Part A: 50 pts. Create a five slide power point OR write a 2-3 page assessment of Lewis' most powerful argument. If he was trying to reconcile the paradox that a good God can exist in a painful world, which argument do you believe was most powerful? Why does this particular part of the book ring true with you and your experience?
Part B: 50 pts. Choose your own media, whether that be a collage, writing or other tool, to process your own approach to pain (or what you'd like it to be). Consider... How do I make sense of pain in my life? How do I get through it? What is my own motto?
Be prepared to casually present both of these to class next block day. Bring some clear and insightful thinking/discussion. No power point, etc... necessary. We would love to see your art if that is what you choose to do!
Musicale students go on Wednesday?
Wednesday, Feb.28 ~ POP Ch. 6 (second half)
Kaylee and Pablo will present Chapter 6 today. Here is their presentation.
HW: Tonight, please read Ch.7. You may skim Ch.9 if you have time.
Presenters, prepare for your lessons tomorrow!
HW: Tonight, please read Ch.7. You may skim Ch.9 if you have time.
Presenters, prepare for your lessons tomorrow!
Problem of Pain - Student Teaching Schedule
Wednesday 2/28
Ch. 6 ~ Human Pain (second half) - Kaylee and Pablo
Thursday 3/1
Ch.7 ~ Human Pain, CONTINUED - Mattie and Chase
Ch.9 ~ Animal Pain - Mackenna and Kelsey
Monday 3/5
Ch.8 ~ Hell - Josh and Scott
Tuesday 3/6
Ch.10 ~ Heaven - Robbie and Nick
Ch. 6 ~ Human Pain (second half) - Kaylee and Pablo
Thursday 3/1
Ch.7 ~ Human Pain, CONTINUED - Mattie and Chase
Ch.9 ~ Animal Pain - Mackenna and Kelsey
Monday 3/5
Ch.8 ~ Hell - Josh and Scott
Tuesday 3/6
Ch.10 ~ Heaven - Robbie and Nick
Tuesday, Feb.27 ~ POP Ch.6 & 7
Discuss Ch.6
1. "If suffering is good, ought it not to be pursued rather than avoided?" What part of suffering is good?
2. List the four steps that occur in a fallen and partially redeemed universe?
3. Explain how a person may serve God as a son or as a tool.
4. What conclusions does Lewis make about ascetic practices such as fasting?
5. Why does Lewis believe that utopia will not be ushered in through social or economic reform?
6. What does Lewis mean when he says: "Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home."?
7. In his final point (#6), Lewis claims that pain is the only type of evil that is disinfected or sterilized-in other words, it is not contagious. He explains that error and sin can breed more trouble, but pain usually solicits pity from spectators. Do you agree/disagree?
- Lewis speculates that 80% of suffering is the result of human wickedness. Would you agree or change the percentage, etc...?
- Why is self-improvement not enough? What does it look like to "lay down our arms"?
- How does pain lead to surrender?
Notes for Ch.6
John Henry Newman (1801-1890): Anglican who converted to Roman Catholicism in 1845. Known for his spiritual autobiography Apologia pro Vita Sua (1864); a leader of the Oxford or Tractarian movement in 1833; made a cardinal at the age of 74.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679): English political philosopher and author of Leviathan,which introduced the social contract theory.
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928): English novelist of the naturalism movement. Raised Anglican, the seeming unfairness and struggles of life caused Hardy to question the Christian view of God. A clergyman asked him how to reconcile the human experience of pain with the goodness of God. Hardy wrote back:Mr. Hardy regrets that he is unable to offer any hypothesis which would reconcile the existence of such evils as Dr. Grosart describes with the idea of omnipotent goodness. Perhaps Dr. Grosart might be helped to a provisional view of the universe by the recently published Life of Darwin and the works of Herbert Spencer and other agnostics.Alfred Edward Housman (1859-1936): English classicist and poet, best known for a cycle of poems called A Shropshire Lad.Aldous Huxley (1894-1963): English writer best known for Brave New World. Lewis's reference to "non-attachment" in chapter six, refers to Huxley's book Ends and Means, wherein Huxley writes, "The ideal man is the non-attached man . . . non-attached to wealth, fame, social position. Non-attached even to science, art speculation and philosophy." Lewis, Huxley, and John F. Kennedy all died on the same day-November 22, 1963.
