Christian Theology/Renewal/Grad Transformation/Social Psych/DB replies
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Christian Theology
Hello, my fellow missionaries; by His special grace, we are now in week two. Thank you, Jesus. This week’s assignment is the doctrine of the Trinity (God in three persons).
The doctrine of the Holy Trinity stands as the substratum of the Christian faith, affirming the triune nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in perfect unity and co-equality. Scripture serves as the cornerstone of this doctrine, with passages such as (Matthew 3:16-17), witnessing the simultaneous presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at Jesus’s baptism, epitomizing their distinct roles within the Godhead1. Furthermore, Jesus’s Great Commission in (Matthew 28:19) instructs believers to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, reinforcing the triune nature of God as the foundation of Christian identity and practice2. Thus, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, rooted in biblical revelation, provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the divine nature.
The importance of the Trinity within Christian theology is due to several reasons. First, it summarizes the nature of God as relational. The Trinity reveals God’s inherent nature as a community of love and exemplifies the relationship within the Godhead. This interpersonal aspect of God serves as the base for understanding divine love and unity and is the basis for human relationships. Christians believe that as creatures made in the image of God, they are called to reflect this divine relationality in their interactions with one another, fostering unity, compassion, and love within their communities and beyond. Also, the doctrine of the Trinity is pivotal for understanding the work of salvation – each person of the Trinity plays a distinct role in the plan of redemption. The Father sends the Son into the world to save humanity, the Son willingly sacrifices himself for sin, and the Holy Spirit empowers believers, convicts hearts, and sanctifies individuals. This triune involvement in salvation underscores the depth of God’s love and the comprehensive nature of divine redemption, which extends from initiation to completion through the work of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Finally, the Trinity serves as a framework for realizing the unity within the Christian faith. While affirming the oneness of God, the doctrine acknowledges the diversity of roles and functions among the three persons. This unity amidst diversity provides a model for understanding the complexity of God’s creation and the interconnectedness of all things. The Trinity fosters a balanced understanding of the divine attributes, such as justice and mercy, power and humility, and sovereignty and grace, as exemplified in the cooperative work of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thus, the doctrine of the Trinity shapes theological discourse and reforms Christian worship, community life, and mission, serving as a lens through which believers perceive and engage with the world.
According to Gregg, the three persons differ in their roles and relations. As for the distinctions in roles (the economic Trinity), the Father exercises the primary role in creation (working with the Son and the Spirit to create). The Son exercises the primary role in salvation (working with the Father and the Spirit to save). The Holy Spirit exercises the primary role in sanctification (working with the Father and the Son to bring transformation). Indeed, in their different activities, the three distinct persons inseparably work together in creation, salvation, and sanctification. Still, these divine works are appropriated by—are the specific responsibility of—one of the three persons.
The concept of the Trinity, as understood in Christianity, finds support in various passages throughout the Bible. One example is in (Matthew 28:19), where Jesus instructs his disciples, saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” This verse highlights the triune nature of God, where all three are invoked in the act of baptism. Additionally, in (2 Corinthians 13:14), the apostle Paul offers a benediction saying, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Here, Paul mentions the three persons of the Trinity—Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit—in a way that suggests their equality and unity. These passages provide biblical support for the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, affirming the existence of one God in three persons.
There are some dangers in the doctrine of the Trinity, such as neglecting the unity of the Godhead and risking the perception of three separate entities rather than one unified God. Scripture asserts this unity in passages like (Deuteronomy 6:4); declaring, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one,” emphasizing the indivisibility of God1. Conversely, disregarding the distinctiveness of the three persons can lead to theological confusion or heresy. (Matthew 28:19), for instance, commands baptism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit,” underscoring their distinct identities within the Godhead2. Hence, maintaining unity and distinctiveness is crucial in apprehending the Trinity’s profound mystery without falling into error.
Holman. 2005. Holy Bible, Red-Letter Edition: Holman Christian Standard Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers
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Christian Theology
Hello Fellow Scholars,
It is my prayer that each of you are on a continued path to growth and knowledge in this second week of our educational process. The doctrine of Trinity is a meaningful and central affirmation of the Christian Faith.
