The chapter What Would Jesus Deconstruct? by John D Caputo raised many different stances on normal conflicts. The focus of Caputo’s arguments in this chapter all surround the heavily disputed moral conflicts in modern day life, such conflicts as economic justice, militarism, abortion, patriarchy, and Homosexuality. Caputo compares the current solutions of these conflicts to the biblical text and an interpretation of how Jesus would react. Many of his solutions show issues in how christianity has developed in a tainted fashion. The main thesis of the chapter surrounds itself with how modern christians are preaching their own views of religion instead of respecting and following the words set out by Jesus. This being said there is an idea of …show more content…
hypocrisy that engulfs the overall response of these modern christians to form their ideas into either right and wrong in situations and conflicts. The first of Caputo’s stances that I chose was the argument facing abortion.
Caputo first makes a point on addressing that his stance is to view the act as “Analogously to the way I treat just-war theory, as a lesser evil,”(Caputo, 112). Through the segment, he brings up the complication of the decision and how many times when it is in consideration there are other looming struggles that could complicate life later. As a lesser of two evils, attention is brought to the topic that in human life, there are very few, if any, neutral topics that are easily decided and agreed upon. The thesis of hypocrisy is brought up and examined when Caputo brings up the fact that to be against abortion while endorsing capital punishment is hypocritical in itself. Evident when some people of religion are following the commandment of “Thou shalt not kill,” for something as a child, but when faced with a recently tried criminal, the value of life is lost to the point of disobeying that same commandment. The hypocrisy is also seen when the current situation is to oppose the act of abortion yet not supply support systems for the women. This stance talks about how the current system of care does not provide easy prenatal care, neonatal care or even easier access to artificial contraception even in the case that some churches are opposed to it. With the hypocrisies stated, Caputo highlights that if Jesus were to be faced with the current issue he would stand a middle ground. It’s stated that while …show more content…
offended by the many complications in the argument, Jesus would be merciful towards the difficult decisions. The second segment of the chapter that I chose was Homosexuality.
The segment starts with the view that Greeks accepted the love of two people of the same sex under certain times. A fact that was in contrast to the ideas and thoughts of the Jewish. Caputo believes that Jesus and his followers at the time would have denied and condemned the love of two people of the same sex simply due to the time period and their religious affiliations. According to Caputo his views agree to the Greeks that no matter what, love is love. The thesis of Caputo’s chapter arises in this concept when taken into view that some modern christians rely on the statements of God creating man and woman for each other and not creating or intending love between same sex. This being said, Caputo does point out later in the topic that if Jesus were to live in today's time and be apart of the persecution in the world, he would pair and stand next to the outcast communities and people in times of conflict. Along with standing with them, the acceptance that love is love is stated many times through the
section. In response to these two segments I believe that there is in fact a hypocrisy in the religious and political world today. Of course not everything about his views are shared with mine, but the overall idea that within the system the hypocrisies are causing complications in life today. In the approach that Caputo took towards abortion I felt there were good background facts along with a good stance towards the correction of the bias with more easily attained care. I felt that even by standing besides his views but still offering a solution to the current conflict of how to avoid abortion, Caputo did bring up a large part of the issue. With the acceptance of these working mothers, or more aide given to the unprivileged or even single parents with neonatal care or daycare institutions the conflict of abortion may be an entirely different complication. With the stance of Homosexuality, the approach was very effective. With the use of cultural norms and beliefs in the life time of Peter and Jesus, it was easier to understand the possible answer that Jesus may have said. I see the presence of hypocrisy and again agree with Caputo's thesis. I enjoy how he brings up the fact of how Jesus would react to today's conflict as he would stand with those in need of support. Also Caputo brings to life a character side of Jesus that some people don't seem to see, a side where his ideals could in fact change with time and progress with the adaptations and additions to human life.
In the book’s introduction, Walter Rauschenbusch has written “It follows that the relation between Christianity and social crisis is one of the most pressing questions for all intelligent men who realize the power of religion, and most of all the religious leaders of the people who give direction to the forces of religion” .
In this first chapter of Jesus and the Disinherited , the author Howard Thurman describes
The topic on abortion gives a moral objection to a fetus’ right to life, while it is questionable whether or not the death of the unborn child is unjustifiable. Although it may seem as if abortion puts women in situations where it is necessary to save the mother’s life in some situations. Until both pro-life and pro-choice can come to a conclusion and an agreement, this debates on abortion will continually go on. Both sides need to be able to draw the line somewhere and balance each other’s weakness.
In the essay "Worldviews in Conflict," Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey compare and contrast the ideas of Christianity and the views of today's society. Throughout the essay they provide information about how the changes in society affect views regarding Christianity. Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcy's essay was written to contribute information so others could understand their views about the shifting cultural context and how it affects society's beliefs.