William Paley (1743-1805): a Christian philosopher and apologist best known for his "watchmaker analogy" regarding the existence of God, as set forth in his book Natural Theology. He had some political views that were out of step with his generation, such as the right of the poor to steal if in need of food, a graduated income tax, and a woman's right to pursue a career rather than be dependent upon male relatives. These views are believed to have kept him from advancing in church hierarchy.
C. C. S.: stands for Casualty Clearing Station -small mobile hospitals used during WWI. If sepsis and gangrene were treated within 36 hours, survival rates improved.
William Cowper (1731-1800): English hymn writer and poet. He was a friend of John Newton (who wrote "Amazing Grace") and contributed to the hymnal Newton was compiling. Cowper suffered from depression throughout his life, including several suicide attempts. Inkling member Lord David Cecil wrote a biography of Cowper titled The Stricken Deer (1929), which is still in print.
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928): English novelist of the naturalism movement. Raised Anglican, the seeming unfairness and struggles of life caused Hardy to question the Christian view of God. A clergyman asked him how to reconcile the human experience of pain with the goodness of God. Hardy wrote back:Mr. Hardy regrets that he is unable to offer any hypothesis which would reconcile the existence of such evils as Dr. Grosart describes with the idea of omnipotent goodness. Perhaps Dr. Grosart might be helped to a provisional view of the universe by the recently published Life of Darwin and the works of Herbert Spencer and other agnostics.Alfred Edward Housman (1859-1936): English classicist and poet, best known for a cycle of poems called A Shropshire Lad.Aldous Huxley (1894-1963): English writer best known for Brave New World. Lewis's reference to "non-attachment" in chapter six, refers to Huxley's book Ends and Means, wherein Huxley writes, "The ideal man is the non-attached man . . . non-attached to wealth, fame, social position. Non-attached even to science, art speculation and philosophy." Lewis, Huxley, and John F. Kennedy all died on the same day-November 22, 1963.
William Paley (1743-1805): a Christian philosopher and apologist best known for his "watchmaker analogy" regarding the existence of God, as set forth in his book Natural Theology. He had some political views that were out of step with his generation, such as the right of the poor to steal if in need of food, a graduated income tax, and a woman's right to pursue a career rather than be dependent upon male relatives. These views are believed to have kept him from advancing in church hierarchy.
C. C. S.: stands for Casualty Clearing Station -small mobile hospitals used during WWI. If sepsis and gangrene were treated within 36 hours, survival rates improved.
William Cowper (1731-1800): English hymn writer and poet. He was a friend of John Newton (who wrote "Amazing Grace") and contributed to the hymnal Newton was compiling. Cowper suffered from depression throughout his life, including several suicide attempts. Inkling member Lord David Cecil wrote a biography of Cowper titled The Stricken Deer (1929), which is still in print.
HW: Chapter 7 - Human Pain, continued
NotesMarlowe's lunatic Tamburlaine: refers to Christopher Marlowe's 1587 play Tamburlaine the Great.
Farewell, my boys! My dearest friends, farewell!
My body feels, my soul doth weep to see
Your sweet desires depriv'd my company,
For Tamburlaine, the scourge of God, must die.
My body feels, my soul doth weep to see
Your sweet desires depriv'd my company,
For Tamburlaine, the scourge of God, must die.
1. "If suffering is good, ought it not to be pursued rather than avoided?" What part of suffering is good?
2. List the four steps that occur in a fallen and partially redeemed universe?
3. Explain how a person may serve God as a son or as a tool.
4. What conclusions does Lewis make about ascetic practices such as fasting?
5. Why does Lewis believe that utopia will not be ushered in through social or economic reform?
6. What does Lewis mean when he says: "Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home."?
7. In his final point (#6), Lewis claims that pain is the only type of evil that is disinfected or sterilized-in other words, it is not contagious. He explains that error and sin can breed more trouble, but pain usually solicits pity from spectators. Do you agree/disagree?
