Bible Assignment Questions

2008-11-26T17:10:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all who responded to my post!

Here are the questions as stated in the assignment. I this assignment I will use your responses to write about different world views.

I. Your understanding of the world and reality

1. What exists? What kinds of things are really real? Only matter? What about non-material things and abstract things (such as mind, spirit, ideas, or numbers)? What types of non-physical things might exists?

2. If you believe that there is a non-physical dimension to reality, do you think that either the material or the non-material is more important than the other? Why? Or do you believe that they are equally important?

3. Has the universe always existed? Or did it come into existence at a specific point in time?

4. Do you believe there is a design or purpose to the universe? Why or why not?

5. Do you believe that history is working toward a goal of some kind? If so, what do you believe it is?

II. Your understanding of how you know what you know

6. Is knowledge possible? If so, how do we know anything? Please explain your thoughts a bit.

Opinion 1: You believe that we learn everything from our experiences in the world – by seeing, tasting, touching, smelling, hearing

Opinion 2: You believe we know some things just by thinking logically; we don’t need to perceive everything through our senses; we can know some things independently of our experience. If this is your point of view, can you please give some examples of things you know in this way?

Opinion 3: You have a third point of view, which is…

III. Your understanding of values and ethics

7. What is the most important thing in life?

8. Does every society have some sort of value system? If so, where do you think it comes from?

9. Do human beings have a built in scene of right and wrong? If so, where does it come from?

10. Are any values absolute? In other words, are there some values that every person – no matter what culture (s)he lives in / no matter what period of history (s)he lives in- should believe in? Can you offer some examples?

11. How do you personally decide right from wrong?

12. Is there such a thing as tragic moral choice? In other words, are we placed in a position where we have no choice except to do evil? If so, can you give an example or two?

13. How would you evaluate this statement: Truth and values are relative (This means they are not absolute and that they are conditioned by individual or cultural factors). Why do you agree – or not agree – with this statement?

14. According to Situation Ethics, there are no rules that are obeyed in every situation, and there are times when we have to break the rules (even the Ten Commandments) in order to d the loving thing. In the end, the only rule we always need to follow is the law of love. How do you evaluate this point of view? Is it right or wrong?

IV. Religion: My view of God and what it means to be human

15. Does God exist? If you answered yes, what do you think God is like? Is God…

a. Personal? If so, what do you mean?

b. Impersonal? What does that mean?

c. What other words would you use to describe God?

16. If you believe God exists, how do you think people come to know God? If you do not believe God exists, how do you account for the fact that so many people do believe?

17. What is the Bible? Do its teachings play any role in your daily life?

18. How would you evaluate the claim that down deep all religions are basically the same?

19. What does it mean to be human?

a. Are we really distinct from lower animals, or are we a part of a continuum?

b. How do we differ from lower animals?

c. Do you believe that humans have a soul (or are a soul)? If so, please explain what you mean.

20. Has the modern theory of evolution discredited Christian faith? If so, how? Also indicate which of the following options best represents you own views. Please explain your answer just a bit.

a. I believe in Theistic evolution (the view that God guided the process of evolution)

b. I believe in the Naturalistic models of evolution.

c. I believe God created the world in six 24 hour days.

d. I believe in creation, I reject evolution, and I accept the truth of the Genesis account; but I think that the Genesis record was intended to convey spiritual truth rather than a scientific account of origins.

e. Other

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Bible Assignment Questions