Exam 3 - Short Answer Flashcards
Why is this era often characterized as one of growing “Orthodoxy”? What were some of the factors that contributed to this development?
a. Protestant Scholasticism flourished as the doctrine of the reformation was sought to be preserved now that the church was several generations removed. As the protestant movement grew, they needed a pure doctrine that came under attack from well articulated and very intellectual Catholics.
b. It also had to find a way to counter the heresy of Socinianism. Theology that combined rationalistic reasoning with supernaturalism. It was unitarian in approach with an adoptionism understanding of Jesus’s deity and calling the HS a divine influence. Reason can judge Scripture.
What is “pietism” and how can it be viewed as a response to Lutheran orthodoxy? What are four things that the pietists emphasized? What were some of the problems that came to characterize pietism in its later developments?
a. A movement in the 17th century that began in Germany with Philip Jakob Spener at as its founder. It was in response to the dry, hyper-intellectual Lutheran and protestant scholasticism of its day that seem unrelated from regular life.
b. It emphasized personal Bible study and devotion, the priesthood of all believers, practical Christian living, and revival preaching.
c. Later on it degenerated in certain places to anti-intellectualism that emphasized religious sentiments and personal subjectivism at the expense of the careful study of biblical truth; Also became overly self-focus.
What was the First Great Awakening and why was it significant?
a. The first great awakening was a revival that happened in the context of second and third-generation Americans experiencing a decline in religious affection and devotion. In response, revival broke out through the Calvinistic, open-aired preaching of men like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield.
b. This provided dramatic spiritual renewal to a generation and stamped American Protestantism with a revivalist character that has continued to this day.
What was the significance of the Second Great Awakening?
a. The second great awakening was a revival that happened within many churches in the 19th century. A key figure was Charles Finney who preached with a more Arminian theology and used his new measures.
b. This revival continued Americas revivalist character and gave today’s church methods like prayer meetings, Sunday school and high-pressure evangelism calling for people to make a decision for Christ.
Who was Friedrich Schleiermacher and why is he significant for understanding Protestant theology in the 19th century?
a. In response to Kant and the culture of his day, he established religion on the basis of subjective feeling which was absolute dependence on the world’s life force (god). This permeated all of doctrine:
a. God: world spirit and source of feeling of absolute dependence
b. Sin: claim to self-sufficiency
c. Christ: man in who human nature reached perfection. Human dependance at its greatest
d. Scripture: imperfect record of those who experienced God consciousness
e. Religion: universal feeling of absolute dependence. Other religions are close but Christianity is best.
B. Provided educated elite of his day a way of maintaining religious belief. Marked key point to turn in personal experience for religious knowledge. Known as father of protest liberalism.
What is the significance of Vatican II for understanding Catholicism today? What were some of its specific developments?
- Vatican II thus instituted several important developments:
a. Liturgical Reform: reform of worship. Urged greater biblical knowledge among people
b. Ecumenicity: work to repair division of Christians. Overturn attitudes of anti-seminism. They saw the other church not as “heretics” but “departed brethren”
c. The Church and the Modern World: confident belief that message of Christ could redeem culture. Believed in freedom of conscience - The Significance of Vatican II - scarcely an element of catholic church that wasn’t affected. All of rights including Mass have been reformed including use of native languges. Far more access to Scripture and more use of lay people. Local churches have assumed responsibility in life and mission.
a. Externally – dialogue has replaced suspicion in relationships with non-catholic Christians (departed brethren). See itself as partner in changing the world
What was the Pentecostal revival and why has it been so important for understanding 20th century Christianity? How is the Pentecostal revival related to the Charismatic movement?
a. Modern Pentecostalism stresses a personal experience with the Holy Spirit such that the signs or gifts received by the first Christians at Pentecost are repeated as an ordinary part of the Christian life. Fasting growing movement in 20th century. Impacted many other denominations through charismatic movement.
b. The Charismatic Movement is really an extension of the Pentecostal movement, though it differs in two key areas:
i. Unlike Pentecostals, Charismatics tended to remain within their denominations.
ii. Charismatics normally do not place as high an emphasis on one particular gift of the spirit (i.e., speaking in tongues) as evidence of spirit-filling.
c. Distinct Emphases
i. The charismatic movement spans across denominational lines
ii. A related distinctive of the movement is its understanding of baptism (in, with, by) the Holy Spirit. – some readily concede acts describes baptism simultaneous with conversion.
iii. Biblical support for these distinctives is frequently gleaned from Acts (understood normatively rather than descriptively) and 1 Cor. 12-14
