Religion: Linking Humankind and Supernatural

There is no clear consensus of what constitutes a religion. It can be defined as a social-cultural system of specific morals, beliefs, behaviors, and ethics. Religion generally links humankind and supernatural, other-worldly, or spiritual elements. There are thousands of distinct religions worldwide, most of which explain the origin and meaning...

Aspects of Faith Stages Development

Each life can be divided into specific stages because a person is constantly developing and growing from childhood to the elderly age. According to Hutchison (2018), there are four stages of adulthood related to faith that can occur: Synthetic-Conventional, Individuative-Reflective, Conjunctive, and Universalizing faith. This paper argues that I am...

Ideas and Topics in Saint Mark’s Gospel

Saint Mark’s Gospel is the shortest and the most volumetric text out of the four existing ones. His telling is in some ways similar to Mathew’s narrative, but some occurrences are presented in the other order, and the descriptions are shorter. The Gospel of Mark is believed to be the...

The Decline of Christianity in Europe Since 1675

The European Christianity have a long and varied history of decline. A powerful tendency for secularization appeared in Western Europe spreading to the entire European continent. The age of Enlightenment is the epoch of the decline of faith under the onslaught of scientific worldview and rationalism. The sunset of the...

How Biblical Worldview Helps in Everyday Life

Defining Worldview At its core, a worldview can be defined as a set of beliefs, philosophy, and comprehensive conception of the world that is held by each individual. Gray (2011) identifies it as a collection of attitudes, values, and expectations which go on to inform thoughts and actions. Each person’s...

Atonement: Theories and Interpretations

Introduction About two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ died for all humanity’s sins. It is called the crucifixion of Jesus, by which he produces the atonement for the whole of humankind. Despite the fact of this event and the clarity of its consequences, there are many theories and interpretations of...

The Gospel of Luke 17:11-19 in the New Testament

The Gospel of Luke in the New Testament is a telling of the origins of Jesus Christ, the miracles, the death, and the resurrection. One of the illustrations that refer to Jesus’s teachings and the overall concept of receiving salvation is Luke 17:11-19. The 19th chapter tells the story of...

The Story About Joseph: God Always Has a Plan

Joseph was one of Jacob’s twelve sons and the most loved ones, so his father gave him a beautiful colorful coat. Joseph’s brothers became jealous of him and decided to sell him as a slave. He was taken to Egypt and started to serve the Potiphar, who was a Pharaoh’s...

The Good Samaritan: Origin and Meaning of the Expression

The Good Samaritan currently refers to doing good deeds towards strangers exclusively out of kindness and compassion. This idiom is rooted in a biblical parable told by Jesus. The story is usually interpreted as Jesus’ call to love both neighbors and enemies. However, the meaning of the parable could be...

The New Testament: The Source of Spiritual Knowledge

Representing the second part of the Biblical Canon, the New Testament offers a crucial source of spiritual strength and development. However, its interpretations are quite numerous, inviting multiple opportunities of interpreting the Scripture in a variety of ways. Specifically, the New Testaments, the source of information about Jesus and His...

My Testimony of Faith: Dialogue with an Atheist

The controversy about God’s existence between atheists and those who believe in the reasonability of religion lasts for hundreds of years. People, who do not question the presence of divine power, usually have had an event or have noticed a phenomenon they consider as proof of God’s existence. This essay...

Megachurches: History, Business and Values Aligned

Introduction In the second half of the twentieth century, various new forms of religiosity and types of religious identity appeared in many countries of the world. They, in particular, caused the formation of different, sometimes mutually exclusive concepts describing the state of religion in the modern world. These are secularization...

Importance of Having Faith for People

Faith, the concept of having confidence in something regardless of whether it is grounded in facts, is often the only thing that offers consolation to people. However, it is beneficial during hard times and can inspire people to be and do better when they are already living well. This concept...

The Flood in Genesis and Lessons Learnt

Introduction Genesis is among the most famous stories and teachings. The particular interest in the story arises from the overall thinking about Genesis. In recent decades, Evangelical theologists have returned to exploring the questions of human origins. Even though the mentions of the Flood in Genesis 6-9, it begins earlier...

Old Testament and Form Criticism: “What Ezekiel Saw in the Valley”

Introduction Representations of distinct events in the Bible can often yield significant information regarding the social attitudes and customs of the age discussed. Several sections of the Old Testament books are designated for particular thoughts and events to be delegated to the public during readings and liturgies. Such excerpts from...

Winthrop’s Allusion to Moses in “City Upon a Hill”

John Winthrop delivered his famous speech about the dream of a city upon a hill in 1630, as his group of colonists was about to depart for Boston. It was a message of hope and Christian wisdom for Winthrop’s followers who were going to change their lives. Several aspects of...

Obedience in Faith in the Story of Abraham

Among the examples of steadiness and firmness in faith, few parts of the Holy Scripture are as impactful in this respect as the story of Abraham. The hardship he endured and the challenges he faced were colossal by any standard, yet his stalwart faith in God never wavered even in...

“Christian Theology” by Millard J. Erickson

In the chapters of his book, Erikson critically examines the nature of Jesus Christ through a discussion of the most prominent theological trends and opinions. At the center of the analysis is the recognition of the historical significance of Jesus as a teacher and a man who managed, nevertheless, to...

The Idea of Government According to the Bible

Religion is a unique system that affects all spheres of human activity, including governing. At the first stages of society’s evolution, religious beliefs were used as the basis for states, and beliefs and rituals were considered laws affecting the communities’ rise. The emergence of Christianity with its set of values...

