Theological Inquiry class

TRS100B Study Guide for the Final Exam

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TRS100B Study Guide for the Final Exam

Part One

Christian Doctrines

Council of Nicea

The Council of Nicea as described in the context was a historic Christian bishop gathering in today’s Iznik, Turkey, around 325 CE. Set up by the newly-transformed Emperor Constantine, it highly condemned the art of Arianism as a profanation and made the Nicene Creed.

Nicene Creed

Nicene Creed is an official proclamation of faith handed out by the Council of Nicea which is still rehearsed in most Christian churches today: Additional to the Creed, the Council of Nicea bishops issued about twenty canons, or willpowers, after the inference of the council who are relatively mundane and mostly deal with clerical matters.

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was a Jewish, man who called himself the son of God and had the power to heal, exorcise demons and lived about 4BCE and whose life teachings form the basis of Christianity.

Trinity

Trinity, as referred by the Christians, is the belief that God is three persons in one God, which comprise of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit

From the context, the Holy Spirit makes one the three persons in one God: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit or rather, the third person of the Trinity.

Basic Beliefs About Jesus Christ

The core beliefs about Jesus Christ include: Jesus Christ lived in the North of Palestine near the sea of Galilee, He was a skilled carpenter and stones man his family was Jews. There is also a basic belief that he was the Son of God and that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.

Salvation, Sin and Grace

Sin, as ascribed by Christians, is the basic fallenness or brokenness of the world. Grace, on the other hand, is the special way in which Jesus Christ extends his unmerited blessings and friendliness to the sinful humanity. Lastly, salvation is when a Christian decides to leave the sinful part of humanity and believes that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world and Christians hope for forgiveness and eternal life through baptism and confession. The three aspects have a relationship that grace is imparted into the human being after avoiding the sinful aspect and having faith, and the result is that one receives salvation.

Diversity in Christianity

One of the reasons for having so many Protestant churches is that Christians struggle with a lot of pride, egocentrism, and arrogance, and this means they occasionally respond to interpersonal conflict poorly. This conflict has often led to disputes and divisions within churches and denominations, which in turn has led to the creation of new Protestant churches. Another reason is due to legitimate disagreements about secondary beliefs. For instance, what baptism means and the kind of people to be baptized, the structure of local churches and the appropriate people to fill the leadership roles and how often should the communion practice be conducted among other concerns. Lastly, diverse groups of Christians have different personalities, cravings, and talents. Some are more devoted to God through the application of their minds while others focus on rational discernments and biblical knowledge.

Ecumenism

The ecumenical movement is an originality in the Christianity history. Ecumenical movement advocates for one church in the universally and visibly united, ministering for the transformation of the non-religious world. Ecumenism attempts to accomplish an ecclesial reunification unity using some strategies that include use of particular doctrines, approaches, and activities. Ecumenism also uses dialogue, open communication with the view of advancing mutual understanding and unity.

Part Two

Question 1: Three Common Elements of Christian Spirituality

God the Father

An element of spirituality that is self-emptying, silent and apophatic. Apophaticism is connected to the Father as a part of spirituality, to that, the aspect of God that is truthfully transcendent, unlimited and before Him, we are reduced to silence. From the very beginning, there were different names such as Yahweh, the Unconquerable Sun, No-Thingness, Grandfather Spirit, and many others.

God the Son

From a personal perspective, as articulated in the person of the Son in the Christianity custom has its roots in Judaism. Spirituality is embodied in the component of the holy trinity; speech instead of silence signifies the Son who is the manifestation of the Father. Mostly, we see the spirituality element of the son when a purpose or providence of love is personified, when it takes a name, and we speak his name, then we feel a full trust in His name. To many Christians, Jesus Christ represents an embodiment, God’s Everlasting Word-in-the-flesh, emphasizing the verse: John 3:16, “For God so loved the world…He gave only begotten Son”. The Son as a common element of Christian spirituality acts as a revelation to the “mystery concealed from eternity.” He serves as the cosmos growing conscious; The Son part provides us with soul-space.

God the Spirit

This is an element of spirituality that contains divine immanence and is realized in the Holy Spirit who brings an awareness that a human being is enveloped in, recognized and treasured by the mystery of the reality. The Spirit as a component of spirituality acts as a way of decency and immanence: in the doctrine, there is an expression of Shekinah Glory of the rabbis who is the Advocate Spirit who blows where He wishes through the Gospel of God.

Question 2: Principal Areas of Dialogue Between Christian and Jewish Thought

Too often Christian-Jewish dialogue has been featured as a negotiation process with the resolve to have the significant other in the dialogue commit to pre-set positions. In any process of communication, the Jews and the Christians must command the content of the communication relative to the corresponding value outline of the two denominational groups. The two groups occasionally hold similar expressions, and concept that hold different associations or implication in Jewish community and Christianity. The principal areas of dialogue include terms such as Messiah, Covenant and salvation, which hold different implications in Jews and in Christians.

