Journal 6


One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the major idea of the section

The title of this section is "Jesus, Model of Faith, Model of Humanity". It focuses on Jesus' life and what characteristics made him the perfect model of Faith in God, as well as the ideal model of humanity. Through the section we worked on peeling away the layers of Jesus' divinity to see him as a complete human, rather than a complete God that we can't relate to. Through this we were able to learn how Jesus can be a model for each of us.


List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week

Luke's Gospel - I think that reading the Gospel of Luke helped a great deal in seeing Jesus as a human. Early on it talks of Jesus travelling around working miracles, but he never proclaims himself God. In fact, when Peter says that he believes that Jesus is God, Jesus asks him not to tell that to anyone. Jesus wasn't trying to start a religion around himself, instead, he wished elaborate on the moral law that the people lived by and preach about heaven and God.

The Argument from Natural Law - This argument for God's existence is based on natural law, the moral rules that apply to everyone. People often fight about what is right and wrong, but if God doesn't exist then there is no objective answer to what is right and what is wrong, so there can be no argument because there is no answer. The fact that everyone feels that there is some line between what is good and what is evil means that there must be some objective answer.

The Five Basic Inclinations of Human Nature - These are the five intrinsic characteristics found in every human. We will always pursue these things unless there is an external impediment or a greater good. The first is the desire to seek happiness. Every person wants happiness, we just have differing views on what will bring us happiness. The next is the desire to preserve oneself in existence. All people wish to survive. The third inclination is the desire to preserve the species. Every person wishes for the human race to continue. This is why all humans feel sexual desires. The next is to live in a community with others. All people wish to be with others to avoid lonliness. The last inclination is to use intellect and will. All people want to learn. It's natural for all people to seek the truth through knowledge.


One or two good images of that remind you of key ideas

(This picture of the sunset reminds me of the Anthropic Principle, from http://www.artistcrose.com/photos/photo1.html)

One good question you should keep with your to ponder
Do I keep Jesus as my model for humanity? Do I look at Jesus as the most perfect human in history or just some figure I can't relate to? Am I constantly trying to make myself more like Jesus?

What should you try to do to make you a better person, a more faithful person, from this study?
I should constantly be analyzing my life to see if I am trying to model my life after Jesus. I should try to look at Jesus not only as God, but as a true human.
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