Thanks to dma.fi.upm.es for the image.
Believing in God really is a risk because the outcome is uncertain. It is sort of like throwing dice.
In this section we learned about reasons to believe in God, and Jesus as a model of Faith for us. After reading about so many arguments not to beleve in the existance of God, reading some that aargued for God was refreshing. The arguments were divided into two sections: knowledge via the natural world and knowledge via the human person. Knowledge from the natural world are arguments from either apoligeticists or nature taken and concluded from the world aroound us. Knowledge from the human person was taking thoughts or feelings that we have as people and concluding that the only reason we have these emotions is if God gave them to us. After reading the reasons for God, we read about Jesus and his Faith in the Gospel of Luke and other articles and discussed his teachings and humanity.
2.List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week.
Pascal's Wager- Blaise Pascal offered this argument as a reason to believe in God: There are two ideas on God, you can believe He exists or not believe He exists. If you believe and He exists, then eternal life awaits you. If you do not believe and He does exist, then you end up in hell. If you believe and He does not exist, then you end up where everyone else does. If you do not believe and He does not exist, then you end up where everyone else does. So, you can guarantee yourself the best possible outcome by believing in God. So that no matter if He exists or not, you are guaranteed to either be in Heaven or end up where everyone else does. The only way to be worse off is if you do not believe.
The Beatitudes- This list of "Blessed are"s was given directly by Jesus to the people. These are the best guidelines for people to follow about how to live their life according to what a loving God would like. By following these, a person reflects a life and a spirit filled with love and God.
Jesus is the embodiment of God- Jesus was both fully human and fully divine, and God was fully embodied in Jesus' divinity. It was the only time that God has placed himself on earth and it will not happen again until the end of time. Jesus was given his authority to teach as he did directly from God and everyhting he said was God's word. Humans have no clue what God looks like, except by what Jesus and each one of us look like. By putting himself on earth as a man, God revealed to us His mysteries and love by assuming all of the pain, and much more, that comes with being human for us and our sins. By following Jesus' words and actions, we are directly following God's words and actions.
3. One good image that reminds me of key ideas.
Believing in God really is a risk because the outcome is uncertain. It is sort of like throwing dice.
4. One good question to keep with me and ponder.
I say that I believe in God, but do my actions show that? What can I do to better emulate Jesus in my words and actions?
5. What should I try to do to make me a better person, a more faithful person, from this study?
I should, sort of aswering my above question, try to be the human being that God wants me to be. This will be achieved by following the Beatitudes and modeling my life after Jesus'. Jesus was the best example of a man because he was perfect. I cannot be perfect, but should strive to be. By making this attempt, I will be following the will of God, who I believe in. A way that I can accomplish these things is to be a "preacher" for God. Not to go out onto any street corners or on a stool and let it fly, but when I meet someone who is either against my religion or is an atheist, to talk with them about their beliefs and give them some things to think about. The big thing, though, is to try. Trying your best is all that God asks.