...Aurea C. Florindo-Soares VTTH 203 E Fr. Donohue 1/22/2015 Is God Dead? In religious experience, people usually think that life is surrounded by ordinary and extraordinary things, especially in the stories of Moses and Elijah. As these stories in the bible go along, many times, some people are questioning the existence of God. To prove God’s existence, one should have a strong belief in their religion. As religion teaches, one believes that God dies physically for us on the cross because He sacrifices himself by giving His full love to us. After God arises from the dead three days later, His soul remains alive. That soul exists in order for us to have a better and deeper relationship with God. One believes that God does exist in nature, in the human person, in the church, and everywhere else. What about a person who does not believe in those things? What about a person who has no religious background and believes that God is dead? Each person has a different perspective, understanding, and belief about the existence of God. Whether one realizes or not, this is his or her choice to believe God’s existence. One will use their experiences to believe in God’s presence in their own lives. They can interpret their experiences as happy or sad, depending on who they trust. If this is in a happy way, one will believe God’s existence by saying God is dead physically, but His soul is not dead. He remains within us everywhere and all the time in this world. He helps us when we need...
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...UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY A Select Issue in Contemporary Theology: God-Is-Dead Theology Submitted to Dr. Lee Mitchell, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course THEO 510 – B01 Survey of Theology by Kevin Curtis July 1, 2014 Table of Contents Introduction/Thesis Statement 1 The French Revolution 2 Immanuel Kant Albrecht Ritschl Friedrich Nietzsce 3 Bultman Bonhoeffer Van Buren Hamilton Altizer Conclusion 4 Bibliography 5 Introduction/Thesis Statement One of the most difficult questions today posed to Christian believers is to prove the existence of God. It by all appearances seems that the Christian belief, far more than any other is under attack by groups who are opposing not just belief in God but also a direct attack on religious freedom. By religious freedom the author here does not focus on the right to choose your religion, but to practice it openly without fear of legal retaliation or of retaliation of any kind. The God-Is-Dead Theology is not a new belief but has existed since the late nineteenth century with its roots founded in statements made by Friedrich Nietzsche who lived from 1844 and died in 1900. The sole purpose of this paper is to show the historical workings of those “theologians” who created the God-Is-Dead theology, how it got its possible rise stemming from the events of the French Revolution...
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...God Is Dead In "Good Country People" O’Connor explained the inner world of selfish, ugly and humble heart by the two protagonists Joy and Pointer’s descriptions, the task of character disgusting twisted side vividly demonstrated to the readers, merciless in exposing pure real life all the evils of human nature and its destruction. Joy is a negative with the nihilist, she doubts everything, hate everything, negating all the traditional values that everywhere is full of evil, all is vanity, she is also a twist on the character, she strongly highlight and strengthen their own to emphasize its ugly appearance "inner beauty" to abnormal behavior against everything around to vent discontent of reality. She pretentious, despised everything, she was advertised herself “I’m one 0f those people who see through to nothing” revealing the arrogance of her heart. She attempts to change Pointer's beliefs, her own blind arrogance ultimately embarrassing, pitiful situation; in fact, he is a hidden under the ugly appearance of the inner ugly people. O’Connor described both her ugly surface and inner world, “she had thought and thought until she had hit upon the ugliest name in any language. Then she had gone and had the beautiful name, Joy, changed without telling her mother” (page. 145). The reason that Joy find a most deliberately nasty name, is not because of low self-esteem, on the contrary, she put the most terrible name as the highest symbol of the creative act, which shows her superior...
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...God Is Dead: Evidence Concerning the Human Condition on Behalf of Friedrich Nietzsche The phrase “God is dead,” when heard outside of context, can fall on the ears of the religious as something strikingly blasphemous. It may fall on the ears of the secular as something quite nihilistic and pessimistic. When taken out of context, a very rich and thought-provoking idea can be completely lost to the emotional hostility provoked in the mind of anyone with staunchly held preconceived notions. “God is dead,” however dark the phrase may sound, is a call to self-reflection. It is a phrase that will, when read with a set of evidences, force the reader to reflect on the milestones that humanity has achieved, both socially and physically, in the small and largely unfettered existence which humanity has possessed. When pondered within context, it is an idea that will force any reader to realize that, since the beginning, mankind has been a creative and impeccably persevering lot that has existed for hundreds of thousands of years, largely due to an exceptional ability to adapt and change prevailing attitudes based on what is needed for survival....
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...An Exegetical Evaluation of the Impacts of “God is Dead” Religion has been subject to various examinations throughout time; this historically dominant concept has offered much to the world, while sometimes being disadvantageous. Philosophers have looked to offer insight and understanding to the idea of a higher power, aiming to try to grasp its complex nature. Friedrich Nietzsche a 19th century philosopher takes a different approach to the idea of religion in his literary narrative “The Gay Science”. In this narrative Nietzsche makes the bold statement that “God is Dead” (Nietzsche 95), claiming that we are responsible. This is rather extreme statement in any context, however considering the time period in which he was writing, a time where...
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... THE GOD-IS-DEAD THEOLOGY A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO DOCTOR RICHARD ELLIGSON PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF CHURCH MINISTRY BY EL-FATIH J. AJALA (25927535) THEO 510 LUO LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA JULY 21, 2013 Introduction Paul Enns in his book The Moody Handbook of Theology states of theologians who profess this theology, “deny all forms of traditional ontology and allow for no sovereign and unconditioned Being but only a ‘God’ who at some point in the dialectic wills His own self-annihilation” and that, “man must learn to live without God.”[1] The lack of universal truth in our lives in this 21st century can be directly attributed to the lack of morals and moral values begun in the 19th century; and which took root in the 20th century; and might be the death of man in the 22nd century. In stating that God is dead, it has to be shown that: * Is God dead? * Science and technology can solve the world’s problems * God died as a transcendent God when Christ died * The Bible is narrative (i.e. myth) This review of the God-Is-Dead theology focuses on these four questions. Is God Dead? In an article written in the Chicago Tribune in 1963 it is stated that two men (Thomas Altizer and William Hamilton) experienced the death of God. Upon this statement...
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...Phil 1010 – 930a Prof. Michele C. Evans Final Exam Essay Barry Bishop II Nietzsche's assertion that 'God is dead' is not simply a theological statement. Nietzsche hasn't come up with the definitive argument to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that God could not possibly exist-except in the minds of men. This statement, although it certainly does have its theological aspect, is essentially a statement proclaiming the plight of modern Western culture. Succinctly stated, the 'Death of God' refers to the complete loss of belief in the accepted religious and metaphysical world-view along with the system of values it upholds, in particular its moral values. The 'Death of God' announces the advent of the age of nihilism, an age of cultural barrenness arising from this loss of belief, and which may well end in catastrophe as far as any truly human existence is concerned. Yet, to Nietzsche, this demise of God, this loss of belief in all that we esteemed as the highest and most valuable, is simply the natural and logical outcome, within the history of Western culture, of the accepted religious and metaphysical world-view. It all begins with the original premise of the framework of Platonism, which, according to Nietzsche, became the ground of all subsequent metaphysical, religious, moral, historical and political views on man and his place in the universe. Broadly, that original Platonic or Socratic premise claimed that existence is bifurcated into two separate asymmetrical...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY “A Select Issue in Contemporary Theology: God-Is-Dead Theology” Submitted to Dr. Eunice Abogunrin In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of THEO 510-B05 Survey of Theology By John Kohler Whitley October 5, 2014 Introduction Friedrich Nietzsche believed God is dead, and he has based his theology around these three words. Why does he believe God is dead? Friedrich Nietzsche could have called his theology God does not exist and easily conveyed his message. Nietzsche purposefully chose these three words to send a message to the Christian faith. Since the beginning of time the existence of God has been questioned. Science has attempted to provide humanity with an explanation for human origin and has failed. Atheists argue that God does not exist and do not really offer any strong counter argument to the contrary. Muslims, Jews, and Christians each claim they serve the one supreme Creator of the universe. Who is right and who is wrong? If God is dead, why is religion alive and well? This paper will attempt to answer these questions by providing examples and counter examples. By taking a closer look at the life of Friedrich Nietzsche, his beliefs, morals and values, one will find that he does not possess any evidence that God is dead. Friedrich Nietzsche The life of Friedrich Nietzsche started out rather sadly. Nietzsche’s father, Karl Ludwig Nietzsche, developed a problem in the brain...
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...“GOD IS NOT YET DEAD” The pervasive presence and usages of religion in all the spheres of contemporary social life. INTRODUCTION : Arguments for and against the existence of God have been proposed by philosophers, theologians, scientists, and others for thousands of years. In philosophical terms, such arguments involve primarily the disciplines of epistemology (the nature and scope of knowledge) and ontology (study of the nature of being, existence, or reality) and also the theory of value, since concepts of perfection are connected to notions of God. A wide variety of arguments exist which can be categorized as metaphysical, logical, empirical, or subjective. Does God exist? Is there a god? The existence of God is subject to lively debate in philosophy, the philosophy of religion, and popular culture. The Western tradition of philosophical discussion of the existence of God began with Plato and Aristotle, who made arguments that would now be categorized as cosmological. The field of theodicy arose from attempts to answer this question. Other arguments for the existence of God have been proposed by St. Anselm, who formulated the first ontological argument; Ibn Rushd (Averroes) and Aquinas, who presented their own versions of the cosmological argument (the kalam argument and the first way, respectively); Descartes, who said that the existence of a benevolent God was logically necessary for the evidence of the senses to be meaningful; and Immanuel Kant, who argued that the...
