Tuesday, Feb.20 ~ POP Ch.3

Review Ch.2

Journal 12: Chapter 3 - Divine Goodness

NotesImpassible:  incapable of experiencing emotion or pain; theologians have debated whether this is an attribute of God
Ephraim:  the second of Joseph's sons; when used in the Old Testament prophetic books, it refers to the last piece of the northern kingdom of Israel to be carried into Assyrian captivity.
King Cophetua:  a painting by Sir Edward Burne-Jones as well as a poem by Tennyson, based on the legend of an African king who had no interest in women until he saw a beggar maid, fell instantly in love with her, and made her his queen.

1.  What does Lewis mean when he says we want "not so much a Father in Heaven as a grandfather in heaven"?  Why do we prefer the grandfather?

2.  Contrast "love" and "kindness" as used in this chapter.

3.  Lewis uses four analogies to try to understand God's love for humanity.  Select one of them.  What insights and observations do you glean from it?

4.  What does Lewis mean by the "intolerable compliment"?  How might we sometimes settle for less of God's love rather than more?  Why?

5.  How does Lewis address the objection that God's love for humans is selfish or possessive?

HW: Journal 13 ~ Read Ch.4 This time, you come up with the discussion questions. Record at least three please. 

Tuesday, Feb.13 ~ Problem of Pain, Ch.2

Discuss Chapter 1

Journal 11: Chapter 2 - Divine Omnipotence
1.  What do you think of Lewis's summary of the problem of pain at the beginning of chapter two?  Might factors other than God's goodness and power play a part in the human experience of pain?

2.  Scripture teaches and Christianity holds that God is omnipotent (Jeremiah 32:17, Matthew 19:26, Mark 14:36, and Luke 1:37).  Nevertheless, God cannot do what is intrinsically impossible.  Why is this an important clarification?

3.  Why is it necessary for matter to have a fixed nature?

4.  What would happen if God intervened every time someone abused his free will?

5.  Do you agree with Lewis's statement:  "Try to exclude the possibility of suffering . . . and you find that you have excluded life itself"?  Why or why not?

6.  How does God's freedom differ from human freedom?

Monday, Feb.12 ~ The Problem of Pain, Ch.1

Weight of Glory Reflections due today!

Let's read and work through Journal 10 together.


Journal 10: The Problem of Pain

Preface and Chapter 1 Reading Notes Ashley Sampson (1900-1947):  was the owner of Centenary Press who invited C. S. Lewis to write The Problem of Pain after reading the "smuggled-in theology" in Out of the Silent Planet.  Geoffrey Bles Ltd., another publisher of Lewis, later bought the Centenary Press. Rudolf Otto (1869-1937):  a Lutheran theologian from Germany who taught at the University of Marburg Divinity School.  His most famous work is The Idea of the Holy,which has not been out of print since its publication in 1917.  Otto coined the term "numinous" to signify the non-rational experience of the divine that is simultaneously terrifying and fascinating.  He died of complications after a fall from a tower.  There is some debate over whether his fall was a suicide attempt or precipitated by members of the Nazi Party, which opposed his views.  Numinous:  a term coined by German theologian Rudolf Otto to describe a sense of the mysterious, supernatural and holy.  Incorporates both awe and dread. Anfractuous:  full of windings and turnings Preface 1. According to the Preface, what was Lewis's only purpose for writing the book? Chapter 1 - Introductory 2.  The chapter opens with the response Lewis would have given to the question, "Why do you not believe in God?" prior to his conversion. Do you think this is what the average person today would say? What other arguments are at the top of the list? 3.  According to Lewis, if you look at the natural world around you, what would you conclude about its Creator?  Consider the epigraph from Pascal. Does nature reveal anything about God?  If so, what? 4.  What question is Lewis hoping to answer by looking at the commonalities of all religions?  5. List the three elements that developed in all religions and the fourth element, which is unique to Christianity. 6.  What is his main point drawn from looking at the origins of all these elements?  7. Explain how the concept of the Numinous guarding the unattainable moral reality is a paradox. (What makes it impossible and yet true?) 8.  What are the consequences of ignoring the Numinous (having a non-religious morality)?  Ignoring the moral law (a non-moral religion)? 9. How is the existence of Jesus one of the "awkward facts which have to be fitted into any system we make"? 10.  Why is the problem of pain more of an issue for the Christian?

I just wanted to record our thoughts...

As we enter tricky conversations, we want to honor each other and protect a chance to engage fully in a learning environment that we desire. Yes, WE are MV, and we are also real people.

Things that shut people down...

• condescension
• disrespect
• folks thin-slicing/oversimplifying my thoughts
• indirect/subtle comments
• assumptions, biases
• interrupting
• lack of effort/empathy to find common ground
• thoughts undervalued due to things we can't help (ex/social class, gender, age, race, etc...)
• discrimination
• disengagement
• "parrot talk"
• listening to argue rather than to understand
• not listening (or working to understand fully)
• "gas lighting" (abuse by twisting someone's words)
• assumption that my logic is flawed without approaching the details of the actual logic
• exclusion
• interrogation
• refusal to wonder (cut off before thought expressed)
• assumption of an expert
• "tunnel vision"

How then do we engage with honor?

• empathy trumps being right
• respect
• acceptance
• mindful words
• listen, don't label
• hear the person out with a posture of figuring out the validity of his/her point
• Guard your own heart against offense by kindly confronting the point that is offensive, hopefully with a clarifying question or an honest admission of the corner you feel backed into.
• "walk softly"
• avoid personal attacks

Thursday, Feb. 7 ~ The Problem with Pain begins

Reflections on The Weight of Glory

• Due Monday, Feb.11 (typed, hard copy please)
• Assignment: Please write a 1-2 page reflection on your take-away thoughts from this piece. Include at least two key quotes. Your reflection should reveal a thorough understanding of Lewis' concept as well as your own reflection. Personal pronouns are okay in this response. 

A thought before we start...

• Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
  
• We are seekers of truth over comfort or control. We must take "one another seriously-no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption" (9).
• Is it possible to discuss these heavy truths with people who hold a variety of beliefs? 
• What shuts people down? 
• What norms can we practice to create an open space for all? 
• What does it take for my own heart to be safe and open at the same time? 
• Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens a friend's character. 

The Problem of Pain

Before we begin... 

• Can God (or a god) co-exist in a world with pain and suffering? 
• If God is good, why doesn't s/he prevent suffering?
• Is pain ever good? 
• Is pain our fault? 
• Can a painless world include free will? 
• What stance or perspective helps people best deal with pain/suffering? 
• What is the cost of not making meaning of pain/suffering? 

Reading time...Let's read as much of the text out loud as we can today.

HW: Focus on your response to The Weight of Glory. We will pick up PoP on Monday.

Monday-Wednesday 2/7-9 ~ Reading under the Weight

Weight of Glory reading and discussion.

Block Day, Feb.1 ~ The Weight of Glory

Discuss journals and Spirits in Bondage.

Read The Weight of Glory

Journal 9 ~ The Weight of Glory

• Write a brief outline to track his thoughts...What is the point of the message when you look over the whole outline.
• Write a thoughtful reflection on the last three questions written on page 9 of the packet.