resource: Global Perspectives on the Bible (Subscription)
by Mark Roncace; Joseph Weaver, 1st edition

PART B
Your answer to each essay question must not be less than two pages – double spacing. Any answer less than two pages loses up to 5 points.

Answer only Two Questions. Ensure that you cite some examples either from your faith community or research you have come across to boost your answers.

1. Teaching religion or the Bible has not received overwhelming support in American society, especially in public schools. After taking this course, what is the significance of religion or the Bible in public life? Do you support teaching religion at Edward Waters University and public schools?

3. The last two articles in chapter 38 feature the humility of Christ. How do Church ministers in 21st century express and do not express the virtue of humility in their ministries?

FINAL EXAM

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FINAL EXAM

1. Teaching religion or the Bible has not received overwhelming support in American society, especially in public schools. After taking this course, what is the significance of religion or the Bible in public life?

Religion is an indispensable part of society and human life. Since time immemorial, religious beliefs have shaped the lives of both believers and non-believers in one way or the other. This is because the influence of religion does not only revolve around the matters of faith but also other aspects of human life, including reinforcing social unity and stability, giving meaning and purpose to life, controlling social behaviors, motivating people to work for positive social change, and promoting physical and psychological well-being (Barkan, 2017). Given this importance, it is debatable whether religion should be taught in public schools or not.

Religion goes a long way to influence how people understand the meaning and purpose of life. Not every aspect of life has fully been understood by human beings, despite the progress people have made in science and exploration. Life and death still remain mysteries for many people if not all (Hope Channel Southeast Asia, 2020). As a result, people resort to faith and beliefs to make sense of the things science cannot explain.

Religion teaches values and good morals, thereby turning people into good members of society. Virtues, such as love, honesty, truth, patience, kindness, discipline, service, non-violence, faith, goodness, and joy, are deeply engraved in the biblical teachings. Most of the laws that society follows today follow, originate from religious teachings (Barkan, 2017). For instance, the Ten Commandments in the Judeo-Christian tradition have massively been incorporated into law.

Religion also reinforces social cohesion and stability. The spirit of brotherhood people subscribes to stems from religion. Religion teaches a common set of beliefs that brings people together and gives them a sense of oneness (Hope Channel Southeast Asia, 2020). Additionally, religion is a communal practice that brings people together during social events such as worships to enhance social interactions and communications and strengthen social bonds.

Religion also enhances psychological and physical well-being. People live in an intricate world of uncertainties and miseries that make them descend into hopelessness, helplessness, and stress. Religion offers some semblance of peace by offering consolation and comfort via encouragement offered in times of crisis (Barkan, 2017). People encourage each other during social events to inculcate fortitude and resilience during hard times and give each other moral, emotional, and physical support to uplift people’s spirits and make others happy.

Do you support teaching religion at Edward Waters University and public schools?

Owing to this importance, it is logical to support religious teachings at Edward Waters University and public schools. Human life is governed by values, moral behaviors, and ethics that form the whole fabric of society. Such teachings are mostly found in religion that implores people to abide by them for their own benefits and those of others. Besides, the benefits that society stands to gain are not only spiritual but also physical and psychological, thereby generating a healthy society.

Furthermore, even though religion, particularly the bible, might not be the only way to teach morality and good behavior, many people still believe in and follow religious teachings. Therefore, it is much easier and more feasible to reach this majority through what they already know and believe in rather than introducing a new way of doing it. Besides, religion is not always good for society. It can easily be corrupted to radicalize people and inculcate bad teachings in society. If such negative aspects are not counted and tamed by ensuring the correct teachings, quarks might use religion for wrong purposes. This is why religion should be taught in publicly recognized institutions to ensure only the right perspective is passed on to others.

3. The last two articles in chapter 38 feature the humility of Christ. How do Church ministers in the 21st-century express and do not express the virtue of humility in their ministries?

Humility is an honorable and admirable virtue taught in the bible, in particular, the life of Jesus Christ. Humility is presented as a life of insignificance and complete trust in God in which one carries themselves as the least among others despite their greatness and importance (Weaver, 2014). Such people see the riches and designs enshrined in worldly life as nothing but vanity. Jesus, as the supreme icon in the bible, is an embodiment of humility as he presents himself as a mere mortal man with not admirable social status despite being a God. By following in His footsteps, all Christians are called to embrace humility just like Christ. However, the path to humility is often not that clear. Sometimes Christians show humility and sometimes they fail to as shown in the discussion below.

How Church Ministers Express humility

Currently, church ministers show humility by serving others. Humility is a life of servitude in which people are called to live for others, not themselves. According to Weaver (2014), church leaders serve others by ministering to them, visiting the sick, consoling the distressed, praying for people, sharing with the needy, doing community work like burring the dead, and so on. They also express humility by respecting people equally (Weaver, 2014). Jesus expresses humility that surpasses all forms of human bases of judgment and discrimination such as social status, occupations, sinful nature, age, positions, and so on. By demonstrating equal respect to children, adults, the poor, the rich, leaders, and servants, church ministers also show the same humility. They also show humility by not boasting of what they have like money, positions, children, achievements, and influence but always trusting in the lord and leaving all to him in thanksgiving (Weaver, 2014).

How Church Ministers Stray from Expressing Humility

Should church ministers go against these recommendations, they risk going against the requirements of humility. For instance, church ministers are currently inclined to avarice. They want more money and luxurious things like fancy cars, mansions, designer clothes, rich and influential followers, and so on. Weaver (2014) reports that such earthly preferences run parallel to the very life of Jesus Christ. Church leaders also discriminate against people in terms of social statuses and positions in society. For instance, there is a tendency of recognizing political leaders and influential people whenever they attend religious gatherings. That goes against equality enshrined in humility. Straying from humility is also seen in pride and life of bragging among Christians (Weaver, 2014). Pastors who have established powerful ministries tend to see themselves as an indispensable part of the church and so are good singers and instrumentalists. Whenever they are challenged, they split the church to begin new ministries elsewhere (Weaver, 2014). Such behaviors violate the dictates of humility that require church members to remain together as one and not to see themselves as independent of others.

Religion is an integral part of society that should be given utmost importance. The influence it has on human life goes a long way to determine the kind of society we will have. As such, instead of sidelining it, religion can be used to shape the society that we want. This is why it should be taught in all public educational institutions. Similarly, Christians should try to embrace the teachings of the bible and follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ despite the changes that have taken place in the current society. Humility is a virtue that should be fully embraced because it builds unity, love, equality, and sanity in approaching many issues in society.

 

 

References

Barkan, S. E. (2017). Sociology: Understanding and changing the social world. Boston, MA: Flat World Knowledge, Incorporated.

Hope Channel Southeast Asia. (2020). The Importance of Religion. https://hopetv.asia/articles/the-importance-of-religion/

Weaver, J. (2014). Global perspectives on the Bible. M. Roncace (Ed.). Pearson.