Miles.Assignment1

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Assignment #1 — Symposium Attendance and Response Worksheet School of Theology Course Title: BIB 114-13 / HUM 114-13 — New Testament Term: Fall 2023 Professor: Dr. Mark S. Francois Name: A. Lane Miles 0604326 Due Date: September 18, 2023, at 11:59 pm. Any submissions past 11:59 pm will receive a reduced mark according to the late submission policy in the syllabus. Submission Instructions: This assignment must be submitted through Brightspace. Please complete this assignment using this file and save it as a Word file in the following manner: Lastname.Assignment1.docx. For example: Francois.Assignment1.docx. Failure to follow these instructions may cost you up to 5 points on the assignment. Instructions: Fill in your name and student number in the space indicated above. Choose four sessions from the following list of options at this year’s symposium to attend in person:  Professor Michael Plato, “How did we get here, and why are we so self-absorbed?”  Dr. Ryan Burkhart, “Beyond Therapeutic Man: The Lost Self”  Dr. David Kotter, discussion of the biblical approach to self  Pastor Derek Jones, being self-grounded according to the gospel from Colossians  Workshop #1 (Dr. Jonathan Dimos, “The Great Social Experiment”)  Workshop #2 (choose any) Answer the questions listed below. The approximate lengths for each answer will be given with each question. Your answers must be single-spaced, written in complete sentences, free of spelling and grammatical errors, and written using a formal style. Use spellcheck and Grammarly if needed. More information regarding the schedule can be viewed at https://www.ccu.edu/events/symposium/ . Take notes and think constructively about the sessions as you take them in. Answer the following questions reflectively.

Symposium Attendance and Response Worksheet Name: A. Lane Miles Question 1 Identify the first session you attended. Describe the key content of this presentation. Name one element that you found compelling, why you found it compelling, and any practical implications it might have. Your answer should be approximately 300 words. Throughout the first session, the speaker Professor Michael Plato talked about how modern society and culture has reached the state that it is currently in, and how the beliefs which most of society holds true have been developed and expanded upon. These beliefs generally can be summed up under the idea of “Self.” Whether that’s our self-image, self-care, or self-love, modern culture is trapped in an idea. The idea that promoting the self, for the self, is the only means to a satisfying existence. Yet, Professor Plato talks about how in modern society, more and more people are left unsatisfied with their lives; listing the rampant sex, drug use, and increasing suicide rates as key evidence to the fact that people are searching for any temporary fix that can make them feel better, because nobody can seem to, as Mick Jagger put it, “Get No, Satisfaction.” Professor Plato also lists the numerous advertisements and cultural figures who make self-infatuation seem like it is a good thing, when in fact, it is very degrading and destructive. This element of his session is what I found most interesting. One would think that doing what one wants or what one thinks is best for themselves would lead to a satisfactory existence, but when you bring our design to worship God and our sinful natures into consideration, it is made clear why we should not do this. I found this very interesting. The fact that we were not built to be the center of our own universe but were made to serve: to do the Lord’s work, is something that I’ve always known, but never really given much thought. I grew up in a Christian environment my whole life, so I’d never given much deep thought when it came to how I was actively living. This idea of filtering every action with the thought “Who is at the center of what I’m about to do? God, or myself?” is something that I found very applicable to my everyday life. Question 2 Identify the second session you attended. Describe the key content of this presentation. Name one element that you found compelling, why you found it compelling, and any practical implications it might have. Your answer should be approximately 300 words. Throughout the second session, the speaker Dr. Ryan Burkhart talked about how in order to promote a healthy understanding of oneself, and one’s place in the world we have to understand the way that sin operates in our modern society and also the way that we can operate as Christians in a new age. He talked about the way that people have therapized their own sinful ways and attempts to live for themselves because they either don’t understand and/or don’t want to accept how living for themselves has destroyed their own lives. Dr. Burkhart also talked about how “The Darkness” in The Never Ending Story is a metaphor for the way that societies lack of hope and faith is enveloping modern culture, and corrupting it just as the “The Darkness” is Page | 2