“The Churching of America” Book by Finke & Stark

Despite being technically defined as constitutionally secular, the U.S. is largely affected by Christianity and the associated values, traditions, and perceptions. As a result, the role of the Christian church has been expanded to influence nearly every domain of most American people’s lives (Finke & Stark, 2005). In the range...

Ministry of the Prophets, Bible Prophets and Their Prophecies

Prophetic ministry at its core is the act of leading and guiding the church based on revelations from God and gift of the prophesy. The Scriptures present multiple examples of prophetic ministry. The Old Testament has a significant number of prophets. There are the central ones who directly communicated with...

Life With ALS in the Context of the Christian Worldview

Introduction Like every religion, Christianity has a specific attitude to such existential questions as illness and death. One of the most difficult choices in this area is between living with an incurable disease and euthanasia. It is essential to study the principles and ideas of Christianity to make a decision...

“Propositional Faith: What it is and What it is Not” Article Review

Daniel Howard-Snyder dedicates his article to the topic of faith. His main claim is that the common understanding of propositional faith is false and thus damages human thought processes regarding their attitude towards future events. Snyder argues that there is a substantial difference between conventional religious faith and propositional faith...

Critical Introduction to the Book of Matthew

Introduction The book of Matthew is the first in the New Testament and was written by Saint Matthew, the evangelist. The book primarily discusses the accounts of the life and death of Jesus Christ. The gospel was initially written in Greek sometimes after 69 CE and depended on the earlier...

What the Bible Actually Teaches on Women by Giles

The book What the Bible Actually Teaches on Women is a comprehensive critique of the “complementarian” assertion that women are meant to be subordinates of men both at the household and in church. The author, Kevin Giles, is an accomplished scholar and backer of female leadership and he has written...

The Rhetoric of Condemnation in the Book of Job

The Book of Job belongs to the Ketuvim (“Writings”) section of the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament part of the Christian Bible. The main character, Job, is introduced in the prologue, where he is depicted as a godly man generously gifted with material and non-material gifts alike. The narration...

Religion Study: Analysis of Exodus 32:7-14

Introduction In the Book of Exodus, one of the most daring confrontations with God is the Golden Calf event. The story revolves around the people of Israel who doubted the divinity of the Lord and describes how God and Moses reacted to this treachery. The narrative reveals how arrogant and...

The Role of Ruth’s Character in the Scripture

Introduction God’s use of ordinary people to achieve His goals may be found in the Holy Scripture more than once. As an example, the story of Ruth can be cited, a humble girl who symbolizes the events of Israel’s redemption. The chapters in the Bible about this character introduce the...

Ethical Standards in the Westboro Baptist Church Case

Ethics and religion are interrelated concepts, but this synergy remains inadequately explained. Moreover, this issue’s final point cannot be reached since both concepts are relative and not measured by standard methods. The Westboro Baptist Church case reveals a controversial decision allowing religious activists to express their perspective at a funeral....

Molloy’s Elements of Religion Among Zoroastrians

Beliefs Shaun Walker’s article titled “The Last of the Zoroastrians” gives a glimpse of the manifestation of Molloy’s eight elements of religion in Zoroastrianism. The community has a strong belief that they must make peace with the dead before disposing of the body. They unite to pray for the dead...

William Rowe’s Argument for Atheism Based on the Problem of Evil

Introduction Ever since the scientific community developed the concept of the scientific method, there has been a centuries-old dispute between them, philosophers, and theologians about the existence of God. This topic is particularly relevant to Christian discourse and is viewed by many atheists as the ideological crisis of Christianity. However,...

Christian Worldview: Ultimate Reality

Introduction Ultimate reality is an existing actuality that surpasses the physical and non-physical dimensions of the world. It is absolute power, a central connecting point, and the source of everything that prevails in the universe. In the Christian denomination, this phrase refers to a transcendent presence, a supreme being, or...

Spirituality and Social Work Practice

Including Spirituality and Religion in Eboni’s Initial Assessment The conceptualizations of spirituality and religion would be included in the patient’s (Eboni) first evaluation because they represent critical components of patient care. A literature review conducted by Saguil and Phelps (2012) showed that patients expect their health providers to inquire about...

The Problem of Evil and Some Varieties of Atheism

Introduction The question of the existence of a divine, omnipotent, and omniscient being interests and even worries many thinkers from ancient times, probably since the birth of philosophical thought. In this regard, philosophers are mainly divided into two philosophical camps, namely, theists, those who believe in divinity, and atheists, those...

French Huna for Health

Introduction Successful health care is reliant on self-care as it highly contributes to one’s well-being. Although there is continued progress toward a holistic advance to healing and fitness, the disease remains the focal point. There is a rising concentration on disease prevention, the establishment of a cure for sicknesses, and...

“Villancico VI” by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz is an exceptional example of Mexican religious literature. In her works, she tried to understand the nature of human spiritual life. Moreover, she also discussed the topic of women’s religious authority and feminist advocacy. Sor Juana examined political and colonial questions as well through...

Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity

The psychological practice of believers is usually different from the atheists’ psychological counseling methods. That is because faith enriches individuals and allows them to reveal those facets of the human soul that may not be available to academic knowledge. This paper aims to summarize and critically analyze the book by...

Modern Pluralism and Challenges for Christianity

Human society has undergone various changes associated with all spheres of people’s lives. Modern pluralism is one of the shifts that is shaping the way people interact and see the world. One of the major peculiarities of this trend is the acceptance of multiple views on diverse concepts (Chatraw &...

