Theology 1045 — Christian Marriage
Opening Questionnaire
Find a private place, silence your surroundings, and take a moment to reflect on each question. Do not be afraid to dig deep—in fact, the only way this assignment will serve you properly over the course of the semester is if you dig deep.
Directions: Answer the following set of questions in their entirety. Answer them as thoughtfully, truthfully, and articulately as your intellect will allow. Each of your responses will be a minimum of 150 words—at this point in your life, you will have accumulated enough opinions and beliefs about the following questions, regardless of what those opinions are, regardless of your religious and cultural background, and your familial upbringing. I do not expect or want you to give me answers you think I want to hear—I want answers that you have embroidered on your heart. Period. Also, do not be afraid of not being “politically correct” in your responses—you will not be offending me or anyone else in this course. Simply be honest.
- As of today, you have had a number of years to experience life and explore the greater world. Your experiences have helped shape the way you perceive, understand, and deal with the world. You have seen people succeed and fail; you have seen people endure pain, suffering, and even death. You have seen a variety of ways through which life can be lived out. Are some ways of life better than others? If so, which kind and why? If not, how come? Do the beliefs which people hold have any impact on the way they act out in the world, and beyond that, on the grand historical narrative of humanity?
- How would you define religion? What is the goal of religion? Is it “man-made?” Is there a kind of religion or religious system which you would consider credible and wholesome? What does that look like? What religion or religious system which you would consider foolish or destructive? What does that look like?
- Are all religions are the same? Why or why not? Is there a religion which you might consider to be better than the rest? If so, which? If not, why not?
- Should religion be taught in schools in the USA? If so, which religion should be taught, and how should we decide? Has removing religious education from schools brought about positive or negative results to the ethics and morality our recent generations?
- What is the eschatological or “end” goal of the life of a human being? Can people live virtuous lives without the influence of religion or religious beliefs? If so, how does one develop a grounded sense of ethics and morality? If not, why not?
- In your estimation, which has more positively influenced the world, atheism or religion? Which of the two has had a more negative impact? How so? (Be specific)
- If any at all, what kind of religious background do you come from? Do you still identify with it, or have you found something else to replace it? Why or why not?
- In what ways has your religion or lack thereof, impacted your life and shaped the way you perceive, understand, and live within the world? What do you use as your ethical and moral canon, or “ruler.”
- Is the physical world all there is, or is there something spiritual which exists beyond the physical, impacting it along the way? How have you come to this conclusion?
- Do you believe in an afterlife? If so, what does it look like? How does one get there? What do you make of the idea of eternal heaven and eternal hell?
- Do you believe that some sort of higher, intelligent consciousness, has ordered and continues to order the world around you? Why or why not?
- Do you believe in God? Why or why not? What do you exactly mean by the word believe? What do you exactly mean by the word God?
