THE QUESTION OF GOD STUDY GUIDE FOR FIRST EXAM Possible Questions for Exam (In addition to these

questions, anything in the lecture notes is possible material for the exam): 1. Be familiar with the approaches, themes and definitions of religion by the following figures: Pascal, Schleiermacher, William James, Marx, Las Casas. Pascal: religion is a knowledge born of love, love is superior to knowledge the heart has reasons the mind does not know. Marx says religion is opiate of masses. William James: religion is the recognition or awareness that there is something fundamentally wrong with the world and the human condition, on the one hand, and the vision and direction for the improvement and transformation of this condition. Las Casas: the source and heart of religion is ethics -ethics: human rights, justice, equality (all humans are created in the image and likeness of God), compassion, especially for the poor and needy, the vulnerable and destitute. Schleiermacher: intuition and taste of the infinite -Intuition: an immediate or direct apprehension of a truth not based on reason or logic alone -Religious knowledge or wisdom is based on instinct, a hunch, or a gut-level inkling or hint -all arguments for or against God never could succeed-these remain confined to the level of logic and reason 2. What is an epiphany, as discussed in lecture? Manifestation of a truth 3. What are the characteristics of faith, as discussed in lecture? more about the questions than answers, faith is NOT the same as belief; faith is a commitment, trust, vow, credere: an affair of the heart, risk in the face of something uncertain 4. What was the approach to religion by the Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason? period of the Enlightenment or Age of Reason: 18th century --many of these philosophers believed that religion should be limited to Reason alone. Anything outside the boundaries of reason, should be doubted and questioned --ie. Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Galileo, Newton 5. According to Einstein, what are the major human experiences that explain religion? "the fairest thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotions which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. He who knows it not and can no longer wonder, no longer feel amazement, is as good as dead. It was the experience of mystery, even if mixed with fear, that produced religion. A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate by reason, a manifestation of the most radiant beauty-it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute the truly religious attitude. In this sense, I am a deeply religious man" Experience of mysterious along with fear. Be familiar with the following arguments for Gods existence as well as the criticisms of these arguments: the Cosmological, the argument from Design, the Moral argument, and Pascals Wager. 1.) cosmological argument: why is there something and not nothing in the universe? -anything in motion in the inverse is governed by the laws of cause and effect.

-anything in motion, must have been put in motion by something outside of itself. The world must have a cause beyond itself. That cause or source is God. -criticism: then what caused God? Is there a source before God? -response: there must be a first cause, an Unmoved Mover (Aristotle) 2.) argument from design: there is so much beauty, harmony, order, perfection, intelligibility in the universe; it is reasonable to assume that something intelligent designed it -it couldnt have happened by chance -beauty of universe provokes an experience of awe, wonder, reverence, worship, exhilaration -criticism: how do you account for the cruelty of nature, the seeming indifference of nature for the well being of human life --nature is governed by the chaotic struggle for survival. Chaos, conflict, violence, cruelty in nature; problem of evil 3.) the moral argument: most cultures and especially religions emphasing certain fundamental and universal values -mercy, forgi enemas, kindness, justice, compassion, love, humility -it is reasonable to assume that there is an ultimate law giver in the universe that planted these values in the human heart -criticism: morality is different in different ages and cultures, it is relative to different contexts 4.) pascals wager: none of the profs for Gods existence are convincing or credible, they all fall short -the universe itself does not either prove or disprove God -faith I god is a risk taken in the face of something uncertain 6. According to Socrates, what is the meaning of philosophia? This answer should be able to explain the significance of the vocation of his parentshis father, the sculptor and his mother, the midwife. What does this tell us about his approach to philosophy? Why is this important to understand the question of God? Philosophia is the love of wisdom. Father sculptor, Mother is midwife. Socrates was like both parents: help sculpt and give birth to others intellecutual self. 7. What is the difference between sapentia and scientia and why is this significant for the understanding of knowledge in religion? Sapentia: wisdom, based on experience and intuition Scientia: theoretical, logical form of knowledge -religion is the drive, search, desire for sapentia, not scientia 8. Explain the 3 major approaches to the study of religion and inter-religious dialogue according to Diana Eck. Exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism 9. Explain the basic themes and understandings of the Divine among the PreSocratics? Greek poets: Homer, Hesiod -polytheistic: many gods -anthropomorphic: gods with human characteristics and behavior (I.e. anger, greed, jealousy, violence, lust) -a moral: not constrained by morality 10. Explain the basic understanding of God in Socrates and Plato (5 major themes).

