Read carefully:
Good job. Remember the grammar grade! Read each question carefully, only certain amounts of people can answer each question. Getting started early will assure that you can answer the one you want. However, if someone answers a question you really wanted to answer, and you were forced to answer a different one, you may come back and answer the one you initially wanted. Answer each question completely. You may add information if you like, but you must answer everything in each question (unless you are coming back to answer a second question). Ask me if this doesn't make sense to you.
1. Freud greatly believed that our lives are characterized by the past. Likewise, that our own pasts declare who we are. Because of this, he was known by some as "The Archaeologist of the Soul." He saw religion and mythology as something that we are seduced into because of our desire for answers. Furthermore, he stated that the only true way of thinking is to save yourself from this delusion. My question is this: what does it matter if we believe in God or not? Why do we need saving from this concept of a biblical God? In other words, a Naturalist approach would say, "Stop trying to make me conform to your Christian ideals. You must free yourself from them to be truly free." Think about it. What kind of salvation is Freud (Naturalism) offering? Compare his salvation to Christian salvation and at least two other examples of religious salvation. (Only two people may answer.)
2. Lewis calls pride "spiritual cancer." He also said that "a great man knows that he is not God, and the greater he is, the more he knows it." How should we view pride? What does the Bible say about pride? You must look up and quote at least five verses for this one. What is your conclusion about pride? (Only one person may answer.)
3. Very tragically last night, a man down the street from school committed suicide in plain view of the whole street. Do you think a true Christian could commit suicide? Why or why not? You need to use at least three verses. What do you think causes a person to commit suicide? We all have feelings of depression and/or uselessness, but what sends people over the edge? (Only two people may answer this question and may only give opposing views. In other words, if one person says, "No a Christian cannot," the other person must explain why they think a Christian could.)
4. In the movie "The International" one of the characters, an old man, made the following statement: "The difference between truth and fiction is that fiction has to make sense." Think of the fictional stories you have read. They had to seem believable within their settings or else their authors would not have sold many books. However in contrast, many things that are actually true don't seem to make sense. For instance, life. Life is the most abundant, observable phenomenon in our world, yet . . . how do we explain it? All we can do is observe it. No one can create life from non-living things, yet life is all around us.
The video pointed out that Jesus could not have been just a good man or a prophet, because not only did he do good things and teach good lessons, but also he claimed to be God Himself. Either Jesus is really God or else He is a lunatic. There is no in between. Probably most of us in class agree that we believe Jesus to be who He says He is. My question is how do we know this is true? (Think about the truth vs. fiction quotation in the above paragraph.) Could the salvation message be created by men? (Think of other world religions. What are they based on? Then compare them to Christianity.) How do we know that true salvation is from God and not man? What kind of religion would you create if you were in charge of the world? (Only three people may answer.)
5. a. In the video, the Agnostic pointed out that even if Jesus were alive today, he would still have trouble believing in Him because of the claims He would make (i.e. being God). What would it take for the entire world to believe? Is it possible for the entire world to believe in anything? (Think of freewill)
b. Are miracles important to a spiritual worldview?
c. Twice during the video the Christian man was challenged. The first time, the Agnostic said, "Show me the parting of the Red Sea. Show me miracles." The second time the Atheist said, "Don't you want to know how God did it? How did he restart the heart? How did he raise Himself from the dead? Aren't you curious?" What do you make of these questions? If someone asked them to you, what would you say? (Only three people may answer.)
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ReplyDeleteWha..whattt?
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Eeexxx..Excuse meeee?
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ReplyDeletewow Jamie-already!!????
ReplyDeleteI am PROUD of you(am I allow to proud of you?:)_
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ReplyDeleteQ5
ReplyDeleteWhat would it take for the entire world to believe? ‘Believe' must contain comprehension. Human beings believe something only when they understand. The human mind works through the steps of observation, recognition, comprehension and belief. For example, people believe that matters are composed of atoms. They can observe atoms. They can recognize the existence. They can comprehend how atoms work. Those are reasons people believe atoms really exist. Moreover, Copernicus’ heliocentric theory is the good example. The contemporaries of Copernicus believed that all planets revolved around the earth. When Copernicus proclaimed his heliocentric theory, no one believed him. To be specific, because people could not understand heliocentric theory, they did not believe it. Therefore, the entire world believes ‘anything’, as long as it can understand. Unfortunately, Christ’s miracles will not be believed in this world, because the miracle is beyond human’s comprehension. Humans do not understand miracle, so they do not believe miracle.
