Religion and Theology

On pages 130-132, Fr. Harrington provides us with 25 statements that outline the distinctive Catholic approach to reading and interpreting the Bible. In this paper, choose the 10 that most resonate with you. Why did you choose these 10? Elaborate and expand upon Fr. Harrington’s summary. Make a strong argument why these should be the top ten. Additionally, choose 5 statements that carry less authority for you. Why don’t these statements resonate with you? Make sure you use proper citations when using material from the text. Also, format any scripture quotes properly. The following twenty-five statements can serve as both a summary of the principal points in this book and an outline of the distinctively Catholic approach to reading and interpreting the Bible: 1.  From the beginning the Bible and the church have existed in a circular or symbiotic relationship. 2.  The Bible is best understood as the word of God in human language. 3.  Catholics follow the larger Old Testament canon adopted by the early church, while Protestants and Jews limit their canonical Old Testament to the Hebrew Bible. 4.  Catholics follow the traditional twenty-seven-book canon of the New Testament along with other Christians. 5.  The canonical writings serve as the rule or norm of faith and practice for Catholics, though they do not regard the Bible as the only source of divine revelation. 6.  Catholics regard Scripture as a privileged witness to divine revelation and an occasion for divine revelation. 7.  Catholics regard Scripture as written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 8.  Catholics regard Scripture as a trustworthy and inerrant guide on the road to salvation. 9.  The kind of religious imagination nurtured by the Catholic tradition is especially helpful in entering into how the Bible communicates. 10.  The Bible is available to Catholics in modern translations, accompanied by reliable introductions and notes. 11.  Historical-critical analysis, properly understood and shorn of rationalist or positivist philosophical presuppositions, is the indispensable method for the scientific study of the meaning of a biblical text. 12.  Catholics read the Old Testament for its wise teachings about God and human existence, and as preparation for and a witness to Jesus Christ. 13.  Catholics view the Gospels as the product of a complex process of tradition from Jesus through the early church to the Evangelists, while providing an honest and true account of Jesus Christ. 14.  Although the Gospels are not anti-Jewish in themselves, they are potentially anti-Jewish when taken out of their historical context. 15.  In telling the story of the origin and growth of the church, Acts and the Epistles offer advice, consolation, and challenge to Christians in every age. 16.  The Catholic reading of Scripture has been enriched by insights from philosophical hermeneutics about authors, texts, readers, and the effective history of texts. 17.  The literal sense of Scripture is the meaning that has been expressed directly by the inspired human authors. 18.  The spiritual sense of Scripture is the meaning that is expressed by the biblical texts when read, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, in the context of the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ and of the new life that flows from it. 19.  The fuller sense of Scripture is the deeper meaning of the text, intended by God but not clearly expressed by the human author. 20.  Scripture and tradition flow from the same divine wellspring, and form a single deposit of the word of God which is entrusted to the church. 21.  All Catholics should have easy access to Scripture, and all preaching and teaching in the Catholic Church should be nourished and ruled by Scripture. 22.  Though the Magisterium is not above the word of God expressed in Scripture and tradition, it may on occasion serve as the final arbiter in resolving conflicts about biblical interpretation pertaining to faith and morals. 23.  To actualize Scripture means to bring its meaning into the present time through theology, preaching, teaching, group Bible study, various artistic expressions, and so on. 24.  Inculturation involves communicating the word of God in such a manner as to reach people in their own place and cultural context. 25.  Lectio divina—with its steps of reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation and/or action—is a simple and proven method for reading, interpreting, and praying on Scripture in the Catholic tradition. Harrington, SJ, Daniel J.,. How Do Catholics Read the Bible? (The Come & See Series) (p. 132). Sheed & Ward. Kindle Edition.

Students must find one article from a reputable news source pertaining to religion (can be about religion in general or about a specific religious community or tradition) and a contemporary issue related to their college major/minor or career goals. Articles must come from a reputable news source (not a blog, academic journal article, opinion piece, or a religiously affiliated website) and published within the last five years. Try using The New York Times, The Washington Post, or The Atlantic as beginning sites. The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate that religion in America reaches beyond religious institutions and into the public world. Please include a working hyperlink to the article. Once an article is posted, the student should briefly summarize the article (3-4 sentences) and then how the article pertains to their major/minor/career goals (3-4 sentences). Students should not take a side on the issue but present the facts as objectively as possible. The article is worth 25 points. As an example: “Americans Are Becoming Less Religious,” US News https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2017-04-11/americans-are-becoming-less-religious (Links to an external site.) – This article examines the new data indicating that Americans’ religious affiliations and practices are in decline. The purpose of these articles are to: Demonstrate that religion intersects with all majors/minors in the contemporary world. I guarantee this is possible. Introduce students to elements of each religious tradition outside of specific institutions (temples, churches, mosques, etc.) Illuminate the fact that religion is complicated in the modern world. With each article submission, students should: Include a link to the article. Find an article from an objective journalistic source not attached to the religion. The New York Times, The Washington Post are great places to begin your search. Blogs, academic journals, and educational sites are not proper material for this assignment. Include a well-developed paragraph (Please use 3-4 sentences to summarize the article and 3-4 sentences) to make the connections with your major and/or minor. Major/Minor must be stated in every article submission. Full credit will be given if the article submission meets all the requirements. Deductions will be given if student fails to include any part of the submission.

