Worldviews and Chapter Questions, Theodicy and Metaphysics

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WEEK 4 WORLDVIEW QUESTIONS AND CHAPTERS 10-12 ANSWERS 2

Name: ______________________________

Follow the instructions highlighted at the end of each of the following sections!

Worldview Questions

Read Worldview Question #6 on page 6 of the CPJ, and answer the questions there about the description of ethics.

1. How should we live in the world? Are there rules that everyone must follow? Do other individuals account when making decisions? What is a fulfilled life?

In addition, ask yourself this:

a) Are ethics necessary to live together, or does freedom mean the ability to do whatever we want (regardless of harm to others or consequences to ourselves)?

b) Do you have to value something before you can treat it accordingly (right)?

c) Where do ethics/values come from?

2. Read Worldview Question #7 on page 6 of the CPJ (It is listed below.), and answer the questions listed there about the description of living in society with recognized rules/law.

How do humans best to live together in the world? Should we have no ruler but simply follow God’s law? Should we have a king? Should materials be owned privately or shared in common?

In addition, ask yourself this:

a) What is the rule of law?

b) How do rules and laws benefit us?

c) Can they ever oppress people?

d) Should laws be centered around the “common good?”

e) Should we use the Bible as law in society, or is this only for Christians?

Chapter 10 Questions

Key Questions

1. What do you make of the claim that many who are generationally poor or who are in abuse situations are not free to will themselves out of that situation? Would this idea change your attitudes toward such individuals?

2. Which of the following positions best fits your sense of human freedom: hard determinist, compatibilist, free will libertarian, or indeterminist? Why?

3. Take a position in the Calvinist-Arminian debate and argue for it biblically and philosophically. Evaluate the author’s argument that the Apostle Paul’s predestination language was after-the-fact language. What do you make of the author’s argument that foreknowledge need not imply predestination?

4. Are you consistent in your view of predestination and free will? Do you think your sense of punishment and discipline or your sense of government and legislating ethics fit together? Defend your position.

Chapter 11 Questions

Key Questions

1. Toward which of the three main ethical approaches (duty based, consequence based [utilitarian], virtue based) do you most lean? To what extent are you egoist in your approach to life?

2. What do you see as the normal “scope” of ethical duties? Do you think most ethical duties are absolutes, universal with exceptions, relative, or not really a matter of right and wrong at all (adiaphora)? Can you think of one issue on which your position falls into each of these categories? If so, describe.

3. Create a list of your “hierarchy of values.” If “saving a life” and “telling the truth” come into conflict, which is higher on your list of priorities, for example? Compare your list with someone else’s.

4. Look at your own life. Are there any patterns of behavior that you recognize as vices? Strategize how you might turn this area of your life into a virtue by forming the right habits. Do you believe that virtue can be a habit?

5. Is there anything in this chapter about which you have serious questions or to which you take major exception? Investigate it and discuss it with others.

Chapter 12 Questions

Key Questions

1. In the light of this chapter, what do you think the ideal form of government would be? Would it be different for a Christian than it would be for someone who is not a Christian?

2. What do you make of the relationship between a person as a Christian and a person as a citizen? Do you agree with Richard Niebuhr’s categorization of the different options? Which one of the options—or one of your own making—do you favor? What do you see as the proper relationship between church and state?

3. How do fundamental Christian or human values impact a person’s sense of how economic theories should play out in a society? Critique both capitalism and communism from a Christian perspective. Critique both from a utilitarian perspective.

4. In what ways should we take into account the difference between the way economies worked at the time of Christ and the way our economies work today? How do these differences influence the way Christians apply biblical thinking and instructions about money and wealth?

WEEK

4

WORLDVIEW QUESTIONS AND CHAPTERS

10

-

12

ANSWERS

1

Name: ______________________________

Follow the instructions highlighted at the end of each of the following sections!

Worldview Questions

Read Worldview Question #6 on page 6 of the

CPJ

, and answer the questions there about the

description of ethics.

1.

How should we live in the world? Are there rules that everyone must follow? Do other

individuals account when making decisions? What is a fulfilled life?

In addition, ask yourself this

:

a)

Are ethics necessary to live together, or does freedom mean the ability to do whatever we

want (regardless of harm to others or consequences to ourselves)?

b)

Do you have to value something before you can treat it accordingly (right)?

c)

Where do ethics/val

ues come from?

2.

Read Worldview Question #7 on page 6 of the

CPJ

(It is listed below.)

, and answer the

questions listed there about the description of living in society with recognized rules/law.

How

do

humans best to live together in the world? Should

we have no ruler but simply

follow God’s law? Should we have a king? Should materials be owned privately or

shared in common?

In addition, ask yourself this:

a)

What is the rule of law?

b)

How do rules and laws benefit us?

c)

Can they ever oppress people?

d)

Should laws be centered around the “common good?”

e)

Should we use the Bible as law in society, or is this only for Christians?

Chapter

10

Questions

Key Questions

1.

What do you make of the claim that many who are

generationally poor or who are in

abuse situations are not free to will themselves out of that situation

?

Would this idea

change your attitudes toward such individuals?

2.

Which of the following positions best fits your sense of human freedom: hard

determin

ist, compatibilist, free will libertarian, or indeterminist

?

Why?

3.

Take a position in the Calvinist

-

Arminian debate and argue for it biblically and

philosophically

.

Evaluate the author’s argument that the

Apostle

Paul’s predestination

WEEK 4 WORLDVIEW QUESTIONS AND CHAPTERS 10-12 ANSWERS 1

Name: ______________________________

Follow the instructions highlighted at the end of each of the following sections!

Worldview Questions

Read Worldview Question #6 on page 6 of the CPJ, and answer the questions there about the

description of ethics.

1. How should we live in the world? Are there rules that everyone must follow? Do other

individuals account when making decisions? What is a fulfilled life?

In addition, ask yourself this:

a) Are ethics necessary to live together, or does freedom mean the ability to do whatever we

want (regardless of harm to others or consequences to ourselves)?

b) Do you have to value something before you can treat it accordingly (right)?

c) Where do ethics/values come from?

2. Read Worldview Question #7 on page 6 of the CPJ (It is listed below.), and answer the

questions listed there about the description of living in society with recognized rules/law.

How do humans best to live together in the world? Should we have no ruler but simply

follow God’s law? Should we have a king? Should materials be owned privately or

shared in common?

In addition, ask yourself this:

a) What is the rule of law?

b) How do rules and laws benefit us?

c) Can they ever oppress people?

d) Should laws be centered around the “common good?”

e) Should we use the Bible as law in society, or is this only for Christians?

Chapter 10 Questions

Key Questions

1. What do you make of the claim that many who are generationally poor or who are in

abuse situations are not free to will themselves out of that situation? Would this idea

change your attitudes toward such individuals?

2. Which of the following positions best fits your sense of human freedom: hard

determinist, compatibilist, free will libertarian, or indeterminist? Why?

3. Take a position in the Calvinist-Arminian debate and argue for it biblically and

philosophically. Evaluate the author’s argument that the Apostle Paul’s predestination