STOQ (Critical Thinking) Mid-Term Exam

Second Sem A.Y. 2020-2021

Name: LARAN, JESSICA E.
Course: MBA 2
Section:
Date: April 6, 2021

Answer the following questions in 3 to 5 sentences:

1. Why must science, philosophy and theology be engaged in a dialogue?

Answer: Science is a system of knowledge covering general truths as obtained and tested
through scientific method. Philosophy comes from two Greek words philos and sophia
which literally means love of wisdom. It investigates truth using human reason alone.
Literally, theology means the study of God- the Ultimate Truth- with the aid of revelation.
Considering their definitions, they must be engaged in a dialogue because the object and
end of each discipline is to investigate, to know, and to understand the truths.

2. Think of an example of a living non-rational; one that inhabits nature. Briefly explain
how the characteristics given in the definition of nature apply to it.

Answer: a. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines nature as a physical constitution or drives

of an organism. In other words, it refers to something which is tangible- something that can
be perceived especially by the sense of sight and touch. Dog, for instance, is a living non-
rational creature that inhabits nature. Since this creature is tangible and has a physical
constitution, and perceivable by the senses then on this ground the characteristics of nature
are applied to it.

b. Nature, as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary, refers to the external world in

its entirety. When we say ‘external world’, basically it has a physical composition capable to
be inhabited. Nature is finite and always subject to change. Dog, for instance, is a living non-
rational being that inhabits nature. Since dog is a finite creature and has a physical
composition then on this ground the characteristics of nature are applied to it.
3. Using the natural example in (2) above, explain how this natural creature fails to meet
the characteristics given in the definition of spirit.

Answer: Literally, spirit has no physical composition, immaterial, immortal, and cannot be
perceived by the senses. Since dog is a contingent creature and can be perceived by the
human senses, then by its characteristics it fails to meet the characteristics given in the
definition of spirit.

4. How are faith and science alike? How are they different?

Answer: Faith, on one hand, is believing and understanding the truths revealed by God.
Science, on the other hand, uses empirical investigation in discovering and understanding
the truths. They are alike in the way that they have the same end- knowing and
understanding the truths. They are different in the methods they are using in identifying,
knowing, and understanding the truths.

5. Explain, focusing on free will, how faith involves a different path or process of knowing
than the one involved in science.

Answer: Free will is the ability to choose between different possible courses

of action unimpeded that’s why faith involves a different path or process of knowing
than the one involved in science because this means that through the free action of faith
it is possible to walk toward a truth that transcends ourselves; faith itself, through the
discovery of and participation in creation, leads us to this truth.  According to Saint John
of the Cross, faith does not deny the power of understanding, but rather, it raises it to its
full potential so it can contemplate the mystery of the created.

6. Is faith possible without the help of God? Why or why not?

Answer: First and foremost, faith is a gift of God. It is freely given to us by Him. Since this gift
made us believe in Him and all that He has said and revealed to us (Catechism of the
Catholic Church 2093), then logically man is incapable of knowing Him with authenticity
without His help. Therefore, I would say that faith is not possible without the help of God.
7. Why does faith (believing) involve thinking and assent simultaneously?

Answer: Faith is an intellectual adherence to all that God has revealed to us. Obviously, it
uses thinking in knowing the truths for faith is not a mere and plain acceptance of the truths
revealed by God. In fact, in the language of Saint Thomas Aquinas, we should understand
what we believe. Since truth is the object of the intellect, once man’s thinking is cleared
from doubts, assent to it comes after for we have also to believe what we understand. Faith
involves thinking and assent simultaneously because mere thinking of the truths are not
enough, but also it needs our assent to it, that is, a firm belief that all that God has revealed
to us are true and free from errors.

8. Why is love of God superior to the love of Nature?

Answer: The Holy Bible says that love is the very essence of God. The very reason why He
creates is love itself. In creating everything, each creature shares and participates in His
love. For instance, there is this love of nature because of its participation to His love. God’s
love is superior to the love of nature primarily because He is love itself, and nature only
shares and participates to His love. Second thing, the Holy Bible says that salvation comes to
humanity because of His great love (John 3:16). In other words, His love is very personal,
fatherly, and involves a covenant- an agreement of love between Him and His people. Thus,
without reservation, I would say that His love is always superior to the love of nature.

9. Is knowing and loving nature incompatible with knowing and loving God? Why or why
not?

Answer:

10. If we have faith, then why is theology still necessary?

Answer: By definition, faith is man’s intellectual assent to all what God has said and
revealed to him
(CCC 2093). Theology, however, is a discipline which helps man know more and understand
infallibly God’s revealed truths. Theology studies our faith and gives explanation to it. In
short, it purifies and verifies what we believe. Thus, it is still necessary even though we have
faith in God already.
11. Explain why the human person is the crossroads of nature and spirit, science & faith.

Answer:

12. Explain why, above all others, Jesus Christ is the crossroads of nature & spirit, science
& faith.

Answer: Jesus is the Word of God who became man and dwelt among us (John 1: 1-16). He
is both divine and human, that is, 100% God and 100% Human. Since He is human, he has
also body and spirit like us. In short, we shared the same needs. Since Jesus is God as well,
His knowledge of the truths is absolute for He is truth Himself. The Holy Bible says that He is
very obedient to the will of His Father. His faith in God is so pure and firm that He gave up
His life for us to regain eternal life. For me, these are the very reasons why Jesus Christ is
the crossroads of nature and spirit, science and faith above all others.