Monday, Feb. 26 ~ POP Ch.6
Discuss Chapters 4 & 5
HW: Read Ch.6 (Annotate and have at least three points/questions to discuss tomorrow in class)
HW: Read Ch.6 (Annotate and have at least three points/questions to discuss tomorrow in class)
Block Day, Feb.22 ~ Catch up...to POP Ch.5?
Chapter 5 - The Fall of ManNotes
Total depravity: Theological teaching that the Fall affected every part of human intellect, feeling, heart and will. Christians may differ in their views of just how "total" total depravity is, but they agree that human beings cannot save themselves.
Original sin: Refers to the sin of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, the effects of which were passed on to their descendants (Romans 5:12, 19).
Pons asinorum: Latin for "bridge of asses"; refers to the fifth proposition in Book One of Euclid's Elements which holds that angles opposite the same length sides of an isosceles triangle are equal. Metaphorically it means a problem that tests the ability of the inexperienced.
Gautama (563-483 BCE): the spiritual leader on whose teachings Buddhism is based.
Zarathustra aka Zoroaster: Persian founder of Zoroastrianism
Marcus Aurelius (121-180): Stoic philosopher and Roman emperor who wrote Meditations.
William Law (1686-1761): Anglican clergyman and devotional writer. In 1729, he wrote A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, which argued that Christianity affects every area of life, including business and leisure as well as devotional practices. This book was a favorite of John Wesley. In 1731, he wrote The Case of Reason, which contended that as important as reason is, it alone cannot grasp the mysteries of God without the aid of divine revelation.
N. P. Williams (1883-1943): professor of divinity and editor of Theology, which represented liberal Catholicism.
Yogi: one who practices the mental, physical and spiritual discipline of yoga
Meum: Latin for "mine"
Richard Hooker (1554-1600): Oxford-educated minister in the Church of England. His best-known work is Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity published in eight volumes-the last three posthumously. The series is both a response to Puritan doctrine and a guide for church governance. Considered one of the best examples of Elizabethan literature, the work influenced political theory and English prose, as well as theology.
A note on some of the controversial items: Depending on your beliefs and/or theological background, some of Lewis's statements in this chapter may be unsettling. (For example, in the second paragraph, he refers to "myths in Holy Scripture" or midway through Lewis says, "for long centuries God perfected the animal form.") The topic for today is the Fall-not inerrancy of Scripture or what part, if any, evolution may have played in creation. Lewis has given in depth treatment to these issues elsewhere. Since they are tangential to the problem of pain, see what benefit or insights you can draw from this chapter despite other disagreements that may (or may not) exist.
Journal 14 ~ Ch.5
1. What is the sole function of the Fall according to Lewis?
2. Do you think God should have simply erased the results of the first sin and given humanity a second chance? How does Lewis work through that proposition?
3. What was the root of humanity's first sin? (In Mere Christianity, Lewis called it "the great sin.") Why does Lewis believe this is the only sin that could conceivably be the Fall?
4. In what ways do postlapsarian human beings differ from prelapsarian, according to Lewis's speculations?
5. Lewis contends that the Fall did not take God by surprise, nor did God plan the whole thing. Instead, Lewis describes the world as a dance. What "steps" make up that dance? (He will develop this concept more in Chapter 7.)
Total depravity: Theological teaching that the Fall affected every part of human intellect, feeling, heart and will. Christians may differ in their views of just how "total" total depravity is, but they agree that human beings cannot save themselves.
Original sin: Refers to the sin of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, the effects of which were passed on to their descendants (Romans 5:12, 19).
Pons asinorum: Latin for "bridge of asses"; refers to the fifth proposition in Book One of Euclid's Elements which holds that angles opposite the same length sides of an isosceles triangle are equal. Metaphorically it means a problem that tests the ability of the inexperienced.
Gautama (563-483 BCE): the spiritual leader on whose teachings Buddhism is based.
Zarathustra aka Zoroaster: Persian founder of Zoroastrianism
Marcus Aurelius (121-180): Stoic philosopher and Roman emperor who wrote Meditations.
