religious reflection – what you learned this semester

VERY STRICT INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY Use Times New Roman type.· Use 12-point font.· Double space your paper.· Use standard margins (1-1.25”).· Do not include a title page. (Just put your name, RS220-02 or 03 and the date on the very top of the first paper).· Do not include a bibliography or works cited page.· If you quote a text, use in-text parenthetical citations –like this: (Author’s last name, page number—like this (Harrington, 32). · A maximum of two quotes and only from the books we used.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Part 1) The Heart of ChristianityWe need to engage some issues from Borg’s book.Restrict Part 1 to only one and half pages.TOPICS TO COVER : MARCUS BORG – DISCUSS why did Marcus Borg see assensus as the weakest, and which meaning of faith did you favor? MARCUS BORG: Our emphasis was on understanding “Kingdom of God” as a social-political entity or community. How do these topics inform your awareness of Christianity? Part 2) Gospel of Mark and JesusHere you determine the key chapters from Harrington’s chapters.  (You must engage subjects from at least five chapters of the book.) Whereas Borg’s book was more theological, Harrington’s is historical and Biblical. It is not required to refer to Mark. If you do, then only use one or two verses. 1st TOPIC TO COVER: Chapter 4: Jesus the TeacherThe main point in this chapter is the “ethical” teaching of Jesus as found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapter 5: 1-10). Here we learn about the 8 beatitudes as the “highest teaching of Jesus”—the ways to seek the kingdom of God. Discuss one of the beatitudes.2nd TOPIC TO COVER: Chapter 8: Jesus and PoliticsWhy did Jesus’ teachings get him in trouble with Jewish leaders and Roman officials? Briefly, what political issues caused him problems and what economic problems also caused him problems? Do you think Christianity has or should have political and economic messages?3RD TOPIC TO COVER: Chapter 11: .How does Harrington explain the emergence of new vocabulary and theology of the early Christian church that developed faith statements, hymns, titles and names for Jesus, as well as of rituals and sacraments4TH TOPIC TO COVER: Chapter 1 posits scripture as one locus of revelation and sees it as a reflection of the mystery of the Incarnation5TH TOPIC TO COVER: Chapter 3 explores the way in which saving truth is mediated by the Spirit to church and world through the text, as well as the role of critical scholarship in that mediation Part 3) Conclude with personal reflections of what you have learned from the course. For example, did you gain new knowledge? What understanding of theology and Christianity were important? Or, how would you answer questions such as why would anyone be a Christian? Or what are the good and bad aspects of Christianity? Or other questions that draw your attention.