Strange New World 9 Flashcards
(111 cards)
1
Q
What is the general sentiment of traditional Christians regarding the narrative of this book?
A
Somewhat depressing
2
Q
What does the narrative indicate about the world in which we now live?
A
Hostile to expression of beliefs
3
Q
How is objecting to same-sex marriage perceived in the current moral register?
A
Similar to being a racist
4
Q
What is happening to the era when Christians could disagree with secular convictions?
A
Coming to an end
5
Q
What is rapidly vanishing according to the text?
A
Social imaginary shaped by Christianity
6
Q
How do many Christians feel in the context of the modern world?
A
Living as strangers in a strange new world
7
Q
What revolution is set to exert pressure on the lives of individuals?
A
Revolution in selfhood
8
Q
What facets of societal change are mentioned as part of the sexual revolution?
A
Kindergarten education and workplace policies on pronouns
9
Q
What is the likelihood of Christians facing challenging situations related to modern selfhood?
A
Every single one of us is likely to be faced with it
10
Q
What questions are gaining in urgency for individuals according to the text?
A
How we should live and what to do when facing pressure to conform
11
Q
Fill in the blank: The last vestiges of a _____ shaped by Christianity are rapidly vanishing.
A
social imaginary
12
Q
True or False: The text suggests that Christians can hide from societal pressures indefinitely.
A
False
13
Q
What is expressive individualism?
A
A belief that emphasizes the importance of personal feelings and the inner psychological space in shaping identity and self-worth.
14
Q
Which philosopher is associated with the notion of the self rooted in inner sentiments?
A
Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
15
Q
What Christian work explores the inner psychological space?
A
Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards.
16
Q
What does expressive individualism affirm regarding human beings?
A
The universal dignity of all human beings.
17
Q
How does the New Testament relate to personal faith?
A
It stresses the importance of personal faith as a response to the gospel.
18
Q
True or False: Freedom of religion is considered a social virtue.
A
True.
19
Q
What effect does religious freedom have on the nature of churches?
A
It creates a marketplace for religion where congregants act as customers.
20
Q
According to Philip Rieff, what was the previous expectation of individuals when they were miserable?
A
They went to church to find the rationale of their misery.
21
Q
How has the nature of church attendance changed in contemporary society?
A
People attend church to feel good and meet personal emotional needs.
22
Q
What are some factors that influence a person’s choice of church?
A
- Personal taste
- Emotional type
- Intellectual preferences
23
Q
What does the term ‘cult of personal happiness’ refer to?
A
The emphasis on individual psychological well-being as a measure of happiness.
24
Q
How has the understanding of divine blessing changed in modern Christianity?
A
It is often equated with individual happiness.
25
What is a consequence of no-fault divorce in terms of marriage significance?
It suggests that marriage is of no significance if personal happiness is not met.
26
What should Christians do to address their complicity in the modern world?
* Examine themselves
* Repent and seek grace
* Reform beliefs and practices
27
What is the importance of humility in engaging with others on issues of complicity?
It prevents a pharisaic attitude and fosters respectful dialogue.
28
Fill in the blank: To engage in self-criticism and self-policing, we must be aware of our _______.
[complicity]
29
What discipline should individuals maintain regarding their chosen church?
Commitment to that church despite trivial issues or personal tastes.
30
What is the primary historical claim of traditional Christians?
The incarnation of Jesus Christ and the events and actions of his life.
31
Which periods do Protestants and Catholics typically look back to for hope?
* Protestants: The Reformation
* Catholics: The High Middle Ages
32
Why are returns to the Reformation or the High Middle Ages considered virtually impossible?
The societies in which the church operated in those periods are gone forever due to technological changes.
33
To which period does the text suggest Christians should look for precedents for today's challenges?
The second century and the immediately post-apostolic church.
34
How was Christianity perceived in the second century?
As a little-understood, despised, marginal sect suspected of being immoral and seditious.
35
What claim made by Christians was seen as a challenge to Roman authority?
'Jesus is Lord!'
36
True or False: The church today faces a similar opposition to that of the second century.
True
37
What distinguishes Christian identity according to the text?
A set of moral prescriptions, including a ban on abortion and infanticide.