William Law (1686-1761): Anglican clergyman and devotional writer. In 1729, he wrote A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, which argued that Christianity affects every area of life, including business and leisure as well as devotional practices. This book was a favorite of John Wesley. In 1731, he wrote The Case of Reason, which contended that as important as reason is, it alone cannot grasp the mysteries of God without the aid of divine revelation.
N. P. Williams (1883-1943): professor of divinity and editor of Theology, which represented liberal Catholicism.
Yogi: one who practices the mental, physical and spiritual discipline of yoga
Meum: Latin for "mine"
Richard Hooker (1554-1600): Oxford-educated minister in the Church of England. His best-known work is Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity published in eight volumes-the last three posthumously. The series is both a response to Puritan doctrine and a guide for church governance. Considered one of the best examples of Elizabethan literature, the work influenced political theory and English prose, as well as theology.
A note on some of the controversial items: Depending on your beliefs and/or theological background, some of Lewis's statements in this chapter may be unsettling. (For example, in the second paragraph, he refers to "myths in Holy Scripture" or midway through Lewis says, "for long centuries God perfected the animal form.") The topic for today is the Fall-not inerrancy of Scripture or what part, if any, evolution may have played in creation. Lewis has given in depth treatment to these issues elsewhere. Since they are tangential to the problem of pain, see what benefit or insights you can draw from this chapter despite other disagreements that may (or may not) exist.
Journal 14 ~ Ch.5
1. What is the sole function of the Fall according to Lewis?
2. Do you think God should have simply erased the results of the first sin and given humanity a second chance? How does Lewis work through that proposition?
3. What was the root of humanity's first sin? (In Mere Christianity, Lewis called it "the great sin.") Why does Lewis believe this is the only sin that could conceivably be the Fall?
4. In what ways do postlapsarian human beings differ from prelapsarian, according to Lewis's speculations?
5. Lewis contends that the Fall did not take God by surprise, nor did God plan the whole thing. Instead, Lewis describes the world as a dance. What "steps" make up that dance? (He will develop this concept more in Chapter 7.)
Wednesday, Feb. 21 ~ POP Ch. 4
Discuss Journal 13
Discussion Questions: Chapter 4 - Human Wickedness (Sych...Not J14)
1. Christianity must now preach the diagnosis (i.e. that people are sinners) before it can win a hearing for the cure. To what does Lewis attribute this development? According to Lewis, what happens when people attempt to be Christians without an awareness of sin? Consider 1 John 1:8-10.2. Lewis makes eight observations as to why the modern day illusion of innocence is just that - an illusion. We'll take a closer look at some of them. a. What happens when we look on the outside of things?
b. What danger did Lewis see in the "re-awakening of the socialconscience"?
c. How does Lewis handle the argument that there is "safety in numbers"? d. Do you think the level of morality in society today is better than our ancestors? e. Twice in this chapter Lewis cautions against an overemphasis on one virtue. He believes "kindness" was the exalted virtue of his day. Do you consider one virtue to be higher than others? If so, which one? Does the Bible identify a highest virtue? Consider Matthew 22:35-40 and 1 Corinthians 13:13. f. As genetic science develops and finds biological explanations for some behaviors (e.g. a propensity for violence), how does this fit in with Lewis's eighth observation about shifting responsibility back to the Creator?3. What was Lewis's position on total depravity?
b. What danger did Lewis see in the "re-awakening of the socialconscience"?
c. How does Lewis handle the argument that there is "safety in numbers"? d. Do you think the level of morality in society today is better than our ancestors? e. Twice in this chapter Lewis cautions against an overemphasis on one virtue. He believes "kindness" was the exalted virtue of his day. Do you consider one virtue to be higher than others? If so, which one? Does the Bible identify a highest virtue? Consider Matthew 22:35-40 and 1 Corinthians 13:13. f. As genetic science develops and finds biological explanations for some behaviors (e.g. a propensity for violence), how does this fit in with Lewis's eighth observation about shifting responsibility back to the Creator?3. What was Lewis's position on total depravity?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)