However, the miracle is necessary in a spiritual worldview. Miracle indirectly tells humans how small they are. It gives people the lesson that the universe is so large and huge that there are so many things that human beings can not understand. Moreover, lack of understanding always brings reverence and fear. Our God wants us to respect him. Our Father wants us to fear him. Reverence and fear hold people’s mind. They make human beings to depend on him more. They cause people to think our God is mighty and strong. In another word, It is miracle which brings reverence and fear. Therefore, miracle is definitely necessary in a spiritual worldview.
There are two types of ‘believes’. The first one that I pointed above is the secular belief. It works through the steps of understanding. The second one is the belief through faith. Christians do not understand how God resurrected dead man. They do not comprehend how Jesus did miracles. They have no idea how cripples are healed. However, they believe the miracles. They believe miracles through faith, not through understanding. Unfortunately, a Christian can not really give the clear answer to those questions, because unbelievers and Christians have different believing systems. While first group believes through secular understanding, the latter believes through faith. Miracles are not scientific. They are not logical. They are not understandable. They only force us to make a choice whether to believe it by faith or to reject it by secular logic.
Question 2
ReplyDeleteAs a Christian, we should not be proud of ourselves but seek to glorify God. Pride is sinful. In the Bible, many passages talk about pride. If we know more about God's Word, we can become more humble. According to the Word of God, "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts" (Psalm 10:4).
Everything we have achieved is not consummated by ourselves but by the work of God. God made and takes care of us. Everything we have in this world, we received from God. All things come from God, not from our own selves. We must not boast about it. The Bible says, "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7). Even though we are not deserving, God gives us everything we need. Therefore, what we have is not gained by ourselves. We should not be proud.
We should humble ourselves. God exalts humble men but destroys proud ones. According to Proverbs 11:2, "When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.” God hates self-righteousness. The story of the Pharisee and the tax collector is an example of comparing humility and pride. The Pharisee was proud of himself and prayed about his good deeds; while the tax collector was humble and asked God to help him. "... for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:14). When we humble ourselves and give honor to God, He will give us a reward which is much better than anything else in this world.
There is only one thing we can boast about. Paul said that he was the worst sinner, but God had mercy on him and saved him. So, we have nothing to be proud of. The only thing we can boast about is the cross of Christ. The Bible says, "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14).
God opposes the proud. God created Lucifer full of wisdom and perfect in beauty (Ezekiel 28:12). Lucifer was proud of the wisdom and beauty that God gave him. So, he tried to be like God and revolted against Him. As a result, he lost all his glory and beauty. God is against the proud. As it is written in the Bible, "... God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).
Finally, even the son of God, Jesus Christ, showed humility by washing His disciples’ feet. How can people, God's creatures, boast in themselves? "Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble" (Proverbs 3:34). Pride is sinful and against the Word of God. Therefore, to be like Jesus Christ, we too should be humble.
Question 5
ReplyDeleteI totally understand the atheist’s remark during the video that he would have trouble believing in Christ even if Christ were alive today because people in Jesus’ generation also had trouble believing in Christ whether he was the Messiah. I think the entire world will not believe in Christ because the world resists the light but hides in the darkness. The light here can be referred to Christ. The world simply does not want to believe in him because it is evil unless the Holy Spirit works on its people’s hearts to be willing to accept him.
I also think it is impossible for the entire world to believe in anything because believing in anything is not just all about comprehension as Henry mentioned in his essay. It takes willingness as well.
For instance, knowing God and believing in Him are different. The Bible says even the demons know how powerful God is and tremble, but they do not believe in Him because they are not willing. Believing in Him requires both knowledge about Him and willingness to accept Him as the Savior.
