Synoptics I

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Midterm Examination: Information and Format

Midterm Examination: Synoptics I

Prof: Fr. Randy Flores, SVD
August 9, 2010, MONDAY
Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Place: Martyrs’ Hall
Coverage:
1. Topics 1-5 (Lectures)
2. Required Readings:
Topic 1: Ehrman, pp. 17-35.
Topic 2: Amy-Jill Levine, “Jesus and Judaism”;
and James H.Charlesworth, “Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls
Significant for an Improved Perception of the Origins of Christianity?”
Topic 3: Ehrman, pp. 1-16
Topic 4: Ehrman pp. 70-74

Format of the Exam:
Part I: Multiple Choice (5 questions = 10 points)
Part II: Identification (5 questions = 10 points)
Part III: Short Answers (7 questions = 20 points;
Types can be definitions, explanations, enumerations)
Part IV: Essay (from two questions, choose one to elaborate = 10 points)
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Total number of points: 50 x 2 = 100.

Click here to download a copy in pdf.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Of Miracles by David Hume

David Hume (7 May 1711 [26 April O.S.] – 25 August 1776) was a Scottish philosopher and historian, regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment. Hume is often grouped with John Locke, George Berkeley, and a handful of others as a British Empiricist.

During his lifetime, Hume was more famous as a historian....

In his discussion of miracles in An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding (Section 10) Hume defines a miracle as "a transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition of the Deity, or by the interposition of some invisible agent". Given that Hume argues that it is impossible to deduce the existence of a Deity from the existence of the world (for he says that causes cannot be determined from effects), miracles (including prophesy) are the only possible support he would conceivably allow for theistic religions.

Click here for more on David Hume.

Read his essay on miracles here.