destroying Fantasia in the movie. Dr. Burkhart’s main solution for these issues, which is put forth towards the end of the presentation, is the “three P’s”: people, place, purpose. Surrounding ourselves with faithful people, in a heathy environment that allows for faithful flourishing, with an understanding of our purpose to serve God. It was this idea of the “three P’s,” that I found the most compelling. It made me think about the ways that I haven’t followed the “three P’s” throughout my own life, and also the way that I am now following them here at CCU. I also wished I had heard about these “three P’s” earlier on in my own life. Maybe if I had, I would be more developed in my faith now than I am. Also, I feel like these “three P’s” could be used as a very practical way to give new believers, or even unbelievers, a guide to better their lives and work towards a faithful following of Christ. Question 3 Identify the third session you attended. Describe the key content of this presentation. Name one element that you found compelling, why you found it compelling, and any practical implications it might have. Your answer should be approximately 300 words. Throughout the third session, the speaker Dr. David Kotter talked about the way that culture has demeaned the idea of “self” and the way that we view it. We once saw self as something we should express honestly, and work to improve: to make ourselves more like Christ. Now, in our modern society, people work to shape themselves in a way that is appealing to the eye; to make themselves something that catches people’s attention and gains approval from followers. It has to be both normative yet original, both beautiful but a little bit gritty, both relatable but better than everyone; what it is, is both self-defeating and impossible. This is the reason we have so many people being told to “do you,” and then proceeding to selfishly destroy their lives (which is quite contradicting of itself). Dr. Kotter also talks about how to better get attention or be self-preserving, people have trended towards getting abortions, getting “bottom surgeries,” coming out as being trans, bi, or gay, and following extreme diets and routines for “bodily perfection.” All of these are promoted by “Big Media” because it makes pharmaceutical, news, medical, cosmetics, and entertainment industries a large profit which would cease to exist if this sin was exposed. In this same session, Dr. Kotter talks about how we as Christians can combat these new socials norms. He talks about bringing a biblical approach to “self,” and how we digest all that modern media is throwing at us. We need to see how when we live for God, while it may seem like it wouldn’t better help ourselves, is the best thing we could do to ensure a satisfactory life. Yes, living for God can be difficult and trying, but it also leads to a strong faith, a satisfying existence, and an assurance that what you’re doing is right, because it is for God. This part of the session is what caught my attention the most. It is easy to forget that living for God at all turns can seem like it would create hardship for oneself, but actually works towards the most satisfying view of self. I have found this evident in my own life whenever I have stumbled in my faith and found myself pushing against God, and then fixed my path back towards God. Afterwards, it is easy to see how counter-intuitive working against God is, because God simply wants what is actually best for us, unlike culture which wants what is best for itself, displayed under the guise of “self-love.” Using this as a testimony could be a very practical way to help evangelize to unbelievers. Page | 3

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Question 4 Identify the fourth session you attended. Describe the key content of this presentation. Name one element that you found compelling, why you found it compelling, and any practical implications it might have. Your answer should be approximately 300 words. Throughout the fourth session, the speaker Pastor Derek Jones, talked about the many ways that the book we’ve been discussing in chapel, Colossians, can be an excellent tool in seeing how we should approach the idea of “self in Christ.” Pastor Jones talks about how modern culture has taken ideas that were once so easily found in the Bible and turned them into shows of self. One example of this is giving and charity. What once used to be a quiet and selfless which we did in order to help our fellow man has now become a show of selflessness which also serves as a means to show off one’s success. It makes rich people who have worked to promote themselves look as if they care and want to help others. Maybe they do genuinely care, but even so, the need to make their gifts known has made it corrupt and sinful. It is the fact that something that was once based in faith, has now become corrupted by the sin filled culture engulfing the world. Pastor Jones also talks about the ways that Colossians addresses these issues. He essentially states that Colossians addresses how “doing the right thing for the wrong reason,” is still sinful, and requires reconciliation. He also addresses how we must remain faithful in this modern culture we are stuck in. Pastor Jones recognizes that it is very difficult to do this and reminds us of the reward that awaits us in Heaven. If we can work towards the goals set throughout Colossians, of being faithful and working towards Jesus’ example, then we can find satisfaction in ourselves because we now find ourselves in Christ. It was this idea that I found compelling. I constantly find myself falling short of Christ in my attempts to follow Him, but Pastor Jones addresses this when he talks about how we need to work towards Him. He states that we should not be discouraged in our failings but continue to work for God. God knows all of our imperfections and sins, so these do not come as a disappointment to Him when he knows we are doing our best to follow Him. I feel like this could be used in a very practical sense to help new believers and unbelievers not feel discouraged by the idea of possible failure. Page | 4