However, the entire world will never be willing to accept anything, especially when it comes to God because the world is evil.
Of course miracles are important because believing in the existence of God is the building block in a spiritual worldview, and they prove the existence of God. I refer miracles to events that cannot be scientifically proven, especially regarding to religious events. If miracles had not existed, people would not have had opportunities to believe that God exists because a part of the reason how we can notice His existence is miracles. Through them we vaguely, at least, can think about a supernatural existence above our knowledge because we cannot exactly know how miracles happened and they are too incredible to happen by chance.
Lewis once said, “It is not that you must view the sun to believe in it, but rather that the sun makes everything else viewable.” Like he said, we do not have to see them right beside Jesus and Moses when they practiced miracles in order to believe the miracles are true. We can believe them by looking at the results of the miracles.
For instance, Peter Elmer from England has found a wheel of Egyptian chariot and bones of men and horses, supporting that the Red Sea miracle was truly happened.
Also, the spread of Christianity after the death of Christ proves that the resurrection is really happened. He was crucified him as a criminal on the cross; however, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire after his death on the cross. I think something had to happen after the death because of the ironically increased number of Christians although his own Jewish people abandoned and claimed him as a heretic.
I think the resurrection and the Red Sea miracle really took place because the results prove that miracles are true.
Question5.
ReplyDeleteIf Jesus's coming have still trouble believing God, He might be show miracles. His creature, human being, does not have ability to make miracles. By showing what humans can not do, God teaches them that there is a powerful and superior thing more than them. In fact, many evidences show God's existence, even though He does not lead to. Humans are special. They think and have curiosity. Therefore, by looking at the creations such as a sun, sky, rain, wind, and plants which are hard to comprehend how they are created, humans are able to recognize something powerful and wonderful Creator really exist. It means that humans are made to think of God naturally. However, the reason why they refuse His existence is their doubt. Since God is merciful, He gives humans freewill so that they can choose which way to go. He does not violate humans' rights, although He made them. It is absolutely possible that God makes the entire world to believe Him with His power enforcedly, but it is not how He wants. He wants his children to believe and glorify His name y themselves. As I said, God does not interrupt their freewill. He approves their existences. Therefore, it is possible for the entire world to believe in anything but it works only when humans' doubts are gone and they choose to go true.
Miracles are important to a spiritual worldview. From the Bible, many miracles happened and Christians suppose to believe them. Since miracles could not be recognized, defining what miracles are is hard. Christians and unbelievers have same DNA and identity. A difference between them is that the Christians know who God is but unbelievers do not know. To save the unbelievers, God has to show miracles so that they are interested in how it happens. Since they do not believe God who they can not recognize, God makes miracles which can be seen. Therefore, miracles are necessary.
It is natural for unbelievers to doubt how God does. Personally, I think that it does not necessary to figure out how God makes something. God is above the whole world. He made all things, including the unbelievers. Since He is superior, and humans are under Him, it is impossible to know everything what He does. He is better than humans' thoughts.Moreover, not everything which is even seen is able to observe. A sun brights itself. We can recognize the sun, but can not know how it is created. This concept is same as what God does. He has been great things. However, not all things He does can be observed and explained. Therefore, as a Christian, it is useless to argue about the things that the Superior does.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteQ.4
ReplyDeleteWith innumerable influx of information and philosophies, many things become so obscure that people are fluctuating between what is real and what is not. Spontaneously, people start to create their own opinions and images according to their own tastes and experiences. As a result, many religions exist today, arguing their religions are true ones. Thus, it is very important for Christians to know about differences between Christianity and the other religions in order to overcome skeptical views of doubters and prepare to answer their questions.
