MODULE 2B

ACTIVITIES
LCFAITH
De La Salle University
Modular Activities to Complete

As an application of what you have learned in Module 2B, as well as in the previous
module, Module 2A, please accomplish the following tasks:
■ Independent viewing of videos and group reflection questions on the philosophy of
Kierkegaard and the concept of a leap of faith
■ Bible study (individual and group) on selected chapters in the Book of Job and
review of the synthesis on the Book of Job based on the reading by Fr. Gustavo
Gutierrez (1987) titled On Job: God Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent, and
reflection questions (Set A and Set B)
■ Individual worksheets on ―The Silence of God‖ and ―God Speaks in the Midst of
Suffering.‖
Videos on Soren Kierkegaard and the
Explanation of a Leap of Faith
■ Please view the following videos on the philosophy of Soren Kierkegaard (The links
to the videos are also posted in Module 3B, on the page labeled ―Taking a Leap of
Faith.‖ See notes below):
1. Introduction to Soren Kierkegaard and the Religious Solution
Introduction to Kierkegaard The Religious Solution.mp4
2. What is a leap of faith? Faith is trust in God and in God’s promises
What Is A Leap of Faith.mp4
Reflection Questions

After viewing the videos independently, please answer the following questions. Answers
should be at least 3-5 sentences in length per question, single-spaced:
1. Identify three points or issues regarding the philosophy of Kierkegaard that
struck you. Why did you find these significant?
2. Based on the videos you watched, what does it mean to take a leap of faith?
3. How does faith allow us to be our authentic, existing selves?
 Bible Study: The Book of Job
Please read the following three chapters from the Book of Job; you are to do this individually. Do not
read the reflection questions until after you have finished reading the specified chapters. Also,
please do not go over the slides on the reading by Gutierrez until after you have finished reading the
said chapters in the Book of Job. You may use any version of the Bible, depending on what you
have. Otherwise, you may refer to these links (taken from the New International Version [NIV] of the
Bible):
■ Chapter 1
https://www.christianity.com/bible/bible.php?q=Job+1&ver=niv (Links to an external site.)
■ Chapter 2
https://www.christianity.com/bible/bible.php?q=Job+2&ver=niv (Links to an external site.)
■ Chapter 42
https://www.christianity.com/bible/bible.php?q=Job+42&ver=niv
Set A: Reflection Questions on the Book of
Job
After reading the specified Chapters in the Book of Job, please answer the following questions. Kindly
limit your answers to 3-5 sentences per question, single-spaced:
The frame: Chapters 1 and 2 of the Book of Job
1) God and Satan place a bet on Job. What does God allow Satan to do, and how does God think Job will
react? How does Satan think Job will react? Justify your answer using particular verses in the chapters that
you were assigned to read.
2) Does God set any limits to the damage Satan can inflict upon Job? What limits does God set, if any? Justify
your answer using particular verses in the chapters that you were assigned to read.
3) What do you think of Satan’s role here? Is the devil: a) busybody meddler?; or b) a useful servant of God?
Justify your answer using particular verses in the chapters that you were assigned to read.
The closing of the frame: Chapter 42 of the Book of Job
4) What happens to: a) Job; b) to his friends? Is this happy ending appropriate? Justify your answer. In your
view, why does God shower special attention upon Job?
Synthesis: Review of Gutierrez (1987), On Job: God-
Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent
■ Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez, OP (1987), a Dominican priest, theologian, and philosopher from Latin
America (see notes below), provided a thorough analysis and interpretation of the Book of Job.
– ―The book's central character, the Job who suffers but continues to believe, has been regarded
as one of the great prefigurations of Christ in the Hebrew scriptures. We have much to learn
from him about our relationship of faith and hope with God and about the doing of theology "
(Gutierrez, 1987: 33).
■ Fr. Gutierrez claimed that the Book of Job is characterized by a twofold movement, namely:
– A forward, linear movement: Progression of the story of Job, his experience of suffering, and
the end of his ordeals
– A circling movement of deepening insight: In response to the question: Is it possible to believe
in God without expectation of reward?
■ The author/narrator of the Book of Job attempts to put forth ―a correct way of talking about God
within the most strained…of all human situations: the suffering of the innocent‖ (Gutierrez, 1987:
211).
 Parting Thoughts on the Book of Job: Gutierrez (1987), On Job:
God-Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent (cont’d)
■ The Book of Job does not claim to come up with a rational or definitive explanation of suffering,
which is a complex issue. Yet from a position of faith, the author looks into ―the possibility of finding
appropriate language about God that does justice to the situation of suffering‖ (Gutierrez, 1987:
211).
– Intent of the author: According to Fr. Gutierrez, the author’s motivation was to avoid having a
sense of resignation, self-interest, cynicism that forgets about the suffering of others, and
despair, in times of suffering. Having a profound sense of God and a keen sensitivity to the
misfortunes of others allowed the author to steer clear from such responses.
– The author took the reality of unjust suffering seriously and did not downplay the difficulty of
understanding it. Yet the author remained determined to find a way of talking about God, and
was guided by divine inspiration to discover it.
 Parting Thoughts on the Book of Job: Gutierrez (1987), On Job:
God-Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent (cont’d)

■ The Book of Job illustrates two pathways in response to suffering:

