to prayer (standing, outward speech to God) •Prayer consisted of: 1) assuming a specific posture; 2) control over breathing [bringing a sense of calm and concentration of mind] - synchronized breath and prayer [inhale with "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God," and exhale with "have mercy on me"; 3) directed to enter the heart.
Benard of Clairvaux
Teacher on Mysticism. He focused on the "Song of Songs" to represent the stages of ascent to God. 1) As the kiss of Christ's Feet (Humility) 2)As the Kiss of Christ's Hands (Devotion) 3)As the Kiss of Christ's Mouth (Contemplation) Movement upward to union with God is driven by LOVE. -His sermons capture the violence and non-violence of love -He focused on a passionate embrace or oneness with God - this ecstasy is called contemplation.
Catholic Worker
The Catholic Worker Movement is a collection of autonomous communities of Catholics and their associates founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933. Its aim is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ. "One of its guiding principles is hospitality towards those on the margin of society, based on the principles of communitarianism and personalism. To this end, the movement claims over 213 local Catholic Worker communities providing social services.[3] Each house has a different mission, going about the work of social justice in its own way, suited to its local region.
What does the Weaver/Brakke text mean by the terms "world" and "culture"?
The concept of "world" as termed by Weaver and Brakke at its most basic refers to a denomination's posture in the world. Denominations can either have a "dominating" or "withdrawn" posture in regards to their "world". On the other hand the word "culture" refers to how a christian denomination interacts with the culture and values of the world. They will either choose a posture of "adaption" or a posture of "nonconformity". The posture a denomination takes in regards to their "world" and "culture" defines how they will make decisions and influence the world.
Inquisition
The official mechanism for the persecution of heresy by designated ecclesiastical courts; established in the 13th century. Called the Holy Office from 1908 to 1965, when it became the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith with the function of promoting faith and morals, not just safeguarding them.
Ecumenism
The principle of promoting unity among the world's Christian churches.
St. Benedict (Rule of St. Benedict)
The rule of St. Benedict emphasized humility, the urgency to do work in this life now, giving everything to God, and he lays out the rules we live by.
Transubstantiation
The teaching that during communion, the elements of the Eucharist (bread and wine), are literally transformed into the actual body and blood of Jesus.
What is the relationship between Christianity and war (be able to address the "theory of just war" in your answer).
There are two extremes, war is always right and war is always wrong. Some Christians claim that every war, even a war in self-defense, is unacceptable because bloodshed is evil. However most churches have adopted a position between the two extremes. Peace is preferable but not always possible. Because we live in a sinful world, sinful, unscrupulous people will attempt to involve a society in dangerous ventures. Experience shows that only violence can stop violence. Christians may participate in war if certain circumstances require their service. The Theory of Just War: 1. Must have just cause (one side must persist in unjust aggression) 2. Must exhaust all peaceful means first (so war is a matter of legitimate self-defense regretfully taken up when negotiations have failed) 3. Must have reasonable hope of success (a tiny country should not sacrifice its people in a hopeless war against a superpower) 4. Must use proportionate means (one side cannot use guns when the other side is just using swords and spears) 5. Must observe noncombatant immunity (violence may not be directed against civilians)
"City Upon a Hill"
This is a parable that was spoken during the "sermon on the mount", Jesus tells his followers that they are the light of the world and that a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. This encourages and signifies people to spread the word of God, because his word cannot be hidden.
Beguines
Women who led religious lives of devotion, poverty, and chastity without belonging to a formally approved religious order. (Mechthild of Magdeburg was the first Beguine) -They focused on a passionate and intimate connection with Jesus Christ. -Emphasized the ascent of the soul to God through "mystical logic of contradiction."
St. Basil (Basil the Great)
Wrote monastic rule still used today in Orthodox Monasticism. Wrote about three levels of obedience (Why one obeys): 1) out of fear, 2) out of reward, 3) out of love. Believed in living the commandments, repent your sins, and the rewards of labor- those who labor receive rewards and crowns. Those who have knowledge are judged more harshly. God is merciful and also "just" (harsh?) Believed: "Now is the Day of Salvation"
Fundamentalism
a form of a religion, especially Islam or Protestant Christianity, that upholds belief in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture. Strict adherence to the basic principles of any subject or discipline.
Justification
debate over how God justifies or "makes right" sinful humans; Roman Catholics believe justification is intrinsic (an internal change of a person); Protestants believe justification is extrinsic (external change in how God sees the person.) Justification of the soul is a work of grace by the Holy Spirit--it is the transformation of the soul from the state of original sin to that of grace through Jesus Christ. Cause for justification: 1) efficient cause=God 2) final cause=glory of God, Christ, and eternal life 3) meritorious cause=Christ 4) instrumental cause=baptism 5) formal cause=sanctifying grace
Evangelicalism
has often been used to describe an emotional approach to religion. It describes those who stress religious experience and the importance of making a clear, definite decision for Jesus Christ. Evangelicals emphasize biblical authority and human sinfulness; they insist on the need for a new birth and life of holiness and personal witness. "Eventually, Evangelical would describe a Christian whose choice for Jesus as a personal savior was more important than a denominational location." (IC p. 141)
Acheiropoieta
image not made by human hands. a reference to icons; its a picture of Jesus's face. In Orthodox Christianity they believe icons are not made by human hands.
Immaculate Conception
the doctrine that God preserved the Virgin Mary from the taint of original sin from the moment she was conceived; it was defined as a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church in 1854.
Simone Weil
was a French social and religious philosopher, widely admired as a Christian mystic. Politically active, she took part in the Spanish Civil War and the French Resistance. The sister of mathematician André Weil, through whom she became involved in mathematics, she became the only female member of the Bourbaki group.
Covenant Theology
●Page 111 ●In 1648 the Puritans and Presbyterians adopted "A Platform of Church Discipline or "The Cambridge Platform"- The main point stressed in this platform was Covenant Theology. ●The puritans believed that God operated in history through covenants and was now forming a new covenant with them in this new land ●The impact of this covenant theology was a great amount of influence on political and religious order in New England--Because the community was a covenanted one, each member of the community was to follow God's law as it was found in the Bible and enforced by local religious and civil magistrates ●Technical Definition: Covenant theology (also known as Covenantalism, Federal theology, or Federalism) is a Calvinist conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible. It uses the theological concept of covenant as an organizing principle for Christian theology.
What is the "Cloud of Unknowing" (placed within the context of the course, that is when it was written and how contemplative Christians are currently reading it)? Consider what it says about love and God.
●The "Cloud of Unknowing" is an anonymous work of Christian mysticism written in Middle English in the latter half of the 14th century (1329) during the time of the Black Plague. The text is a spiritual guide on contemplative prayer in the late Middle Ages. The underlying message of this work proposes that the only way to truly "know" God is to abandon all preconceived notions and beliefs or "knowledge" about God and be courageous enough to surrender your mind and ego to the realm of "unknowingness," at which point, you begin to glimpse the true nature of God ●The book counsels a young student to seek God, not through knowledge and intellection (faculty of the human mind), but through intense contemplation, motivated by love, and stripped of all thought. This is brought about by putting all thoughts and desires under a "cloud of forgetting", and thereby piercing God's cloud of unknowing with a "dart of longing love" from the heart. This form of contemplation is not directed by the intellect, but involves spiritual union with God through the heart. ●According to the text, there are two kinds of lives within the Holy Church: The active and contemplative lives. The active life is the lower and the contemplative the higher. Each life has two degrees, a higher and a lower. The higher degree of the contemplative life is the cloud of unknowing. ●"For He can well be loved, but he cannot be thought. By love he can be grasped and held, but by thought, neither grasped nor held. And therefore, though it may be good at times to think specifically of the kindness and excellence of God, and though this may be a light and a part of contemplation, all the same, in the work of contemplation itself, it must be cast down and covered with a cloud of forgetting. And you must step above it stoutly but deftly, with a devout and delightful stirring of love, and struggle to pierce that darkness above you; and beat on that thick cloud of unknowing with a sharp dart of longing love, and do not give up, whatever happens." ●Contemplative Christians from different denominations read "the cloud" Ie: Catholics, Quaker etc. (It influenced T.S. Eliot in his "four quartets") ●The idea is that underneath the differences between medieval and modern is a similar searching and experience that can enlarge awareness.
Concerning an analysis of Christianity, (specifically contemporary Christian denominations), what are the main characteristics of the terms: withdrawal, domination, nonconformity and adaptation? What are the main characteristics of liberal and conservative Christianity?
●Withdrawal: Want little or nothing to do with the world. They are removed from society, either physically, culturally, or psychologically, with aim of religious purity and perfection. ●Domination: Making ones religious view predominant in society. As opposed to withdrawal, domination intends to conquer the world with their religion. They spread their believes and exhibit their religion when ever they can. Negative view of world but positive view of peoples potential to adapt their religion. It can be in the form of political or financial. ●Nonconformity: Failure or refusal to adapt to the established order. Usually referred to the protestants in England that did not recognize the Anglican Church of England, either politically or religiously. ●Adaptation: Being able to adapt ones religion to how the world and society are now a days. Christians who do not take the teachings literally and instead apply to the current view of the world. Liberal: Able to adapt to the world, tolerant of other religions and beliefs, welcome pluralism and are comfortable with ambiguity. Openminded. Conservative: Certainty and understand christian life to be clear. Follow principle of a divine plan for humanity. more suspicious about the world around them. The Bible is free from error. Do not adapt to the world and are intolerant of other religions.
How does the ecumenical movement illustrate a shift from a missionary paradigm originating in Europe to a global paradigm with no center?
The ecumenical movement is attempting to unify the Christian church, which will create a universal church that's power structure is decentralized.
Theotokos
Theotokos is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches.
"The Papal Claim"
This is what gives the Pope authority. Cause of the Great Schism between Western and Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
How is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints like the Puritans (in terms of both being a type of "American Zion")?
●Both has a sense of being chosen ●A sense of being under public scrutiny ●An emphasis on the conversion experience -an emphasis on work/holding a church "calling" ●Puritans had a covenant community referred to as "City Upon a Hill" ●Mormons formed a new Zion in Salt Lake city- it's a renewed form of a "City Upon a Hill"
Enlightenment
●Great Awakening ●New scientific discoveries threatened all religions. ●Immanuel Kant- greatest Enlightenment philosopher. ●Enlightenment challenge Christian beliefs. Led to the formation of Deism which led to the formation of Pietism. ●Moving "out of the darkness of religion [perceived as mystery or superstition] and into the 'enlightened' world of reason"
John Calvin
- theologian during the Protestant reformation, developed the Christian theology of Calvinism. - Calvinism believes the bible is the inspired word of god which is accessible to everyone.
Hildegard of Bingen (Hildegard of Bingen's Letter 23 and Scivias)
1st female theologian recognized by the Catholic church. Her work, Letter 23 describes her dismay at the prelates' injunction against the use of liturgical music imposed upon her community because she allowed a former excommunicate to be buried in the monastic cemetery.
Holy Kinship
Holy Kinship was a popular theme in religious art throughout Germany and the Low Countries, especially during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The Holy Kin were the extended family of Jesus descended from his maternal grandmother St. Anne.
John Winthrop
John Winthrop 1588-1649 ●English puritan ●Mystic- Wrote about spiritual and transcendental relationship with god. ●non-conformist- Did not adopt the politics or culture of the Church of England. ●His writings and visions of the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a puritan "City upon a hill" dominated the colonial developments by influencing government and religion of neighboring colonies. ●became involved in founding of colony after Anti-puritan King Charles I began a crackdown on nonconformist religious thought. ●Objective was the establishment of a model state.
Liberalism
This group believes in natural human goodness as opposed to depravity and predestination. They are less concerned about the infallibility or the bible and put less authority on scripture. They may see some parts of the bible as metaphorical. Liberalism are willing to consider questions about who wrote the bible and believe it may not have been authored by the same men that traditions claims.
