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Chapter 4: "Being Always Ready to Give an Answer: Explaining a Distinctive Way of Life"
Michael R. Leming, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
Spring Semester 1998
- How do Southside members account for how their lives are turning out, world or current events, and so forth? How is that different from how you personally tend to talk about or explain your own life?
- What is the "Rapture"? Why is salvation considered so important? If salvation is basically individual, why is participation in church important? What is the importance of prayer?
- What do church members "get" from church--what does being a member of this church do for them, what are the personal benefits of church membership? Are there other ways they could get such benefits? Are members' lives more orderly, or do they only seem more orderly?
- How do believers know God's will for them? Do you see any problems or inconsistencies in their thinking? Why does it seem so convincing to those who believe?
- All church people face similar problems of faith, knowing God's will, and "theodicy." How do the people of this church solve the problem of theodicy? How is that different from other ways of thinking about the problem?
- What is the "theodicy of dualism"? What does it explain for the people?
Go back to Sociology 265 - Discussion Questions
If you have any questions or comments please email:
leming@stolaf.edu
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