Religious studies
This assignment must take the form of a paper. The length should be at least 3 pages but no longer than 6 pages. The paper must be typed, using Times Roman 12 pt font, double spaces, one inch margins.
Context for Assignment
Throughout this semester, several authors have suggested that over the centuries, people are drawn to faith more by people of faith than by arguments about abstract religious truths. Here are just a few examples that either imply this claim or explicitly state it.
“Critics cannot deny that the religions of the world, along with their share of charlatans and hypocrites, have also inspired many selfless and truly holy people whom we can’t help but admire” (Portier, 9).
“Faith has a lot to do with the simple fact that there are trustworthy lives to be seen” (Williams, 21).
“For the contemporary Christian struggling to find some way of remaining true to his or her experience of God as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ while remaining true to his or her experience of the universality of God’s love, there is an alternative: the lived faith of those who are participants in Christ’s ongoing work” (Goizueta, 1-2).
“…at the most fundamental level, human beings are attracted not to beliefs and values in the abstract but to particular persons, particular lives…”(Goizueta, 3)
Primary Task of Paper #2
We have now read selections from the writings of two Christians, Augustine of Hippo and Dorothy Day. Augustine lived in the 4th and 5th centuries; Dorothy Day in the twentieth.
Your task is to explain address William Portier, Rowan Williams, and Roberto Goizueta regarding the lives of these two great Christian figures and how they affirm and/or undermine the assertions made about how people come to faith.
Here are the two major questions that your paper will need to address in this assignment.
1. To what extent do the accounts of Augustine’s and Day’s conversions to Christianity affirm or challenge what Portier, Williams, and Goizueta claim?
2. To what extent does the “lived faith” of Augustine and Day offer a “contemporary Christian” an example of how one might participate “in Christ’s ongoing work”?
Sources [the following readings are from the course]
Primary Sources
Selected readings from Augustine of Hippo
Selected readings from Dorothy Day
Scripture (Genesis 1-3, John’s Prologue, Gospel of Mark, Galatians) [primary source for “Christ’s work”]
Secondary Sources (as helpful to your argument)
Portier, Williams, and Goizueta
Paper Structure
Introduction: State your judgment concerning the conversions of Augustine and Dorothy Day and their contemporary significance relative to the assertions about how people are drawn to faith. You could argue that both Augustine and Day affirm or undermine the assertion, or that one affirms and other undermines it, or that both partially affirm and undermine the assertion. The final sentence of the introduction should be your thesis statement for your paper.
Body of the Paper: Support your judgment with specific evidence from the primary sources. You will need at least two paragraphs each for your discussion of Augustine and your discussion of Day (total of at least 4 paragraphs). You will need at least two more paragraphs to discuss whether or not a “contemporary Christian” can find inspiration in the lived faith of Augustine and Day, for a total of 6 paragraphs.
Conclusion: The conclusion should reiterate your position and how your discussion contributes to our understanding of the study of religion or theology.
Grading criteria
1. A clear statement of your judgment about the claim made by Portier, Williams and Goizueta. A development of your argument in support of your judgment based upon material drawn from the class readings and discussions.
2. Written reflection that demonstrates critical reflection on course material and class discussion. This means being able to give an appropriate and accurate account of the material you select from the primary and secondary sources in support of your stated judgment about the claim. In other words, demonstrate that you understand the texts. Direct quotes and proper citations are a necessity!!!!!!!!
3. Written reflection that demonstrates creative reflection on course material and class discussion. This means being able to help the reader come to a greater understanding of the topic at hand by your use of the primary and secondary sources in support your stated judgment. In other words, state your own ideas and use the texts to support them. Direct quotes and proper citations are a necessity