A great deal of scholarship (perhaps a bit too much) deals with the authenticity of Constantine’s conversion to Christianity. Was Constantine’s conversion authentic? Why or why not? Who argues for the different positions that are held in reference to this topic? – Use relevant primary sources, the textbook for the class, research databases on the library web site and other pertinent secondary literature (e.g., specialized encyclopedias or dictionaries, academic monographs and academic articles) in order to craft your essay. Use of internet sources is acceptable but should not constitute the entirety of your research. If an online source replicates a reputable print source, you may cite the print source while using the online source. For example, see “The Catholic Encyclopedia” at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/. – Cite any sources that you used to gather the information for your essay. You may cite sources either parenthetically (with a “works cited” page) or with footnotes. Lack of citation will result in an incomplete grade for the assignment (which in reality is the equivalent of a 0). This essay should constitute original work and failure to comply in this regard will result in an incomplete grade for the assignment. DO NOT copy/paste a wikipedia article (or other similar online source) into the assignment box. – These are not reflection essays or journal entries. These are intended to be brief academic essays. Write them as such. A good example of this type of writing can be found in specialized academic dictionaries or encyclopedias. You might refer to The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (on campus in the library) or The Catholic Encyclopedia (online) for examples of such writing.

After watching the movie Noah, please write an essay with least 2-page (600 words) in APA format that: 1. Identifies at least 3 differences between the movie plots and Noah’s story in the Bible (1-page MAXIMUM); 2. Illustrates your own understanding of the movie from the perspective of Christianity.

The paper needs to discuss what the Sati Ritual is, why it is important to the Hindu religion/ way of life, the affects it had on women. 5 of the sources used need to be scholarly journals. It must have in paper citations as well as a works cited page.

A standard research paper approximately 4 – 5 page paper (double-spaced, 1″ margins, reasonable font, with MLA citation) Describe your favorite figure from the Hebrew Bible based on the readings/stories …

• Your replies to TWO of your classmates must be at least 150 words each. • Support your ideas with the sources – the course textbook, the lessons, relevant web research, etc. • Cite all sources properly in either MLA, APA, or Chicago style (I don’t care which). Be sure to include page numbers from our text (your source) in every post. • Proof-read your writing so that there are no typographical errors or mechanical problems (grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.). • Keep your remarks “substantive.” Comments like “Good job!” or “I totally agree…” will not earn credit. Your comment must show that you have reflected on the post and added you own interpretation, critique, or questions. Comments may or may not be critical, but they will always be respectful and on topic.

Follow outline carefully It states that I can use other scholarly references other than the 3 included in this email . The textbook I use for his course is “World Religions Western Traditions – 5th Edition) – you can use a few references from there too. A copy of the textbook can be found at https://b-ok.cc Focus on the articles provided! Though can you the textbook mentioned above.. Can you use a bit of extra sources but those should not be majority.. Please try to include at least 1 direct quote.

Write a three-page reflection paper on what the book caused you to ponder: Parker Palmer, The Heart of Democracy. Write this paper in first person as a personal reflection about what you read.

Biblical Metanarrative Essay Instructions The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate your understanding of the unified and coherent nature of the Bible and the theological doctrines. One way to view Scripture is through the four major plot movements of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation. Considering biblical doctrines through these four plot movements can aid in our understanding of humanity and humanity’s relationship to God. After viewing the presentation, Understanding the Metanarrative, and completing your textbook readings, you will be equipped to demonstrate the coherence of Scripture and share some of the implications of the unified message of the Bible. For this assignment, you must write a 600–1,000-word essay addressing the following prompt: The unity of the Bible is demonstrated through the Divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit on the human authors of Scripture. The study of theology uncovers and articulates the unity of all the biblical texts when they are taken together. From the list of approved doctrines to address, demonstrate the unified nature of the Bible by tracing that doctrine through the four major plot developments of Scripture. For example, The Bible describes God as love in 1 John 4:8. The way to interpret “God is love” is to look at the biblical story that reveals God’s character through His actions. When looking at the idea of love through the four major plot movements in Scripture we see God’s love demonstrated in His creation of humanity, His patience with humanity after the fall, His sacrificial death to redeem humanity from the fall, and His restorative work through preparation of the heavenly home. (This example would be substantiated and demonstrated with biblical support, and be elaborated on within the essay.) Assignment Requirements: Discuss the major movement of the biblical metanarrative, its main character, and its implications for understanding the unity of the biblical books. Choose two topics from the approved topics list that are presented in Biblical doctrine with attention on how these theological topics unfold through the through the four major plot movements of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation. Using your theological examples, share the implications that these examples provide humanity’s relationship to God. Incorporate at least 2 theological references in your paper using course resources. Incorporate at least 2 relevant biblical references. Write a clear introductory paragraph including the thesis statement. A summative concluding paragraph must also be included. Refer to the “Course Policies” in the course syllabus for the formatting expectations in this course. Use the provided Biblical Metanarrative Essay Template as a guide. Submit your Biblical Metanarrative Essay by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 2.