THE IMPLICATIONS
Jul 5th, 2013 by amcadams
In this section, I shall focus on what it means to think analytically. But this, I mean our ability to break down a topic and then reconstruct it in such a way that it provides us with new perspectives on a phenomenon. I am especially interested in statements that have this form: “If I think this….then, this…..”
Our goal in reflecting on the topics below will be to consider the relationship between our conceptions of Hell and human behavior. My basic proposition is that the way we define the world will have important implications for how we should act. In the case our understandings of Hell:
1) Does it matter whether there continue to be different conceptions of Hell in our society?
2) How is our conception of Hell related to our moral options?
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PRONOUNCEMENTS AND THREATS: “GO TO HELL . . . !”
21. Thursday, November 7.
Discussion: Does Hell Exist? If so, in what form? What do people think today? What do these conceptions tell us about different views of human nature?
- Winfrid Herbst: “Don’t go to Hell!” PRINT AND READ
- Jeffery Sheler: “Hell hath no fury” PRINT AND READ
- John Paul II rejects literal Hell PRINT AND READ
- Pew Foundation Research on Belief in Hell: PRINT AND READ pp. 3-12 of this document. Then compare with “Republic of Ireland”: PRINT AND READ
- Bishop John Henry Spong, “Hell is an invention of the church” WATCH AND TAKE NOTES
22. Tuesday, November 12
Discussion: What is Human Nature and why should it matter for our understanding of moral behavior? Dostoevsky challenges us to think about what society needs to do–or should avoid–to ensure moral behavior.
- An excerpt from Fyodr Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov Ivan Karamazov’s sobering thoughts on “Rebellion”: 236-263 (HAND-OUT)
Note: No self-respecting Notre Dame student should graduate without reading The Brothers Karamazov in its entirety. The book will change the way you look at life.
23. Thursday, November 14
Film and Discussion: Stanley Milgram, “Obedience”
- On Milgram: READ
- The Milgram “Obedience Song” LISTEN AND GET WITH THE PROGRAM!
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Your second writing assignment is HERE
A WORLD WITHOUT HELL: “NO HELL BENEATH US . . .”
24. Tuesday, November 19.
Discussion: What is the connection between Hell and moral behavior? Do we need to believe in Hell to maintain a civilized society? In this discussion, please think about the consequences of our view of human behavior for how we expect people to act. Where does humanity learn to do the “right thing”?
- Jerry Walls: “Can we be Good without Hell?” PRINT AND READ
- Belief in Hell and Criminality: PRINT AND READ. For background on this this fascinating research: SCAN
- Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize Speech: PRINT AND READ
- Richard Dawkins, “Religion’s real child abuse” PRINT AND READ
- David Brooks, “The End of Philosophy” PRINT AND READ
- Our Values Survey: An assessment of your findings about your personal beliefs.
25. Thursday, November 21.
Music from Hell: It’s no surprise that there is a direct relationship between what musicians have to say about Hell and how they expect people to act. How many songs in the following genres invoke the concept of Hell?: Metal, punk, heavy rock, existential rock, grunge, rap, the blues. Comparatively speaking, how many invoke the concept of heaven?
- PRINT AND READ: Compare John Lennon‘s lyrics in “Imagine” with Nirvana‘s Kurt Cobain in”Lake of Fire“
- LISTEN: “Imagine” and “Lake of Fire“
- The People’s Choices: Your nominations will be HERE when you post them.
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NOTE: Please leave your technology at home. This includes electronic devices of any kind, such as laptops, i-Pads, cell phones, Kindles, x-Boxes, clouds, video cameras, or other personal digital devices.