13. What are the implications of the fact that Sacred Scripture is both divine and human?

Answer: The primary author of the Sacred Scripture was God. Since it is authored by God
Himself then we can rest assured that it is free from all errors and fallacious teachings. In
short, all teachings in the Sacred Scripture are reliable because God- its primary author- is a
God of Truth and incapable of telling lies. Its implication therefore to us is that we are very
sure that our faith in God based on the Sacred Scripture is well-grounded, full of hope, and
will not lapse into nothingness. However, Sacred Scripture has a secondary author- man.
Man was inspired by the Spirit of God and put into writing His revealed truths.

14. Does the divine and human status of Sacred scripture have any important implications
for the issue of Modern science and Sacred Scripture?

Answer:

15. What three principles should guide our approach to the creation account of Genesis 1?

Answer: The three principles that should guide our approach are the following:

 WE MUST INTERPRET TO SOME EXTENT IN THE LIGHT OF PURPOSE AND LITERARY FORM.
 WE MUST REALIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND RESULTS.
 WE MUST NOT READ THINGS INTO THE NARRATIVE, NOR ASSUME THAT IT Is MEANT TO BE
COMPLETE.
16. What is the human background of the creation account in Genesis 1?

Answer: In Genesis 1, it stated there that of all creatures, only human being was created by
God in his own image and likeness. This simply means that human was the peak and
masterpiece of His creation. When God blessed human to be fruitful and multiply, it
disclosed the fact that God wants him to be happy on earth as He is eternally happy in
heaven. Lastly, in Genesis 1 human being was entrusted by God to become steward of His
creation and participate to His goodness. Those are my answers regarding on the human
background of the creation account in Genesis 1.

17. What is the message about God in the creation account found in Genesis 1?

Answer: In the creation account found in Genesis 1, it says there that God is the Prime
Mover, the source and reason of all existence, and the Father of humanity. Moreover, it also
reveals that in creating the world and most especially the human person He is not alone for
He says “let us make man in our own image and likeness (Genesis 1: 26). God also blessed
him to be fruitful and subdue the world (Genesis 1: 28). These verses tell us about God- a
Deity who is eternally happy. Lastly, Genesis 1 reveals that God is a Person that He is not
just a Creator but also a Father to His people.

18. What is the message (of God) about the world and humanity?

Answer: God created the world and humanity. He is the reason of its subsistence. In Genesis
1, God saw how good His creation was. This means that everything God created is good and
a product of His love. Man was the masterpiece and peak of His creation. He prepared first
the world before creating man. This only means that humanity was entrusted and became
stewards of God’s creation. His message would be is that humanity should take good care of
His creation, protect it, and be nourished by it because everything He was created is good.

19. What does the structure of the creation account in Genesis 1 reveal?

Answer: The narrative is made up of two stories, roughly equivalent to the first two
chapters of the Book of Genesis. In the first, Elohim (the Hebrew generic word for God)
creates the heavens and the Earth in six days, then rests on, blesses and sanctifies the
seventh (i.e. the Biblical Sabbath).
20. Why do some scientific thinkers dismiss the creation account in Genesis 1?

Answer:

21. What is concordism, and why is it the wrong approach for believers to use in
defending Sacred Scripture as God’s Word?

Answer:

22. What is God not telling us through the creation account in Genesis 1?

Answer: God created everything out from nothing. Since He is powerful it is not impossible
for Him to do so. Genesis 1 narrates the story of creation and tells us about God and His
creation. Genesis 1:26 says that God made man in His own image and likeness, and He saw
how good His creation was. For me, that which God did not tell us in the creation account is
the exact time of His creation, how did it happen, and why it needs to happen.

23. Why are the pre-scientific details of the creation account not a threat to the inerrancy
of the Sacred Scripture?

Answer:

24. What “deeper, greater truth(s)” is God really trying to tell us through the creation
account and other biblical passages which refer to the world?

Answer: Another indication that the story of Creation is symbolic is the fact that there are
two creation stories in Genesis. The first chapter has all kinds of plants on the third day,
birds and fish on the fifth day, animals on the sixth, and last of all human beings, male and
female. Chapter 2 has a different order of creation: first Man, then plants, next animals and
birds, and finally Woman. This reminds me of Jesus’ words, “Many who are first will be last,
and the last first” (Matthew 19:30). Spiritual creation changes our priorities and the order of
our lives.
 25. Consider each of the following Scripture verses. Explain what each has to say about the
deeper, greater truth of creation: Isaiah 40: 12-14,18-20; Isaiah 42:25-31; Job 28:20,23-
28; Psalm 95:1-7; Psalm 8; Sirach 24: 1-7; Wisdom 13: 1-7; Romans 1:18-21; Colossians
1: 15-18; Hebrews 1: 1-3.

Answer:

26. Using data from no.13 above, define the deeper, greater truth of creation in your own
words.

Answer: Creation in the deeper meaning is the foundation of "all God's saving plans," the
"beginning of the history of salvation"117 that culminates in Christ. Conversely, the mystery
of Christ casts conclusive light on the mystery of creation and reveals the end for which "in
the beginning God created the heavens and the earth": from the beginning, God envisaged
the glory of the new creation in Christ.

27. Read St. Augusutine’s quote below. Write a paragraph in which you attempt to
persuade a skeptic that the Bible is not anti-science.

“It is a disgraceful and dangerous thing for unbelievers to hear a Christian, presumably giving
the meaning of Holy Scripture, taking nonsense on [scientific subjects]…If they find a Christian
mistaken in a field which they themselves know well and hear him maintaining his foolish
opinions about our books, how are they going to believe those books in matters concerning the
resurrection of the dead, the hope of eternal life, and the kingdom of Heaven…?

For them, to defend their utterly foolish and obviously untrue statements, [some believers] will
try to call upon Holy Scripture for proof even recite from memory many passages which they
think support their position, although they understand neither what they say nor the things
which they make assertion.”

Answer: