Homework for Oct 2

Hey folks. Here are you assignments.

1: Test time! Complete this test. Remember, it is open-note and open-book. You can print the page and write on it, or type it, or whatever.

2: Read the article called "Critical Thinking" by the Summit Staff on pages 72-82 of your manual. Remember to look up words you don't know, read and reread stuff until you get it, ask your parents for help if needed, etc. Put on a sheet of paper that you read the article, and turn that sheet in on Oct 2.

3A: On pages 83-84 of the manual there are 30 statements that are fallacies. You need to pick 10 of them, and explain what fallacy they are using and why you think that. This is a tough assignment, so that's why I am just assigning 10 of the 30. You will have to pick the ones you can figure out. The goal is to make sure you understand the article you just read and to sharpen your critical thinking skills. Let's pretend:

You read #4 and have no idea, skip it. No biggie. 

Then #5 says (remember, I'm pretending), "I'd not believe anything he says; he a liberal Hollywood movie star." You would write: "Ad hominem -- The statement attacks his character and dismisses everything he says solely because he is an actor with liberal views. If the guy said the sky was blue, you can't disagree simply because he is liberal or an actor." Explain what is wrong with the statement; don't just write "Ad hominem -- attack on character." Explain! 

3B: Complete Part 2 on pages 84-85. Read the article and answer the 10 questions. This exercise is meant to help you learn the skill of determining a reporter's bias and learn to spot the difference between fact and opinion/spin.

That's it. Work hard on this.

Jesus was "begotten not made"

Thanks y'all for your discussion last week. Things have been crazy in my world, so I didn't get to post this until now.

Mrs. Whitson had a really good thought about our discussion about Jehovah's Witnesses and the wording of "only begotten Son." She reminded me that in the Nicene Creed (it's only umm... 1700 years old, from the time of Constantine in the year 325AD) the early church tried to explain the "begotten" by saying that Jesus was "begotten not made." This is what Christians have believed from the start of the Church.

If you are interested to learn more, read this easy-to-understand article about what "begotten" means (it's from GotQuestions.org which is an excellent website, by the way... bookmark that one). Or you can read more than you ever wanted to know about the Nicene Creed with this stout article.

Even 1700 years ago, the Church denied the very things Jehovah's Witnesses and others are teaching today. The Church has always rejected the idea that Jesus was created and anything less than 100% God.

This isn't part of an assignment. It's just in case you are interested.

Homework for Sept 18

Now that your head is full of good learnin', here are your assignments. The aim is to get you to review and further understand the six worldviews. 

1A. Spend a few minutes looking at the worldview chart at summit.org. It's the same one I printed you, just interactive. Pay special attention to the summaries of the theology category for each worldview. 

1B. Review your notes. Make additions to them with the notes posted on this blog. Use a different colored pen to write down thoughts or questions you have for class. (This is a good practice to develop). 

1C. Define these ten terms (write or type):

• Theism
• Trinitarian Monotheism
• Atheism
• Pantheism
• Religious pluralism
• Marxism
• Postmodernism
• Cosmic Humanism
• Secular Humanism
• Islam

2A. Read the Groothuis article “Are All Religions One?’ on pages 39-46 of the manual.

2B. Answer these questions:

• What lesson is the story of the elephant trying to communicate?
• Why does that author say that all religions can't lead to the same God?
• How would you respond to someone who used the story of the elephant as explaining that he or she believes all religions lead to the same God? Remember to be winsome.

3A. Of the worldviews we covered, four do not believe in a literal God. So you will face people, especially humanistic professors, who do not believe in God. Throughout history, philosophers have come up with logical arguments to prove that God exists.  Read this article. 

3B. Write or type an answer to these questions:

• In a sentence or two, summarize each of the four arguments for the existence of God.
• Which argument makes the most sense to you? Why?
• Is it possible to prove the existence of God with logic, science or anything else? Why or why not? 
• Do you believe these arguments are helpful to answer an atheist's questions? Why or why not? 

4. Complete the Dear Doug assignment on page 58. Once again, write him a letter like he’s a real dude. Be helpful and careful with your words. 


Thanks for all your work.