2. Discussion questions for sessions 1 & 2
You can earn an extra 4 pts. credit per module, or 60 points maximum per 15 modules
or semester weeks, for answering at least one discussion question and/or
posting at least one extensive discussion comment on another student’s
posted answer on the discussion board. Discussions will run from Thursday
noon to Friday 6 pm of each module/week. The overall length of your weekly
discussion (both answer and response) should not go over ½ page single
spaced paragraph.
After completing, please proceed to the review questions.
Review once again before taking the exam.
Note: During weeks or modules IX and XV, you may earn an extra 4 pts. credit only by discussing
and commenting on at least one creative project written and posted by another student during the
two scheduled mini-conferences (session 25, Monday noon of week or module IX, and 41, Friday
noon of week or module XV).
3. Discussion questions for sessions 1 & 2
1. What do you think of the name given to “God” by
Spaniards, Italians, and French?
2. What do you think today about the Islamic influence on
our Western-Christian languages invoking “God” as Allah
in religious hope?
3. If “theism” is derived from the word given to Greek and
Latin divinities and even to kings, what does it mean to
call anyone (literally) an “atheist”?
4. What do all religions reveal and promise, and how does
this differ from the secular view of human affairs? What
do you think of the difference and similarity between the
promises given by each view?
4. Review questions for sessions 1 & 2
Etymology of "God“
• 1. What are the four basic derivations of the English word "God“
• 2. Can you recognize the 12 Greek/Roman deities?
• 3. What is the Islamic influence on any Western-Christian language about
religious hope?
• 4. How do Hebrews (Jews) speak of “God”, what is their name for “God”
and what does the name signify?
• 5. Where does the Anglo-Saxon “God” come from?
• 6. Recognize the cognates and derivatives of the Greek and Latin names
for “God.”
5. Review questions for sessions 1 & 2
Etymology of "Religion"
• 1. Recognize some common definitions.
• 2. What is the Latin root of the word “religion”?
• 3. How does the same root give us two different meanings?
• 4. Which is the etymology accepted by Aquinas as the most correct one?
• 5. What does it mean to call something or someone “religious”?
• 6. Describe the difference between the noun and the verb notion of religion.
• 7. Identify the meaning of “philosophy” and its cognates.
• 8. Describe the difference between philosophy of “God” and of “religion.”
• 9. What is “natural theology”?
• 10. What are the broad and narrow senses of philosophy of religion?
• 11. Identify the three main types and historical origins of and some names associated with philosophy of religion.
6. Review questions for sessions 1 & 2
After completing this review, proceed to
Module II, sessions 4-6.
Review once again before taking exam #1.
7. Review questions for sessions 1 & 2
After completing this review, proceed to
Module II, sessions 4-6.
Review once again before taking exam #1.
