The Sacred Journey:
Religions of the World

Core Discovery Course 166

Study Guide for the Second Exam

(tentative, corresponding to what we were able to cover during class sessions on Judaism)

Specific Class Study Questions for the Second Exam, from the topics covered in class and the assigned readings.  Exam questions may include materials from the previous section of the course. 

• Jesus: 
  • What were some of the cultural and historical contexts within which the historic Jesus lived, and which influenced his teachings?
  • Discuss the way and how Jesus shared his message, including consideration of the distinctive style of his discourse.  Provide examples.
  • What are some of the central teachings of Jesus, exemplified in both what he said and what he did?
  • What is meant when Smith defines Jesus a "social prophet"?
  • What are the meanings of Messiah, Kristos and Christ?
  • Who were the Sadducees, Essenes, Pharisees, and what was the Revolt of 66-70 AD
  • What is an aphorism and parable?
• Gnosticism, Mary Magdalene and Thomas:
  • What were the key ideas presented by Sharon Kehoe?  What is Gnostic Christianity?  How does Mary Magdalene and Thomas exemplify Gnosticism?   How does Thomas not exemplify Gnostic Christianity?  Why has the main body of Christianity rejected Gnosticism?
  • From the Gospel of Thomas, what particular insights did you gain into the life and teachings of Jesus?  How do the teachings of Jesus according to Thomas differ from the teachings of Jesus as articulated in the canonical gospels?   
• Mark, Thomas and Canonization: 
  • How does the Gospel of Thomas and Gospel of Mark compare, i.e., how are they similar and how do they differ in their messages?  Be able to "eye juggle" any three sayings of Jesus that may come from either of these texts.
  • What are the insights into the life and teachings of Jesus gained from a reading of the Gospel of Mark?
  • Discuss the process within which the gospel texts were made canon.  What was the timeline?  Who were among the key people and key events?  What insights are gained by an understanding of the scholarship provided by the "Jesus Seminar" in the canonization process?  In light of the canonization process, how does the content and message to the synoptic gospels compare with the Gospel of John, and with various Gnostic gospels?  Who was John the Apostle, and who was John of Patmos?  Who was Irenaeus?
  • Why was the "fish" chosen at the logo by the early Christians?
• Paul:
  • Who was Paul of Tarsus and what was his role in the early Christian communities?
  • From this First Letter to the Thessalonians (as discussed in class) what were the three key features of his message to the Thessalonians?  And how do these three messages relate to and have a role in the developing Christian theology?
  • Consider the particular image of Abraham as interpreted by Paul, and what are the implications of that Abrahamic image for Jewish/Christian relations?
• Love:
  • What is meant by "Christian Love"?   Consider the reference to "love" in the gospels.  What insights on the meaning of "love" does C. S. Lewis offer?  How does  Smith characterize the "love" of the Christian God?  What is its ranges and depths of expression?
  • What is the "Great Commission" and its role in Christianity?
• Apocalypticism:
  • What is the Christian meaning of "apocalypse"?  
  • As a world view, what are its key conceptual attributes, components, and assumptions of what is revealed?  
  • What historical influences contributed to this form of literature and world view?  Who was Zoroaster and what was his conceptualization of divinity?
  • How does this world view re-address the issues of "hope" and of "suffering"?
  • How is the apocalyptic world view reflected in the Gospel of Mark, the writings of Paul, and in the Revelation of John?
  • What are among the significances of the Revelation of John?  What are among the ways it can be interpreted?   Place the Revelation of John within it historical context, regard to both its origins, as well as impact throughout European and American history?
• Landscape, Goal and Means:
  • What are the key attributes of the Christian "landscape" over which an adherent would travel?
  • What is the nature of "sin"?  Who was Augustine and what did he have to add to the conceptualization of sin, and how does with view compare with the Judaic view?  How does Smith view the Christian understanding of "sin"? How do these conceptualizations compare with your own conceptualizations of sin and atonement?
  • What are the key attributes of the Christian goal in a person's spiritual journey?  What is among the varied meanings of the "Kingdom of God" and their implications?  What is the "Trinity" and its implications?
  • What are the key attributes of the Christian means to their spiritual goal?   How did Paul articulate this process?  In this context, what the meanings and implications of: "redemption," "grace," "incarnation," "atonement," and "faith."  What is the Nicene Creed?
  • As presented by Smith, that are the three key Christian Theological doctrines which characterize the Mind of the Church?  What is the meaning and implication of each?  
  • As discussed by Smith, what is meant by the understanding that the Church consists of the Christ and the Holy Spirit in dual form, as both an Invisible and Visible Church? What is the distinction between the two forms of Church?  In this context, what are the various Christian views on the relationship between one’s personal membership in one form or the other, and salvation?  Do you have to be a member of the Visible Body of Christ to obtain salvation? What is your view on this issue?
  • Relative to the issues of Landscape, Goal and Means, what distinguishes Roman Catholicism, from Eastern Orthodoxy, from Protestantism?
  • From a Christian perspective, how would you respond to the question, "why do bad things sometimes happen to good people?"
• On Abraham:
  • Why has there been such an intense and impassioned history of conflict and hatred between the members of the three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, especially given that they share so much in common, e.g., theological foundations, Abraham as founder, and worship of the same God?  What in the story of Abraham may specifically contribute to this schism? 
  • In light of the contentious qualities each of the monotheistic religions attribute to Abraham story, what Abrahamic attributes would you emphasize in your re-telling of the story in order to help reconcile the rifts between Judaism, Christianity and Islam?
• Revitalization Movement:
  • What is the relationship between Christianity as a "revitalization movement," the Christian act of proselytizing, and the Apocalypse as understood in the Book of Revelation?   What is the nature of each of these activities and understandings?
• Baptism and Confirmation:
  • Discuss the ritual processes and symbolisms of baptism and confirmation within the framework of "rites of passage."  What are the meanings of each within Christianity? 
• Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism:
  • Identify and discuss the key distinguishing aspects and components between these three Christian orientations.

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