Unit 4 AOS 1 Flashcards
what is a challenge
a situation that stimulates a response from society and/or a religious tradition
theological challenge
A challenge to the majority account of faith and belief that is adhered to in the tradition.
It challenges how the religion adresses the ultimate exsistential concerns of adherents
ethical challenge
A challenge to the traditional account of the nature of good and evil, of right and wrong, and how one can know the difference.
It can challenge the relationships between humans, nature and God as well as the notion of good itself
continued existence challenge
A challenge that calls into question the ongoing relevance and/or membership fo the religious tradition
cool statement about sources of challenges
In contemporary, democratic and pluralist societies with a diversity of ethinic groups, value systems and a variety of religious traditions, challenges may arise from many directions
2 origins for source of challenges
internal and external threats. These can be both real and perceived
external source of challenge sources
external
- changing pressures from society
- social upheavals such as war, famine or natural disaster
- philosophical or economical shifts in society
internal source of challenge sources
internal
- changes in leadership or social structure
- new interpretation of a doctrine or philosophy
- development in the understanding of an aspect
- calls for reform
what are stances?
A principled perspective taken to respond to a challenge to a religious tradition. They influence the response of the religious tradition to the challenge to achieve a resolution to the challenge, whilst also aiming to maintain its integrity, identity, authority, authenticity and adherents
what are the 3 stances
the three stances are supporting stances, an against stance or a stance of indifference
what makes a challenge significant?
there is a relative degree of significance of challenges to religious traditions. This can be influenced by:
- publicity
- major or minor goods and evils that need to be considered and weighted
- number of persons or human goods at stake
- potential time frame of the challenge
- the number and importance of the aspects of the tradition effected
from this, the overall impact on the religion as a whole and manageability
why do religious traditions adopt a stance of indifference?
Religious traditions adopt a stance of indifference for a number of reasons, including:
- lack of resources
- lack of significance or relevance to the religion
- to avoid conflict
why do religious traditions adopt a supporting stance
religious traditions adopt a supporting stance for many reasons, including:
- they have the resources to address the challenge
- the challenge is supports their worldview and beliefs
why do religious traditions adopt a negative stance
religious traditions adopt a negative stance for many reasons, including:
- no resources to address the challenge
- the challenge specifically goes against an essential part of the religious tradition
what is a response?
refers to the ways in which the religious tradition uses the aspects of the religious tradition to act on the stance that it has taken on the challenge.
with various stances there will be a mixture of supportive response that attempt to bring about change or maintain the status quo, though they may not accomplish the desired result
what is the key aim when resolving challenges?
the key aim beyond the resolution of the challenge itself is for a religious tradition to retain its:
- identity
- integrity
- authority
- authenticity
- adherents
3 primary sources for challenge 1: gentile christians
Apostilic decree: “You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.” (ACTS 15:29)
AMOS 9:12
“that the remnant of men, and all the Gentiles upon my name is called, may earnestly seek, says the Lord who does all these things.” Peter quotes Amos in Acts 15:17 when he is arguing against circumcision of Gentiles.”
“ “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”” (Acts 15:1)
3 primary sources for challenge 2: arius heresy
Garden of Gethsamane- Jesus showing fear and sorrow at the Garden of Gethsemane (Mat. 26:36-46
“there was a time when the Son was not”- Arius
John 1:1-2 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning
what makes challenge 1: gentile christians significant?
The conflict threatened the peace, unity, identity and spiritual integrity of the Early Christian Church
schism
- Early Christianity would have been seen as a sect within Judaism.
beliefs
- threatened fundamental beliefs that could cause great change to the religion
social structure
-The challenge also raised the question of identity on how and if everyone could be a part of the Early Christian Church
affected many adherents
what makes challenge 2: arius heresy significant?
Beliefs
The challenge threatened the Early Church’s core beliefs about Jesus, the Son/Logos in relation to the Father, the understanding of salvation
Social Structure
Discord within the structure of the Church leading to pro-Arius supporters versus anti-Arius supporters.
Schism
This caused the threat of a schism and discord within the community.
affected many adherents
compare the significance of the challenges
similarities:
both had threats of a schism and discord, beliefs, social structure and… which heightened its significance
differences
schism
- first challenge it seemed as if the Early Church would become a sect of Judaism, The second challenge seemed as though the religion would split in two
therefore effecting all adherents and causing significant long-lasting damadge to the religious tradition
the first challenge affected the whole community, whereas, the second only affected modern northern africa and turkey
details of challenge 1: gentile christians
During the Apostilic age, in the Great Comission, Gentile Christians weren’t being reached by the Gospel. However, through the Apostle Paul, and Barnabas, many Gentiles were evangelised. This influx brought forth the need to clarify theologial points and ritual for the Gentile Christians, particularly the issue of circumsision. The Council of Jerusalem was called in approximately 50CE to resolve this issue and ruled in favour of Paul and the Gentile Christians. Whilst it was decided that Gentile Christians did not need to be circumcised and follow the Laws of Moses, the Apostilic decree was made for Gentile Christians to follow. This included:
- no consumption of blood
- no consumption of animals that were strangled or offered to idols
- no fornication
details of challenge 2: arius heresy
Began in 318 when Arius argued that the Son was not divine, but instead, a created being, created out of nothing. In relation to the Father, the Son was neither equal nor co-eternal. The doctrinal issue centred not just on who Jesus was in relation to the Father, but also who Jesus was in his work as a saviour. Arius was refuted by Alexander, the Bishop of Alexandria, and Athanasius a deacon. He was excommunicated by the African Synod in 320 after refusing to change his view. Later on in 325, the Nicaean council was called and they created the Nicene Creed which refuted Arius’ claim. They deemed that Jesus was “homo-ousios”, or that Jesus is of the same substance as the Father and is therefore co-equal and co-eternal with the Father.
