Sunday, April 29, 2012

From Professor Koffel:

Friday, April 27, 2012

Phil 315 final


Philosophy 315 Final Exam

Dr. Berg

Spring 2012



You will answer both questions for the final exam. You can have no electronic devices, books etc during the exam. Do not work on these questions together. Answer both questions, 50 points each.
You may bring in a list of 20 words to help you through the exam.  I will check your list before the exam begins.



  1. The Jewish faith claims that salvation comes through adherence to the Law. Christians claim that salvation comes by faith in Christ and the Law has come to an end. Can both be right? Why or why not? Lutherans are Christians and Roman Catholics are Christians. Lutherans argue that salvation comes through faith and faith alone. Roman Catholics argue that faith must be connected to good works. Can both be right? Argue this claim the opposite way that you did for the Jewish/Christian claim above. Example if you said both can be right for the Jewish/Christian question, argue that both Lutherans and Roman Catholics can not be right. What do I mean when I say that the claim of religious pluralism is metaphysically incompatible? What do I mean when I say the claim of religious pluralism is soteriologically incompatible? It is morally wrong as a person of faith to argue that one religion will not be saved because they do not agree with “your” position? Why or why not? (Hint: A VERY poor way to answer this question is to say that what they think is right is right for them and does not apply to you, try and work out a universal moral claim to answer this question)
  2. Use the account in Genesis chapter 1 from the Bible to answer this question. Using the Dawkins reading as a base, write a critique of the account of the creation of humans from Genesis (be aware there are two accounts, select one). Now, evaluate this account using the Pope John Paul II's work on this issue. Now, use the assigned Darwin reading and the entire creation narrative from Genesis. Find three points in the Genesis account that are compatible with Darwin's work. Make sure and show me how they are compatible. Now, find three points in the Genesis account that are incompatible with the Darwin account. Be sure and show me how they are incompatible. Can a person simultaneously hold a materialistic scientific view of the world and be Christian? Why or why not? Create a definition of “rational faith” using what you learned in this class. Is a rejection of the literal narrative in Genesis 1 an act of rebellion according to Dostovesky? Why or why not?





Extra Credit: look up and memorize the definition to the following words commonly used in the philosophical study of religion:

Textus Receptus

Loci Communes

Summum Bonum

Creatio ex Nihilo

Simul ustus et Peccator

Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus

Christus Lux Mundi



10 points for a complete correct set.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Phil 315 Final Exam

Greetings Phil 315 student!

I was looking over the questions for our exam and they are really too long. Well written, but long. I have decided to allow you to bring in a list of 20 words for the exam. One word only in a list top to bottom. Develop your list as a set of prompts to take you through the exam questions. I will ask to see your list before we begin the exam. Please spread the word to others in the course. 

Yours,
Dr. Berg
IOCC 201 Review:
 Tomorrow at 9am in ED 104/5

Review Sheet:


IOCC 201 Final Exam Study Guide

  • This is a very basic guide.  The best guides to study by are your class notes and the readings.
  • DO NOT TAKE THIS TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF POSSIBLE QUESTIONS.

Know the source languages from EVERYTHING we read in this class.



Know the basic chronology of persons, text, and ideas presented in the ENTIRE class.

Types of monks

Method of excommunication

7 Divine Offices

 Basics of Monastic life

The Vow of Stability (stabilitas loci)

Work and Prayer 

How the monks keep their “rank”

The Western world at the end of 201

Basic history of the Roman Republic, Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire.

Fundamental virtue emphasized in Cicero’s speech

What the edict of Milan did financially, legally and in terms of Christian places of worship.

Gladiator points

Myth of Rome

Cultural points connected to the barbarians and Rome

Later Christian development

What group burned Rome and the complexities that followed this event.

Church traditions brought forth by the Early Church

Words of the day

Basic Heresies

Augustine on God, time, original sin, human nature, basic human anthropology and literature.

Map Exam:  Rome, Athens, Jerusalem, Damascus, Tarsus, Hippo, Alexandria, Byzantium (Constantinople/Istanbul) Paris, Ancient Troy, Ireland, Ancient Greece, Italy, The Mediterranean, Spain, Gaul, Norway (The Land of Ice) Africa, The British Islands, Judea, Germania, Ancient Egypt,The Atlantic Ocean, the Dead Sea, the Aegean Sea, The Nile River.






Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Final Exam

Final Exam:  Monday, April 30th, 12-2pm Julian Hall, Bailey Auditorium.

Papers Due the LAST DAY OF CLASS.

Dr. Berg

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

IOCC 201

The readings for the Roman era are in the Library.

Friday, April 13, 2012

IOCC 201 Confessions

Read books: 1,2,8,11,12.

Thanks!
Dr. Berg

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Phil 315 Extra Credit! 20 points!