Social Trinity: Interpreting Christian Doctrine

Social Trinity is an interpretation with regard to the Christian doctrine on trinity. The main and central idea lies in the fact that this concept of trinity comprises of three persons whose relationship constitutes its very nature. Over the last three decades, there have been increased outpouring of the writings...

“Think Biblically” by John Macarthur

Introduction The book “Think Biblically” by John MacArthur can be acclaimed as an appeal to the audience to view the occurrences of modern culture through Biblical teachings. In the following paper, the strong and the weak points of this book will be discussed along with the value of the book...

Freedom of Religious Beliefs in the Workplace

As businesses and corporations spread to a number of nations throughout the world the multicultural workforce is becoming very common. But the truth about modern civilization is that there is a lot of prejudice and stereotyping still excitant. These could be based on previous conflicts between nations, terrorism that does...

“Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood” by Piper

Summary of the concepts of the book Christians need to understand the issues of biblical manhood and womanhood as the two issues if well understood will help Christians to co-exist peacefully especially in the context of marriage. The book, “Recovering biblical manhood and womanhood,” as edited by John Piper and...

Biomedical Ethics and Christianity: Balancing Patient’s Wellbeing and Trust in God

Introduction Bioethics is an independent discipline and a system of moral principles and values that serve as a point of reference in case a medical practitioner is confronted with a moral dilemma. Often, the scale of a problem supersedes the limits of what is healthy and embarks on what is...

Tsimtsumt in Life of Pi: The Synthesis of the World Religions

Life of Pi by Yann Martel is an account on the adventures of a sixteen-year old Indian boy who spent 227 days with a Bengal tiger on the lifeboat. The narration also determines the religious searches of the protagonist Piscine Molitor Patel where he strives to find the essence of...

Exegesis of Job 23: 1-17, The Book of Job

Introduction The Book of Job can be considered as one of the most philosophical works of the Old Testament. The uniqueness of the Book of Job is in its “depth and thoroughness in dealing with the relationship of human suffering to divine justice” (Gaebelein, 1979-1992, 843). The commonly accepted notion...

Comparison of Jesus and Mohammed

Studies, without a doubt, point out that Christianity and Islam are the major religions in the world. Available literature shows that the two religions are the only, world over to have followers in every region and sphere of the earth. Numerical evidence points out that Christianity is the largest religion...

Saint Aelred of Rievaulx Contribution to the Western World

Introduction Saint Aelred is considered to be one of the most notable figures in history whose works had a significant influence on western culture. Aelred was born in Hexham in 1109. His father who was a married priest, send him to the court of King David I of Scotland where...

“A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini

Introduction During the course of the recent decade, it used to be particularly fashionable among political scientists to discuss the present confrontation between the supposedly Christian West and Muslim Middle East/South in terms of ‘clash of civilizations’. Nevertheless, as time goes by, more and more people in Western countries come...

Catechism of the Catholic Church on Jesus Christ

Introduction The one lord Jesus Christ is such a description of a being with distinction. As much as religion is concerned many people have different beliefs and faiths that they hold unto. For the Christians the great faith speaks of the trinity with the figure Jesus being God the son...

The Role of Medieval Roman Catholicism in Christianity

Introduction The Roman Catholic Church is the major and leading Christian denomination in the world. It has existed as an institution since the first century AD, and its form, scope, and teachings have changed over the years. The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church is in Italy, the Vatican City...

Religious Denominations Analysis: Christianity, Catholicism, and Lutheranism

Introduction: A brief historical background of Christian Denominations Considering the first stages of Christianity development, humanity knew no ‘denominations’ within the church; in 1504 there was first Christendom division between the Eastern and Western Churches with ‘Great Schism’. It is necessary to underline the fact that this stage appeared to...

Christianity in South Korea and Japan

South Korea embraces Christianity more than Japan. When visiting South Korea today, one is bound to be struck by the many churches every where, ranging from splendid cathedrals in big cities to small and humble churches built in villages. These churches can be easily seen when traveling either by train...

Argument From Evil Against God

Introduction Man has been accused of infidelity because he serves both God and evil. He has most of the times denied the existence of God (Psalms 14:1). Perceptive observers talk of these as a post-Godly era. Robert Taylor, Jr. argues that those who believe in evil can still be swayed...

Civilization Concepts: Religion and History

Introduction Civilization refers to where by a society or community is being transformed from its old ways of doing things to modern ways. Civilization comes as change is made in the political social, economic and religious doing. Western civilization was brought about in forms of art literature drama as well...

Issues and Traditions in Western Religion

Abstract Western Religion is composed of Abrahamic Religions with origin in the ancient Middle East including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Even though the Western Religion constitutes more than Abrahamic religions, mostly used is Christianity as the religion which the Westerners like to identify themselves with. Since their foundations, all the...

Job’s God from the Bible and Greek Gods from Iliad

Introduction Divine intervention or dues ex machina is common in mythical stories and at most favors the lead character. It is often a story of the triumph of the good and the evil. In the Bible’s Old Testament, in the book and story of Job, intervention from God was done...

Zoroastrianism: Ancient Religion, Beliefs, and Modern Practice

Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions in existence, which was instituted by Zarathushtra which means ‘Zoroaster’ in Greek more popularly known as ‘Zarthosht’ in India and Persia. Conservative Zoroastrians believe that the religion was founded in about 6000BCE whereas historians and religious scholars generally believe the birth of Zarathushtra,...