1.) monotheistic: the one (Parmenides) 2.) the good: (the republic) 3.) absolute beauty: beauty alluded and attracted the soul; it elevated the soul to the real, of the divine 4.) god is non-personal; it is not person-like 5.) no name or description of it is possible; exceeds all human language. Ineffable. The ONE is nameless 11. How is the Jewish idea of G-d distinct from the Greek understanding in terms of the historical experiences of Israel versus Greece? See: 9/11/12 for description. The jewish people were oppressed and enslaved and the bible resulted from this set of experiences. Sensitivity of jews to outcast. Not a central principle for Greeks. 12. What are the major themes and conceptions of G-d in Judaism---be able to name and explain the themes discussed in lecture. 13. What is the allegorical method for interpreting the Bible? Allegorical is that the stories in the bible may not have actually occurred rather are more for the purposes of instilling moral messages. 14. According to Bono, what is Jubilee? Be familiar with the text from Leviticus that he cites in defense of Jubilee. What does he say that all religions (especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) agree upon? Leviticus If your brother cannot maintain. Jubiliee is the forgiveness of the debts of the poor. 15. On Judaism, be familiar with the following terms: Torah, Tanakh, Shema, Halakha, Talmud, Israel (what does the term refer to?), Kaddish, Tzaddik, Hasidism, Mitzvot. * Talmud oral tradition of Judaism, the rabbis. Torah first 5 books of bible. Tanakh: Torah, prophets, and jewish writings. Shema confession of faith Here O israel the lord is our god, the lord is one. Halakha is the collective works of jewish law. Israel is one who wrestles with God. Kaddish: prayer sequence recited for dead. Tzadik: righteous person. Mitzvot: The commandments or good deeds. 16. Which event in Jewish history led to a greater focus on the Book in Judaism and the development of Rabbinic Judaism? The destruction of the jewish temple in 70AD in Jerusalem. 17. What was the Babylonian Exile? the babylonians conquered the Israelites in 587 be and sent them into exile 18. Be able to explain the basic themes of the Jewish festivals: Passover, Shavuot, Purim, Hanukkah, Sukkot. * 19. To what does the term, Hasidism refer and what are the basic principles of this movement? What is a tzaddik in this tradition? Tzaddik is conservative group of jews, started as a liberal revolutionary movement. 5 pages earlier. 20. What are the main principles of the Kabbalah? Page 274 God is not one. Famous book on kaballah, know book and author. Know basic principles of kaballah. Zohar is the foundation of Kabbalah, comes from middle ages. Zohar most important book of Kabbalah A feminine understanding of god feminine face of godShekhina. Hasid- the pious ones. Hasidism emphasizes heart over head in

terms of worship, emphasize god in everyday actions, distinguished by there piety. Tzaddik- righteous one. The unnameable one, Ein-Sof 21. In the book, Do You Believe, what does Elie Wiesel, mean by a wounded faith? The great torment of my existence but I see not the absence, but the eclipse of hope. I would use the adjective wounded (to describe my faith) which may be valid for many in our generation. No faith is as solid as a wounded faith. Faith that is not simplistic or nave. A mature faith. A wounded faith is a faith that suffers moments of great suffering.

Lots of Fill in the blanks: Names, terms (e.g. number 1)