38
What is suggested as a key to forming a strong Christian identity?
Belonging to strong communities.
39
What is the significance of the LGBTQ+ community in the context of community strength?
Their move from the margins to center stage is connected to the strong communities they formed.
40
What are essential elements that all Christian communities should share?
* Worship
* Fellowship
* Gathering on the Lord's Day
* Praying
* Singing God's praise
* Hearing the word read and preached
* Celebrating baptism and the Lord's Supper
* Giving materially to the church's work
41
What does Paul suggest should happen when an unbeliever attends a church service?
He should be struck by the otherworldly holiness of what is going on.
42
How does the church engage with the culture, according to the text?
By presenting an alternative culture rooted in liturgical worship practices and a loving community.
43
Who were the Greek Apologists?
Christian writers who addressed the Roman Empire from a Christian perspective.
44
What was the approach of the Greek Apologists toward the Roman authorities?
They argued positively that Christians made the best citizens and should be allowed to live without harassment.
45
What did Augustine argue about Christians' citizenship in 'The City of God'?
Christians are citizens of both the earthly city and the city of God and can work together with pagans for common interests.
46
What is suggested as a modern response to cultural marginalization of Christianity?
Lament the situation but also organize and become a community.
47
What is the suggested attitude towards engaging in cultural warfare?
Engaging in cultural warfare using the world's tools is not the way for God's people.
48
Fill in the blank: The church protests the wider culture by offering a true vision of what it means to be a _______.
human being made in the image of God.
49
What does the text imply about the effectiveness of the Apologists' approach over time?
Their approach proved remarkably effective in establishing Christianity's dominance.
50
What does the text suggest about God's sovereignty and timing?
God is sovereign, plays the long game, and His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.
51
What is a significant temptation during times of change for the Christian faith?
To fixate upon the immediate challenges to the Christian faith
## Footnote
This can lead to neglecting the broader context of Christian truth.
52
Why is it important to address the church's teaching on gender, marriage, and sex?
It is a function of her teaching on what it means to be human.
53
What foundational doctrines are vital for addressing specific contemporary challenges?
The doctrines of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation.
54
What must Christians understand to address modern sexual and identity politics?
The Christian view of the self.
55
According to the Bible, in whose image is the human self made?
In the image of God.
56
What should the church ensure during chaotic times?
Teaching her people the whole counsel of God.
57
What might differ in the strategy for grounding Christians in truth?
It might look different in different places and congregations.
58
What is a suggested starting point for grounding Christians in truth?
The use of a good historical confession or catechism.
59
What is the significance of time regarding creeds or confessions?
Time is a great solvent of irrelevance.
60
What documents were composed in the 1640s in Presbyterianism?
The Westminster Confession and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
61
What was revised in the American version of the Westminster Confession?
The positive link between state and church, known as the Establishment Principle.
62
How has the majority of the Westminster Standards been treated over the years?
They remain largely unchanged.
63
What do historic documents like the Westminster Confession provide for the church?
Solid, general conceptual foundations for approaching contemporary challenges.
64
True or False: The Westminster Confession directly addresses issues like gay marriage and transgenderism.
False.
65
What do the teachings in the Westminster Confession help the church understand?
Why certain things are wrong in terms of God's truth as a whole.
66
What is a desirable part of any church's life in present circumstances?
A pedagogical strategy based on historic confessions.
67
What is a key criticism of expressive individualism in contemporary society?
It places individuals and their own desires at the center of the moral universe.
## Footnote
This can lead to a focus on ego rather than community or divine truth.
68
What important truth does expressive individualism contain?
A commitment to the notion of universal human dignity.
## Footnote
This is regardless of one's position in the earthly hierarchy.
69
Why is the emphasis on inner psychological space and emotions not inherently wrong?
Because God created us as beings with emotions and desires, making our inner thought processes vital to our identity.
70
What is the main focus of Augustine's autobiography, Confessions?
His inner life and key incidents from his earlier life.
## Footnote
It reflects on personal experiences while relating them to God's truth.
71
How does Augustine's inward reflection connect to God?
His feelings are set in the context of, and corrected by, the larger truth of God and his revelation in Christ.
72
What do the psalmists express in the Psalms?
Honest feelings toward friends, enemies, and God.
## Footnote
This honesty is not for self-validation but to place experiences in the context of God's truths.
73
What is a central act of worship that the church needs to consider for shaping psychological intuitions?
Singing.
74
Why is the Psalter significant in corporate worship?
It is a book of corporate praise that shaped the social imaginary of the Jews.
75
What should worship songs in the church avoid?
Indulging in emotion for the sake of emotion or suggesting that personal needs are the reason God exists.
76
What is the purpose of singing appropriate worship songs?
To understand and express feelings honestly while leading outward to God and his truth.
77
What view of Christian life do the Psalms present?
A life marked by joy, sorrow, and loss.
78
How do the Psalms help with the struggles of the present?
They set present struggles in the context of God's past actions and future promises.
79
What do the Psalms help us understand about our status?
That we are strangers in a strange land.
80
What is needed to restore emotions and sentiments to their proper context?
Songs of redemption.
81
What is natural law?
The idea that the world possesses a moral structure and is not morally indifferent.
82
How do our bodies relate to our identity?
Bodies are integral to our identity and how we connect to others.
83
What does natural law indicate about human bodies?
Human bodies are made to flourish in certain ways and not in others.
84
Give an example of natural law in action.
The dependency of a newborn on the mother and her obligation to protect and nurture.
85
Why is the termination of life considered wrong in natural law?
It is viewed as a move against nature, thus considered murder.
86
How does natural law relate to sex and identity?
Natural law suggests that male and female bodies are made to fit together sexually in specific ways.
87
Fill in the blank: Men's bodies are not made to fit sexually with _______ bodies.
other men's
88
What is a common objection to natural law arguments?
Human sin and the belief that nature can be overcome.
89
True or False: The world is in rebellion against God, believing we can be anything we wish.
True
90
What is the purpose of reflecting on natural law and the theology of the body?
To serve as a pedagogical strategy within the church.
91
What might a pastor do when addressing a young Christian's questions about homosexuality?
Point to biblical texts indicating it is wrong.
92
What additional rationale should be provided alongside biblical texts?
The rationale of Christian morality and how it aligns with natural law.
93
How does sexual complementarity relate to biblical teaching?
It reinforces that biblical teaching correlates with natural law.
94
Fill in the blank: The sexual complementarity of male and female bodies is an important aspect of _______.
natural law
95
What challenge do older Christians face when teaching younger Christians about morality?
Younger Christians operate within a different social imaginary.
96
Why is it important to explain the rationale behind Christian ethics?
To help younger Christians understand the purpose of God's commands.
97
What does the evidence of damage done to the physical body by certain sexual practices illustrate?
It supports the rationale of natural law in relation to biblical teaching.
98
What should the church avoid in response to the present age?
The temptations of despair and optimism
## Footnote
Falling into despair undermines the promise of victory, while optimism can lead to deeper despair.
99
What is the consequence of despair and optimism according to the text?
Both will feed inaction
## Footnote
Despair leads to a sense of impotence, while optimism stems from naivete.
100
How does Rod Dreher describe his outlook?
He is hopeful, neither pessimistic nor optimistic
## Footnote
Hope differs from optimism; it is more realistic.
101
What is the definition of optimism as presented in the text?
The belief that everything will be fine if everyone just sits tight and waits.
102
What does Christian hope understand about the world?
That this world is a vale of tears and not as it should be
## Footnote
It recognizes the fallen state of the world.
103
What should Christians not expect from the world?
Home comforts and a life of ease and comfort.
104
What does the author express gratitude for?
Freedoms, good healthcare, a job, and a loving family.
105
What is the calling of all Christians according to the text?
To live faithfully in their time and place.
106
What should Christians do when faced with suffering?
Not despair, work to right wrongs, and remember the real meaning of life.
107
Where does the meaning of suffering find its significance?
In the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
108
What does the author suggest we need to do as we enter a chaotic era?
Prepare ourselves, be informed, know what we believe, and worship God.
109
What is not a time for, according to the text?
Hopeless despair nor naïve optimism.
110
What should lamentation lead to for Christians?
Sharpening their identity as the people of God and their hunger for the great consummation.
111
Fill in the blank: Christian hope is _______.
[realistic]
