Describe 4 features of Mormonism. Is this tradition a church, sect or cult? Why? Describe 4 features of African American Christianity. What is unique about this tradition?

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Comparative Christianity

Answer 3 of the following essay questions.

Test 3:
1) Compare and contrast any 2 groups featured in Week 11 (except Joseph Smith and Mormonism) (Russell, Chapters 7, 8: pages 104-110 and chapter 16 )
2) Describe 4 features of Mormonism. Is this tradition a church, sect or cult? Why?
3) Compare and contrast any 2 groups featured in week 12 (Russell, Chapters 9-13)
4) Describe 4 features of African American Christianity. What is unique about this tradition?

Use the book Comparative Christianity by Thomas Russell as a guideline but needs to be answered with my own words and no sources. It is three separate answers so no introduction, conclusion nor sources are needed.

Write exactly a two-page double-spaced research paper OR exactly 15 slides PowerPoint Presentation on ONE of the topics listed below.

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Research Paper

Write exactly a two-page double-spaced research paper OR exactly 15 slides PowerPoint Presentation on ONE of the topics listed below.

a. Marriage and the Sacrament of Marriage: The Foundation on which the Family is Built.

b. The Theology of Christian Marriage and Family and Some Challenges Related to Contemporary Family Life.

c. The History of Marriage and the Perspectives of Religious Traditions (such as, Jewish, Protestant, and Islam).

Note: The two-page research paper or 15 slides PowerPoint Presentation does not include the front page or first slide with your name, course name and number, and the professor’s name, as well as the bibliography or reference page. Create a page as the front page (or first page or slide) for the research and a page as the bibliography (or the last page or slide) of the research paper or presentation.

Provide a detailed summery of the history of Hinduism and how the teachings of Hinduism havee affected the world around us.

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Hinduism

Provide a detailed summery of the history of Hinduism and how the teachings of Hinduism havee affected the world around us.

Are there textual questions you need to understand? What is the grammatical structure and literary type of the passage? What key terms are used by the author?

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An Analysis of Matthew 28:16-20

Everything in the New Testament was written to be understood—by people like you. But the fact that the New Testament was written almost 2000 years ago by ancient people who spoke various languages (such as Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, etc.) means that often we much work at discovering what the authors actually meant. This interpretive task need not, must not, be left to the “experts.”
This semester you will begin learning how to interpret the New Testament for yourself. You will do this by critically analyzing a selection in the New Testament. Use the following procedure to develop your Scripture Passage Analysis Paper.

1. You will be assigned a particular selection from the New Testament to study.

2. Become familiar with the selection by comparing at least four(4) translations of the New Testament. (See Resource List.) What is the selection about? Read it aloud. Note the differences in translations.

3. KEEP CAREFUL NOTES OF WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE SELECTION.

4. Using the heading in your New Oxford Annotated Bible (bottom of the page) to guide you, read the sections before and after your selection. They may or may not be closely connected to your selected passage. Do they help you understand your selection? You may benefit from reading the entire book.

5. Relate the footnotes and study notes in your New Oxford Annotated Bible and one other study Bible (see approved resources list) to the selection you are studying. Begin to look for leads on the following matters:

  • a. Are there textual questions you need to understand? (That is, are there questions about what the wording of the original actually was?)
  • b. What is the grammatical structure and literary type of the passage? You probably would benefit by drawing a diagram or mind map of the selection.
  • c. What key terms (“loaded” words) are used by the author? Make a list. Study about these words in the Bible dictionaries. How are the words used in your passage?
  • d. What about the writer and original audience’s circumstances (contexts) sheds light on the meaning of your selection?

6. Try to find explanations in the Cory text that will help you understand your selection.

7. Chase down answers in Bible concordances, dictionaries, atlases, encyclopedias, histories, and other special tools. Bible dictionaries are especially important for looking up key “loaded” words; the use of at least one (1) Bible dictionary is required for the requirements of the paper.

8. Study the comments on your selection in at least one (1) of the one-volume Bible commentary (from approved list), looking for (a) answers to your questions and/or (b) suggestions about the passage’s meaning.

9. Study the comments in at least three (3) full-scale/multi-volume scholarly commentaries (from approved list), comparing the conclusions to which the commentators come. If you find a commentary that looks good which is not on the list of sets recommended, check with the professors.

