This document outlines four key Christian principles: 1) God exists and is perfectly good, loving, and has an ordered plan. 2) Creation is good, though bad things happen, it demonstrates beauty and order. 3) Humans have dignity as free, rational, social, and embodied beings intended for God. 4) Sin and grace - humans are inclined to sin by turning from God, but God offers grace to return to Him. It then provides brief summaries of several philosophies and asks how they connect to the Christian principles regarding concepts like God, creation, human nature, and sin/grace.

1. Applying
philosophies of
life to Christian
Principles
CE30.1.b.3

2. Christian Principle #1:
God exists
 God is revealed to be
 perfectly good,
 loves His Creation actively,
 Has an ordered plan

3. Christian Principle #2:
Creation is good
 Even while bad things happen, creation
itself works according to balanced rules,
demonstrates breathtaking beauty
 We can know the order and the beauty
of the world – it makes sense
 We have received creation as a gift – it is
ours to enjoy and safeguard

4. Christian Principle #3:
Human dignity
 Human dignity means we are
 free,
 rational,
 social,
 embodied
 We are intended to be with God forever

5. Christian Principle #4:
Sin and Grace
 We are capable of and inclined to sin:
 the act of intentionally turning away from
God, i.e. turning away from perfect love
 God gives us the grace (gift) to return to
him

6. Use this chart to apply
philosophies to Christian principles
How do the
following
philosophies connect
with these Christian
principles?
God exists Creation is good Humans have dignity Sin and grace
Stoicism
Epicureanism
Skepticism
Cynicism
Pythagoras
Plato
Aristotle

7. Stoicism
“Examine your beliefs.”
“Focus on what is in your control.”

12. Epicureanism
“Maximize each moment’s pleasure.”

17. Skepticism
“Don’t believe anything except (maybe)
what you see with your own eyes.”

21. sin is

22. Cynicism
“Reject society’s rules and pursue your own
good.”

27. Pythagoras
“Recite perfect wisdom until you
become it.”

32. Plato
“Improve your mind until you can
perceive perfect Truth (God).”

37. Aristotle
“Form good habits to make being happy
easier.”