category of the challenge for challenge 1: gentile christians
Theological Challenge : salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and good works, not from following the law
Ethical Challenge: issue of circumcision, requirement for gentile Christians to follow Mosaic and Levitical Laws
Challenge to Continued existence: disunity within the Early Christian Church caused by the conflict between Judean Christians and gentile Christians if the conflict was not resolved
category of the challenge for challenge 2: arius heresy
Theological challenge: doctrinal and Christological
Challenge to continued existence: source of disunity and discord within the Tradition, potential for schism
compare the category of the challenge
they are both multifaceted and have theological challenges and challenges to continued existence
what is the source of challenge 1: gentile christians
It’s an internal challenge
In the Early Christian Church there was separation between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians.
Texts:
Jewish Christians were telling Gentile Christians that “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1), mainly referring to circumcision.
preexisting texts from the Torah and texts conveyed from the life of Jesus
Social Structure:
two divided social parties, with one trying to rise to a higher rank in social structure than the other
beliefs:
division in beliefs
source of challenge 2: arius heresy
Text:
Scripture texts about Jesus’ divinity and humanity are ‘ambiguous’ and open to interpretation.
Social Structure
The teaching of Arius concerning the nature of the Trinity and of Jesus Christ. Clash between Arius, presbyter of Alexandria and his Bishop, Alexander of Alexandria –Christological debate.
Arius’ teaching spread very quickly in the developing Church in the East. The controversy spread, and all over the empire, Christians could be heard singing a catchy tune that championed the Arian view: “There was a time when the Son was not.”
beliefs:
division in beliefs
compare the sources to the challenge
texts:
new discoveries of doctrines and theology vs a misinterpretation of a text
beliefs:
contrasting beliefs in direct conflict with each other
social structure:
both had issues with social structure as a challenge, including, people trying to change their position in the social structure
what was the response to the challenge 1: gentile christians
The Council of Jerusalem was convened and it resolved crucial issues and enabled the gentile mission to go forward, whilst explaining the church’s transformation from being essentially Jewish toward being freed from the laws of Judaism
The apostolic decree (Acts15:20, 29; 21:25) summarises the results of the council:
* Eat no food that has been offered to idols
* Eat no blood
* Eat no animal that has been strangled
* And keep yourselves from sexual immorality
The council of Jerusalem decreed that gentile Christians did not have to observe the mosaic law of the Jews.
It was a large milestone in the evangelisation of Gentiles and the seperation of the Early Church from Judaism
what was the response to the challenge 2: arius heresy
Over time (approximately 126 years) Church Councils clarified the language of Scripture concerning Jesus’ divinity and humanity and provided a working definition of Christ’s person and relation to God the Father.
Development of the Nicene Creed – a creedal statement of faith that is still in use today
how did aspects contribute to the response/were affected in challenge 1: gentile christians
Social Structures: leadership of the Early Christian Church. James is a leader of the Jerusalem Church (Acts 12:17). He speaks with authority (15:19)
Beliefs: salvation is attained through faith Jesus Christ and good works.
Ethics: issue of circumcision, requirement for gentile Christians to follow Mosaic and Levitical Laws.
Text:
Apostolic decree to clarify salvation and to take part in table- fellowship.
Amos 9:12 ,”that the remnant of men, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, may earnestly seek , says the Lord who does all these things.” Peter quotes Amos in Acts 15 when he is arguing against circumcision of gentiles.
how did aspects contribute to the response/were affected in challenge 2: arius heresy
Belief: Trinity, Incarnation, Jesus fully human, fully divine , Mary as ‘theotokos’, undermined the idea of Christ’s redemption for a fallen humanity, for only a divine Mediator could re-establish fellowship with God. Monotheistic structure
Texts: development of the Nicene Creed, interpretation of Scripture
social structure:
-The hierarchy of leadership suffered, as a ‘presbyter’ (priest) publicly challenged a bishop
-excommunication as a response by social structure
-amount of councils called made them seem ineffective and loose authority
rituals:
-Sign of the cross- dates to around the time of Nicea (in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit…)
-Eucharist- if Jesus is not fully God, what significance does the Communion rite hold? The body and blood of Jesus no longer means anything
compare the aspects response
texts:
both had texts created as a response to clarify theology. The Apostolic creed was a milestone text as it was the first one created to clarify theology.
beliefs:
They both had fundamental beliefs challenged and related to the salvation achieved by Jesus
social structures:
the social structure of the Early Church and who could be an adherent was challenged in the first challenge, however, in the second, the higher levels of social structure was challenged, with a presybyter challenging a bishop
rituals were greatly effected in the 2nd, ethics were greatly effected in the 1st
time: quick vs long
stances taken in challenge 1: gentile christians
Judean Christians: “ You cannot be saved unless you are circumcised as the Law of Moses requires” (Acts 15:1)
Delegates from the Church of Antioch led by Paul and Barnabas: Gal 2: 15-16
salvation comes through Christ and not through the following of Mosaic Law.
Pharisaic Christians: “ The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5)
stances taken in challenge 2: arius heresy
Arius: argued that Jesus was created of a different substance to God, and since he was created by God, that there was a time where Jesus was not. Therefore stating Jesus isnt divine or co-eternal with God.
Both Alexander and Athanasius of Alexandria: Took the opposing stance arguing that Christ was both fully human and fully divine. Synods of bishops condemned Arius’ teaching as a heresy
Emperor Constantine: stance that unity had to be established in the Tradition in order to avoid a schism
Compare the stances of the challenges