10. Try your hand at writing out a paraphrase of your passage—as you have come to understand it, in your own words.

11. In your own words, write out an answer to the question: What is this passage about? What does it say about that?

12. What are your suggestions about how the message(s) in the selection might be applied to life today?

13. In your own words, write up your finds. Document the sources of the ideas and information you use.

14. Your paper must be double-spaced and 8 pages long, not counting the title page and bibliography.

15. Type your paper, following correct Turabian or SBL form. (A word processor is highly recommended.) For formatting helps see the class website for the “paper form” and the “sample paper” files.

16. Turn in your paper for review and the final draft on the dates assigned in your syllabus.

17. Make all the revisions the professor suggests (on the rough draft) for the paper.

Read a chapter in Peters that we haven’t gotten to for class, and then write me a brief or memo telling whether you should or should not require this chapter in a future version of the course.

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God’s Commandments and Human Morality

For this paper, your job is to read a chapter in Peters that we haven’t gotten to for class, and then write me a brief or memo telling whether you should or should not require this chapter in a future version of the course. You can choose any of the remaining full chapters (i.e. not the conclusion, “End Thoughts”).

Roughly, their topics are as follows:

Chapter 5, “God’s Commandments and Human Morality,” deals with the ethical traditions of each religion;

Your argument will involve:
1) A brief summary of the chapter’s contents
2) Your recommendation, based on how much you learned, how well you found the information to be presented, and how central you think the topic is to an introductory course on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
3) Don’t forget – adding something means dropping something else. Ttell me what you would drop in order to include it, and why

Till We Have Faces and The Thanatos Syndrome, hold up a mirror to the lies we tell ourselves, whether privately or publicly: Discuss.

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The Lies We Tell Ourselves

Both books: Till We Have Faces and The Thanatos Syndrome, hold up a mirror to the lies we tell ourselves, whether privately or publicly: discuss (1700 words)

Instructions:
Begin your essay with a thesis statement, or include it in a very brief introduction. This statement should take the form of a contestable claim (one that requires elaboration and argumentation) about how the theme of lies we tell ourselves manifests in the two texts.
Your thesis statement should not be a simple reformulation of the basic premise or some similar generality.
Alternatively, you may pick a different aspect in each novel, since the books are very different in content. Either way, your paper should devote roughly equal attention to the two books.
Avoid making your thesis or theses too broad. It is better to narrow your focus far enough to argue your point successfully than to make a more ambitious claim and argue it poorly because you’ve run out of room.

Paper organization
Whichever option you choose, remember that a short paper requires one to be precise and concise. So think very carefully about the evidence you will enlist. It is not always wise to rely on the traditional structure of a main argument [thesis] propped up by three supporting sub-arguments. This is an arbitrary form that often leaves one with too little room to convincingly argue one or more of the sub-points. Instead, dwell first on finding compelling textual evidence from the novels, evaluate how much room you will need to properly elucidate them, and proceed to organize your essay from there.

Remember:
• You have limited real estate, so do not waste much space on an elaborate introduction. Bring the reader quickly to your thesis or theses, indicate the main line of support you will offer, and proceed to the main body of your work.
• Always rely on textual evidence to advance your claims. When presenting a passage for consideration, do not take for granted that your reader will understand it as you do. Instead, carefully guide her through what the lines show and why they are relevant.
• Choose your words carefully! One well-placed word will serve you far better than five lazy ones; one clear sentence than any number of obscure or ambiguous ones.

Evaluation
You are again expected to demonstrate familiarity with the books in question and sufficient reflection on them to show that you are following the author’s own line of thought; that is, that you understand the work on some level. (Whether you agree with it or share its author’s perspective is another matter.)

The following questions will be used in assessment:
• Is this paper clearly written and well presented?
• Does it have something definite to say?
• How far does what it says arise from a direct engagement with the book(s) in question?
• Is the evidence it supplies cogent?
• Are its claims accurate?
• Does it successfully elucidate the theme?
• How insightful is it?

Have you heard the term worldview before? What does that term mean to you? Would you say you have a worldview? What are some key elements of your worldview? What do you think is your most firmly held belief? The thing that really makes you who you are?