First of all, the main difference between Christianity and the other religions is the other religions worship creatures (man, nature, and statues), which are made by creator, while Christianity believes in God, the invisible spirit, who created the world (Col 1:15-17). Second, other religions are created by man but Christianity was formed because God revealed Himself throughout relationship with men. God created men different from animals that men were created as spiritual beings. However, men fell into sin and the relationship was broken. Men started to seek supernatural beings in order to solve their problems. False religions were formed when these people went into wrong path to find their ‘God.’ However, God provided men opportunity to be with Him once again by not only giving the word (Bible), but also coming as human body (Incarnation). The Christianity is based on the faith of this revelation. Third, founders of other religions were died but only Jesus overcame the death. This resurrection of Christ is historical fact that many people actually witnessed not only in the Bible but also in historical records (I Cor 15:3-8). This is the significant proof that Jesus is the true son of God- How can a man who doesn’t have ability to save himself able to save others? In addition, he promised believers eternal life when they believe in Him and allowed them to have living hope-salvation. Lastly, other religions are focusing on the ‘works’ in order to get salvation. On the other hand, Christianity believes that one earns salvation by what Christ has done for people. The main goals are different as well. Other religions’ main goals are to make themselves good with good deeds. However, Christians’ goal is to glorify God solely whatever they do (I Cor 10:31).
Once one has a good understanding about the differences and the true meaning of salvation, it is pretty easy to answer doubter’s questions. Jesus Christ is the God. It is proven by the resurrection and many witnesses. Unlike other religious leaders, He proved Himself to be the God by overcoming death which is impossible thing for human. Also, the salvation message can’t be created by man absolutely. Salvation message- the gospel- was able to happen because God sent His only son onto the earth to rebuild the relationship with men. No one on the earth has power to save themselves. Obviously, idols which were created by men can’t. Without crucification of Christ, men couldn’t able to have living hope (John 11:25-26). Moreover, man-made messages can’t bring such a great impact on one’s life because Holy Spirit is not working. However, Bible is living (Hebrew 4:12). All scripture is written by inspiration of God, having great authority over ordinary books. Considering and combining all things together, it is easy to get a final conclusion: true salvation is come from God only, not by man.
If I were in charge of the world, I will not forbid false religions. I will have the monopoly on the religion. Only religion people have will be Rocky Religion. I have reason for this. Although I don’t give the freedom to choose, everybody will have the salvation and have a happy ending. People will not feel uncomfortable because they don’t know about the freewill from the beginning because I did not give any. Utopia!
Believers do not need to deny other religions’ good principles and doctrines. However, saying that all religions are same and have salvation is seemingly open-minded and generous, but it will eventually lead these people to the way of eternal death.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAre you a Christian? Do you sin? Can you still call yourself a “Christian” while you sin?
ReplyDeleteEven though we, Christians, accepted Jesus as our Savior, we can fall into temptations and sin. Humans are born to do evil deeds instead of godly deeds. As Christians, we know sin is wrong and try to live righteous lives, but our hearts seek evil. Therefore, we are likely to make a wrong decision and sin against God. I am not saying that it is okay to sin, but as long as we repent and know we are wrong when we sin, God will show His mercy on us. A sin is a sin. Sin itself does not decide whether we go to heaven or hell; it is our faith which leads where we go after death. Of course, God hates sins and all sins have consequences; however, every sin is the same in God’s view.
When He looks down on the earth, He sees only two kinds of people: saved or unsaved. In the Bible, God tells us that hating a brother is the same as murdering (1 John 3:15). Lying seems like it is a smaller sin than stealing, but it is actually the same to God. Committing suicide is the same thing; it is just a sin which is no different than a lie to God. The Bible says do not murder (Deut 5:17). The Bible also says do not be idle (Matt 20:6). God considers those two sins as the same when humans believe being lazy is a lighter sin.
Many psychologists say that people commit suicide because of depression. Can Christians feel worried and feel depressed even though we have hope in Christ? The Bible says do not be anxious, so if we worry, it is a sin (Phil 4:6). However, as I said before, anyone can sin. Catholics believe that if we murder ourselves, it is ignoring the mercy of God and we will go to hell. Personally, I agree with only half of that statement’s meaning. If a person had enough time to plan for the suicide, the person is definitely ignoring Jesus’ blood which paid for our sins. What if the suicide happened with a sudden decision? I think that suicide is just a sin that anyone could commit.