The Idea of Leadership: “Servants of the Servant” by Don N. Howell, Jr.

Introduction «Servants of the Servant: A biblical theology of leadership» is a 2003 book by Don N. Howell, Jr. that tries to evaluate the titular concept from an unusual perspective. The trait is seen as essential for any manager and is useful for a variety of other professions, and therefore,...

Cosmic Christianity: Eliade’s “Myth and Reality”

Introduction Mythology is a very abstract and historic concept which many do not realize has been a vital part of human civilization for centuries before the arrival of the primary world religions. As societies developed with more concrete ideologies and structured religious institutions, mythological concepts were integrated into mainstream religions...

A Statement and Defense of Faith in Literature

Everyone has faith – from the irrational religious zealot to the fervent philosopher and the meticulous scientist. We all believe in something and thus we behave in line with these beliefs. Therefore, the underlying question, in this case, is not whether we have faith, but the truth behind the things...

Pillars of Islam Compared to Ten Commandments

A robust value system and profound ethics are the crucial characteristics of a religion or a religious philosophy. While the principal tenets of two religions may seem entirely alien to each other, there might be some similarities in the ethical foundations. The observed phenomenon turns out to be true for...

God Existence: Deductive and Inductive Arguments

The question of whether God exists has been the focus of discussions since the times immemorial. Numerous arguments have been provided by both sides of the discussion, each being rather impressive and logically coherent. In the text under analysis, both deductive and inductive reasoning is used to prove that God...

Issues of Biomedical Ethics in the Christian Narrative and Christian Vision

Under the Christian narrative and Christian vision, what sorts of issues are most pressing in this case study? The given case study describes rather a controversial situation, in which Christian vision comes into conflict with common sense, ethics, and medical science. The most pressing issue here is the fact that...

The Gospel of John: Analysis

Cite two reasons that Jesus left Judea. 4:1-3 (cf. Mark 1:14). Bruce, p. 100. Jesus left Judea for Galilee for two reasons. First, the province was a foothold of the Pharisees who Christ often condemned for their hypocrisy, and therefore, they were filled with malice against him. Although he was...

Summaries of Old and New Testament Books: A Comprehensive Overview

Summary of the books of the Old Testament Books Exodus The book of Exodus is a narrative. Exodus means “departure”. The book revolves around the deliverance of the people of Israel after 400 years of slavery under the then Pharaoh of Egypt. It begins with the cry of the Israelites...

“Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling” by Mark McMinn

According to McMinn, the book is intended for Christian counselors with interest in investigating the link between theology and religion. In this regard, he defines the basic perspectives of integrating religion and psychology in counseling. Moreover, he outlines the fundamental concepts of integrating counseling in religion. He epitomizes the belief...

Sufism: Islam’s Contribution to Metaphysics

Introduction Sufism exists in many forms and includes several different practices and followers, including some of the better known Sufi masters such as Ibn al Arabi, and perhaps the best known of all Sufis, the poet Rumi. In its simplest and most generalized essence, the Sufi religion represents one of...

Jim Jones and The People’s Temple: A Tragic History

The People’s Temple, also known as the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ, was a religious movement of the 1950s. However, the movement is known primarily for the mass suicide, which its members committed on November 18, 1978, in Guyana (Moore 47). The doctrine of the movement was based...

Rastafarianism Belief System, Sacredness, Rituals

Introduction Religion manifests certain basic elements that include a belief system, community, central myths, emotional experiences, rituals, an ethical system, sacredness, and material expressions of religion. Certain elements are stronger and more valued than others. This paper will examine the extent to which my religious beliefs manifest the aforementioned elements....

Pre-Tribulationism: Key Concepts & Biblical Insights

Introduction Theological science operates diverse concepts that are used to determine relationships between a man and the highest powers. In Christian theory, the discussion around the issue of the end-times has been popular for centuries. People believe that Jesus Christ will return according to his promise (Matt. 24:30; 26:64; John...

Mendelssohn’s Three Truths: Universal, Contingent, Historical

Mendelssohn brings to the three truths, which are universal, contingent, and historical. Universal truths “exist in this and no other way”, and they are associated with “pure mathematics” (Greenberg 46). The eternal truths refer to religious doctrines. Importantly, Mendelssohn stresses that all people share some values that make them humans....

The Problem of Evil and Suffering

The nature of evil No matter what an optimist a person may be, the surrounding reality is not always the merriest place for living. No matter what religious beliefs an individual has, everyone during his life bears the burden of suffering and faces evil. It is useless to deny the...

The Christian Worldview: Gospel Essentials Essay

Introduction Gospel Essentials and the Christian Worldview Gospel essentials are the subject matter of the gospel books, whose theme is forgiveness of sin and redemption, qualified by Jesus’ atonement (1 Cor. 15: 1-4 New International Version). On the other hand, Valk describes the Christian worldview as the underlying philosophical structure...

Evolution of the Caliphate: From Prophet Muhammad to Modern States

Introduction The rise of Islam was not anticipated or planned. In fact, it had become so common within the first three years since the introduction of the religion that many scholars were shocked by the progress. It should be mentioned that the religion spread immediately after the death of Prophet...

Methodist Episcopal Church and Primitive Methodist Church

This essay compares and contrasts two church denominations. The essay looks deeply into the origins of the primitive Methodist church and the Methodist Episcopal church. It further explores the similarities and differences in their beliefs and practices. Conclusively, this essay establishes that save the Methodist Episcopal Church is more polished...