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Identify someone from a different faith practice and ask if you can interview him/her for this class assignment. If you are a Christian, find someone who is not. Your interviewee could be Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, atheist, etc. Interviewing someone of a different denomination within Christianity does not count, unless that person is a nominal Christian who does not practice the Christian faith. If you are not a Christian, interview someone who is.

You may have some trepidation about finding someone to interview. Don’t worry! You do not need to walk up to a stranger and ask if they share your faith commitment. I am sure that, if you think about it, you know someone who does not share your worldview. It might be a relative, or a friend from high school who does not attend DBU, for example. When you approach that person, let him or her know that this is a worldview assignment for class, and you would like to know how their belief system impacts their decisions and behavior in several areas of life. Does that sound less scary?

Session 13 contains videos from three different students who share their perspectives on this assignment. These will be very helpful to you as you prepare. (The videos are also included in this folder.)

Interview the individual using the Question Bank provided in this Content Module as a basis for the content to be discussed. A written transcript of the interview is required, as well as a 5- to 7-page typed paper that synthesizes the material with DCM concepts.

Students are expected to include content from the interview (views of the individual interviewed), DCM material, and specific textual AND biblical reference to the topics covered in the interview.

Submit both the transcript and the paper in the Assignment link. Continue reading for more detailed instructions.

OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of this project is to gain an understanding of a different worldview and its impact on things such as cultural engagement, liberal arts education, and one’s life commitments (work, finances, family, etc.). Most people are happy to share their beliefs and values if they know they will be heard and not coerced into believing something different. You could say, “I’m in a class about how worldview affects one’s choices. Could I interview you to learn about what you believe and your values and how they shape your decisions and actions?”

It is an opportunity for you to encounter a different belief system and explore the importance of love and truth as your worldview intersects another’s.

The purpose of this assignment is NOT to practice sharing your belief system or debate with the interviewee. Be a learner. Seek to understand the other person and her belief system and life commitments; then compare and contrast them with your own.

Instructions:

First, if you are interviewing someone who is not familiar to you, introduce yourself. Tell him about your interests, family, education, work experience, etc. Try to build some common ground around a shared interest. If you already know this person, you can skip this step. Your conversation should be face-to-face (in person, over Zoom, etc.), and it is strongly suggested that you record the conversation to assist in typing up the transcript. Remember to get permission prior to recording your interview. It is unethical to record a conversation without making all participants aware of the recording.

Second, ask some of the questions from the Question Bank regarding worldview and its impact on politics, social issues, cultural engagement, educational commitments, and life commitments such as work and family. Do not direct your questions too rapidly at the interviewee without regard for his opinion or what he has just said. Be willing to adjust the way you phrase questions such that you are still gathering the content required by the assignment but not disregarding the flow of the conversation.

Third, type up the interview transcript (or use dictation software) to consult as you write your paper.

Fourth, write a 5- to 7-page paper to express your findings. Your paper is to be typed, double spaced, 12-pt. Times New Roman font. Pay attention to spelling and grammar, organization, and syntax. Use the following as guidance for the structure of your paper.

  1. Title page (APA format).
  2. Introduction—Describe the purpose of this project and include the name of the person you interviewed along with how you know the person. Establish how her worldview is different from yours.
  3. Worldview Description—Reflect on the answers given regarding worldview and belief questions. In what ways do you agree with the interviewee’s worldview? In what ways do you disagree? Compare and contrast your worldview with the one presented by your interviewee. Remember to provide specific material from the interview, from DCM texts, and Scripture. DO NOT list the questions and answers in this paper! You have a separate transcript for that. Weave the answers into your essay.
  4. Implications of Worldview on Life—Reflect on the answers given from each of these areas: (1) social/cultural, (2) family/work, and (3) education. Do you see ways in which the person’s worldview influences her views of life goals and decisions? Do you agree/disagree with the answers given to these questions? Do you see how your worldview might lead you to set different goals or make different decisions? If you find that you have different worldview commitments but similar life goals, why do you think that is? Again, remember to reference specific material from the interview, from DCM texts, and from Scripture. Remember that worldview determines behavior, so demonstrate how these differing worldviews do that.
  5. Conclusion—What about this assignment surprised you or challenged you? Do you have any significant insights after engaging with your interviewee?
  6. Reference list (APA format).

