In this assignment, you will demonstrate your understanding of the Christian worldview, including the main topics you have covered up to this point. You will summarize and analyze the essential elements of the gospel (nature of God, nature of humanity, nature of Jesus, and restoration) and reflect on implications for the Christian worldview.
Write a 1,500-2,000-word essay using at least four resources. The four resources need to include at least two course resources (textbook, topic overviews, the Bible) and at least two other sources from the GCU Library to support your points. Remember, the Bible counts as one resource regardless of how many times you use it or how many verses you cite.
Begin your paper with an appropriate introduction, including a thesis statement to introduce the purpose of the paper. Present the gospel essentials (nature of God, nature of humanity, nature of Jesus, and restoration), the Christian foundation, and an analysis of the implications of the Christian worldview.
Use the “Gospel Essentials Essay Template.” Based on the Christian worldview, write at least one paragraph for each of the following components.
Nature of God. What is the triune God like? What are God’s characteristics? What is his creation?
Nature of Humanity’ What is human nature? What is human purpose? What is the root cause of human problems?
Nature of Jesus: What is Jesus’s true identity? What was Jesus’s kingdom purpose? Why is Jesus’s identity and work significant for the Christian worldview?
Restoration: What is the solution to human problems according to the Christian worldview? What role do grace, faith, and repentance play in Christian salvation? How do Christians think that the transformation of self and society happen?
Christian Foundation: Summarize how the concepts of the gospel essentials (nature of God, nature of humanity, nature of Jesus, and restoration) constitute the foundation of the Christian worldview. In other words, how are these concepts essential to the Christian worldview?
Analysis of the Implications of the Christian Worldview: Based on the previous five prompts, analyze the implications of the Christian worldview by addressing each of the following questions:
• What are the benefits or strengths of the Christian worldview as it relates to human value and dignity?
• Compare the Christian concept of salvation in contrast to any other worldview perspective.
• How does the Christian worldview influence a person’s thinking and behavior?
• What do people find troublesome or confusing about Christianity and why?
Conclusion: Synthesize the main points, pulling the ideas of the paper together.

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.

God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Essay: The Christian Worldview and its Implications

Introduction

The Christian worldview is grounded in the fundamental beliefs concerning the nature of God, humanity, Jesus, and restoration. These gospel essentials form the cornerstone of Christian faith and have profound implications for believers. This essay aims to delve into the core tenets of the Christian worldview, analyze its implications, and explore how it shapes individuals’ thinking and behavior.

Nature of God

The triune God in Christianity is characterized by three persons – the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. God is described as omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, loving, just, and merciful. The Christian belief holds that God is the creator of the universe and all living beings, displaying His power and wisdom through His creation.

Nature of Humanity

Human nature in Christianity is understood as being created in the image of God, possessing inherent dignity, value, and purpose. The primary purpose of humanity is to glorify God and enjoy a relationship with Him. The root cause of human problems is sin, which entered the world through disobedience to God’s commands.

Nature of Jesus

Jesus Christ is regarded as the Son of God and the Savior of humanity in Christianity. His true identity is that of the divine Son who took on human form to redeem mankind from sin. Jesus’ kingdom purpose was to bring salvation to all people through His sacrificial death and resurrection. His identity and work are significant for the Christian worldview as they provide the means for reconciliation between God and humanity.

Restoration

The Christian worldview posits that the solution to human problems lies in salvation through Jesus Christ. Grace, faith, and repentance are central to Christian salvation, with believers acknowledging their need for God’s grace, exercising faith in Jesus as their Savior, and repenting of their sins. The transformation of self and society in Christianity occurs through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, leading believers to live according to God’s will and spread His love and truth.

Christian Foundation

The concepts of the gospel essentials – nature of God, humanity, Jesus, and restoration – form the bedrock of the Christian worldview. These concepts are essential as they provide a framework for understanding the relationship between God and His creation, offering hope, redemption, and purpose to believers.

Analysis of Implications

– Benefits of Christian Worldview: The Christian worldview upholds the intrinsic value and dignity of every human being, emphasizing love, compassion, and forgiveness.
– Christian Salvation vs. Other Worldviews: Unlike some worldviews based on self-reliance or karma, Christianity teaches salvation through faith in Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
– Influence on Thinking and Behavior: The Christian worldview shapes individuals’ thinking by promoting virtues such as humility, kindness, and service to others. It influences behavior by guiding moral choices and fostering a sense of community.
– Challenges in Christianity: Some find Christianity troublesome due to perceived conflicts with science or moral dilemmas; others struggle with understanding complex theological doctrines or reconciling suffering with belief in a loving God.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Christian worldview offers a comprehensive framework for understanding existence, purpose, and redemption. By exploring the nature of God, humanity, Jesus, and restoration, believers gain insight into their relationship with God and fellow humans. The implications of the Christian worldview are far-reaching, shaping values, attitudes, and actions in accordance with faith and love.

 

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