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...Nietzsche declared that God was dead and believed that people would be completely lost after this realization. He also proposed the two major aspects of human nature, the Apollonian and the Dionysian. Jung proposed that the collective unconscious, information reflective of human experience as a whole, was the most important component of personality. Kierkegaard stressed faith and having a personal relationship with God. Batson formed the three-dimensional model of religion, which characterized how people view and use their own religion. Nihilism is the belief that any search for the truth will fail because what is considered true will always vary. Nietzsche made the statement that “God is dead”. This was not meant to be taken literally, and...
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...-Elizabeth Gaskell. (____) This quote from Elizabeth Gaskell relates to the Greek god, Hades, of the underworld and king of the dead. From ancient Greek to modern times Hades is viewed as the god of evil. He is viewed as evil in society because he drew the small end of the stick. Receiving the power to the ruler of the underworld and king of the dead. In modern-day Hades can be compared to the devil, the queen ant, and a kidnapper. The ones who study Greek mythology must remember, Hades is neither evil nor dark like how society portrays him, but “he is altruistic and passive, bringing balance to the world” (“Top… Hades.”). Humans who are quick to judge without knowing the story behind someone's purpose is where the trait of evil develops. Hades is the third brother among the twelve great Olympians. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades defeated their father and the Titans to help their cousins reclaim their rulership over the cosmos. The three brothers agreed to split their rule and Hades drew his power of the ruling the underworld and becoming the king over the dead. Most people think Hades is the ruler of death, but he is not the ruler of the death just the dead. “He presided over funeral rites and defended the rights...
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...can be heard HERE). Much focus was on the biblical concept of “spiritual deadness” and the unfounded presumption by the Calvinists that it means mankind is born completely unable to respond willingly to God Himself. The analogy of being “dead” is seen throughout the scriptures, but can it be demonstrated to mean that mankind is born completely and totally unable to willingly respond to God Himself, as the Calvinists presume? Are we born dead like Lazarus, a corpse rotting in the tomb (a link scripture never draws), or are we dead like the...
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...Is God Dead and Have We Killed Him? An Argument in Defense of Nietzsche's “Madman.” “Incipit tragoedia,” Nietzsche exclaims at the closing of The Gay Science, but what stands before this tragedy? What has happened to usher in such a fatal turn to the “goat song”? The answer lies in Nietzsche's claim that, “God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him!” (Nietzsche 141-142). There can be little argument that these enraged words of Nietzsche are reveled by atheists and agnostic alike. On the other hand, theists acquainted with his writings revile them. Are there grounds to be correspondingly joyous and offended? Does the announcement carry any concern? Can the proclamation carry both joy and offense? What if the passage is being taken too literally? This is what needs to be investigated! The real question then is what exactly Nietzsche means when he asserts, “God is Dead...And we have killed him!” (Nietzsche 141-142). In order to answer these questions, I intend to argue, through a critical exposition of Nietzsche’s claim, that God - that is the “cause” of Him - although not completely...
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...of Ultimate Reality The practices of Egyptian religion were efforts to provide for the gods and gain their favor. These gods included the royal patron Horus, the sun god Ra and the mother goddess Isis. According to Nigosian (2008), “The worship of one god (monotheism) took place during the reign of Pharaoh Amen-hotep.” They concept of ultimate reality was that dead components passed into a dark bleak realm that represented the opposite of life. Pharaoh when he was deceased was believed to ascend to the sky and dwell among the stars. Mesopotamian religion referred to the religious beliefs and practices of Assyrian, Babylonian and Chaldean people living in Mesopotamia. There was one supreme god or absolute lord of the city.(Nigosian 2008, p.45) Their concept of ultimate reality was known as the great below. When comparing these tw0 religions with my own belief system, I recognize the similarities. My concept of ultimate reality is that I believe in one God, and I believe that the deceased go to dwell in either Heaven (above the earth) of hell (beneath the earth). Survival after Death According to Mystakidou, Tsilka, Parpa, Katsouda and Vlahos (2004-2005), “Death has many meanings and they change with culture and society.” The Egyptians believed that after death, everyone was fated to appear before the tribunal of Osiris. There in the presence of Osiris and other jurors, the newly dead were expected to confess to and exonerate themselves of various crimes, sins and misdemeanors...
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...early Roman Empire subjugated Egypt and made it a province Consequently, Ancient Egyptian religion covers the assorted religious beliefs and rituals that were been practiced in ancient Egypt for a period of over 3,000 years, commencing from the pre-dynastic age until the espousal of Christianity during the early centuries AD. Originally, these beliefs concentrated on the adulation of multiple divinities who symbolized diverse forces of nature, power, and thought patterns articulated by the means of intricate and assorted prototypes. Approaching, the 18th reign, they began to be observed as aspects of a single divinity that existed separately from nature, analogous to Trinitarian conceptions also instituted in Christianity that one god can be present in more than one being. These divinities were adulated with prayers and offerings, in household and local shrines in addition to prescribed temples managed by local...
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