“Islamic History as Global History” by R. Eaton

Introduction Eaton’s goal was made evident in the introductory portion of his article. He wanted his readers to realize the failure of Western scholars in particular, and the Western world in general, when it comes to an accurate understanding of the Muslim world and the religion of Islam. He immediately...

Rastafarianism as a Religious Movement: Origins, Beliefs, and Cultural Impact

Rastafarianism was founded by Tafari Makonnen in 1930 in Harer Ethiopia (RMHP 1). The group drew their inspirations from the teachings of Marcus Garvey and aimed at uniting the black race. Rastafarians consider parts of the Holy Bible to be sacred and reject the Bible commonly used by Christians in...

Apologetics as a Theological Discipline

Introduction Apologetics is a discipline of theology that involves the defense of ones’ religious position by systematically reasoning out disputed issues. This has been there since the time of early Christian writers such as Paul, the apostle. Apologists try to explain that their preferred religion is rational, and it promotes...

Disciple-Making Activity in the Local Church

Introduction The Great Commission sent out the apostles to make disciples, but not to build organizations (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV). This is a fact that the modern church needs to keep in mind in the course of its activities. Making disciples is an activity that has changed greatly since the time...

Collective Effervescence and Liminality in Religious Experiences

Collective Effervescence According to Emile Durkheim, collective effervescence is the key element of various religious experiences. This concept is used to describe the feeling of exaltation that a person may have at the time when he/she participates in religious rituals as a member of the community. Under such circumstance, an...

Message of the Prophets: Background and Interpretation

Introduction The Bible described many situations when people got to know God’s words from other people among them. Being chosen individually, prophets were expected to pass God’s message to others. These messages were aimed to communicate God’s will, while the predictions in them happened to be inevitable. Background and Interpretation...

“Planting Missional Churches” by Ed Stetzer: Summary and Critique

Summary The book under analysis was written by Ed Stetzer and entitled Planting Missional Churches. The author provides valuable insights into the process of planting evangelist churches. Stetzer sheds light on various aspects of the project including finances, location, preaching, worship, spirituality, congregational formation, and so on. The book contains...

The Problem of Evil: Philosophical Arguments for and Against God’s Existence

The issue of whether an omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent God exists amidst all the evil that is being experienced in the world has remained to be one of the highly debatable issues among various stakeholders of religious-based education. Some people may argue that such a God would logically be incompatible...

Religion and Beliefs About Illness: A Comparative Study of Cultural Perspectives

Introduction The world has a diversity of religions with each having its own beliefs regarding illness. Healthcare professionals are obliged to consider religious beliefs when taking care of patients coming from different backgrounds. Religion plays a major role in healthcare and nurses ought to consider the patients’ religious backgrounds before...

The Religious Experiences of Many Women in Colonial Latin America

Introduction Latin America covers “an area of around 19.2 square kilometers” (Socolow 5). The region has twenty sovereign nations covering the Caribbean and South America. Most of “the countries in Latin America are characterized by the use of different Romantic languages” (Socolow 9). The landing of the Europeans in Latin...

Buddhism and Classical Hinduism

Introduction Each religion of the East (classical Hinduism and Buddhism) teaches separate principles from one another. Every religion of the East may be similar in some way, but their rituals, books, and views of a higher being are different. Principles can be found in multiple religious traditions, but each religion...

Religious Parable of “The Three Rings” by Gotthold Lessing

G.E. Lessing created a powerful poem that talks about a father’s love for his sons. The father’s love for his three sons was illustrated through the importance of the ring of power. He will bequeath the ring to his favorite child (Lessing 1). However, he realized that he equally loved...

The Shroud of Turin

Introduction In the 14th century, Geoffrethe y Charny, a French soldier, claimed that he possessed the Shroud of Jesus. Since then, there has been controversy among scholars and believers concerning this Shroud, which is currently preserved in Turin, Italy. The first critic to dispute Charny’s assertion was the Bishop of...

Nature of Christianity: Political Resistance Versus Cultural Assimilation

Religion as a phenomenon has a complex social purpose and is typically viewed as a source of spirituality and ethical development of its proponents. However, apart from the chances that religion opens for believers in terms of their personal development, it also provides extensive opportunities for societal progress by building...

Modern Reforms and the Role of Traditional Vestments in the Catholic Church

Introduction The article “Ecclesiastical Vestments in the Modern Church” by John T. Doherty examines the role and changing types of vestments in the Catholic Church. The importance of ordination in churches is due to several factors, such as the expression of church liturgical and theological traditions. In this regard, the...

God’s Existence and the Meaning of Life in Spiritual and Scientific Perspectives

Introduction The idea of God is not exclusive to Christianity or monotheistic religions. Since the dawn of time, humanity has believed in God, deities, and spirits. These divine entities come in different images and personalities. However, the ultimate essence of their character has always been similar. Like our distant ancestors,...

The Power of African American Preaching in James Harris’ “The Word Made Plain”

Introduction The Word Made Plain: The Power and Promise of Preaching is a sermon book written by James H. Harris, a highly respected African American preacher and scholar. The book explores the role of preaching in shaping and transforming people’s lives and the challenges and opportunities facing preachers today. Various methods...

Guru Granth Sahib: The Eternal Spiritual Guide of Sikhism

The Guru Granth Sahib: Definition and Origins The Guru Granth Sahib is the central religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign, and eternal living Guru following the lineage of the ten human Sikh Gurus of the religion. The text, compiled and completed in 1604 by the...

