The Heart of Christianity Sunday School Lesson for Sunday, 6 December 2015 at First United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States for Thursday, 3 December 2015

The Heart of Christianity Sunday School Lesson for Sunday, 6 December 2015 at First United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States for Thursday, 3 December 2015

Hello Hearts,We are beginning our study of the Marcus Borg book Convictions this Sunday.  Here are some questions for your consideration:

pg. ix    What does it mean to you to be Christian and American?Pg. 3   " Memories, conversions, and convictions shapes all of our lives"   Do you agree? Does this fit your experience?

Pg. 5    "...Christians who accommodated that vision to the conventions of the dominant culture, including especially patriarchy and slavery."  How much do we accommodate? How is our Christianity an accommodation to our dominant culture?Pg. 5.    "gnostic Christians - primarily the world of the spirit"     Which is more important, the spirit or this world?

Pg. 6  -->    divisions:

                       East vs West - sack of Constantinople in 1204

                                         Why do we always resort to violence???

                       Protestant Reformation  -  why does each group think it is the best, or the only, way?Pg. 9-16     Borg outlines divisions in Christianity today.   Conservative, Conventional, Uncertain, Former, Progressive.    Do you agree/not agree with his divisions and how he describes    them.

Especially the Progressive - do you agree with his affirmations?  How did you reach these conclusions?Pg. 17.  the divide is political as well - is this like the accommodation to the dominant culture? a revolt against the dominant culture? What is/should be our response?

Pg. 17 -18   What are the important issues of our time for you as a Christian?I look forward to our usual spirited discussion.

Lembi

Lembi Saarmann, RN, EdD
Professor Emerita
School of Nursing
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4158
Cell:  619-987-1604

Email:  Lsaarman@mail.sdsu.edu
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