BIBLICAL METANARRATIVE ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS

The unity of the Bible is demonstrated through the Divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit on the human authors of Scripture. The study of theology uncovers and articulates the unity of all the biblical texts when they are taken together. From the list of approved doctrines to address, demonstrate the unified nature of the Bible by tracing that doctrine through the four major plot developments of Scripture. For example, The Bible describes God as love in 1 John 4:8. The way to interpret “God is love” is to look at the biblical story that reveals God’s character through His actions. When looking at the idea of love through the four major plot movements in Scripture we see God’s love demonstrated in His creation of humanity, His patience with humanity after the fall, His sacrificial death to redeem humanity from the fall, and His restorative work through preparation of the heavenly home. (This example would be substantiated and demonstrated with biblical support, and be elaborated on within the essay.) Assignment Requirements: 1.Discuss the major movement of the biblical metanarrative, its main character, and its implications for understanding the unity of the biblical books. 2.Choose two topics from the approved topics list that are presented in Biblical doctrine with attention on how these theological topics unfold through the through the four major plot movements of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation. 3.Using your theological examples, share the implications that these examples provide humanity’s relationship to God. 4.Incorporate at least 2 theological references in your paper using course resources. 5.Incorporate at least 2 relevant biblical references. 6.Write a clear introductory paragraph including the thesis statement. A summative concluding paragraph must also be included. 7.Refer to the “Course Policies” in the course syllabus for the formatting expectations in this course. You must choose from the approved list below: 1.Christ 2.Creation 3.Faith 4.Glory of God 5.Gospel 6.Grace 7.Holiness 8.Hope 9.Image of God 10.Law 11.Love 12.Mercy 13.Redemption 14.Revelation 15.Righteousness 16.Sanctification 17.Temptation 18.Trinity 19.Wisdom 20.Worship

Describe Critical Methodology.

Secret Societies and Inner Sanctum Conspiracies:(e.g., Freemasons; Scientologists; etc.)Medical Cover-ups / Conspiracies (the government’s manufacturing of AIDS/HIV; secret government medical experiments; etc.)Science Conspiracies and Hoaxes (e.g., moon landing hoax; aliens; the conspiracy of global warming being a hoax; etc.)Scandal Conspiracies (e.g., 9-11 perpetrators; Jack the Ripper’s royal identity; Pope Joan.)Forensic Conspiracies (“single bullet” theorists; Boston Marathon bombing; World Trade Center; etc.)Prophecy Conspiracies: (e.g., predictions or concealments of coming plagues; killer solar flares; asteroid impacts; etc.; the return of planet Nibiru; Raptures and Tribulations; Celestine Prophecy; apocalyptic zombie plagues; etc.)

Explain what Feldman means by this and analyze his argument indicating your agreement or disagreement and your reasons using material from the assigned readings to support your position.

“Secularists must accept the fact that religious values form an important source of political beliefs and identities for the majority of Americans, while evangelicals need to acknowledge that separating the institutions of government from those of religion is essential for avoiding outright political-religious conflict. Taking these steps asks much of both sides, but it does not ask too much. In each case…the proposed shift follows a consistent internal logic…(which)aims to build on the common ground we already have, ground well trodden by our constitutional tradition…” Explain what Feldman means by this and analyze his argument indicating your agreement or disagreement and your reasons using material from the assigned readings to support your position. Provide examples and evidence to support your position.2.Wald and Calhoun-Brown conclude that “religion in politics is neither an unvarying source of good nor a consistent evil influence; the historical record…has shown that religion has the capacity both to ennoble and to corrupt political life.” Explain and analyze the basis of their conclusion indicating your agreement or disagreement and your reasons using material from the assigned readings to support your position. Provide examples and evidence to support your position.3.Madeleine Albright states that “to anticipate events rather than merely respond to them, American diplomats will need to…think more expansively about the role of religion in foreign policy and about their own need for expertise. They should develop the ability to recognize where and how religious belief contributes to conflicts and when religious principles might be invoked to ease strife. They should also reorient our foreign policy institutions to take fully into account the immense power of religion to influence how people think, feel, and act.” Explain and analyze this statement indicating your agreement or disagreement and your reasons using material from the assigned readings to support your position. Provide examples and evidence to support your position.4.Jim Wallis contends that “in a political and media culture that squeezes everything into only two options of left and right, religious people must refuse the ideological categorization and actually build bridges between people of goodwill in both liberal and conservative camps. We must insist on the deep connection between spirituality and politics while defending the proper boundaries between church and state that protect religious and nonreligious minorities and keep us safe from state-controlled religion. We can demonstrate our commitment to pluralistic democracy and support the rightful separation of church and state without segregating moral and spiritual values from our political life.” Explain and analyze this statement indicating your agreement or disagreement and your reasons using material from the assigned readings to support your position. Provide examples and evidence to support your position.Here are the books we used:Feldman, Noah. Divided by God: America’s Church-State Problem-And What We Should Do About It. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2005.(Hardcover)Wald, Kenneth D., and Allison Calhoun Brown. Religion and Politics in the United States. Rowman and Littlefield, 2018.(Paperback). Eighth edition.

