Unit 4 AOS 1

Question 1

what is a challenge

Answer 1

a situation that stimulates a response from society and/or a religious tradition

Question 2

theological challenge

Answer 2

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

Question 3

ethical challenge

Answer 3

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

Question 4

continued existence challenge

Answer 4

A challenge that calls into question the ongoing relevance and/or membership fo the religious tradition

Question 5

cool statement about sources of challenges

Answer 5

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

Question 6

2 origins for source of challenges

Answer 6

internal and external threats. These can be both real and perceived

Question 7

external source of challenge sources

Answer 7

external
- changing pressures from society
- social upheavals such as war, famine or natural disaster
- philosophical or economical shifts in society

Question 8

internal source of challenge sources

Answer 8

internal
- changes in leadership or social structure
- new interpretation of a doctrine or philosophy
- development in the understanding of an aspect
- calls for reform

Question 9

what are stances?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

what are the 3 stances

Answer 10

the three stances are supporting stances, an against stance or a stance of indifference

Question 11

what makes a challenge significant?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

why do religious traditions adopt a stance of indifference?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

why do religious traditions adopt a supporting stance

Answer 13

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

Question 14

why do religious traditions adopt a negative stance

Answer 14

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

Question 15

what is a response?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

what is the key aim when resolving challenges?

Answer 16

the key aim beyond the resolution of the challenge itself is for a religious tradition to retain its:
- identity
- integrity
- authority
- authenticity
- adherents

Question 17

3 primary sources for challenge 1: gentile christians

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

3 primary sources for challenge 2: arius heresy

Answer 18

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

Question 19

what makes challenge 1: gentile christians significant?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

what makes challenge 2: arius heresy significant?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

compare the significance of the challenges

Answer 21

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

Question 22

details of challenge 1: gentile christians

Answer 22

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

Question 23

details of challenge 2: arius heresy

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

category of the challenge for challenge 1: gentile christians

Answer 24

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

Question 25

category of the challenge for challenge 2: arius heresy

Answer 25

Theological challenge: doctrinal and Christological

Challenge to continued existence: source of disunity and discord within the Tradition, potential for schism

Question 26

compare the category of the challenge

Answer 26

they are both multifaceted and have theological challenges and challenges to continued existence

Question 27

what is the source of challenge 1: gentile christians

Answer 27

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

Question 28

source of challenge 2: arius heresy

Answer 28

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

Question 29

compare the sources to the challenge

Answer 29

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

Question 30

what was the response to the challenge 1: gentile christians

Answer 30

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

Question 31

what was the response to the challenge 2: arius heresy

Answer 31

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

Question 32

how did aspects contribute to the response/were affected in challenge 1: gentile christians

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

how did aspects contribute to the response/were affected in challenge 2: arius heresy

Answer 33

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

Question 34

compare the aspects response

Answer 34

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

Question 35

stances taken in challenge 1: gentile christians

Answer 35

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)

Question 36

stances taken in challenge 2: arius heresy

Answer 36

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

Question 37

Compare the stances of the challenges