Each man trying to correct from within were pushed further and outward away from the goal of unity. We would have a different story if it were only one man who rejected the idea of the Church being one with the world. The individual would have been marked as the antichrist. Instead, we see a few men take a stand for what they felt was the truth, which we had strayed. Noted, Campbell has seen the destruction with takes place when man messes with God’s desire for gathering of the Church. Campbell states, “What awful and distressing effects have those sad divisions produced! What aversions, what reproaches, what backbitings, what evil surmisings, what angry contentions, what enmities, what excommunications, even persecution!!!” (Campbell and Thomas) Campbell’s biggest fight was pulling back the reigns of the world. Campbell extends ejecting all human creeds that cause divisions among Christians. He states, “… for their faith must not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power and veracity of God. Therefore, no such deductions can be made terms of communion, but do properly belong to the after and progressive edification of the Church. Hence, it is evident that no such deductions or inferential truths ought to have a place in the Church’s confession.” (Campbell and Thomas) Reaching out to across all divisions, Campbell has to be unprejudiced. “That although the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are inseparably connected, making together but one perfect and entire revelation of the Divine will, for the edification and salvation of the Church, and therefore in that respect cannot be separated.” “From the nature and construction of these propositions, it will evidently appear, that they are laid in a designed subserviency to the declared end of our association; and are exhibited for the express purpose of performing a duty of pervious necessity, a duty loudly called for in
The pro-life stance on abortion is often associated with and defended by traditional Christian beliefs , ; however, this paper will argue that it can and should be defended with secular arguments that appeal to reason and our shared human condition. This paper will try and counter the notion that the argument is simply another battlefield where religion and secular thought meet. Rather, it is an important issue that carries with it heavy implications not only for the religious but also for the secular. The major arguments discussed include the emotional and physical toll on the mother, the societal toll of having abortion legalized, and the rights attributed to every human being; first, however, the stance taken in this paper will be further defined and clarified.
In her essay, “A Defense of Abortion,” Judith Jarvis Thompson outlines the most common arguments that people defend, and explains her views regarding each of these. She shares numerous examples and situations that she believes will support her views. One of her most prominent arguments is that of whether or not a fetus has moral standing as a “person.” She highlights the so called “battle” between an innocent life, the fetus, and the bodily rights of the mother. Within this argument, Judith outlines for us several situations which can provide people with a different outlook regarding abortion. Throughout Judith’s essay, she does not truly give a clear stance, but rather allows her readers to choose for themselves.
In The Meaning of Jesus N.T. Wright and Marcus Borg present different views on issues relating to how Jesus is viewed. While Borg and Wright do agree on central ideals of Christianity, Borg tends to have more liberal views, whereas Wright holds more conservative views.
This paper is written to discuss the many different ideas that have been discussed over the first half of Theology 104. This class went over many topics which gave me a much better understanding of Christianity, Jesus, and the Bible. I will be addressing two topics of which I feel are very important to Christianity. First, I will be focusing on the question did Jesus claim to be God? This is one of the biggest challenges of the Bibles that come up quite often. Secondly, I will focus on character development.
I think a fetus works the same, so when it comes to morality of abortion, many saying ‘no’ and many saying ‘case by case’. In my paper, I will try to explain Aristotle’s response based on his ethics to the arguments advanced on abortion by Judith Jarvis Thomson and Don Marquis in their essays, “A Defense of Abortion” and “An Argument that Abortion Is Wrong,” respectively.
Anger and heated debate have long fueled the controversy over abortion. Whether pro-life or pro-choice, both sides of the argument are convinced of the righteousness of their beliefs. There is, however, some confusion surrounding the term “pro-choice” – it does not directly pertain to the spread and use of abortion, but rather, “pro-choicers” advocate the continued legalization of abortion in order to make the choice available and to ensure that women’s fundamental rights are not subjugated. The stance that abortion should be available has its roots in economic concerns, psychological evidence, moral dilemmas, and the Constitution.
Abortion is an issue which separates the American public, especially when it involves the death of children and women. When an abortion occurs, the medical doctor removes the fetus from the pregnant woman. This particular act has separated the public. Many believe that abortion is not morally and ethically correct. On the other hand, some people believe that carrying and delivering the unborn child will hinder the safety of the mother, then an abortion is needed. Each view has its own merit in the debate. This debate has separated the public into two sections: pro-life and pro-choice. A pro-lifer opposes abortion, whereas, a pro-choicer believes that the decision to abort the child should be left to the mother because she is the one carrying the child. In this paper, there will be topics that will be discussed concerning pro-life and pro-choice. I hope at the end of this paper, the reader is able to gain more knowledge concerning each topic. Every woman has the right to control her own body.
There are several aspects to consider when exploring the Christian worldview. There are many facets or denominations and they each have their own distinct beliefs and practices, but they all share the same fundamental beliefs. In this Paper we will explore the character of God, His creation, humanity and its nature, Jesus’ significance to the world, and the restoration of humanity, as well as my beliefs and the way that I interact with Christianity and my personal worldview.
Abortion, which has been debated for centuries and will continue to be fought upon for centuries to come, is a hot issue among social, political, and religious entities. This research paper will inform the reader about abortion, using scholarly journals to define abortion, specifically when a fetus becomes a human being, and the reasons for and against abortion to persuade the reader why abortion should be legal. What does it mean to be Pro-Life or Pro-Choice? Pro-Life means those who oppose abortion for any reason,
The topic of abortion is a very sensitive subject in the world today. This begs the question “Is abortion morally acceptable?” I, myself, believe that “abortion is seriously immoral and that it is in the same moral category as killing an innocent adult human being.”(Minch, p.604) In this essay I will define abortion and give a brief summary of the case Roe v. Wade, tell why I believe abortion is immoral, provide a counter argument for a person who is pro-choice, and conclude by supporting my pro-life argument and providing an alternative to the pro-choice argument.