August 22: Introductions and agendas
We will use this first class to do several things:
- Introduce ourselves
- Reflect on what our studies of religions have accomplished for us thus far in our academic careers
- Go over the structure of this capstone course and think about how we can make the best possible use of it to wrap up some of the thinking about religions that we have done during college
- Brainstorm about our semester project (which will be to write our own gospels)
- Share our plans and dreams for after college and start thinking about how we can be preparing for those next steps now
I look forward to seeing all of you in the Religious Studies conference room (Robertson 118) at 1:30.
Notes from class
From today’s efforts to figure out how to adapt this class, and the gospel assignment, to our particular intellectual trajectories, there emerged several issues that have been haunting our studies:
- Is religion entirely personal and subjective, so that Jesus can and should become whatever each person wants or needs him to be, or can religions beliefs (and interpretations of Jesus) be evaluated as true or false, beneficial or harmful, legitimate or irresponsible?
- Is the separation between theology and the academic study of religion as a historical human construct, which emerged in the modern University as part of the Enlightenment project of creating empirical sciences independent of religious authorities, a valuable separation, or should it be challenged? What can each type of study gain from the other?
- Do religious orthodoxies define what religions really are (or who Jesus really is), such that if one departs from them one is no longer following the religion (or talking about Jesus), or are orthodoxies just the interpretations of powerful people who should not be allowed to define the religion (or Jesus)?
We’ll keep working on how to make our discussions, and your gospel projects, relevant to these and other questions that have been on your minds during your time at OU.
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Recent Comments in this Document
December 12, 2017 at 12:47 am
As previously stated, it is an invitation for all, regardless of race, to believe in Jesus as the Savior of all mankind. The reader should see that all those around him/her have that same opportunity as they do to come to the knowledge of Jesus’ divine power to save.
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December 12, 2017 at 12:45 am
Here, I attempt to show the reader that Thomas is believing because Jesus is present with him. That belief goes away the same time Jesus goes away. Thomas is holding onto this idea that if Jesus goes away, His power and divinity disappear as well.
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December 12, 2017 at 12:43 am
Traditional site of Thomas’ martyrdom
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December 12, 2017 at 12:42 am
Robert Frykenberg notes, “What had begun with the Thomas Tradition–belief that the Apostle brought the Gospel to India in AD 52–remains extremely strong, whatever the historicity of this tradition may be. Thomas Christians continue to respond to sceptics that the evidence for Thomas coming to India is as strong as the evidence for Peter coming to Rome. The presence of the Gospel in India, from this perspective, antedates any canon, creed, or council in the West” (Christianity in India: From Beginnings to the Present).
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December 12, 2017 at 12:37 am
See Matthew 28:19
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December 12, 2017 at 12:27 am
This is not to be seen as Jesus chastising Thomas. It should be seen as an internal struggle. Thomas is asking himself, “Why did I not believe?” “What is wrong with me?”
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December 12, 2017 at 12:25 am
As discussed in the opening comments, this is directed towards those who desire tangible evidence of Jesus’ divinity. It brings the concept of faith in the picture. I agree with the definition of faith given in Hebrews 11:1 which reads, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
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December 12, 2017 at 12:21 am
This final chapter on the resurrection of Jesus is addressed to those who hold atheist or agnostic views. These two traditions are generally thought of wanting tangible evidence or proven by science. Therefore, I felt it was key to use Thomas who lacked faith and wanted tangible evidence that Jesus indeed lived again. It also shows that even the most stubborn of people stuck in their ways can accept Jesus as the Savior of all mankind. With the desire for tangible evidence it also brings in the concept of faith and its importance.
The latter portion of this chapter reiterates the message of the previous chapter. Jesus is the Savior of the world regardless of race. For this purpose it was important to include Thomas’ travels to the subcontinent of India.
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December 12, 2017 at 12:12 am
Although brief, this verse should give purpose to Jesus’ death. If this had not been included the reader would question why Jesus had died. He had to have a purpose in dying or a reason or it would simply imply the Pharisees finally caught up to Jesus.
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December 12, 2017 at 12:08 am
I speculate that this was done in secret as the Roman soldier is wary of the penalty of such an act. I am not familiar with Roman law but I think the consequences would be heavy should he be caught conversing with the Jews.
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