As Miss. Stephens said, we all have feelings of depression and uselessness, but we overcome with that feeling by having a conversation with God. When we pray and seek for our necessaries, he promised us to provide all our needs. Yet Satan keep pushes us over the edge when we feel depressed. Christians can have suicidal thoughts and commit suicide only if the decision was made immediately.
We do not sin because God tells us to do so; we sin because of Satan’s temptations and our own evil hearts. To live as Jesus did, we try to fight against Satan’s temptations which we face every single moment. When we sin, we do not mean to ignore God or deny God. If we commit the same sin against God constantly, we cannot call ourselves “saved ones.” A true Christian can commit suicide, yet the suicide will lessen the reward in heaven.
number three teacher
ReplyDeleteQ.4
ReplyDeleteAs I am a christian, I believe that among many religious stories in this world, the actual happened stories is the life of Jesus Christ. To christians, any other religious stories would seem very absurd and stupid. Those stories contain unbelievable miracles too, but there is simply huge difference in the stories of Christ and the stories of the false religion. The major false religion such as: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam are made out stories.
Most of the religions and even Christianity, deals about the after life. People tends to concern and think about the life after the death. Every religions promises the reward in the end of one's life, and we can say the reward, given to the people who believed in certain religions, attracts and makes people wants to believe.
For an example, the creator of Hinduism, Muhammad states that god has sent him to give messages to the people. Likewise, most of the false religions are created by men. Hinduism is considered as giving reward religion. It gives very many rewards but cannot give true eternal life.
Only true salvation is from God, and Christ was a messiah, giving messages of God. We can just know that Jesus was only the true messiah. His every very words and actions were perfect. Jesus was one of most respectful man, and people tends to set an example and tries to follow it.
The world we are living wants something perfect and reasonable to absorb our state of mind. I don't want to create new false religion, because that would mean I have to exclude from God. But if I make new religion, it would be concentrated with the giving things of the world, focusing on the wealth, happy family, honor, respect, and peace.
It seems very hard to decide and believe which religion is right or wrong. I am thankful to God for He has given me an opportunity to know Him and believe Him. Honestly, I feel pity to those who don't believe in Him, but I guess its one of God's mysterious plan. Some would say that I am some kind of arrogant, but truly I don't boast that I am a christian. I just want to be a silent, faithful, devotional, and modest servant of God.
#3
ReplyDeleteNo, I do not think a true Christian could commit suicide. I want to clarify what is a “TRUE” Christian is. A true Christian is one who believes Jesus Christ as his Savior and CONTINUOUSLY tries to live like Christ. We call him a strong Christian. Once one believes Christ as his Savior, he is a Christian. We cannot say he is whether a true Christian or just a Christian. Instead of calling that way, we can call him as a strong Christian or a weak Christian. In my opinion, a strong Christian may think of committing suicide; however, he would not eventually commit suicide.
“A strong Christian” does not mean that he has a strong body, but a Christian who is spiritually strong. In order to be strong Christians, we need to pray all the time, worship God, witness to other people, read the Bible, and else. Sometimes, we see many weak Christians struggle to choose decisions between right and wrong. Some are deluded by others and choose wrong decisions. They have hard times because they do not have much knowledge of the Bible, and they tend to compromise with the world. However, strong Christians have firm hearts that they do not even think what to choose. They know what is right and wrong based on the Bible. They follow the path of Christ by choosing right things.