The Importance Of The Doctrine Of The Trinity
The foundational distinction between Christianity and all other religious traditions is the doctrine of the Trinity. This doctrine affirms the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as God in three persons. Gregg R. Allison, author of 50 Core Truths Of The Christian Faith, writes, ” The doctrine of the Trinity affirms that the one true God eternally exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of these three persons are fully God. The Father is fully God. The Son is fully God. The Holy Spirit is fully God. The three persons are equal in nature, glory and power, sharing in one Godhead. None of the three persons is dependent on the other for His deity. Rather, each is God of Himself: The Father is God Himself. The Son is God of Himself. The Holy Spirit is God of Himself. Yet, there are not three gods but one God in three persons, ” The importance of the Trinity is the fact of Christian salvation. The Trinity teaches that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died to bring salvation from sin to humanity. The word Trinity when broken down comes from the prefix ” tri ” which means three, and unity which means one. Christopher A. Hall writes about man’s difficulty to understand the doctrine of the Trinity. He states, ” Linguistic and spatial categories are proving incapable of adequately describing God. ” The importance of the doctrine of the Trinity is our salvation. Without the Doctrine of the Trinity, Christianity would not exist. (King James Version, Romans 10:9-11), ” That if thou shalt confess with thou mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.
The Concept Of The Trinity
The Doctrine of the Trinity, while not mentioned in the Bible, is supported in the Old Testament with the concept of plurality and unity. (Genesis 1:26,a), states: ” And God said, let us make man in our image, and after our likeness. ” (Genesis 3:22,a), states: ” And the Lord God said, Behold the man has become one of us. ” (Isaiah 6:8), states: ” Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who shall go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. ” There is one God with three functions working in unity.
In the book of Genesis, there is a Hebrew word used to describe the plurality of God, that word is Elohim. God Himself, refers to Himself in the plural. In the New Testament, the Trinity is described in the Great Commission, (Matthew 28:19), ” Go ye therefore, and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, ” (2 Corinthians 13:14), states: ” The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. Thou the word Trinity is never used in the scriptures, the doctrine of the Trinity is revealed throughout.
When explaining to children, what the Trinity is in a simplistic form: I point to myself and say, I am a son, I am a father, and a grandfather. I serve in three capacities but I am one person. How much greater is God than I ?!
The Council Of Nicaea
In 325 CE, The First Council of Nicaea finalized the doctrine of the Trinity. The Council was convened by Roman Emperor Constantine to discuss the divinity of Christ. The council was an ecumenical council made of Church leaders to determined questions of faith using a theological method.
Bibliography
Allison, Gregg, R., 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith: A Guide to Understanding and Teaching Theology, Grand Rapids, MI Baker Books, (2018).
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Renewal
Greetings Class,
A key way to help people to love the church and help it not to plateau is by helping them understand the love of Christ. It is not just enough to understand the concept, but also apply it to your life. One way, as a leader, that you can teach your congregation to apply Christ’s love is through service. This could involve volunteering for tasks that others might find burdensome, such as cleaning up after events, visiting the sick or elderly, or helping with community outreach programs. By leading with humility and a willingness to serve, you set an example of selflessness and love that can inspire others to follow suit.
Another key way to help people understand the love of Christ is through the act of forgiveness. Lead by example by openly forgiving those who have hurt you and actively seeking reconciliation with anyone you may have wronged. By fostering an environment of forgiveness and reconciliation, you create a community where love and unity can flourish. This creates a safe space where people desire to be open with others about their struggles and are willing to forgive those who have wronged them.
The final way to help people within the congregation to understand the love of Christ is through being inclusive. This involves making an effort to reach out to those who may feel marginalized or excluded, and actively seek to include them in the life of the church. The church tends to push people living in sin to the side as outcasts, but that will not save them. They need to experience the love of Christ in order to propel them to love and good works. Inclusivity also helps the church to grow, because people desire to be a part of where they feel invited. It could be a simple invite at a mall or at a store that pushes people to be a part.
Carson Pope
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Renewal
It is absolutely imperative as a spiritual leader and minister of Christ to teach and show his love. Without Gods love, the body loses connection, and if the body of Christ loses connection with each other, it falls apart.