Question Bank:

Use these questions to conduct your interview naturally. You do not have to ask each one but choose enough so that you can thoroughly determine the interviewee’s worldview and how it differs from your own. Choose questions from each area.

Remember to ask for permission before recording the interview.

Type up a transcript of the interview and submit it with your paper.

Worldview/Belief Questions

  1. Have you heard the term worldview before? What does that term mean to you? Would you say you have a worldview? What are some key elements of your worldview?
  2. What do you think is your most firmly held belief? The thing that really makes you who you are?
  3. Do you have core values? What are they?
  4. Have you ever been in a situation or conversation where you felt your core values were threatened? How did you feel? How did you respond?
  5. How do you know what you believe is true?
  6. Would you describe yourself as religious? As spiritual? Is there a difference?
  7. Is it important for you to associate regularly with people who share your same religious commitments? Why or why not?
  8. Do you believe in evil? Do you believe in sin? Where does it come from and how should individuals and societies get rid of it?
  9. When life is particularly challenging or sad, what lifts your spirit? What gives you inner strength?

Social/Cultural Questions

  1. What do you see as the greatest problem in society today?
  2. Do you think there is a way to address that problem? What would you suggest?
  3. What is your role in making society a better place to live?
  4. Do you think individuals are responsible for their “neighbors”?
  5. What do you think society has gotten most right in the last five years?
  6. What brought that about?

Family and Work Questions

  1. What makes a family?
  2. Is the family an important part of a healthy society? Explain your answer.
  3. Do you want to have a family one day? Why or why not?
  4. What is your dream job?
  5. Why? What about that job gets you excited?
  6. Do you view your income as belonging only to you?
  7. Do you make spending choices based on your wants/needs alone? Why or why not?
  8. Would you consider your work to be part of the common good for society? Why or why not?

Education Questions

  1. What does it mean to be educated?
  2. If you lack knowledge in a given area, how do you acquire knowledge?
  3. Do you think connecting on social media is an important part of acquiring knowledge and learning?
  4. What is the point of going to college?
  5. Are reading and curiosity an important part of learning? Why or why not?
  6. What kinds of habits do you think are important for people who are truly educated?
  7. Do you have certain habits that have helped you be more knowledgeable in your life?
  8. Are there certain habits you wish you could develop?
  9. Do you think people can learn just as well by using the web, or is person-to-person interaction an important part of learning?
  10. If you could get your dream job without ever going to college, would you do it?

 

After reading Paul: His life and teaching, pages 340-350, and the article “One New Temple in Christ,” write an essay of at least 750 words in APA format that describes how Paul supports his emphasis on the equality of Jewish and Gentile Christians and how that theology aligns with Christ.

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Theology of Ephesians

After reading Paul: His life and teaching, pages 340-350, and the article “One New Temple in Christ,” write an essay of at least 750 words in APA format that describes how Paul supports his emphasis on the equality of Jewish and Gentile Christians and how that theology aligns with Christ. Your essay must have at least 1 citation from the textbook, 1 from the article, and 2 Scripture passages from the writings of Paul.

Look at the conflict over who the Kemetians were and why a debate on the race of the Ancient Egyptians is still relevant to this day. What are the lasting impacts of Kemetic history and culture on today’s society?

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Importance of Kemetic history and culture

In a detailed essay discuss the importance of Kemetic history and culture to our contemporary world. Specifically look at the conflict over who the Kemetians were and why a debate on the race of the Ancient Egyptians is still relevant to this day. What are the lasting impacts of Kemetic history and culture on today’s society? According to Bynum how can we find the remnants of Kemetic spirituality within modern day religions? Conclude by discussing how we can see the manifestations of the African worldview within Kemetic history, cultural and spirituality.

Your essay should be double-spaced and 3-5 pages with use of course material with proper citations.

Describe three features or tenets of the chosen religion.Mention any written works and prophets. Share how this religion compares to your religion.

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Taoism

Write a 600-words essay about Taoism by responding to the following questions

Describe three features or tenets of the chosen religion.Mention any written works and prophets. Share how this religion compares to your religion (or beliefs if you do not have chosen religion).

Chosen religion should be Catholic. What role does religion play in being happy Provide detail and examples.

Use at least 2 scholarly sources for the paper.