Knowing God’s Word is a crucial task for Christians. The Bible tells us everything. “You shall not murder” is one of the Ten Commandments in the Bible. Committing suicide is murdering oneself. Everybody sins. As Grace said in the class, every sin is the same. To God, coveting is the same as murdering. Most Christians confess their sins to God when they commit sins. God says that we need to repent and confess our sins to Him. We definitely know that God always forgives us when we ask for forgiveness. Even though Christians commit suicide, they will go to heaven (Everyone who believes Jesus Christ will go to heaven.) That does not mean that we can just kill ourselves because lives are too tough. We are born to glorify God. Whatever we do, we need to live for God. In I Corinthians 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” However, sometimes we get hardships and persecutions from unbelievers. We could get hurt physically and spiritually. Christians may also get depressed and feel miserable. However, one thing that is different from the worldly people is that Christians can depend on God. By just depending on God, He is willing to help them (Psalm 31:9-24) A strong Christian tries to live like Christ and follow His path. Even he faces hard times, he would depend on God and ask for help. He knows what to do when he faces obstacle; he knows God will rescue from the fears when he asks. A strong Christian is always ready; he is spiritually prepared. In Psalm 34:4, when David sought God, He answered him, and delivered him from all his fears.
In my opinion, committing suicide is caused by the feeling of depression, anger against the world, the sense of inferiority toward others, or other personal hardships. Devils cause a person to commit suicide. They push people to a steep cliff and send them over the edge. Devils use other people to give hard times (Psalm 37:32 “The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him”) and give Christians to feel depressed or anger against the world (Psalm 38:12 “Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, and plan deception all the day long”)
Committing suicide is same as destroying God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?) God has planned our lives before the existence of the earth. He wants us to live fruitful, and he wants us to glorify Him. Therefore, Christians need to overcome all the hardships. They should not even think about committing suicide, because the purpose of lives is glorifying God.
Question #1
ReplyDeleteWhen I was not a believer, I used to think that we as human have a choice to believe what we want to believe. Like Freud's naturalism, I thought that I can not be change into a new person. I am a person who just borned with determined personality. Before I meet God, my life was full with selfishness. I never tried to understand others or to help others who really need my help. However, after I started to believe God, I recognized that my life was unrightous and ungodly.
It is a crucial point that we as christian must be concerning about to put faith and believe God. He is the one who created the universe. And He even sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to sacriface for humans' sins. It is a nonsense that we deny God's existance and put faith into our own.
According to Freud's statement of natralism, we must put believe in ourselves and not to put our problems or any difficulties to God. Freud also believed that we are borned to make our own choices to believe God or not. He even believed that it is foolish to put our lifes to God which God is the one who only can solve our problems and provides us better solutions. When I first read the question unmber one, I quite agreed with Freud. I thought I must work to solve problem not just to pray to God to solve problem for me. However, after I remembered what had happened to my second sister, I believed I am not capable to solve every problems. Most of the time I had to pray to God. I also disagree with Freud's idea of the ture freedom can be achieve when we are apart from Chiristian's idea of God. I saw many unbeliever who are not close to God or fell no guility when they commited sins. So, according to Freud's idea of true freedom, They must be feel free and comfortable. In real life, they always have problems. They never satisfied what they have and they even wanted more. And they live in unsure life.
The main difference ideas of salvation between Freud's salvation and Chiristian's salvation is that as Chiristians, we are to give all of our lifes to God and repent our sins to live better lifes. However, Freud's salvation is through by a person himself.
For two examples of other religious salvation, I can think of Islam and Buddism. First, Islamic point of salvation is that Allah is only god and to order to prove their salvations are to make Islam as the universe religion and to determinate who are not believe in Allah. Buddism also has interesting view point of salvation. They really do not have a salvation but they belive in the good works and living in undesirable lifes, will incarnate them into human being. If not so, they will incarnate into lower cretures, instead of human.
#1
ReplyDeleteFreud’s idea, believing that our lives are characterized by the past, is applied to many religions such as Buddhism and African traditional religions. For people who do not have any religious belief can conclude that Christianity and other religions are things made to earn the answer for many questions. However, for Christians, the idea of Freud is a total fraud. Christians have a firm belief in the existence of God, which they believe it without noticing that we believe in God.
Atheists would interpret our belief and conclude that we are bound to the idea of God and we will earn the freedom if we are away from the Godly beliefs. Yet, we Christians do not know about the ‘bound’ that we are having with God. We chose to believe in God without any feeling of shackles. In the beginning, God made the world, and we are living under God’s control. I was not forced to believe in God in the beginning. Before I was a Christian, I wondered that why people are feeling joy and anger together with sorrow and pleasure from an intangible idea. After becoming a Christian, I figured out that why people are so crazy about Jesus Christ and all the ideas regarding Christianity.