The first way we show Christ love is by ministering his anointing. When it comes to being an ambassador of Christ, the anointing is imperative to ministering his spirit. Without the anointing, we cannot really share Christ to his full extent. When we can flow with his spirit and minister himself to others, we are becoming the vessel of release. Christ doesn’t need any of us to move or make an impact, but God does use his body to speak and he uses his Shepards to lead. I believe ministering a fresh touch into our congregations is one of the most important ways to share Gods love with his people.
The second way to share love is to live and walk with integrity. God is not nearly as angry as the world believes him to be. He is not a God that stays angry long. He is forgiving. His nature is that of a father, the one true “family man.” So, to walk in integrity and act accordingly and in progression with our sanctification, or becoming more and more like Christ, walking in love is one of the areas God will continually give us more and more wisdom. Love is connection. Love at its core is connection. When God shares his love with us, it is by allowing us to connect with him and him to connect with us. It’s a relationship. Walking with conviction and with connection in mind is a practical way to share Gods love and revitalize our communities and congregations.
The final way to share love and illustrate Gods incredible desire for connection is through our unwavering dedication to his word. I believe the mark of a great leader is to foster hope and forgiveness. People get hurt. I wish they didn’t. I wish I had never got hurt by anyone in the church. Reality is that hurt happens, however, and we cannot avoid it so we might as well embrace the counter to hurt. That counter is forgiveness and hope. When people lose hope in their leaders or church congregants, they quit and become isolated. Fostering a hopeful atmosphere always people to look forward to the future and what God has in store. Forgiveness is walking in love. Walking in forgiveness is knowing that people have hurt you, people will hurt you and that you will hurt people, but through it all we are going to maintain a forgiving heart. I believe this is how we walk in love to the best of our abilities. I believe this is real connection.
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Graduate Transformation
Looking Ahead on what I’ve learned, what stands out as the most important are clear writing, critical thinking, and doing thorough research. As I become part of the academic community, I want to share my ideas, learn from others, and work on new things together. Also, for example, research is important in the educational field since this was my work field, because it allows diagnosing the problem and finding a solution for it. For example, in education, research has helped us understand conditions like ADHD and learn ways of supporting students who have it. Similarly, in my topic about social media’s impact on relationships, without research, we wouldn’t know how it affects our interactions or how to handle its effects. These examples show how research informs our understanding and guides our actions when it comes to real-world challenges, thus highlighting the importance of critical inquiry in academic endeavors. Though I feel both excited and a bit worried about starting this new journey, I’m determined to face any challenges that come my way.
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Graduate Transformation
This class has definitely provided plenty of helpful information and supports around the writing process. One thing that I found helpful was the section this week that speaks to “Primary vs. Secondary Research”. Learning the difference between the two types of research will set students up for success when deciding which research area to begin with.
I believe that being a masterful writer is important in academia. When we are able to write and communicate in a professional way we are able to represent ourselves and our research in a way that will be respected by our colleagues. As academics it is also important that we can research, write about, and speak to research in an informed way. As a school leader, I engage in academic writing throughout my day. From data conversations, to evaluations, to writing for professional development or publication; it is important that our writing is representative of who we are. I would like to continue learning and eventually use my experiences and expertise to teach other leaders or educators.
As far as fears, I don’t have many, but one thing that always trips me up is the period placement after citing or using a quote. One day I will officially drill it into my brain! I’m looking forward to improving my skills throughout this class.
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Social Psychology/week 2-q1
The Fundamental Attribution Error
According to Branscombe & Baron, the fundamental attribution error is “the tendency to overestimate the impact of dispositional cues on others’ behavior” (2017, p.93). The fundamental attribution error is the judgement on an individual’s personality traits instead of considering situational factors that cause certain behaviors. This error occurs frequently and is especially prevalent in Western culture. Although people make the fundamental attribution error often, it does not necessarily mean that everyone partakes in correspondence bias, which is to discern people’s character based on their behavior. Berry & Frederickson (2015) argue that the fundamental attribution error can have severe consequences that exacerbate negative stereotypes, oppression, victimization, peer stress, and the creation of moral judgments.