Understanding Reincarnation in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism

Introduction Reincarnation is a fascinating concept due to its widespread nature and impact on multiple religions. Chandel (2015) defines reincarnation as the belief that souls continuously get reborn in different bodies, times, and places. The concept of reincarnation primarily argues that an individual’s soul is continuously reborn into a different...

The Kingdom of God: Impact on Global Politics and Economic Justice

Introduction: The Kingdom of God in the Context of Global Politics and the High Cost of Living Christians need to understand that the Kingdom of God is of the utmost power and directly affects the worldwide political situation and the expensive cost of living. The Bible teaches that God’s Kingdom...

The Development and Teachings of the Early Christian Church: Origins, Heresies, and Growth

Introduction Every religion has a beginning and story that has been passed on to the following generations and written in manuscripts. Similarly, the early church in Christianity began with the death of Jesus Christ and gradually spread to various regions. Therefore, the early church began with the apostles spreading the...

Quotes on Faith and Vocation from Courage and Calling by Gordon Smith

Introduction Reading Courage and Calling by Gordon Smith is a unique opportunity for me to understand the role of God, the worth of Christian life, and vocation. It is not easy to trust one’s own life to someone, but the book gives several critical lessons about why it is ordinary...

Suffering’s Role in Spiritual Growth for Ministry Leaders

Introduction If humans experience joy and bliss in life, they will never succeed in development. Only the presence of opposites allows one to compare, draw conclusions, and choose something for oneself, contributing to the soul’s development. Suffering, the opposite of happiness and joy, pushes the soul to the eternal search...

Lesslie Newbigin’s Proper Confidence and Its Impact on Missionary Thought

Introduction Lesslie Newbigin’s contribution is considered among the brightest minds behind the missionary thought of the twentieth century, even though his reflection on Evangelism has not been widely studied. In the age of rising pragmatism and consumerism, through his writing, Newbigin aimed to comment on the disappearance of hope in...

“Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions” by Richard Erdoes

Introduction Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions is a compelling autobiography that provides readers with a rare glimpse into the spiritual beliefs and rituals of the Lakota Sioux. The book, which was co-written by respected medicine man John (Fire) Lame Deer and author and anthropologist Richard Erdoes, digs deeply into the...

Holistic Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology

Introduction Bible is the primary book or account through which humanity can understand their maker’s purpose for them. The book of Genesis provides information about the creation and humans’ existence but significantly little about why God created humans. According to Genesis, the only clear role for people is that humans...

William Paley’s “Watch Analogy” Discussion

William Paley’s watch analogy is a well-known debate about the existence of God. Paley contends that if a person were to find a watch on the ground, they would infer that it had a designer because its intricate structure and function imply purpose. Similarly, Paley argues, the intricate structure and...

The Aspects of the Spiritual Growth

Introduction The given analysis will mainly focus on Bill Fleming’s presentation video and the Scripture to identify, describe, and assess key elements of various phases of spiritual growth. Discussion The key point is that a Christian undergoes different stages of spiritual growth throughout his or her life. The author notes...

The Expansion of Christianity in North Africa

Introduction In historical scholarship, the traditional interest in the formation of the Christian Church and its institutions, the relationship between church and state, and the influence of Christian ideas on the consciousness of the people of the classical era persist. An idea of the history of Christianity in northern Africa...

Death and Dying Rituals in Buddhism

Introduction Cultures, languages, beliefs, and traditions in our globe are incredibly varied and rich. There are many varied rituals and traditions associated with the many stages of life that are practiced in different religions, but there are also some commonalities between the various cultures. Humans have known for a long...

Nationalism and Shinto in Meiji Restoration

The term “Shinto” refers to the native religion of Japan, which has historically had a significant impact on many people’s lives in terms of politics, society, and even the economy. The Shinto religion still values several ancient rituals developed throughout those times. The procedures are rigorously carried out to establish...

Historical Context of the Book Kingdom of Matthias

Introduction Penned in 1994 by Paul Johnson and Sean Wilentz, The Kingdom of Matthias portrays the protagonist Robert Matthias as a significant proponent of the Second Great Awakening (SGA) in the United States. The book, set in the early 1800s in New York, explores the emergence and crumble of a...

Role of Buddhism in World Culture and the Formation of Worldviews

In view of the urgent problems associated with the environmental crisis, spiritual degradation, and information overload. Paying attention to the processes taking place in the modern world, one may come to the conclusion that the cause of the conflicts taking place in it comes from the contradictions that arise within...

Cultural Similarities and Differences Between Islam and Judaism

Introduction Worldviews, culture, and religion are invisible forces that can determine or impact the behaviors and attitudes of people around. Understanding and respecting the differences between these values is a key element of building healthy and courteous communication (Tuleja, 2021). Religion is one of the main aspects affecting a person’s...

The Essay “Salvation” by Langstone Hughes

I was intrigued by Langstone Hughes’s “Salvation”, a story concerning the lessons and challenges that everyone can witness in the lives of youths. He discusses young people’s social and emotional difficulties by relying on his life experiences, including the time he was supposed to witness a 12-member revival while actively...

The Christian Worldview and Its Concepts

Introduction Depending on whatever dominance one chooses to accept, the Christian worldview today has a wide range of elements. Many Christians disagree with those who believe God is three distinct persons—the father, the son, and the holy spirit. This has led to numerous questions about key aspects of the Christian...

