Aaron Poelker's Journal: Section 5
1.One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the topic of the week. The key idea of this section is Challenges to Faith. We learned about two philosophers, Friedrich Nietzsche and Thomas Hobbes, and one theologian, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and their differing views on human beings challenges to faith. These three men had differing views about God, the meaning of life, human beings, reason, and morality. For example Nietzsche believed that the meaning of life was not one set meaning but rather “what you make it,”(RB p.128) but in direct opposition in their own ways are both Ignatius who believed the meaning of life had one purpose because one God created us so therefore “everyone has the same purpose,”(RB p.128) and Thomas Hobbes firmly believed the meaning of life is irrelevant due to the fact that no one created us. Another key example of a challenge to Faith is science. For years science and the church worked together in harmony in which science did not make any distinguishment between science, philosophy, and religion. During the Renaissance period many scientists set out to disprove many church teachings in which the church responded with such occurrences as the Inquisition. This was a dark period in both science history and church history which today has been overcame. Today the church and science coexist peacefully.
2. List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week. Practical Atheism. A practical atheist is someone who says they believe in some creed or religion, if need be, but never participate in what their creeds ask of them. A practical atheist says they believe in their God and beliefs but have no reason to back up their claims and furthermore do not practice their beliefs. Theologians say “for all practical purposes”(RB p.107) these people might as well be an atheist, someone who makes “a conscious, deliberate decision that God does not exist.”(RB p.107) Materialism. Materialism is the belief that “the only thing which exists is physical matter.”(RB p.118). This was a belief of Thomas Hobbes and other great thinkers in history including Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud. This belief can be simply summed up in that nothing outside things made of atoms and other particles exist. Therefore God does not exist and neither does the human soul. Hobbes stated that “nothing exists which cannot be measured, weighed, or otherwise subjected to physical examination.”(RB p.118) Existentialism.Existentialism is the philosophy that says “the most important questions one must face are subjective questions (those which concern a person directly), as opposed to objective questions (which concern reality in general). (RB p.138). Existentialism is more directly focused on humans free will and our God because these issues are at the forefront of what effects we as human beings. Existentialism does not deny scientific truth but rather says that it does not ultimately matter because it does not serve to ask questions about our individuals self’s.
3. One image of that reminds you of the topic. Attribute, link, your source.
Source: wikipedia
4. One good question you should keep with you to ponder.
Am I a practical atheist or do I value and practice what the church tells me to practice, but ultimately do I believe what the Catholic Church believes?
5. What should you try to do to make you a better person, a more faithful person, from this study.
To be a more faithful person I need to be aware of all the challenges to Faith in today’s society which includes: biases, laziness, the media, and science. I also need to ask myself the important questions of life and existence. I need to think more of my convictions and hold true to them or maybe in some cases revise them and learn from my thinking mistakes. I need to also be aware of the many pitfalls that society has set out for us and how to avoid those pitfalls. Ultimately I think I need to become more aware of my beliefs and come to terms with my beliefs and make them more of my own instead of just things other people have pressed on me.