LLCC Theatre presents “Waiting for Godot” at New Salem April 13, 14, 15, 20 and 21

Great Ideas Forum to precede April 14 performance.

Lincoln Land Community College Theatre presents Samuel Beckett’s existential masterpiece “Waiting for Godot” April 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 8 p.m. and April 15 at 3 p.m. at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site Visitor's Center. Tickets, at $13 for adults, $11 for students and seniors, are available by calling 217.632.5440 (800.710.9290).

 “This piece of theatre has intrigued and perplexed audiences for decades,” says director Mark Hardiman, LLCC assistant professor of theatre. “While existentialism is a complex concept, the brilliance of this play’s writing makes the audience feel the joys, sorrows and confusion that characters in the play are experiencing.” Swirling in a changing and uncertain land, this production will emphasize the bond of loyalty shared by its endearing tramps, Didi and Gogo, as they strive to find meaning, stumble upon humor and their own humanity in their senseless world.  Creatively, the cornerstone of this interpretation is the lighting design, which will envelop audience members in the same metaphoric dreamscape as its off-beat characters. “Surrounding the audience in an evocative evening sky scape, we will create the entire set design with light,” says Grace Maberg, MFA lighting design candidate from Illinois State University. “At the end of the play the atmosphere we have created will instantly evaporate.” She and Hardiman coined the term “photonic set design” to describe the approach.

 The play is produced in association with Theatre in the Park and the New Salem Lincoln League. 

The public is also invited to the inaugural Great Ideas Forum entitled “Is There God in Godot? (Searching for Meaning in Beckett’s Metaphorical Landscape)” at 6:30p.m. Saturday, April 14 prior to the performance at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site Visitor's Center. The free forum features panelists from the academic fields of religion, philosophy and theatre. 

In keeping with the artistic mission of LLCC Theatre, “To explore the work of those who have charted new intellectual territory,” this forum will provide provocative and accessible debate to the central issues that spring from the production.  A panel of four experts in literature, theatre, religion and philosophy will illuminate the complex and always contemporary questions that “Waiting for Godot” raises.  “This promises to be an engaging and exciting discussion/debate,” said Mark Hardiman, assistant professor of theatre and director of the play. “’Godot’ cuts into many of the core ideas of our time, as we seem to be constantly engaged in the idea of where religion fits into our lives.”

 The panel will be moderated by James Seay, who serves as the dramaturg for the production and has done extensive research on the subject. With an educational background in theatre, he also studied in Dublin, Ireland with Alan Simpson, close friend of Samuel Beckett and director/producer of the play in Ireland.

The panelists include:

Tom Mitchell is interim director of the Department of Theatre at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) where he teaches acting and directing. C. G. Estabrook, Ph.D. recently retired as a visiting professor (history, religion, sociology) at UIUC and formerly taught at Harvard, Notre Dame, Brown and Rochester Universities. Isaac "Marty" Morris has been an adjunct instructor of philosophy and humanities at LLCC for 30 years. Mark Hardiman teaches acting, directing, theatre appreciation, improvisation, theatre history, movement and voice, and stage combat and is a former professional actor, director and fight choreographer.

 A short talk-back featuring the panelists will follow the April 14 performance.



Phil 315 Extra Credit

Write a 500 word review of the play.  Make the focus of your review the exploration of the philosophical and religious issues raised in the play.  Attach a bulletin from the play to your hard copy of your review.

Due the last day of class
You need not attend the panel discussion, just the play.

20 points.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

IOCC 201 Readings

The Epistle of Polycard: 107-end
Martyrdom of Polycarp: 113-end
The Epistle of Barnabas: 137-end
The Didache: 185-end

Thursday, April 5, 2012

IOCC 201 Exam II

Review Sheet

IOCC 201

Second Exam



For all documents that we read know: the aprox. date written, author, location and source language.  (There are some documents we read that we do not know these things about, others that we know all of the above, a few that we know some of the above, consult your notes)





The synoptic gospels, the Gospels.

Quadriga method

The basic message of Judaism. 

The basic message of Paul’s Christianity.

Which Gospel was written first.

The lost source of the Synoptic Gospels

Source languages of the Bible

When the Biblical text were written in relation to Homer, Plato and Aristotle.

Basics of the life of Jesus of Nazareth

Basics of the life of Paul.

Basics of the Bible.

Basic narrative the Genesis 1-23

Basic narrative of Joshua.

Structure of Isaiah

Pauline opening/greeting

The complexities of the ending of Mark

Basic arguments of Romans

Romans 13 and society

How to work with a Biblical text as a Jewish and a Christian Text

Basic of the Koran

5 pillars of faith

Basics of the life of Muhammad

Technical terms related to the Koran

Basics of the Islamic tradition, history, and current practice