The Spirituality’s Subjective Life

Introduction One of the fundamental ideas to grasp the modern world is the subjectivities thesis. Finding and expressing one’s identity has changed from being determined by external realities like customary law or nature to being a concern for subjects self-referential. Subjectivities are a reflexively felt state of recognition that gives...

The Acts 9:36-43 Passage Analysis

Correlation How the passage fits within the metanarrative of the Bible The story of Dorcas of Joppa is affiliated with the new creation multinarrative of the Bible. The description is about a woman who helped the poor, widows and was of an admirable heart. At one time, she died, and...

Why Women in Islam Have to Be Modest

On the excuse of Islamic modesty, women in several Muslim-majority countries (MMCs) are still subjected to gender segregation and mobility restrictions to varying degrees. In its current form, the idea of modesty appears to prevent Muslim women from participating in public life and other activities. This essay examines the religious...

Jesus’s Parables in Modern Settings

Introduction In the Bible, Jesus tells his followers a number of parables. These parables were aimed at explaining God’s plan to the common folk based on examples they could understand. How did these stories teach valuable lessons to the listeners of God’s word? After telling a short and simple story,...

A Myth, Its Definition and Role for People

A myth is a metaphor for human behavior, culture, wisdom, and knowledge (Nagy 15). It is fitting that whether its subject is the acts of deities or other extraordinary events, a myth always takes us back to the beginnings of all things. However, you also mention that there is no...

Clarke’s Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God

Introduction Cosmological argument alludes to a family of ancient intellectual debates supporting the existence of God as the sole or ideal causality for the presence of the universe, independent of any of its distinguishing characteristics as examined by scientific knowledge. Samuel Clarke developed a multitude of arguments that are now...

The Role of Religion in Ancient Egyptian Life

Religion was deeply integrated into Egyptian culture and society. By analyzing the documents provided, one can trace the role of Egyptian cosmology in the Egyptian way of life. First of all, the pantheon of the gods in Ancient Egypt was diverse and broad, as each god had its own scope...

The Place of Religion in the Colonies’ Daily Life

Religion is a fundamental factor defining individuals and giving them a sense of belonging. One can associate the origin of different religions and their culture in the United States with the spreading of Christianity during the colonial period. Religion, regardless of the denomination, impacted the daily life of inhabitants of...

The Religious Pluralism Theological Framework

The current examination of religious diversity highlights the problem of religious plurality, whereby traditions fundamentally different from each other yet able to maintain historical adherence, sometimes for millennia, contend on which provides ultimate truth. While Race’s threefold typology depicts three different responses to a religious plurality within a modern comparative...

The Future of Religion Around the World

Introduction Religion is an integral part of the life of people who believe that they have a soul. Most cultures and ancient civilizations have a rich heritage in the form of rituals, beliefs, and myths that explain man’s origin, the earth’s creation, and the role of man in life. Despite...

The Conception of the Soul in Different Traditions

Debate on the conception of the soul dates back to ancient Greek mythology. Many authors from the Greco-Roman tradition, the Abrahamic tradition, and the East Asian tradition posit similar but different views on the ideal conception of the soul. This essay discusses five conceptions from these three traditions: two from...

“Grace Without Nature”: Theological Understanding of the Imago Dei

Introduction Having created heaven and earth, the world of flora and fauna, God formed humankind thousands of years ago from the dust. Therefore, in every person, there is an eternal principle and the image of God. The formula imago Dei, borrowed from Latin, is one of the central theological concepts...

Analysis of Michael Mullet’s Writing on Martin Luther

In ancient times, Martin Luther was known for being a missionary who brought a Christian understanding of salvation and righteousness. Being an extremist Christian, Luther set the basis for Christians to understand how to be closer to God by being righteous in their deeds and having strong faith in the...

Tantrism and Its Cultural Background

The creation story in question is about Tantrism and the Tantric tradition. This religious tradition emerged in India in the pre-Arian times (“Non-Vedic origins of Tantrism,” n.d.). The Arian culture, which followed, adhered to the Vedic religious tradition, and the Arian people did not support Tantrism. This paper will summarize...

Discipleship Stages and Spheres

Introduction Stages of Discipleship A disciple undergoes a spiritual transformation to match Christ’s image. Through this process, a believer experiences an in-depth growth of spiritual knowledge. Christians consume the “spiritual milk” in the discipleship stages and go through the “Christian walk.” Learning how to become Christ’s disciple is crucial for...

Christian Messages in Saint Ambrose’s and Saint Francis of Assisi’s Poetry

Saint Ambrose’s “Ancient Morning Hymn” and Saint Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of the Sun” are two pieces of poetry written at different ages. Ambrose was a Bishop of Milan who lived 340-397 AD. In contrast, Saint Francis of Assisi was living in a time from 1182 till 1226. Even though...

Youth Ministry: Goals, Methods, and Standards

Reasons for Youth Ministry Youth ministry is the practice of working with younger people that promotes Christian faith and church attendance. Children have a different way of connecting with God’s word compared to adults, and a unique approach is needed to work with them. Generally, they are more curious and...

Islamic Conversions in Medieval West Africa

Introduction Islam is one of the leading religions globally to date. Thanks to its widespread in most regions worldwide, scholars and religious fanatics have always wondered about the factors that facilitated the huge spread of Islam. Africa, a continent that has raised most of the questions based on the origin...

Psychology and Theology: Worldview Issues, and Models of Integration

Psychology and theology are often viewed as two opposing forces with no common ground and the proponents of which deny the merits of each other’s disciplines. Nevertheless, the two fields of studies have a long-standing history, although the relationship between the two can be described as problematic. Many people who...

