Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Religion for University

Judith Jarvis Thomson's Defense of Abortion

Judith Jarvis Thomson, in her seminal essay "A Defense of Abortion," begins by granting, for the sake of argument, the premise that a human embryo is a person.

She then challenges the notion that one can effectively argue from this premise to the conclusion that all abortion is morally impermissible.

Thomson asserts that the Basic Argument (a term used by the author of this summary, not Thomson herself) fails to justify the idea that all abortion is morally impermissible.

Thomson's Philosophical Project

The Basic Argument Against Abortion

• The fetus is a person, and every person has a right to life.
• Therefore, the fetus has a right to life.
• The mother has a right to decide what happens in and to her body.
• But

The Baptism in the Jordan and the Ministry of Jesus

The Gospels emphasize the significance of baptism within the narrative of Jesus, helping us understand why He chose this path.

1. Religious Streams of Judaism in Jesus' Time

During the time of Jesus, religious life in Israel was dominated by two primary groups:

• The Pharisees: Representing the middle and upper-middle classes, their religious focus was the scrupulous observance of the Law.
• The Sadducees: The aristocratic and conservative priestly class, who held significant power and influence within the Jerusalem Temple.

2. The Baptism Preached by John

Many preachers and "baptists" of the era invited people to a baptism of purification as a sign of conversion and hope. The uniqueness of John the Baptist...

1. Scripture and Forgiveness Exercises

After reading the texts provided by the professor, students must complete the following sentences:

• Many ... and ... sat to eat with Jesus.
• Jesus said: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."
• Jesus replied to Peter: "You must forgive until seventy times seven."
• Jesus told his apostles: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven."
• On the cross, Jesus said: "Father, forgive them, they do not know what they do."

2. The Sacrament of Forgiveness

The second session focuses on the Sacrament of Forgiveness. We often communicate through gestures; sometimes a gesture is worth a thousand words. In pairs, students will demonstrate gestures of forgiveness to the class.

Group

Sufism: A Soft Interpretation of Islam?

Sufism is broadly described as the intensification of Islamic faith and practice, representing the tendency among Muslims to strive for a personal engagement with the Divine Reality. This essay examines whether Sufism provides a "soft" interpretation of Islam by focusing on its core practices, specifically Dhikr (remembrance of God).

The Foundation of Sufi Practice

Adherents of Sufism follow the five pillars of Islam just as other practicing Muslims do. They declare faith in one God, Allah, and Muhammad as His messenger, pray five times a day, give to charity, fast, and perform the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Sufism is not a separate sect of Islam, but rather a stream of interpretation emphasizing the interior...

First, the definition of a human person as the church sees it is that they see men and women as the living image of God himself, the image of his plan, they have received a part of God's dignity. The church invites all people to recognize in everyone a brother or sister 'for whom Christ died'. 'Human society is therefore the object of the social teaching of church since this is neither outside or nor over and above socially united men, but exists exclusively in them and for them.' The human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something but someone. He is capable of self-knowledge, self-possession and of freely giving himself and entering into communication with other persons. He is called by grace to offer his creator...

Mission of Jesus

The Gospel demonstrates that Jesus was not indifferent to the needs of the vulnerable. He fought against hypocrisy, the abuse of power, and the profit motive of the wealthy. He denounced indifference toward the suffering of the oppressed, noting that those responsible will be held accountable when He returns to judge the world. Jesus proclaimed an essential equality in dignity among all human beings, both men and women. In His message, we find the conception of the person as a social being, correlating with criteria based on solidarity, justice, and charity. Gospel values relate to the origin and nature of authority, which must be exercised as a service to the common good.

Mission of the Church

The Church, continuing the mission...

T5. The Spanish Golden Age of Nursing (1550–1650)

The period between 1550 and 1650 is recognized as the Golden Age of Spanish nursing. During this era, a confluence of events occurred that challenged the so-called "dark period of nursing."

Key Developments in Spanish Nursing

• Religious Orders and Congregations: The expansion of orders aimed at assisting the poor and sick was significant. Notable groups include the Order of San Juan de Dios, the Congregation of Poor Nurses (Obregones), and the Order of Bethlehemites, which expanded throughout the Americas.
• Nursing Manuals: The drafting of manuals written by and for nurses became common. Key texts include the Instruction for Nurses and Nurses Directory by Obregón, and the Brief Compendium of Surgery

Religion in Schools: Relations Between Church and School Through History

1. Relationship between the Church and the school through the ages

Primitive Christianity and education

In pagan and Christian education, the official school of the ancient world gave way during the late Roman Empire, and the community of young people was lost until the barbaric invasions.

The medieval regime

In the medieval regime, Christian structures held a deeply rooted role in education. Clerical and sacral schools were predominantly owned and managed by monks and clergy. From the eighth century, teaching was in the hands of the Church, and religious content was deeply intertwined with clerical training. During the Carolingian period and the thirteenth century, pagan culture...

The Golden Age of Spanish Nursing (1550–1650)

Between 1550 and 1650, Spain experienced a golden age for nursing, characterized by several key developments:

• Expansion of Religious Orders: The emergence of congregations dedicated to assisting the poor, including the Order of St. John of God, the Obregones, and the Belemite Order, which expanded throughout the Americas.
• Nursing Manuals: The creation of specialized literature, such as the Instruction for Obregón Nurses and the Directory for Nurses by Simón López, alongside the Brothers of St. John of God’s Brief Overview of Surgery.
• New Framework for Practice: The establishment of the four core nursing functions: support, administration, management, and teaching/research. This era introduced