Week 15: Reflection
997 words by framzi
Write a reflective blog seriously evaluating each of the following course goals:
1. Give students a level of expertise in the discipline of biblical studies.
2. Provide the tools to read the Bible in an academic and critical manner.
3. Improve student’s ability to effectively communicate and to write clearly matters involving critical thinking.
4. Improve the world.
Do you agree with Paul or James in the Faith vs. Works conflict? What was the best part of this class? What was the worst part? Do you think that courses such as this should be part of the core curriculum at Xavier? Why or why not? What does this course have to do with your major field of study? Now, count up all of the words that you wrote in all of your blog entries (and by the way I hope that in the future when a teacher asks you for a measly 10 page paper you confidently laugh out loud) and complete the following sentence: “After writing (number) words in this blog, I now believe that . . .”
1. I would not say that I have developed a level of expertise in the discipline of Biblical studies, but I have learned a lot about the Bible. For example, I f someone brings up a story fro the Bible I would probably remember it.
2. This class has certainly provided me with the tools to read the Bible in an academic and critical manner.
3. These blogs have really improved my ability to effectively communicate and to write clearly matters involving critical thinking. Trying to understand the Bible and what it says really allowed me to exercise my mind to think in a critical manner.
4. I feel like this class allowed me and other people to pitch in to improve the world. The world still needs a lot of work, but this experience planted a seed in many of us. What I mean by planted a seed is that we will always remember our projects and our goal to improve the world and when we get older or have more resources we may expand our projects or come up with an even better one.
I agree with James that work and faith are both very important. If a person has strong faith then they will do many good deeds. James 2:20 says: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Paul only says that faith is good enough to get you into heaven. I don’t agree with this because a person must do good deeds in order to make the world a better place. The way I look at it is that when you do good deed you are working for good the more good deeds you do the stronger your faith becomes.
I do think that courses like this should be part of the core curriculum because it opens your mind and helps you think critically. This is important because every profession asks of this. For example, a doctor, pharmacist, teacher, engineer, etc. all have to have the sill of being able to think critically. Taking this class allows a person to develop the skill of critical thinking.
This course allows me to understand other individuals in order to relate to them.
After writing (15784) words in this blog, I now believe that I am able to carry on a great conversation with others pertaining to the Bible and making the world a better place.