A personal example of performing the fundamental attribution error is how I make friends. I have always had a knack for finding the meanest or unfriendly-looking people in my class or workplace and slowly becoming friends with them (my 4th grade best friend, two undergrad best friends, and workplace bestie). Upon first impression, my friends rarely smiled or spoke in class and were not overly welcoming for me to sit close to them. I easily could have interpreted their cold nonverbal cues as they do not like me or they were mean, catty people. In reality, my friends were usually nervous due to the start of school, focused on work, or simply did not realize that their facial expressions were unpleasant (a.k.a “resting *itch face). In the beginning of our friendships, I fell prey to the fundamental attribution error and I had to cast aside my initial impression to learn their true character and understand their stable behaviors.
First impressions are incredibly important and there are many contexts where self-presentation is needed. The first day of school, first dates, job interviews, buying a vehicle, and meeting a significant other’s family/friends are all prime examples of when we feel pressure to make good first impressions and perform positive self-presentation. “In positive self-presentation, the aim is to make a good impression on others, through emphasizing one’s positive traits and minimizing one’s negative traits” (Human, et. al., 2012, p. 23). Bias factors that impact first impressions are often based on prejudice against individuals, social norms, and structural partiality (ex. Laws, religion, etc.). First impressions are often used to analyze potential threats, assess likeability, or rate others’ intelligence. Although making good first impressions can be tough, these impressions can be altered by obtaining new information, renouncing former information, or rethinking information that was gathered from the initial impression (Branscombe & Baron, 2017). While first impressions are impacted by the fundamental attribution error, these errors can be fixed. How do you think the fundamental attribution error impacts sentencing practices in the criminal justice system?
Berry, Z., & Frederickson, J. (2015). Explanations and implications of the fundamental attribution error: A review and proposal. Journal of Integrated Social Sciences, 5(1), 44-57.
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Social Psychology/week 2-q1
The topic of fundamental attribution errors is one that people can encounter in many areas of their lives. From their working world right down to their personal lives. “We tend to perceive others as acting as they do because they are “that kind of person,” rather than because of the many external factors that may influence their behavior” (Branscombe & Baron, 2017, p. 92). In short, one may use characteristics about a person rather than knowing the reason or thinking about the external factors behind someone’s actions. While I often try to look at everything from a different viewpoint rather than assume things, there have been times when I have fallen prey to this error. One example I can think of is at the beginning of my current job. There was a woman who had the same shift as me, but she was always coming in late, leaving early, and leaving the room constantly throughout the day. I jumped to conclusions about her personality, believing she did not want to work, and many other thoughts along those lines. Then I got talking with the woman; for some reason, I do not even remember, but I learned how wrong I was about the assumptions that I had made. It turns out she was a single mother who was going through a horrible divorce with her ex, who was making her life a nightmare. She had to juggle handling all the drama from her ex, handling full custody of her son, and working full time. Her boss knew the situation and worked with her to accommodate what was happening in her personal life. Learning that, I had to face the fact that I had assumed certain aspects about a person that were not true. Part of that is the reason for trying to avoid doing that again. However, if I do, I also think about the possible external factors behind the reasons for certain actions.
Different biases can factor into what causes these impressions and views that are brought about. “When we observe another person’s behavior, we tend to focus on his or her actions. The context in which the person behaves, and hence the potential situational causes of his or her behavior, often fades into the background” (Branscombe & Baron, 2017, p. 94). What that is saying is that people tend to latch on to the behavior and actions of an individual, ignoring and not thinking about the causes behind the behavior. Due to biases and the way people can often be perceived, first impressions are often said to matter since first impressions set the tone. “Behavioral scientists call it the first impression bias: a limitation in human information processing that causes us to make quick and incomplete observations about others based on the first piece of information we perceive” (“The First Impression Bias”, n.d., para 1). Constantly, people are meeting new people, whether in their working world, personally, or in other aspects of their lives, and that first impression can go a long way. This works both ways, since that person will also be deciding how they feel about you from that first meeting. “Judgments of intelligence are not as important for survival as judgments about threat, there may be no major advantage to being able to form impressions of intelligence as quickly” (Branscombe & Baron, 2017, p. 102). Research has found that first impressions and judgments can prove accurate, especially regarding whether someone is a threat. There are dangerous people in the world, so it is important for people to know whether they need to be wary or not about someone. However, while first impressions are real and can lead to decisions being made based on the outcome of the impressions, there is the potential to change that first impression. “First impressions are often changed through a reinterpretation of previous information” (Branscombe & Baron, 2017, p. 102). This means that depending on the first impression given, whether negative or positive, that can be changed to the opposite as more information is learned. My question for the class is, do you think it is possible to avoid fundamental attribution errors? If so, what ways might we do that?