At first, I had a strong mind that God is on my side and my patron. Also, I had a pleasant feeling that I am doing fine under God’s control and heaven is waiting for me after the death. These facts will be lost when I turn my back away from God. I do not want to lose all the privileges that I earned from becoming a Christian. So, my answer for the naturalists is that I am more than happy from becoming a Christian and believing in the existence of God. I am truly free from all the obstacles from the world, because God is with me, and ‘He got my back.’
Freud’s salvation is that being alone and believing in the person himself is the ultimate answer. However, Christian’s salvation is that God is with us, and in order to enter God’s kingdom we must follow God’s order. The interpretation of Freud can be changed by thinking differently.
Question 1
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I thought about a Naturalist approach saying "Don't make me conform to your Christian ideals. You yourself need to free from those ideals to be free." His statement is quite understandable. Human easily falls into delusion
because he needs something to depend upon. Therefore, when he believes a religion, it hinders him from thinking clearly with a objective viewpoint. His mind set is now based on the religious ideals; he believes that
only what he believes is true and that other religions try to delude him from the "orthodoxy."
Soon, contradictory to his initial goal to be free, he is obsessed with his religion. For example, Muslims think those who do not believe Islam as enemies and are even willing to kill them. Also everyone except Catholic believers knows that Roman Catholic Church slaughtered
million and million people who it condemned as "heresies." The Naturalist is true in that human needs to somehow free himself from the obsession.
Christianity claims that only way human can gain a salvation is through Jesus Christ who is a fundamental cause of salvation. Human cannot be
saved by freedom of thinking, good works, and pasts. Believing Christ's death for mankind and his resurrection characterizes the Christian salvation. Roman Catholic Church strongly focuses on human works to be saved. It argues that a salvation needs not only deity but also works such as church service and devotion to ceremony. So it praises the saints and their good deeds. Because of works, it regards ceremonies such as transubstantiation as one part of the salvation. Buddhism demands human to be a "God" supposedly. By practicing self-control and charity, he can arrive at the state of a salvation, Nirvana. Also it advocates human goodness by nature. By improving and restraining himself, he can achieve the state of nirvana.
Compare to those religions, what Freud is offering as a salvation is a freedom based on human will and nature. He emphasizes that human should think by himself without any delusions from the religions: human should naturally achieve what people call a salvation. The reason why Freud so stresses freedom of thinking is that human easily falls into delusion. In fact, in Freud's viewpoint, too many people are fallen into the religious delusions by religions such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Catholicism, and Buddhism. Freud wants people to believe oneself rather than "religion." In order to free oneself truly, he must free from all the delusions made by religions. Then, he can think without a bias and gain the true salvation naturally.
I think Freud's salvation heavily depends on human thinking process which frees him from the religious obsession and gives objective viewpoint.
-_- OH NO
ReplyDeleteDo I have to do question 4 right now?
#1
ReplyDeleteFreud’s idea, believing that our lives are characterized by the past, is applied to many religions such as Buddhism and African traditional religions. For people who do not have any religious belief can conclude that Christianity and the other religions are ideas made to earn the answer for many questions. However, for Christians, the idea of Freud is a total fraud. Christians have a firm belief in the existence of God.
Atheists would interpret our beliefs and conclude that we are bound to the idea of God, and we will earn the freedom if we are away from the Godly beliefs. Yet, Christians do not know about the ‘bound’ that we are having with God. We chose to believe in God without any feeling of shackles. In the beginning, God made the world, and we are living under God’s control. I was not forced to believe in God in the beginning. Before I was a Christian, I wondered that why people are feeling joy and anger together with sorrow and pleasure from an intangible idea. After becoming a Christian, I figured out that why people are so crazy about Jesus Christ and all the ideas regarding Christianity.
