1.
What answer did Lynette get to the question – “What
kind of god kills a woman for looking back at her home but doesn’t raise a
finger when a father is willing to let his own daughters be gang-raped? (35).
2.
How did Mark, Lynette’s youth group leader,
respond to her question on the notecard – “Why was it seen as a good thing that
Abraham obeyed God’s orders to sacrifice Isaac?” (35).
3.
What were the two mysteries of our universe that
were even more satisfying for Chris to ponder and stand in awe of than God?
(46).
4.
What did the Mormon teacher’s response to Cora
Judd’s question about the Mountain Meadows massacre reveal to Cora? (50).
5.
What was the unmistakable feeling of clarity
that Cora felt about all the Mormon doctrine and history? (54).
6.
Why is it more difficult to question widely
accepted beliefs that are wedded to American mainstream values? (66).
Alternative
discussion questions.
1.
One of the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament
says one should honor thy father and thy mother. Based on several personal
stories in our readings this week, do you understand why some children may
question that commandment? One of the arguments for Prohibition was the
domestic abuse that resulted from alcohol abuse. How many children today are
still being subjected to physical and emotional abuse by their parents? Think
of the Turpin parents in California.
2.
The biblical narrative describes how Adam and
Eve sinned by disobeying God, but the bulk of the blame was attributed to Eve.
Have you ever reflected on how different the relations between the sexes would
be today if women and men had been considered from the beginning as equal
partners confronting life’s challenges?
3.
As we celebrate Black History month, have you
ever read any writings that would cast insight into why African Americans seem
to have accepted Christianity even though throughout our history they have been
discriminated against or mistreated by individuals from most sects of the
Christian faiths? What about Christianity appeals to them?
As we celebrate Black History month, have you ever read any writings that would cast insight into why African Americans seem to have accepted Christianity even though throughout our history they have been discriminated against or mistreated by individuals from most sects of the Christian faiths? What about Christianity appeals to them?
ReplyDeleteIn my personal opinion, I feel that Christianity was given to African Americans to keep them mentally enslaved. If you take an individual from their native home, instill fear in them, strip away their culture and native tongue, they lose sight of who they are. Through that an individual can be easily controlled. People need to know who they are and they seek meaning to live or live a purposeful life, without that what is the point of living? If you give them Christianity in a time where they are enslaved with no way of knowing who they are or their culture and historical roots, they find hope through Christianity and purpose to live and keep fighting. In addition, majority of the characters in the bible are portrayed as white. Subconsciously that was and still is teaching people that people of white ethnicity are "Godly" or "holy" or in a position of higher power than others. Hence slavery. Being enslaved with no historical roots to claim, the only fear is death, fear of the slave master who is of white complexion. Subconsciously worshiping a God of the same complexion as the slave master keeps you mentally in fear. I do not think Christianity appeals to Black people, I think it is just a response for hope due to the horrific mental, emotional, physical, and verbal abuses experienced throughout slavery and post slavery.
Malika, I really appreciate your comment and perspective. I'm reading several books on Rosa Parks, her autobiography plus a couple of other books - a remarkable woman, and some poems by Phyllis Wheatley and her other writings. Could they have differentiated white Europeans who were slave holders or supported slavery and justified it through the Bible, from Middle Eastern/African Jews and early Coptic Christians with knowledge that their ancestors had interacted with the latter and not with the former? I just need to do a lot more reading and listening.
DeleteTake care,
Don