Einstein on the Trinity

Week 6: Homework

Reading Assignment:
Read Chapter 6 of Theology and Sanity, “Three Persons in One Nature”—pp. 88—98.
Questions:
1. Is there any arithmetic involved in the doctrine of the Trinity?
2. Why is it folly / insensitive / callous to not think of the Trinity at all?
3. Why did God reveal the doctrine of the Trinity?
4. What are the words that usually get dropped from the definition of the Trinity? (p.90)
5. What are the 4 statements that set out the doctrine of the Trinity?
6. Why is there no arithmetic involved in the doctrine of the Trinity?
7. What question does nature answer? What person?
8. What kinds of beings are persons?
9. How are nature and person the sources of action?
10. What is an example of anthropomorphism Sheed talks about on p. 94?
11. Do the persons of the Trinity share the divine nature?

Reflection Questions:
1. Has your understanding of the Trinity changed after this chapter? What difference do you think that will make in your relationship with God?

The Song that Made Me Weepy In Class

Last night, during our discussion of Week 4's reflection question, I mentioned a song that always makes me verklempt.

Below are the lyrics to the song and a link to where you can hear it performed by the original artist (I prefer the version of my friend who introduced me to the song, but she's not on the Internet...)

You'll need Real Audio Player to listen.

How Much Do You Think You Are Worth?

Is a rich man worth more than a poor man?
A stranger worth less than a friend?
Is a baby worth more than an old man?
Your beginning worth more than your end?

Is a president worth more than his assassin?
Does your value decrease with your crime?
Like when Christ took the place of Barabbas
Would you say he was wasting his time?

Well, how much do you think you are worth, boy?
Will anyone stand up and say?
Would you say that a man is worth nothing
Until someone is willing to pay?

I suppose that you think you matter
Well, how much do you matter to whom?
It’s much easier at night when with friends and bright lights
Than much later alone in your room

Do you think they’ll miss one in a billion
When you finish this old human race?
Does it really make much of a difference
When your friends have forgotten your face?

If you heard that your life had been valued
That a price had been paid on the nail
Would you ask what was traded,
How much and who paid it
Who was He and what was His name?

If you heard that His name was called Jesus
Would you say that the price was too dear?
Held to the cross not by nails but by love
It was you broke His heart, not the spear!
Would you say you are worth what it cost Him?
You say ‘no’, but the price stays the same.
If it don’t make you cry, laugh it off, pass Him by,
But just remember the day when you throw it away
That He paid what He thought you were worth.

How much do you think He is worth, boy?
Will anyone stand up and say?
Tell me, what are you willing to give Him
In return for the price that He paid?

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1974 Make Way Music

Hear it.

Week 5: Homework

Reading Assignment:
Read Chapter 5 of Theology and Sanity, “God Tells Man”—pp. 76—87.

Questions:
1. What are the ways Jesus teaches us about God? (Hint: the answer is in the section titles.)

2. What difference does the Incarnation with respect to our ability to know God?

3. Why did Jesus keep his divinity a secret for so long? Explain.

4. What are some of the things Christ did and said that only God had a right to do and say?

5. What was the “principal fruit” of the Apostles’ three year companionship with Jesus?

6. How do we “vivify all that hard thinking about the Infinite? (p.83).

7. Why are our words and concepts of God, though inadequate, not useless?

8. What “new element in God’s revelation of Himself to men” did Christ reveal?

Reflection Questions:
1. How familiar are you with the words and ministry of Jesus? Have you ever read a Gospel account all the way through? If not start reading one today.

Reality Check

Mark Shea has an interesting article at Catholic Exchange about the modern tendency to misunderstand "realism" and reality.

http://www.catholicexchange.com/node/64095

Week 4: Homework

Reading Assignment:
Read Chapter 4 of Theology and Sanity, “The Mind Works on Infinity”—pp. 61-76.

Questions:
1. Where was God when the universe was created?

2. Why must an infinite being be a spirit? Hint: what are the two kinds of limitations an infinite being is free from?

3. On p. 65, Sheed says that “for all spaceless beings the word ‘where’ has one meaning.” What is it? (Where are spaceless beings?)

4. God’s Immensity is another way of describing what?

5. What is time?

6. What does the phrase “before the universe was created” mean?

7. Does eternity mean time open at both ends? What is the philosophic definition of eternity?

8. On pp. 72-73 Sheed list five limitations on our knowing—three are obvious, two are less so. List all five.

9. Explain (as best you can) how God is His attributes (Knowledge, Love, Justice, Mercy, etc.).

Reflection Questions:
1. Read Matthew 13: 44-46 and then re-read the last paragraph of the chapter. What connections can you make between what Sheed says and the two parables?

Here's another argument for God's existence.