Hermeneutics
The science of interpretation of the Bible
Phenomenology
The study of human experience
Pluralism
Diversity of thinking and beliefs, particularly in the Gospels.
Correlation
to bring together, CHE and CTT being brought together
Ambiguity
There is no clear answer, no easy answer
Two Fundamental sources for theology
Christian Text and Tradition (CTT) and Common Human Experience (CHE)
Classicist Mindset
There are are eternal truths and these can be seen directly (no lense), very strict on beliefs of ET
Modern Historical Consciousness
There are eternal truths but different people see these truths differently: based on differing experiences (Lense). Has the perk of seeing things more clearly but more relative ideas
Theology
The systematic, critical reflection on faith (or religion) and on existence in light of that Faith
Catechesis
the subject of teaching someone of one's faith
Religious Studies
an outside look of religions while not actually partaking in all of the religions
Philosophy
The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence
Religous Experience
A depth experience (vivid, sense of the whole, changes the person somehow), radical of the Other (i.e. sense of something more), sense of radical contigency
Religion
General: religion is what gives a person ultimate meaining.
Tighter: transcendent being, challenges us (particularly against egoism)
Feuerbach (1804-1872)
Anthropology: Humans are born good
Origin of religion: God is a projection of ourselves and what we want to see in ourselves
Critique: Still good people who are religious and function in society.
Freud (1856-1939)
Anthropology: Humans desire pleasure and power
Origin of religion: Human helplessness
Critique: The more power you have the less you need God: however, powerful people are still religious.
Marx (1818-1883)
Anthropology: Humans are social beings that are fundamentally good
Origin of religion: Economic oppression
Critique: Said religion would die by 21st century, religion is still strong.
Nietzsche (1844-1900)
Anthropology: Animals driven by naturalistic desires (will to power)
Origin of religion: The weak, fearing true freedom, hide behind God (religion)
Critique: Ubermen never took over
Victor Frankl's thesis
Without meaning, a man will cease to desire to continue living. With meaning, a man will bear much more.
Elizabeth Johnson's thesis
God-talk is alive, well and robust. This search cannot stop...it's continuing even in new context
God is incomprehensible because (Johnson)...
1. Transcendence
2. Restlessness of the human heart
3. MHC
Aquinas' five proofs
Aquinas' proof for the existence of God
1st proof
Motion, potential to actual, requires another object to place it into motion. Goes all the way back to the Ultimate source of motion
2nd proof
Causation, everything has a cause. . Everything's existence is caused by a cause which is caused by a cause etc...traced back to the Uncaused cause: God.
3rd proof
Cosmological argument, everything could or couldn't exist, at one time nothing existed. A Necessary Being is necessary to cause existence.
4th proof
Degrees of perfection. Similar to degrees of temperature, where there are degrees, there is a maximum and minimum. God is the maximum. The closer to goodness, beauty, or truth is the closer he is to God.
5th proof
Teleological argument. Everything is ordered, everything operates in order, created things are put together by an intelligent being. Randomness symbolizes unintelligance
Fundamental theology
Raises basic questions about the faith. (Is there a God? Can we believe in a transcendent being)
Metaphysics
The study of being, why we are here
Systematic theology
Looking at the system, intended to be addressed towards believers
Practical theology (political)
addressed towards political and economic environment, more or less the application of religous beliefs.
Triggers for religious experiences
Birth, Death, Love
Boundary or limit situations
Environments that a person is more likely to have a depth experience. Traumatic events are a good possibility.
creed
What a religion believes
code
the morality presented by a religion
ceremony
the rituals of worshiping a transcendent being
Faith and reason
sources of justification for religious belief, reason properly employed and faith properly understood will never produce contradictory or competing claims
rationalism
reliance on reason as the basis for establishment of religious truth. Relying on reason alone.
Fideism
the idea that religious faith and reason are incompatible with each other. Relying on faith alone.
empericism
the belief that things should only be believed if they can be seen or reasonably inferred
Deism
belief in a God who created the world but has since remained indifferent to it
Principle of translation
Feuerbach, when we talking about God, we are talking about ourselves.
illusion
could be true or false, spring from deep seeded desire we have, can still function in society
error
does not spring from deep seeded desire, always false
delusion
sprins from deep seeded desire we have, cannot function in society
projection
a mental image viewed as reality, used by Feuerbach
opiate of the people
Term used by Marx to mean that religion numbs the pain and helplessness caused in the world
regression
going back in time.
Freud: returning to a state of helplessness (2-3 years old)
Aquinas: INFINITE regression: going back in time forever, he refutes this.
contingency
Aquinas, we do not need to exist, we need a necessary being. The possibility of something happening or not.
alienation
Used by Marx, people are good but are economically oppressed causing them to isolate in society
reductionism
take something very complex to something very simple (many variables to a single variable), employed by Freud
anthropology
the study of human nature, understanding what it means to be human employed by the masters of suspicion
monotheism
there is only one PERSONAL God
monism
only one supreme force exists
atheism
disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods
agnosticism
believing that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; claiming neither faith nor disbelief in God.
secularism
a particular philosophy, typically is atheist: THERE IS NO GOD, LOVE THIS LIFE
secularization
a socialogical term describing that churches and religions have less influence
disguised anthropology
Feuerbach states that this is what theology is, theology is really a study about humans
The secret of theology is atheism
used by Feuerbach, means that theology has a secret to hide: there is no God
God of Gaps
Uncertain, don't have knowledge , use God to fill the gaps, as more gaps are filled, we need God less.
Enlightenment
The period in the western Christian church where thinking critically was considered more important.
analogy
a comparison between two things
God of Modern Theism
Johnson, meaning that God is still alive and is the God of modern beliefs
transcendence
belief in a being that is higher, beyond our senses, incomprehensible
staying power of religion
Critique against masters of suspicion, why has religion remained useful
ultimate meaning
pertaining to the meaning of life (What should I do with my life?)
proximate meaning
meaning in a particular event or task (What should I do in the moment)
nihilist
a person who insists the nothing has enduring values. Nietzsche is a nihilist.
incomprehensible nature of God
It is impossible to understand God, if you understand your image of God, then you have not found God
Insatiable nature of the human heart
The human heart can never be satisfied
All truths mediated
Not classicim but rather MHC, ET cannot be seen directly
Anselm's Ontological argument
Is a prayer, the very idea of God requires that God exists, existing is greater than not existing: therefore God must exist
Kant's moral argument
based on moral normativity or moral order. moral order must exist in the world. God must exist to maintain this moral order
Pascal's Wager
The argument that it is in one's own best interest to behave as if God exists, since the possibility of eternal punishment in hell outweighs any advantage of believing otherwise
Epistemology
how do we know that we know reality.
Theology (classicist vs MHC)
classicist mindset: study of God - direct knowledge of God. MHC mindset: study of our human understanding of God.
Community
where/when religious people gather.
Pan-determinism
belief that human beings are controlled by their biological and social environments.