Sharing Christ with Children: Reading Reflection

The First Lesson Based on the book Sharing Christ with Children, I learned a lot of things. First, I learned that Jesus loved children and emphasized that let all children go to him. Secondly, I learned that children are undergoing numerous challenges, such as sexual abuse and being raised by...

Table Fellowship: Dismantling Social Barriers

Reflection This reflection is dedicated to Chapter 3 in Mission in Acts written by Santos Yao, titled “Dismantling Social Barriers through Table Fellowship.” I found this chapter exceptionally relevant to my faith journey and life experience because of the presence of rigid social and cultural divisions within the present-day community....

The Problem of Evil and Its Examples

The problem of evil has value for discussion, so it can help identify humanity’s main problems and how they can be corrected. For this work, two examples of evil were chosen, one purely natural and the other as the result of the actions of people. Furthermore, a purely natural evil...

Secular Combatants: Teaching Secular Worldviews in a Post-Secular Age

Investigating the connection between psychology and Christianity is a problematic and passionate task. One school of thought claims that psychology, or science, is opposed to Christianity or religion. On the one hand, secular combatants feel that religious tradition and mental health are incompatible. On the other hand, Christian warriors who...

The Amos 8:1-8 Passage from the Old Testament

Introduction The Amos 8:1-8 passage is found in the book of Amos. This passage, in particular, discusses the theme of greed as the Israeli merchants have begun to treat their customers unlawfully, and the businessmen took advantage of the poor. For these actions, God has punished the Israel people. This...

History of Reformation and Protestantism

Introduction The Reformation period of the sixteenth century in Europe is associated with the emergence and spread of the Protestant Church, which later became one of the main branches of Christianity. The founder of the new tradition was Martin Luther, who sought to establish Scripture as the ultimate source of...

Islam and Christianity: Fundamental Components

The materialistic perspective of man and his actions on Earth, that is, the belief that man is the measure of all things, is not shared by Islam. A human was created after Allah consulted with his angels regarding his choice for the role of the caliph of Allah on earth,...

Islamic Perceptions of the Crusade

Introduction The crusades are known throughout history for shaping the relationship between the Islamic and Christian religions. The target regions for the crusade were mainly the Islamic regions of the Mediterranean Basin, creating civil and religious wars for over two hundred years. Various Muslim scholars have written the crusade accounts...

Egyptian Religion, Judaism, and Taoism: Comparative Analysis

Introduction The emergence and development of world religions are frequently guided by practical considerations. They can be of moral or economic nature and reflect the critical needs of people of the time, and this fact explains their similarities and differences. From this perspective, comparing the Egyptian beliefs, Judaism, and Taoism...

American Religion Now and Then

Introduction Both the global history of religion and the history of a particular religion in a separate state have always dominated the attention of researchers, philosophers, archaeologists, historians, and theologians. Journalists write articles in magazines, interview public and religious figures, and gather stadiums of followers. For quite a long time,...

Dawn Smith’s Experience of Life in a Religious Cult

After watching the TED Talk “Why I Left an Evangelical Cult,” I have learned that being raised in a cult is one of the most horrifying experiences. It is horrible not only because of the constant abuse and lies but because it is very difficult to escape. In a cult,...

Christian Doctrines of Humanity

The Christian doctrine of humanity teaches that a human was created in the image of God. The monistic view is that all humans are a unit of body and soul. There are three substances created by God according to the doctrine, which is the human body, mind, and soul. Monist...

Comparison of Young Earth and Progressive Creation Perspectives of Genesis

Shaun Doyle’s article recounts what he interprets as evidence for younger earth than progressive creation sources suggest. He does this by arguing against certain scientific methods that dissuade the timeframe as it is depicted in the Bible. Doyle analyzes that many scientific processes object that the formation of many things...

Analysis of the Novel “The Story of the Stone”

The novel The Story of the Stone is based on the Buddhist concept of the karmic birth and existence of a person. The soul must outlive the “dream of life” with all its sorrows and anguish, then renounce everything earthly and embark on a new enlightened path. The author often...

The Protestant Reformation and Its Impact on the English New World

The Protestant Reformation that took place in Europe in the sixteenth century shattered to the core the basis of Christianity, dividing Christians into two groups and leading to the creation of many religious sects. Christianity’s political and religious power was challenged as The Protestant Reformation eventually brought about the design...

Missional Praxis: The Fruit of Theological Reflection

Theological reflection is a set of thought processes and actions directed deep into a person’s consciousness. Human resolves his experiences, awareness of actions, thoughts, and feelings through critical thinking. That is one of the essential and special abilities that force one to relive past feelings and analyze them. In addition,...

Religion and Faith for a Better World

Religion and faith make a very pivotal aspect within the social setting because of the significant influence it has on the wellbeing and existence of individuals within the community. Society consists of very diverse individuals who practice different forms of culture. Religion is one of the different forms of cultural...

Christianity and Postmodernism: a Comprehensive Comparison

The society of today is at a stage that is ultimately defined by a structure so complex that it is no more perceivable by traditional means. Crucial changes to the fabric of human societies entail a mental paradigm shift that is first recognized by the cultural figures and later on...

God’s and Elijah’s Formal and Informal Leadership

Introduction This paper will discuss formal and informal leadership represented by God and Elijah the Prophet, respectively. It will focus on Elijah’s going through illness and hopelessness and God’s assisting him in finding the path to salvation. According to Merida (2015), “We have read of Elijah’s mountaintop experience at Mount...