"Rumours of Another World" Notes: "The Good Life" & "The Gift of Guilt"

And after Chapters 7 and 8, there were Chapters 9 and 10...believe it or not!

Goodness & Guilt

In tonight’s chapters, Yancey outlines the principles and logical consequences of three different views about sin, guilt, and fulfillment:

• The (schizophrenic) world's view generally sees sin as an outdated concept, guilt as a pesky problem that needs to just go away, and God as the Big Spoiler in the Sky.
  
• The schizophrenic church, or religion-based, view, sees Christianity as a religion that's all about rules, and emphasizes the consequences of disobeying them to the exclusion of all else.
  
• The sacramental, or relationship-based, view sees Christianity as being centered around the person's love-based relationship with God.

I have listed below several concepts contained in tonight’s chapters. What does each view have to say about these concepts? What natural consequences result from living according to each of these views?

• Who is God, and how should I approach/relate to Him?
  
• What is sin, and where do its consequences come from?
  
• What is guilt? How do I deal with it? What is its relationship to repentance?

In addition, consider these questions:

• Do you agree with Yancey’s assertion on pp. 129-130 that modern society has “redefined” sin? If so, what consequences can you think of from the “sin revolution” in addition to the ones he lists? Why do you think so many people still ignore the obvious physical consequences of, say, promiscuity?
  
• Notice that Yancey makes reference to Mormon rules and how they, as well as Christian rules, can help prevent the negative physical consequences rampant in much of the rest of society. Is it true that any religion with certain prohibitions can help prevent these effects? If so, why choose Christianity?
  
• Notice Yancey’s explanation of “cognitive dissonance” on p. 146. Where can you find examples of this phenomenon, both within and outside of Christianity?
  
• On p. 154, Yancey details three responses to sin. Which response comes from each worldview? Why do you feel, as Yancey points out on p. 148, that we will do almost anything to avoid the last and healthiest option?