What’s Good? Ethics and Ethical Reasoning

Instructions for the primary essay (rubric attached): 1. What’s Good? Ethics & Ethical Reasoning (Mackinnonn & Fiala chapters 1-4): According to the majority of thinkers explored in our textbook, is there a “right” and “wrong”? If so, what defines right and wrong? Is morality universal? Culturally determined? Relative? Does the Golden Rule, The Categorical Imperative, the Eightfold Path, the 5 Pillars, and/or the Ten Commandments cover it? What would you add, delete, or change to the Philosophers’ theories if you could? Focus on one Philosopher’s theories in your paper, at length (Kant, Mill, or Aristotle highly recommended). Choose at least one end-of-chapter reading from Mackinnon and Fiala to include in your paper. Also for the first and second page, single spaced, here are the instructions for page 1 (750 words): For this second (of three) Discussion Board assignment(s), Study Chapter 7: Natural Law & Human Rights, Chapter 8: Virtue Ethics, Chapter 10: Euthanasia, and Chapter 11: Abortion. Choose THREE of these assigned chapters and then identify in your essay the 3 most important points made by MacKinnon and Fiala in EACH of these THREE chapters you’ve chosen. This means 9 TOTAL important points. So, you might choose to write about chapters 8, 10, and 11. From chapter 8, the most important point might be at the end of the chapter! That’s okay, start there and then list the other 2 most important points made in chapter 8, even if they’re out of order! This tells Prof Starr that you gave the chapter lots of good thought! Lastly, briefly summarize the conclusion (in other words, the main point made toward the end) of TWO out of the 3 assigned videos — find them in Materials >> Content. (They’re in Module 7, Module 8, and 1 video is linked in a Module that covers Chapters 10 & 11 combined.)To clarify: You are assigned in DB #2 to identify the three most important points made in each chapter (once again, you’re choosing ONLY 3 chapters this time around). But some rough drafts I’ve seen – too many, in fact, just start right in listing key points without numbering them or providing any kind of priority. It is as though students feel stuck presenting the points in the order they appear. But often the strongest (and perhaps controversial) points are made in the conclusion to a lengthy chapter. So, you should list that particular point first as THE most important. Then, move on to the second most important point, with direct quotes and page numbers. etc. Then finish with the third. Number them! First, Second, and Third. Instructions for page 2 (600 words): The Ethical Dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic. What is best? What have we – as a species, not merely at the national level – done well? What have we not done well? What is the most important Ethics issue at hand? If you had to choose John Stuart Mill or Immanuel Kant to lead the next phase of our response to COVID-19, which one would you choose? Why? Please be specific. Would you prefer a Utilitarian like Mill, who puts the needs of the many before the needs of the one… or would you prefer a Duty Ethicist like Kant who refuses to allow for any exceptions to the rule? This assignment has no direct quote requirement from MacKinnon & Fiala. But it does need to be as academically rigorous as you can manage.

How has this theory been used in research?

A.Research Meme ProjectThe purpose of this project is to review theories you have been exposed to in interpersonal, intercultural, organizational, and rhetorical classes. Theories are formulated to explain, predict, and understand phenomena and, in many cases, to challenge and extend existing knowledge, within the limits of the critical bounding assumptions.Requirements:•Each week you will choose a theory from one of four areas listed above. Each area must be new each week.•You will create 4 slides to present in class.oSlide One: List and define the theory and its key concepts. Who is the author of this theory? Date?oSlide Two: How has this theory been used in research? How is it useful? Provide an example in your own words.oSlide Three: An original meme that will help us remember this theory.