– Job’s experience of unjust suffering broadened, and he came to realize and comprehend the
suffering of others.
■ Such an ethical perspective, inspired by the consideration of the needs of others, particularly the
poor, led Job to ―abandon a morality of rewards and punishments, and caused a reversal in his way of
speaking about God‖ (Gutierrez, 1987: 212).
– After accepting adversity, Job rebelled and struggled with God, but kept hoping in God and
despite everything, surrendered to God’s presence and unmerited, undeserved love.
■ According to Fr. Gutierrez (1987), these two paths are not simply parallel. Rather, ―they cross and
enrich each other, and finally converge to yield a correct way of talking about God‖ (213).
Parting Thoughts on the Book of Job: Gutierrez (1987), On Job:
God-Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent (cont’d)
■ The journey of prophecy and the journey of contemplation, and the corresponding prophetic and
contemplative languages in these journeys, are used to frame Job’s experiences.
– Journey of prophecy: This began with Job leaving his own world and entering that of the
poor, which meant taking the path of gratuitousness.
■ All prophecy has an encounter with the Lord and the Lord’s unmerited love as its starting point.
■ Prophetic language makes it possible to draw near to a God who is close to the poor.
– “God has a preferential love for the poor not necessarily because they are better than others,
morally or religiously, but simply because they are poor and living in an inhuman situation
that is contrary to God’s will. The ultimate basis for the privileged position of the poor is not
in the poor themselves, but in God, in the gratuitousness and universality of God’s agapeic
love. Nothing can limit and contain this love, as Yahweh makes clear to Job in the revelation”
(Gutierrez, 1987: 213-214).
■ Belief in God and God’s gratuitous love leads to a preferential option for the poor and solidarity
with those who suffer oppression and exploitation.
– In the God of Christian revelation, gratuitousness and preferential love for the poor are
intertwined and are inseparable in one’s contemplation of God and concern for the
marginalized in the world.
Parting Thoughts on the Book of Job: Gutierrez (1987), On Job:
God-Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent (cont’d)
■ The journey of prophecy and the journey of contemplation, and the corresponding prophetic and
contemplative languages in these journeys, are used to frame Job’s experiences.
– Journey of contemplation: Focus on the mystical dimension and one’s vision of God and
understanding of God’s ways
■ Because the language of the prophets emphasized the connection between God and the poor,
prophetic language supports and reinforces language inspired by the contemplation of God.
■ Contemplative language: At the beginning of the Book of Job, as well as at the level of popular
faith, the proper tone in speaking of God and God’s actions is established. However, the tone
weakened as Job’s unjust situation persisted and he listened to the criticisms of his friends.
■ The language of mysticism reenergizes the values of popular faith by strengthening them and
avoiding attempts at manipulation. This prevents the possibility of distortion that could turn these
values into resignation and passivity (and indifference) amidst social injustice. The language of
contemplation becomes more revitalized and more community-oriented when it is nourished by
popular faith.
■ Mystical language expresses the gratuitousness of God’s love. Prophetic language expresses the
demands that this love makes. Both languages are necessary and inseparable.
 Parting Thoughts on the Book of Job: Gutierrez (1987), On
Job: God-Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent (cont’d)
■ Link between journeys of prophecy and contemplation: recognition of the mystery of God, critical
approach to unjust suffering, quest for justice, and hope
– Deliverance and thanksgiving: Job voiced his hope that he would see God, the protector of the
poor, guarantor of justice as part of a covenant, and source of unmerited love.
– The vision of God, the final stage in Job’s journey, and the defense of the poor, which Job
discovers because of his own innocence, are combined in Job’s experience as a man of justice.
– The journey is comprised by the journey of prophecy and the journey of contemplation.
■ ―Although the way of talking about God has become clearer, it continues to be as mysterious…as ever‖
(Gutierrez, 1987: 219; emphasis supplied).
– The language of contemplation recognizes that everything comes from God’s unmerited love and
opens up the doorway to hope. The language of prophecy critically examines situations of
injustice and deprivation, the structural causes thereof, and the impact of such on the poor.
■ Both languages arise in the case of Job and among the poor, emerging out of the suffering and the
hopes of the innocent.
■ This twofold language is the language used by Jesus in talking about God’s love—that is, the experience
of unjust suffering that Jesus shared in through His crucifixion and transcended through His
Resurrection.
– The author of the Book of Job reminds us of the call for justice that comes from God the liberator.
■ Similarities in the experiences of Job (Old Testament) and Jesus Christ (New Testament)?
 Set B: Reflection Questions on Reading of
Gutierrez (1987), On Job: God-Talk and the
Suffering of the Innocent
Please answer the following questions. Kindly limit your answers to 3-5 sentences per question, single-
spaced:
1. Based on the reading, in what way was the author of the Book of Job able to arrive at a correct way
of talking about God without downplaying the experience of unjust suffering or the suffering of the
innocent? Justify your answer.
2. Fr. Gutierrez (1987) identified two pathways in response to suffering that are present in the Book
of Job. Consider how these two pathways can be applied to the present times. Can you give an
example of a situation in which an individual or a group of people, who went through unjust
suffering, experienced the same pathways as Job did in understanding and relating to God?
3. Discuss at least two key points that struck you in the reading (Gutierrez, 1987) regarding the: a)
journey of prophecy; and b) journey of contemplation? How would you apply the journey and
language of prophecy and the journey and language of contemplation in response to any social
issue or problem of your choice?
4. Identify at least two similarities between Job and Jesus Christ in terms of their experience of unjust
suffering.