Theology Quiz 4

The word Theology is a derivative from the word Logos. List two other modern derivatives of the word Logos.

"...logy" words. Biology, theology, logic, etc

What two realities did Professor Andrews parallel between the justification of abortion and the justification of human slavery?

"They are not human" is the common justification given for ending the life of a fetus. The same phrase was common to justify slavery. Follow the money! Slavery was all about money and greed; the argument, "they are not human" was a façade. Abortion is a billion dollar industry. The value of human life and true freedom is overshadowed by financial greed.

Suicide Statistics

10th leading cause of death in America Most common among Males, and age groups above 45 years of age. For every "successful" suicide, there are 25 attempts.

According to Planned Parenthood, what percentage of abortions occur in the first 13 weeks?

91%

Who was the Catholic priest who taught that Jesus was not fully divine (God himself)?

Arius of Alexandria, 4th century

What did Arius teach about Jesus?

Arius taught that Jesus was God's first creation, but still a creature himself. To Arius, the term "Son" meant that there was a time when the Son was brought into existence - and a time when he did not exist. Arius and his followers partially based their view on human "sons;" i.e., there was a time when earthly fathers did not have sons - the same must be true of God.

Why did Arius teach this? What was Arius was afraid of losing?

Arius was afraid that Monotheism would be lost if Jesus' deity was taught.

Describe what Pascal meant when he said that Jesus shows us our misery and our grandeur.

By "misery," Pascal meant that Jesus' holy life and his teachings show us how far we fall short. For example, Jesus said that to be angry is equivalent to murder. No one, then, is really sinless and innocent. By "grandeur," Pascal meant that Jesus, as a human, shows us what we were meant to be moral. He shows us what God intended us to be, and what God will make us like in heaven.

What are common Christian responses to euthanasia?

Compassion towards the suffering, but not justification of extinguishing a life, even a life in pain Who owns whom? If God gave life, then we have no authority to extinguish it. Suffering can have redeeming value. For example, people can learn and teach others what is most important in life, and draw closer to God. Life's quality is not determined by its comfort. Life is more a utility.

Christians are supposed to affirm life in all of its phases, from conception to death. What is the basis for such comprehensive affirmation of human life?

Creation - Humanity made in God's image - God called his creation "very good" The life of Christ - In his ministry, Christ relieved people form their temporal pains and sicknesses - Christ called himself "The Life." He is life itself, not just one who gives it. - In his teaching, Christ promised eternal "life" - physical and spiritual.

What did Friedrich Schleiermacher claim was the universal starting point of all religion? In other words, what was the ultimate religious experience common to all people?

Dependence. The universal starting point of religion for Schleiermacher was a feeling of ultimate dependence.

Name one key reason that the number of reported abortions has gone down in America in recent years?

Drugs which terminate the fetus's life soon after conception have grown in popularity, and they preclude the need for traditional abortions.

Euthanasia means?

Easy death

Christians claim that Jesus Christ is the Logos of God. List only one way that the Christian idea of Logos is different from the old Greek idea of Logos.

For Christians, the Logos was actually a person, with a name, who was fully present in a single person, Jesus Christ.

What are the three chronological phases of Christian salvation - know the theological terms!

Forgiveness of the Past (Justification) Slow alteration of one's personal character now - in the present (Sanctification) Future perfection of both body and soul, leading to eternal life (Resurrection)

How has Christianity grown in China over the last century?

From 2.3 million in 1920 to over 100 million today (all the while being persecuted by the Communist government)

How has Christianity grown in Africa over the last century?

From 8.7 million in 1900 to 475 million today 20% of the worldwide Christian population lives in Sub-Sahara Africa

How did John Paul II describe our culture?

How did John Paul II describe our culture?

What does the term Hypostatic union mean?

Jesus is fully (100%) God and fully (100%) human.

Both Ludwig Feuerbach and Karl Marx were atheists. They both believed that there was no objective basis for religion. What did Feuerbach claim was the origin of human religion?