Branscombe, N. R., & Baron, R. A. (2017). Social Psychology (P. Kapur, Ed.; 14th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.
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Social Psychology/week 2-q2
Emotional intelligence is our ability to perceive, express, understand, and regulate our emotions. In other words, how we handle ourselves. In the video that we watched, Dr. Daniel Goleman, stresses that cognitive intelligence (I.Q.) is not truly what makes most people successful in their work and personal lives. He argues that our emotions are what can dictate if we are successful or not. Things like humor, optimism, and happiness, or a sense of depression can play a significant role in our lives. Dr. Goleman feels that we can learn to control our emotions and thus transform relationships with others. From a business standpoint, Dr. Goleman used the work of Harvard Professor David McClelland, who theorizes the notion of competence. He says not to look at an individual’s IQ, and do not look at their GPA, or even a personality test. Instead, look within your own organization at who is competent in their job performance. (Goleman, 2007).
Educational psychologist Howard Gardner theorized that people do not have just one intelligence, they have multiple intelligence. Gardner maintains that everyone has at least seven different intelligences, seven different ways of knowing and understanding the world. The intelligences include knowing the world through language, logical-mathematical analysis, spatial representations, musical thinking, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, understanding of self, and understanding of others. When using Garner’s multiple intelligence theory, a person’s IQ is not reflected by a single traditional global measure, but on a profile of the seven intelligences. (Friedman, Schustack, 2006, p. 250).
Neuroscience plays a part of our personality and emotions as well. Mirror neurons “are neurons in our brains that are activated during the observation and execution of actions, and it has been suggested that they play a key role in empathy – our capacity to experience, vicariously, the emotions and feelings of other people.” (Baron, Branscombe, 2012, p. 16). Baron and Branscombe (2012) continue to describe a research study where people scored measured higher on a questionnaire for empathy when they also had visuals to accompany their questionnaire. As it turns out, it is true that if we see a facial expression, we tend to show more empathy.
My question is, we know that non-verbal communication can take place by facial expressions (happy, sad, angry, etc). What other non-verbal methods of communication can you think of?
Branscombe, N. R., & Baron, R. A. (2012). Social Psychology (P. Kapur, Ed.; 13th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.
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Social Psychology/week 2-q2
Emotional and Social Intelligence
Social cognition based on social perceptions helps us interpret our social world and as discussed this week, many factors impact these perceptions. Daniel Goleman focuses on the neurological factors that explain emotional intelligence. The amygdala is the part of the brain that processes emotions and can hijack the body in response to danger, fear, anxiety, or aggression. When the amygdala hijacks the brain during a fight-or-flight response, it releases stress hormones which prepare the body to react to the perceived danger. “The results of a ‘brain hijacking’ can be as simple as poor communication, misunderstandings, or conflicting agendas. However, it can also take more aggressive forms including sarcasm, criticism, demeaning, anger, yelling, withdrawal, or silence” (Coleman & Argue, 2017, p. 13). The part of Goleman’s speech I found incredibly fascinating was the wisdom of emotions. Goleman explains that the basal ganglia is the part of the brain that observes our decision rules and provides an emotional guide from our former experiences which provides wisdom of emotions (Talks at Google, 2007). The basal ganglia is responsible for that gut feeling we get during tough decision-making.
Mirror neurons are discharged when individuals perform and observe physical or emotional acts; these neurons are connected to how one learns and uses empathy skills (Branscombe & Baron, 2017). “As early as four months of age, the cells that will wire for social interaction and empathy (spindle cells and mirror neurons) are already positioning and preparing for their role in the child’s social and emotional intelligence” (Schiller, 2010, p. 27). The five domains of emotional intelligence are self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill. With all of this social neurological information, mindfulness training can better equip people to process stressful situations, create more effective or positive heuristics, and improve coping skills for better emotional intelligence overall.
Question: In Schachter’s Affiliation experiment, do you think mirror neurons dispatched before or after an amygdala response in those test subjects?
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