The First United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States for Thursday, 19 February 2015 "Heart of Christinaity" Next Sunday's Class for Sunday, 22 February 2015 from Ben Christensen

The First United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States for Thursday, 19 February 2015 "Heart of Christinaity" Next Sunday's Class for Sunday, 22 February 2015 from Ben Christensen

Hi to All:

We'll discuss Chapter 7, pp. 103-114.  Here are some issues and questions to ponder in preparation for our discussion.

1. P. 103.  Do you think, as Geering and Robinson do, that we have come to the end of supernaturalist theism?  Obviously, this issue depends on the personal belief of the individual.  Do you want to weigh in on this question?

2. P. 104.  Paul Tillich made a case for a new definition of God as "the ground of our being".  Geering states that Robinson argued "that theology is not about the particular Being called God but about the ultimate questions posed by our very existence, or being."  Your thoughts?

3. P. 104.  Geering suggests that modernity is not confronted by only black and white issues, but also many shades of gray. He refers to "situation ethics" by Joseph Fletcher and "The New Morality" by John Robinson.  From Robinson's book, Honest To God , the public press used the following words to describe the author and his book" "Our image of God must go".  What is our image of God?  Do you think Christian orthodoxy has the one true image of God?  Your comments?

4. P. 105.  Why don't we merely go along with traditional doctrine and worship an image of "an old man in the sky", a phrase Robinson used on p. 13 of the preface to his book? (See also top of p. 108).

5. P. 108+.  What is the bigger, wider picture of the issue that Robinson addressed in his book, specifically, those who came before him?

6. P. 110, 1st Parag.  Can you account for the following text on this page?  "For many church people, there seemed to be only two alternatives: traditional Christianity or unbelief.  Robinson appeared to be in a no-man's-land, sliding down a slippery slope that ended in atheism."  Did it happen that way?  Or, is it happening that way?

7. P. 111.  Geering quotes Schleiermacher: "...The true nature of religion is neither this idea nor any other, but immediate consciousness of the Deity as He [God] is found in ourselves and in the world."  And, Geering, in explaining Feuerbach, writesklljj: "Theology is the study of the human condition, of our highest human values, our hopes, and our aspirations."  How do you respond to these two portions, in quotation marks, in the chapter?

8. P. 112, last Parag. and continuing on next page.  Do you accept Geering's assertion in this portion of text?  Why or why not?

9. P. 113.  Geering quotes Don Cupitt:  "God is a myth we have to have".  Do you accept this premise?  Why or why not?

10.  Pp. 113-114, the Summary.  Please give this summary thoughtful examination and come prepared to discuss it.

Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. (But I don't buy the following interpretation: "I'll leave you alone, if you'll leave me alone!", except in a colony of hermits!).  Best wishes and hasta domingo. Ben

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