Week 5 - Christian Epistemology

1) What modernist objections have I heard the most? Which do I find the most difficult and why?
a. “Jesus was just a man.” & “The Bible we have today is not the same as when it was written 2000 years ago.”
b. All of the objections mentioned in the notes have some level of difficulty when it comes to answering those who are asking the questions. To find a concise and clear way to respond to such knowledge and evidence demanding questions is difficult, but I believe all can be addressed given enough time and resources to pull from. The most difficult question I faced in my own personal quest was one of the ones I hear most often regarding the authenticity of today’s Bible text. Fortunately – I have found ample evidence for this question

2) What post-modernist objections have I heard the most? Which do I find the most difficult and why?
a. “Christianity is a way to God, but not the only way.” & “What about those who never heard?”
b. “What about those who never heard?” God is merciful and just – being so how just is it to withhold what is good for another…. This is a tough one to answer…it involves a lot of hypothetical assumptions. Did God really never give them a chance to hear? Can’t God speak to people directly? The list can go on and on.

3) Do you know anyone who has died who you believe may be in Hell? How do you deal with this?
a. Yes
b. What can I do but put my trust where it belongs; in the hands of the Merciful God. I cannot speculate. I have to leave the fate of the individuals in the hands on the One who loves them more than I do.

4) Which mindset do I identify with most: Modernism or Postmodernism?
a. I am in the middle – with a slight lean towards Postmodernism sometimes and Modernism others. In my questions/responses to life and the world around me I go for the facts and research first. I use the information I have gathered (modernism) and the truths in my own experiences (postmodernism) to gauge the decisions and emotions which lead my life. This includes my spiritual walk. I use the knowledge and understand I have of God (which I continue to gather through wide research and study along with my personal experiences) to guide my prayers and my personal relationship with the Lord and others.

5) How does the distinction between Cataphatic theology and Apophatic theology help you to understand how to approach theology? Explain.
a. It clarifies the need to be responsible in our thought processes.
b. We must recognize that truth DOES exist and we CAN know truth. God has indeed revealed truths to us – how could we function at all without some level of absolute truth – yet there are still things not revealed that God alone has knowledge of. God has infinite knowledge. We have finite knowledge. We being created in the image of God have received from him knowledge of truth. Yet, we not being God have only a level of that truth and are not all knowing. However, not having infinite knowledge does not void the knowledge that one does have. A banana is still a banana even if one does not know how the banana tree grows

6) Read Prov. 3:7; 12:1, 15; 18:1; 19:20. Why do you think that the Bible is so emphatic about having many advisors or counselors?
a. “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” Proverbs 15:2 / “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.” Proverbs 15:7
To protect us. To protect others.

7) How does the individualism of America conflict with the instruction of the Proverbs concerning having advisors and counselors? Give examples.
a. The culture in America is very self-seeking. “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” Proverbs 18:1. We live in a very Post-modernistic society. One’s truth is in the reality of the holder. Well, if one’s truth is relative and found only within one’s self than why would one need to seek elsewhere for truth. For in doing so would be seen as doubting one’s self…and that is just not acceptable. For their truth is just as good as anyone else’s.
b. One said, “I believe my higher power is a doorknob.” “Well, that is all good. You can believe whatever you want,” said another One. Now someone better not say that is wrong because, well – they would just be intolerant.

8) To be perspicuous means “plain to the understanding especially because of clarity and precision of presentation” (Webster’s). Name some teachings of Scripture that are plain to the understanding.
a. Luke 6:27-28 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” Not easy, but clear.
b. John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
c. John 17:17b “Your word is truth.”

9) How was your thinking most challenged by the lesson? Explain.
a. Challenged to understand my thinking process with greater clarity, AGAIN!