At first, I had a strong mind that God is on my side. Also, I had a pleasant feeling that I am doing fine under God’s control, and heaven is waiting for me after death. These facts will be lost when I turn my back away from God. I do not want to lose all the privileges that I earned from becoming a Christian. So, my answer for the naturalists is that I am more than happy from becoming a Christian, and believing in the existence of God. I am free from all the obstacles of the world because God is with me, and ‘He got my back.’
Freud’s salvation is that being alone and believing in the person himself is the ultimate answer. However, Christian’s salvation is that God is with us, we must follow God’s orders in order to enter God’s kingdom. Also, there are other salvations made by different religions such as: Buddhism, a person must do good deeds in order to born again in a human form; Hinduism, a person gets to choose a god among many different kinds and follow the order from the chosen god. These salvations have different aspects. Yet, among these religious salvations, I believe that Christian’s salvation is the most believable one among the other salvations. First, there is a book called The Bible, which proves that God is the righteous one. Also, Christians can feel the Holy Spirit in us, leading us to live in rightful ways.
Q.4
ReplyDeleteWith innumerable influx of information and philosophies, many things become so obscure that people are fluctuating between what is real and what is not. Spontaneously, people start to create their own opinions and images according to their own tastes and experiences. As a result, many religions exist today, arguing their religions are true ones. Thus, it is very important for Christians to know about differences between Christianity and the other religions in order to overcome skeptical views of doubters and prepare to answer their questions.
First of all, the main difference between Christianity and the other religions is the other religions worship creatures (man, nature, and statues), which are made by creator, while Christianity believes in God, the invisible spirit, who created the world (Col 1:15-17). Second, other religions are created by man but Christianity was formed because God revealed Himself throughout relationship with men. God created men different from animals that men were created as spiritual beings. However, men fell into sin and the relationship was broken. Men started to seek supernatural beings in order to solve their problems. False religions were formed when these people went into wrong path to find their ‘God.’ However, God provided men opportunity to be with Him once again by not only giving the word (Bible), but also coming as human body (Incarnation). The Christianity is based on the faith of this revelation. Third, founders of other religions were died but only Jesus overcame the death. This resurrection of Christ is historical fact that many people actually witnessed not only in the Bible but also in historical records (I Cor 15:3-8). This is the significant proof that Jesus is the true son of God- How can a man who doesn’t have ability to save himself able to save others? In addition, he promised believers eternal life when they believe in Him and allowed them to have living hope-salvation. Lastly, other religions are focusing on the ‘works’ in order to get salvation. On the other hand, Christianity believes that one earns salvation by what Christ has done for people. The main goals are different as well. Other religions’ main goals are to make themselves good with good deeds. However, Christians’ goal is to glorify God solely whatever they do (I Cor 10:31).
Once one has a good understanding about the differences and the true meaning of salvation, it is pretty easy to answer doubter’s questions. Jesus Christ is the God. It is proven by the resurrection and many witnesses. Unlike other religious leaders, He proved Himself to be the God by overcoming death which is impossible thing for human. Also, the salvation message can’t be created by man absolutely. Salvation message- the gospel- was able to happen because God sent His only son onto the earth to rebuild the relationship with men. No one on the earth has power to save himself. Obviously, idols which were created by men can’t. Without crucification of Christ, men couldn’t able to have living hope (John 11:25-26). Moreover, man-made messages can’t bring such a great impact on one’s life because Holy Spirit is not working. However, Bible is living (Hebrew 4:12). All scripture is written by inspiration of God, having great authority over ordinary books. Considering and combining all things together, it is easy to get a final conclusion: true salvation is come from God only, not by man.
If I were in charge of the world, I will not forbid false religions. I will have the monopoly on the religion. Only religion people have will be Rocky Religion. I have reason for this. Although I don’t give the freedom to choose, everybody will have the salvation and have a happy ending. People will not feel uncomfortable because they don’t know about the freewill from the beginning because I did not give any. Utopia!
Believers do not need to deny other religions’ good principles and doctrines. However, saying that all religions are same and have salvation is seemingly open-minded and generous, but it will eventually lead these people to the way of eternal death.