Version vom 13. Januar 2011, 10:35 Uhr

Englisch-LK

"What place for God in Europe?"

Group 6, Question 3

Text: What place for God in Europe?

What is the author’s position? How does this become clear?

The author Peter Ford in his article “What place for God in Europe?” is quite neutrally analyzing the differences between America and Europe concerning the role of religion. One might at most argue that he favors the European state and acknowledgment of secularism when it comes to the proportions of the parts of the text he dedicates to both sides, for the part on Europe is remarkably larger and more detailed than the one on America. But that might as well be due to target group of Americans, which might know less about Europe and its politics. One cannot declare for sure whether Ford prefers any attitudes.

Homework

Religion

Americans' views of God shape attitudes on key issues

• What different ideas of God are described in the text?
• What effects do these concepts have on Amercans' private and political views?

There are four different Ideas of god:

• The Authoritative God: engaged in history and meting out harsh punishment to those who do not follow him
• The Benevolent God: engaged in our world and loves and supports us in caring for others ("God like a doctor who has my best interest at heart, even if sometimes I don't like his diagnosis or prescriptions."
• The Critical God: keeps an eye on this world but delivers justice in the next (the poor, the suffering and the exploited in this world often believe in this such kind of God)
• The Distant God: booted up the universe, then left humanity alone

The last image of a distant God is one that gives most responsibility to the people and their actions. That is very positive because people that believe in a loving and caring God (benevolent) ignore their responsibility for their own well being, as well as those who regard God as critical, judging in the next world. Those people always console themselves with a full and rich next life, not daring to fight their suffering. Also the people who believe in a authoritative God abdicate responsibility, for they regard catastrophies and the like as Gods justified punishment. They ignore that they may be responsible for the grievances and catastrophies on their own, and hence, do not feel responsible for helping people that suffered from these. All that influences of course politics as well as private life.

• Read Religion and politics in America!

• Write down 8 questions and formulate the 8 answers to be asked and answered from this article, that express the basics about religion an politics!

Religion and Politics: 1. What is the generell opinion most Americans have when it comes to the religious attitude that their leaders should have?

• About seventytwo percent of all American registred voters state that their president should have strong religious beliefs. The result is that often religious seeming politicians are voted into high ranks.

2. How comes that this trend is so strong?

• Most American voters are very religious Christians and therefore want their leader to have a close relationship to god to be able to fulfill his goodwilling plans.

3. What is the juridical argument on religious leaders?

• The US constitution claims a strict seperation of politics and religion (but also tolerates and respects any religious conviction, enabling mighty positions to be staffed by very religious people).

Conflicts of Politics and Church 4. There are often conflicts concerning the seperation or intertwining of politics and church. Which are the most argued elements?

• Besides the controvertial on seperation many public elemtents are again and again mentioned: Gay marriage as well as stem cell research, war, pacifism.

5.

pp. 210 - 211: What does Morris feel about Rummidge and university life there?

Throughout his stay in Rummidge, his attitude towards the city and university life has changed a lot. In Morris' opinion Rummidge, although he used to dislike the city for its drabness, is changing in a positive way. Being touched by the view of rising "tower blocks", he feels slightly reminded of the well known American style. Regarding himself as an American colonist in "the most unexpected place", the University is nevertheless(?) still not to be compared to any American standard. But in spite of the mess in British university-life from which he used to suffer a lot, he now is somehow keen on its "whacky, yet somehow endearing" inefficiency.

Introduce a novel as possibly read in class this semester

"Fight Club" - Chuck Palahniuk

Thanks to David Fincher the novel Fight Club has already been filmed and that's why we will first of all take a look at the trailer of this movie!

Fight Club was originally a novel by Chuck Palahniuk, published in 1996.

The story of this book is told by its main protagonist who's Product Recall Specialist suffering from insomnia and who realizes that his identity is only defined by his job and possession. Taking his doctors advice he joins a testicular cancer support group to "see what real suffering is". He recognizes that hearing problems of others and crying with them cures his insomnia, so joins even more support groups. But then he gets to know Marla Singer, a "tourist" like him ...

Click here for a detailed plot summary

And I'm really quite convinced that, though it might be irritating to some of you, we should rather read thät book, for its funny, exciting and philosophical.

Two main Characters: Personality, Family, Career

University Life and Academical System

Life in the USA vs. Life in Britain

K12

Einträge des Schuljahres 09/10