Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

RS - secularism > developments in Christian thought > Flashcards

developments in Christian thought Flashcards

1
Q

christian responded to materialistic secular values: wealth and possessions
-> materialism

A
  • concept of materialistic values involved idea that status in society is measured by wealth & possessions rather than by qualities such as wisdom, virtue & intelligence
  • materialistic values may be religious if wealth & possessions are thought to be given by God in OT for example, Solomon was rewarded for his wisdom by being given great riches
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

christian responded to materialistic secular values: wealth and possessions
-> Jesus, New Testament (Luke 16:19-31)

A
  • Jesus reversed some of usual expectations of his day particularly about wealth & possessions
  • he argued that the poor were blessed because situation was about to be reversed with the coming of the kingdom of God
  • in a parable (Luke 16:19-31) he contrasts a rich man with a beggar who is left hoping for scraps that fall from rich man’s table. Both die & rich man goes to a place of suffering & poor man enjoys comfort in heaven beside Abraham
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

christian responded to materialistic secular values: wealth and possessions
-> charity

A
  • Jesus applauds those who are charitable who choose to share their wealth & care for others
  • doesn’t condemn wealth in itself but argues that it is extremely difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven
  • someone who is rich is concerned to preserve & increase their wealth on earth rather than focusing on building up what Jesus calls ‘treasure in heaven’
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

christian responded to materialistic secular values: wealth and possessions
-> early Christian attitudes to wealth & ownership

A
  • earliest church, people shared everything they had with one another in the community as early Christians believed that end of the world was soon to come
  • biblical letters also show communities divided by economic duffy showing that attitudes to ownership of wealth varied even in earliest church
  • never a time when all Christian’s rejected materialistic values
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

marxist views of christianity - explain rise of capitalism

A
  • during following centuries, increase in trade as European countries expanded their power to Africa and Americans & East led to development of capitalism
  • this is a political/economic system allowing wealth to be controlled by individuals & business for private profit
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

marxist views of christianity - how did some industrialists respond to inequality from capitalism

A
  • built the town Bournville for their employees as well as providing decent wages, pension scheme & medical care
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

marxist views of christianity - what is the relationship between materialism and personal wealth

A
  • materialism is a world view that sees material possessions & personal comfort more important than spiritual beliefs
  • personal beliefs seem to work across all levels of economic well-being
  • little evidence that atheism is promoted by wealth
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

marxist views of christianity - evaluation

A
  • wrong to assume all Christians have enough wealth to give to others
  • those not so fortunate may occasionally depend on services provided by their churches & fellow Christian’s to help them financially
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

McGrath’s defence of Christianity in Dawkin’s God Delusion - key points in ‘The God Delusion’

A
  • religion depends on belief in God
  • God hypothesis is flawed so God doesn’t exist
  • religion is a primitive error which has spread like a virus
  • people can be morally good without influence of region
  • religion undermines science & promotes fanaticism
  • religion is a bad influence on society because causes division
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

McGrath’s defence of Christianity in Dawkin’s God Delusion - how does Dawkins distinguish supernatural religions from awe/wonder

A
  • distinction depends on vary of shallow views of God as supernatural wonder-worker
  • in The God Delusion, Dawkins is attacking very specific beliefs in a supernatural realm & religion bared on it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

McGrath’s defence of Christianity in Dawkin’s God Delusion - what does Dawkins assume about most people

A
  • most people find meaning in life & aim to develop moral principles without reference to religion or a supernatural God
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

McGrath’s defence of Christianity in Dawkin’s God Delusion - how would a Christian respond to this

A
  • many Christians share view that God, understood as the reality within which ‘we live, mo r & have our being’ (St Paul) is in no sense a supernatural magician
  • this better reflects the view of many Christianity’s greatest thinkers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

McGrath’s defence of Christianity in Dawkin’s God Delusion - what further issues does the God Delusion raise

A
  • attitudes to homosexuality, abortion, inclusiveness in matters of religion
  • most now hold view that individual humans have rights and should be respected and treated as of valuable in them
  • he is criticising a minority view that isn’t shared by most Christian’s but assumes such views represent Christianity as a whole
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

McGrath’s defence of Christianity in Dawkin’s God Delusion - what does it represent?

A
  • it’s a popular 21st century secular viewpoint
  • his outlook is scientific in that he is committed to reason & evidence but is also humanistic in that he critics event’s described in Bible from standpoint of a humanistic valuation of life
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

how does McGrath respond - how does McGrath counter Dawkins position

A
  • seek to counter Dawkin’s position by showing Christianity is compatible with science by exploring overall view from which Dawkins writes
  • point out that Dawkins assumes that science leads automatically to atheism which suggests that scientists who accept possibility of God must be deliberately going against what they know to be the case
  • show there is limits to what science can demonstrate. science can’t demonstrate the ‘true’ nature of reality as there’s no tests
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

how does McGrath respond - what does Gould propose

A
  • could be a ‘middle way’ arguing science & religion each deal with their own sphere of human experience. Dawkins opposes this by arguing there is only one sphere which is understood by science
17
Q

how does McGrath respond - how does McGrath counter this

A
  • oppose as they think religion & science do have some areas of overlap so can enrich another
18
Q

emergence of new forms of expression - fresh expressions

A
  • grew out of report of ‘mission-shaped church’ in 2004 & it is active in several British churches
  • term ‘fresh expressions’ is used for Christian groups operating alongside conventional chruches
  • work alongside people outside traditional churches and sometimes building an alternative kind of church but also mix with those who aren’t religious like jesus did
  • unlike approach to religion criticised by Dawkins, this explores the concerns & views of ordinary people and aim to see how Christian ideas and teachings may be relevant
  • deals with religious values & expressions in ordinary secular situations
  • although the language and approach of FE is quite different from older theological traditions
  • draws our values from a situation rather than impose them from outside
  • works within secular life and put teachings of Jesus into practice
19
Q

emergence of new forms of expression- house church movement

A
  • early christian’s met in private houses later, Church used church buildings & developed a formal ministry
  • this stated to change during the reformation with emphasis on personal commitment & authority of bible
  • some Christians today have always met in private houses like the Plymouth Brethren
  • House Church movement started in 1960s to try to return to practises of Early Church
  • develop particularly in evangelical & charismatic traditions
    |_> tend to meet in private homes but British New Church movement aims to set up new church communities & meets in larger buildings due to numbers
  • New Churches focus on Holy Spirit calling individuals to a way of life on specific understanding of bible
20
Q

socially relevant christianity - secular ownership of christianity

A
  • although number of attend church decreasing, many feel sense of attachment to local church suggesting society is less secular than expected
  • churches can express national identity like the Russian orthodox church
  • Christianity follows example of Jesus who taught that secular duties of caring for poor & treating sick matter more than religious rules
  • teaching & healing now became separate from organised religion as christianity is intrinsically secularising
21
Q

socially relevant christianity - liberationist approach

A
  • developed late 20th century in central & south america
  • saw teachings of Jesus as source of liberation from injustice which may involve Christians becoming active in social movements for change
  • wanted secular action to change structures of society while traditionalists wanted to give spiritual support to poor
  • Church of England archbishops’ considered state of communities & churches in inner cities in Britt
    |_ it identified Urban Priorutt Areas where majority of people were living in poverty & made recommendations to Church calling on them to engage with secular issues like law, benefits & social support
  • called on gov to address social inequality by changes in law

RS - secularism (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions