Mueller in Theological foundations

According to Mueller in Theological foundations, what ties all life together?.

All life is tied together by the holy spirit since it draws all members of the church together to reconcile. Again, it brings embrace and connectivity (Mueller, 32).

1. What about questions and faith? Is questioning inconsistent with faith?.

Faith is unquestionable since religious beliefs are based on opinions, which are either unknown or unknowable.

1. Why or why not?

Questions regarding faith do not have definite answers, but it requires a believer to have sound reasoning to defend, communicate and arrange his beliefs systematically to avoid fallacies.

1. What is a worldview?

Worldview as the religious inclinations of the people that can be Christianity Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam (Albl, 32). The perspectives of the people bringing diversity in Christian culture.

1. What does Mueller mean by wrestling with God?

Mueller 33, wrestling with God are the attempts made by humans to understand God through studies. These attempts, therefore, have failed because of his nature.

1. What does transcendence mean?

Albl, 13 defines Transcendence as the aspect of God’s power that goes beyond the limits. The supernaturalism of God.

1. What is Rationalism?

Albl 16, it is the capacity of the mind of an individual to distinguish what is right and wrong. In essence, it realizes the ethical standards required for one to be accepted in the society.

1. What are materialism and determinism?

Albl 19, defines determinism as the doctrine where all actions are deliberated by the current state, and immutable laws of the universe are made, and no aspect of choice is provided. Additionally, he says materialism is the constant urge of material possession by the ruling class who fabricate religious laws in their favor of them over the earthly possessions.

1. According to Albl, in chapter 2, what is the consistent worldview/tradition in rationalism, materialism, and determinism?

According to Albl, 23 the Word view about tradition is that God is all mighty, and controls everything. The worldviews Materialism as God is the source of everything, in determinism, God controls nature through natural laws that he can comprehend himself.

1. What is paradigm?

Albl 33, explains that paradigm is the ability in which God enters into dialogue and relationship with creatures. He keeps touch with his creation.

1. What is theophany?

Albl 23, explains Theophany is the manifestation of God to his creation by use of his attributes such as being kind, caring, providing for what he created.

1. What does YHWH mean?

Mueller 25, YHWH means Yahweh (I AM WHOM I AM).

1. Albl quotes C.S Lewis ” that all humans of every culture have the same basic sense of right and wrong”. He says there’s a consistent moral transcendence in every culture. Where does that sense of right and wrong (moral transcendence) come from?

Moral transcendence comes from rationalism that is having the ability to distinguish what is right and wrong. The proper reasoning, therefore, translates to having the correct ethics.

1. What does it mean that God is incomprehensible?

Albl 16. God is incomprehensible means that God can never be understood by man.

1. What does it mean that God is sovereign?

The sovereignty of God means His authority over his creation.

1. Cite 4 attributes of God
2. Attributes of God are kindness,
3. caring,
4. all-powerful
5. Provider.
6. What does theology mean?

Albl 21, Theology is the study of God to understand his nature, how he works and attributes.

1. Where does Christian theology come from?

Christian theology comes from the bible, religious study books, and articles.

1. Who is Thomas Aquinas and what was his most significant theological work called?

Thomas Aquinas is a great theological thinker popularly known for cause-effect works (Albl,22).

1. What does Aquinas mean by first cause?

His works on the first cause mean that God is the first cause of everything since He is the creator of everything (Albl,22).

1. Mueller cites Colossians 1:15, 19. What is the passage saying about Jesus Christ?

Muller claims that Jesus is an invisible image of God the firstborn of every creature in whom the fullness of God shall dwell.

1. Mueller on page 36, cites Thomas Aquinas saying God is inexhaustibly intelligible. What does he mean? Is it possible for the man to know God personally?

God’s intelligence is beyond limits. Man cannot comprehend God.

1. Can man exhaust that knowledge?

God’s knowledge is inexhaustible.

1. On page 42 Mueller cites Romans 8: 15-17. What does Romans 8: 15-17 say about “knowableness of God to man?

Romans 8: 5-17 says that the mind of man is subject to enmity for it is not subject to the laws of God. Any man who has no spirit of Christ he does not belong to him.

1. M/C Genesis can be divided into two major sections:
2. Chapter 1-11 primeval history (the word primeval refers to “origins” “beginnings”) and
3. Chapter 12-50. What portion of history does the second portion in chapters 12-50 cover? (Mueller ch. 2)
4. Further reference to the creation

It narrates on how the first man came into existence. This is regarded as the origin of man.

1. Issues related to the New Testament

The New Testament has incepted after man falls short of God’s grace.

1. The family and history of the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

It gives the history of Abraham the father of faith and several promises God made to him which were fulfilled, in his coming generation, that is Isaac and Jacob.

1. The history of the Exodus and the freeing of Israel from Egypt

Genesis 12-50 talks about the history of Abraham the king of Faith instructed to move from his homeland to unknown land.

1. What is the meaning of covenant?

Covenant is an agreement between two or more parties (Mueller 41-42).

1. What did the covenant promise that God made to Abraham?

God made covenant promises of giving Abraham a son, land, bless him, curse those who curse him and his descendants could rule forever.

1. What does New Testament mean?

The term new testament means new regeneration and transformation (Mueller 57).

1. What are the three main literary categories of the New Testament?

Further, in 59, The New Testament is divided into gospels, letters and the book of prophecy (revelation) (Mueller, 58).

1. What does Mueller say are the (4) principles of interpretation of scriptures?

In scripture interpretation, he argues that the reader must understand the intention of the author, related to the reality of the passage, translation should be literal and use the bible should interpret itself (Mueller, 59)

Works cited

Albl, Martin C. Reason, Faith, and Tradition: Explorations in Catholic Theology. Saint Mary’s Press, 2009.

Mueller, John J. Theological Foundations: Concepts and Methods for Understanding Christian Faith. Saint Mary’s Press, 2007.