Announcements

• Dec. 21, Tuesday will be group consultation day.• Long Test and submission of reflection paper:

Jan. 20 (Questions will be posted in the website)• Reflection paper: (Minimum of 2 pages any

suggestions)– Topics

• What is Faith?• Any of the articles we have used

Road Map

Faith God

Jesus ChristExistence

Knowledge

AtheistTheistAgnostics?

Can you prove God exists?

Elaboration on the Argument of Goodness

Synthesis of faith and reason (note: additional reflection on faith)

Elaboration of Goodness (note: continuation of the section “Can you prove that God exists?)

What will be covered today

Synthesis of faith and reason

Relationship of faith and reason

DialoguePatient: When the doctors said that she had two months to live, that is when I made a bargain..House: With your health insurance carrier?Patient: With God, that I will nail my self to a cross every year he kept her alive.House: So how did that negotiation go, you low balled with ear piercing and God countered?Patient: Three weeks later she was cancer free. And that was four years ago.House: Pontius Pilate, misunderstood the oncologist!Patient: My wife thinks I am crazy too. She moved out the first time I did this.House: At least your daughter has one viable role model.Daughter (Melissa): You do not believe in God.House: I did and then I grew my curly hairs.Daughter (Melissa): So how do you think I was cured?House: Maybe you were misdiagnosed in the first place.Patient: You have your answers doctor, we have ours.House: Causal determinism, we are hard wired to need answers. The cave man who heard a rustle

in the bushes to check out what it was lived longer than the one who just assumed it was a breeze. The problem is when we do not find a logical answer we settle for a stupid one, which is what happens when we run out of rational ones.

Other doctor: If you are done mocking him. WE need to prepare for an LPHouse: Good! Put another hole in him! That will really make God’s day!

Free, Yet Morally Obliging

Certain, Yet ObscureReasonable, yet beyond Reason

An Act, yet a Life Long Process

Personal, yet EcclesialA Gift, but Our Doing

Reasonable, yet beyond natural reason

Faith does not conflict with reason.Human beings have the capacity to have faith because they have the ability to reason.

Reasonable, yet beyond natural reason

Yet, natural reason is not enough. We need God to enlighten us!Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (Joh 8:12)

Faith and Reason:Comparison

Diagram 1

A B

Diagram 2

A B

Diagram 3

A = B

Diagram 4

A B

Diagram 5

A B

Faith: The act of believing in God Reason: To argue in a logical manner

Definition of Faith and reason

Diagram 1

F R

Diagram 2

F R

Diagram 3

F = R

Diagram 4

F R

Diagram 5

F R

Which diagram best describes the relationship of Faith and reason? Why?

Discussion

Schedule group meetings. Give your group a name.

Break

Elaboration on the Argument of Goodness

• C.S. Lewis’ Conclusions– Human beings have a sense for what is good– Human beings do not choose what is good– Good and Bad (Natural Law) is outside the Human Construct (i.e. was not created by man)

• Two Events for your thoughts (Example that are clearly acceptable as good or bad)• Main Question: Is law of human nature (i.e. the concept of right and wrong) man made? • Moral Law=Herd Instinct?

– The Moral Law (standard) is different from our instinct– The moral law judges between two instincts therefore it cannot be that instinct. – The Moral Law encourages us to follow the weaker instinct

• The Moral Law is a guide• Moral Law= Social Convention??

– If we learned it from someone it is a human convention?– Some things we learn are fixed i.e. we cannot just change it – Some things we learn can be different for other people

• The question is to which class the Law of Human Nature belongs (i.e. “Mathematics” and “Traffic Convention”)– There is such a thing as a standard we are aiming for– People think there are no major differences in our morality– Therefore ,moral standards belong to the class of mathematics

Elaboration on the Argument of

GoodnessPart 1

The Argument of Goodness

The Argument of Goodness

Main Question: Is Law of Human Nature(i.e. the concept of

right and wrong) man made?

RightGoodBad

Wrong

Moral Standard

Two Events for your thoughts CNN Hero of the Year: Efren Penaflorida Maguindanao Massacre

CNN Hero of the YearOur planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor,

man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry…

Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to

the next one in need.So to each and every person inside in this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting

to be unleashed.Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy

to serve.As I always tell (to) my co-volunteers … you are the change

that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be.”

Efren Penaflorida

Maguindanao Massacre The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the Ampatuan

massacre (after the townwhere the mass graves were found), occurred on the morning of November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao province, on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. The victims were about to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town. Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., in the forthcoming Maguindanao gubernatorial election,[1] part of the national elections in 2010. Those killed included Mangudadatu's wife, his two sisters, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witnesses or were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy.

Main Question: Is Law of Human Nature(i.e. the concept of

right and wrong) man made?

RightGoodBad

Wrong

Moral Standard

Right

GoodBad

Wrong

Moral StandardSOURCE??

Right

GoodBad

Wrong

Moral StandardHERD INSTINCT

HERD INSTINCT

Society creates the standards

???

Moral Law=Herd Instinct?  The Moral Law (standard) is different from

our instinct◦ The moral law judges between two instincts

therefore it cannot be that instinct.◦  The Moral Law encourages us to follow the

weaker instinct◦ The Moral Law is a guide

The moral law judges between two instincts therefore it cannot be that instinct.

RightGood

Bad

Wrong

MORAL STANDARD : INSTINCT

Judge

The Moral Law encourages us to follow the weaker instinct.

RightGoodBad

WrongMORAL

STANDARDJudge

Jolibee Story

The Moral Law is a guide.

RightGoodBad

WrongMORAL

STANDARDJudge

Jolibee Story

Preview of C.S. Lewis’ Conclusion

SOURCE??

Good

Bad

Preview of C.S. Lewis’ Conclusion

SOURCE! Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Suggestion for Christmas!!

SOURCE! Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Follow your “weaker instinct!”

The End: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!