Quiz 2 + 3 Study Guide PDF

**[Quiz 2 + 3 Study Guide]** [Lecture 1: What is Theology?] - Four different kinds of theological frameworks: - Biblical theology = theology that focuses on the study and interpretation of the Bible - Historical theology = theology that focuses on historical events...

**[Quiz 2 + 3 Study Guide]** [Lecture 1: What is Theology?] - Four different kinds of theological frameworks: - Biblical theology = theology that focuses on the study and interpretation of the Bible - Historical theology = theology that focuses on historical events and what they show us about God - Systematic theology = theology that aims to arrange biblical truths and Christian doctrines in a self-consistent whole - Practical theology = theology that focuses on practical applications of biblical, historical, and systematic theologies - What are the key questions in Christian theology? - Who is God? - Who/what are humans? - How do we make sense of the world? - What are the tasks of theology? - Comprehension, construction, communication, criticism, and practice - What are the two main pillars of authority in Christian theology? - The Church - Scripture [Lecture 2: The History of Christianity] - Why were the following key historical events important to Christianity? - The birth of Jesus Christ - This marked when God became human in order to save humankind - This was a fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies - The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ - These events gave Christians proof that Jesus is God and that he defeated death - Jesus' death became viewed as the atoning sacrifice for humanity's sins, reconciling us to God - Council of Nicaea - This event marked a critical moment when Christianity became more institutionalized within the Roman Empire - The rise of the Papacy - The Roman Catholic Church, led by the Pope, became an important political authority - The Great Schism - This was the first formal split that happened in the church and resulted in two distinct faith traditions - The Crusades - This military campaign deepened hostilities between Christians and Muslims - Protestant Reformation - This event challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to new Christian denominations that tried to correct the corruption in the Catholic Church - The Council of Trent - This council reaffirmed key Catholic doctrines - The Enlightenment - The rise of independent thinking, reason, science, and skepticism led to the secularization of society, gradually separating church and state - First Vatican Council - This council is famous for defining the doctrine of papal infallibility which reinforced the authority of the Pope - World Wars - The devastation of World War I and World War II led Christian leaders to reflect on the need for unity and peace, resulting in the rise of ecumenical movements which caused different churches and denominations to work together for the greater good - Second Vatican Council - Marked a period of progress and reform for the Catholic Church [Lecture 2: The Role of Scripture] - What are the different types of books in the Bible? - Law = the first five books of the Old Testament which include the creation story, the history of the patriarchs, and the giving of the Law to Israel by God through Moses. - Historical Books = the history of the Israelites including the stories of kings, prophets, wars, and the people's relationship with God - Wisdom Literature = poems, songs, proverbs, and reflections on life, suffering, faith, and wisdom, often addressing deep human questions. - Prophecy = contain prophecies about Israel's future, calls for repentance, messages of hope, and, in some cases, apocalyptic visions - Gospels = four books that recount the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ - Epistles = letters written by early Christian leaders to various churches or individuals - Apocalyptic = visions of the end times, the final judgement, and the establishment of God's kingdom - What are the four "acts" of the Christian meta-narrative? - Creation - Fall - Redemption - Restoration [Lecture 3: The Nature of God] - What are some traits of God and what do they mean? - Goodness = God is everything that is good - Immutability = God doesn't change - Omnipotence = God is all-powerful - Omniscience = God knows everything - Omnipresence = God is present everywhere at all times - Love = God loves unconditionally and in a self-sacrificing way - Justice = God deals with evil and wrongdoing fairly - Mercy = God offers grace and forgiveness - Faithfulness = God is always true to His word and promises - Moral perfection = God is morally pure and utterly separate from sin - Complete independence - Eternal = God has no beginning or end - Immanence = God is actively involved in everything He has made - Transcendence = God exists beyond the physical universe and is above and independent from His creation - What is the Trinity? - God is one in essence but three in persons: - Father = Creator, ruler - Son = Jesus, redeemer - Holy Spirit = Helper and sanctifier [Lecture 4: Creation] - What are some important features of the Christian creation story? - *Creatio ex nihilo* = creation out of nothing - God as Creator of everything including time and space - Creation as a free and intentional act - Creation as good - Why is Creation a form of revelation? - The creation of the world shows us important things about God (e.g. God is both transcendent and immanent) [Lecture 4: The Problem of Good and Evil] - The logical problem of good and evil = "If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good, how can evil exist?" - The experiential problem of good and evil = "Why does a loving God allow suffering?" - Where does evil come from according to Christian tradition? - The fall of Satan when he led the angels to rebel against God - The fall of humanity when Adam and Eve disobeyed God - What is "evil" according to Christian theology? - The absence of good - Separation from God - Going against God's will - Anything that causes harm - Disordered love, good, or morality - What was God's response to evil in the world? - God sent Jesus to defeat death and evil, to teach us how to live, and to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins so that we can be in relationship with God