Key Word: psychological imagination. Feuerbach was an atheist. To him, human religion was largely the result of psychological imagination, coupled with the human desire for security

Both Ludwig Feuerbach and Karl Marx were atheists. They both believed that there was no objective basis for religion. What did Marx claim was the origin of human religion?

Key Words: society and class warfare. Marx was an atheist. To him, human religion was largely the result of social, class, and economic realities in the world.

To the Christian, what are the consequences of basing life's value on creation?

Life is always good, even if it is sick or a financial or social burden. Life is inviolable -we should not violate life. Christianity promotes a communal identity which goes beyond individual choices. We are obligated to care for each other (because all people were created by God)! Christians must cry out against crimes which destroy humanity. As God asked Cain, the Church must challenge the world with, "What have you done?"

What were the three driving forces behind the development of Christian theology about Trinity and the deity (God-ness) of Jesus?

Monotheism - can only be one God The historical experience with Jesus - he said and did things which only God could say and do. Scriptures - the final teaching of the church must align with the scriptures (Bible)

Which Church council (and in what year) refuted Arius' teachings?

Nicea, 325 A.D.

What is the difference between passive, active, physician-assisted, and involuntary euthanasia?

Passive euthanasia: the person naturally dies, and breathing tubes or similar are removed. Active Euthanasia: With the patient's permission, a doctor administers drugs or similar which intentionally takes the life of the person. Physician-assisted suicide: the doctor provides the drugs, but the patient initiates the drugs going into his/her body (first pushes the button) Involuntary Euthanasia: a sick person's life is extinguished medically without the consent of the patient.

What are some of the common experiences which people claim accompany their Christian conversion?

Personal forgiveness, awareness of acceptance by God Awareness of God's closeness / proximity Remorse over past sins and failures in life Awareness of God as a father - personal love-connection to God Relations with others change. People find it easier to forgiveness others, and often develop a renewed care for weaker ones in society A new view of the entire world

Approximately, how many abortions occur annually?

Roughly one million in America, and 50 million worldwide. In America, about 700,000 are reported to the CDC annually, but States are not required to report abortions to the federal government. California (our largest state), Maryland, New Hampshire, and West Virginia do NOT report abortions to the CDC.

What is the "surprising contradiction" John Paul II said exists in Western society?

See § 18-19 of Evangelium vitae. A false and perverse sense of "freedom" plagues the modern world. An over-emphasis on the autonomy of the self ("I want; I choose") is currently destroying the freedom of others. Our society which emphasizes "freedom" is distorting what life is about - it cheapens the value of life - as seen in abortion and euthanasia. When "freedom" loses its connection to objective truth, then it only has its own opinions to guide it and ends up destroying itself. This destruction is seen on the news in the rampant violence of "individuals."

Where is the world's largest single congregation (one church) of Christian believers?

Seoul, Korea, membership near 1 million

Christians claim that Jesus Christ is the Logos of God. List only one way that the Christian idea of Logos is similar to the old Greek idea of Logos.

Source of all reality. The glue which holds everything together. Both Greeks and Christians agreed on that.

What scientific evidence do we have that unborn children are 1) human and 2) alive?

The biological source demonstrates a fetus to be human, albeit unborn. The skeletal structure of a fetus demonstrates a fetus to be human, albeit unborn. A developing backbone, limbs, fingers, and toes are obvious within the first trimester. Doctors today use heartbeat and brain waves to help determine if a human outside of the womb (you and me) is alive. Yet, a heartbeat is detected in a fetus within 5-6 weeks after conception Brain waves are detected in a fetus as early as 6 weeks after conception

The word "Logos" is an old, Greek philosophical term, and it is older than Christianity. What did "Logos" mean to the old Greeks?

The word Logos referenced Reason, logic, and even God thinking. It was the source of all reality, and the end of all things. Of course, not all Greeks agreed to every point, but that was the basic idea.

How does the theological term "eternal generation" explain Jesus' relation as Son to God?

Unlike humans, God is a being with no beginning or end. Therefore, the term "Son" refers to God eternally having a Son. There never was a time when the Son did not exist.