Moreover, the importance and centrality of these different concepts vary significantly in their respective societies. In addition, the central concepts in Christianity tradition may simply be non-existent Jewish tradition. Also, another area of dialogue includes the Christian attitudes towards Jews, and the Jewish attitudes towards the Christians and Christianity as a whole. Both see some negative stereotypes and fabricated representations. Correspondingly, the two faith connect closely in that they both value human dignity and disapproves all forms of discrimination and defamation. They both hold a belief and acknowledge Jesus Christ, Holy trinity, grace, salvation and sins.

Ultimately, they both diverge widely when it comes to customs and theological exemplification of Jews and Judaism. These mostly include exclusivists’ assertions to salvation on the part of Christians and the religious imperative to participate in missions. Either way, Christianity states that Judaism is not theological and have no chance to discuss theology and that Judaism should not make doctrinal claims as opposed to Jewish beliefs. Jews on the other hand believe that Christians are monotheists who fell under the classification of B’nai Noah doctrine, the sons of Noah, a doctrine that initially applied to pagans.

Question 3: The Principle Areas of Dialogue Between Christian and Islamic Thought

The principal areas of dialogue between Christians and Muslims mostly entail Interfaith dialogue where each of the two or more parties strive for to express their understandings correctly and to listen courteously to their counterparts. While several verses in the Qur’an advocate for treating the Christians and Jews with a high opinion as God’s divine recipient of messages, in certainty most Muslims bring a point of dialogue that Christians are polytheists for the reason that they believe in the trinity doctrine. Christians, on the other hand, hold a dialogue that the Qur’an is fraudulent and the prophet Muhammad is an imposter. Also, Christians view Islam as intrinsically fanatical, violent and threatening religion. This outlook tends to contempt the fact that Islam remains a vibrant tradition, which motivates and fosters the lives of the Muslims population.

Christians correspondingly tend to undertake that Islam is a monolithic religion. Aforementioned is because Islam does not present a considerable diversity in philosophical, legal and theological schools of thought.

Correspondingly, there are many convergent points between the Islamic and Christianity beliefs. They include: Both the religions understand God as the Creator and also the Sustainer, Just and Compassionate, God who discloses His word and one who call humanity to account for their stewardship over his earthly creation. Both denominations emphasize the importance of prayer and share mutual values and principles like justice in the society, provision for those in need, compassionate love for our neighbor sand living in harmony.

However, both faiths diverge essentially when it comes the understanding of each other’s faith. Muslim hold a belief that Christians are polytheists for the reason that they believe in the trinity doctrine while Christian hold that Islam is a monolithic religion for believing in a human being as their God. They also differ considerably when it comes to traditions and their biblical teachings where Christians claim that Qur’an is fraudulent and the prophet Muhammad is an imposter.

Question 4: A Writing to A Congress Person Telling Them What I Think They Should Do Regarding the Issue of “Building The Wall.”

The reason why human beings build walls around their living areas like countries is to keep the undesirables out from their reach. Such walls include, the Great Wall of China. By building a wall by the American government along the Mexican border, it indicates that Mexico comprises of some undesirable characters. I am writing this to you as a congressman trying to make insights of the bright side of having this wall built. Drawing an example, Israel had stuck in bondage for years and the infrastructure of the nation was in a disaster. From revelations, God never chose a priest to build a wall but chose a builder as an alternative.

The first step of rebuilding this nation is to have you a part of the congress to admit that building a wall along the Mexican border is to protect the citizens from undesirable activities along that border. Nehemiah, according to the Catholic biblical account, completed wall project in fifty-two days. Nehemiah was successful in building the wall since he refused to give a chance to the critics who distracted him (Schaller). On this note, I am pleading to you as a congressman, it is a good chance that you show the critics of this that President Trump will succeed in this agenda and I believe that any motion that is introduced in congress to support this agenda should get a support from you and you fellow parties.

Ultimately, I understand that the wall will serve a great deal including an economic boom, lowering terrorist attacks, reduction in foreign drug trafficking and opposition among the citizens. I believe it’s going you as the congressmen will help implement this program.

Reference

Schaller, R. E. From the Book of Nehemiah.

Answer Preview…………….

TRS100B Study Guide for the Final Exam
Part One
Christian Doctrines
Council of Nicea
The Council of Nicea as described in the context was a historic Christian bishop gathering in today’s Iznik, Turkey, around 325 CE. Set up by the newly-transformed Emperor Constantine, it highly condemned the art of Arianism as a profanation and made the Nicene Creed.
Nicene Creed
Nicene Creed is an official proclamation of faith handed out by the Council of Nicea which is still rehearsed in most Christian churches today: Additional to the ……………

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