1626 samples of this type
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...
Modernism has reshaped many societal values, and no faith has escaped its influence. The place that religions take in society has been shifting over the past century as globalization disrupted the traditional way of living in most communities (Gauthier, 2019). I think that there are people who are still drawn...
Introduction Cultural diversity in society is an unavoidable and unique phenomenon that is central to human development. Unfortunately, several multicultural issues arise when individuals from different backgrounds interact because many people strongly hold onto their beliefs. Thus, it is critical to understand the backgrounds, history, and practices of different cultures...
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...
The Gospel The Gospel is an irrefutable witness to the divine humanity of Christ. As a God-inspired book, however, it was written by living people, each describing events as he saw and perceived them or as he heard about them from eyewitnesses. The inspiration of the sacred books refers to...
Society has developed different perspectives on the sexuality and morality. The issue of sexuality has stirred divided opinions amongst people of different beliefs and faiths in society, making the topic a challenge to tackle. The issue requires attention, and the younger generations need to be taught about it to avoid...
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...
Introduction Leadership in church, as well as change, are two things that require individuals who are committed to serving others. The two depend on one another in the sense that in order for change to happen, good leaders need to be present. A good leader is characterized by the ability...
The Churching of America by Finke and Stark uses economic theory to illustrate the growth and failure of religious organizations is perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this book. They attribute religion’s gradual increase in vitality to increasing religious diversity created by America’s religious “free market” and the associated failure...
The significant role played by Prophet Muhammad in the daily lives of Muslims is mainly ignored by Western scholars. Through artistic expressions, texts, and examination of the Muslim religious execution, Schimmel shows the soft side of Islamic religious traditions as practiced and experienced in the Islamic world. She views the...
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...
Introduction Church discipline is the act of calling upon people to change their wayward ways through repentance and asking for forgiveness. It is performed when an individual has disobeyed the church rules provided by God. The intention is to restore people into a reconciled state with God. The aspect of...
Hindus recognize only one God, called Brahman, who is deemed as the foundation of all existence. In addition, Hindus have other Hindu deities representing the different manifestations of Brahman. Various Hindu communities have their own gods who worship them. This is an event not against Brahman but a different way...
The basis of the Christian proclamation is the story of the crucifixion of Jesus, his death, and subsequent resurrection. In this regard, Cook wisely notes that “the existence of Jesus is not the problem for the world — the resurrection is” (Resurrection in Paganism and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ)....
Theology and psychology stress different aspects due to their diverse techniques, source materials, and purposes. According to Entwistle (2015), theological reflection often concentrates on God’s workings in the world; it informs us of the story of God’s engagement with the world in formation and salvation. On the other hand, psychological...
The following paper summarizes the book titled “God, Freedom and Human Dignity,” written by Ron Highfield and published by IVP Academic. The author’s main objective in this book is to shed light on how human beings can embrace a God-centered identity in a culture where people are self-absorbed and self-regarding....
The Four Noble Truths symbolize the foundation of Buddhism because they carry the real meaning of Buddha’s teachings. Before understanding the essence of the four pillars of truth, nirvana, one needs to understand who the Buddha is. Siddhartha Gautama, “the Buddha,” was born into a wealthy family as a prince...
It is known that cats helped rid the island of Cyprus of a huge number of poisonous snakes. And they did it not with the help of magical power but thanks to their hunting skills and instincts. Cats help restore female energy and transmit grace, seductiveness, and sexuality to their...
Humility is at the heart of Christianity, and every person who has faith must strive to adhere to this virtue. Being humble means valuing diversity in all of its manifestations, and to do it, one can rely on the principles outlined by David A. Anderson in his book Gracism. The...
Introduction Abraham was born in Ur, Mesopotamia, at the start of the second millennium. His father, Terah, raised Abraham when Mesopotamia was a highly developed ancient world. Before his calling, Abraham was known as Abram, and he was an idol worshipper. God appeared to Abraham and commanded him to move...
The concept of human dignity from the religious perspective serves as the principal guidance for people. It correlates with the essential perceptions and societal affairs, which are managed with regard to this quality. Therefore, it is critical to demonstrate the source of this phenomenon, its principal characteristics, and the relation...
In a journal article, The Material Culture of Lived Religion: Visuality and Embodiment, David Morgan refers to the idea that religion is not exclusively a material phenomenon. Accordingly, his reasoning is linked to a concept that it involves all five human senses as well as abstract concepts, such as behavior,...
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...
Maat is associated with balance, wisdom, and faith according to the beliefs of Ancient Egyptian mythology. Maat herself is an Ancient Greek goddess who personifies the truth and the world’s harmony (Van Blerk, 2018). She symbolizes God’s order and laws, and according to these laws, seasons change each other, birth...
Introduction New studies have shown that materialistic communities view wealth as a source of happiness. An excess of material wealth is thought to be a measure of contentment in these communities. However, excess material wealth does not bring a genuine feeling of peace and satisfaction. Like the rich, poor people...
Every phenomenon emerges and exists in a specific context, which may alter its perception and understanding. The mission is not an exception, as its development has been under a strong influence of the overarching historical and social processes. Tentmaking has been an integral component of the mission since the dawn...
Christianity has a vast history that begins in the Middle East and the religion is currently popular in European countries and some African regions, which the Europeans took under control. There are more than one billion Christians in the world, and this religion usually includes Orthodoxy, Protestantism, and Catholicism. Orthodoxy...
In “Salvation,” Hughes discusses his personal experience with the church and the Christian faith and criticizes the religion. Specifically, he addresses his disappointment, criticism, and cynicism toward the institution of the church and the concept of salvation in itself. The author states that there is too much preaching, praying, and...
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,...
Pentecostalism today is the largest Protestant branch, and it has clearly influenced the other divisions of Christianity. Interestingly, the global path of Pentecostalism is relatively short compared to other Christian movements, only taking up less than two centuries. Historical development makes it especially remarkable to notice the impact this movement...
Economic activities are often misconstrued as rooted solely in financial interactions and devoid of any cultural components. However, the assumption that culture does not factor into economic interactions could not be any further away from the truth. As the history of the Silk Road and interactions within it have shown,...
To begin with, the works of Ibn Rushd and St. Thomas Aquinas represent their own understanding and approval of the existence of God. Both philosophers prove God’s existence by using logical connections and references from religious sources. Remarkably, while Ibn Rushd uses Quran as his Holy Book, St. Tomas Aquinas...
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...
Introduction The Holocaust was the most massive extermination of Jews in the nation’s history. It resulted in the extermination of over 6 million Jews, and destroyed or displaced much of the Jewish population in Europe (Heuman et al. 4). Such a major event in a people’s history had a tremendous...
The Bible is justly considered a source of eternal wisdom and knowledge about every meaningful aspect of daily life. As Bickel and Jantz (1998) note, the Books of Wisdom offer a perspective on the righteous ways to enjoy life and strategies to overcome suffering and accept challenges without diminishing one’s...
Introduction The expansion of our knowledge of the culture of the Ancient Near East, which became possible as a result of archaeological discoveries, has opened up new perspectives for the study of the Old Testament. In these discoveries, humanity was able to touch the already lost literary heritage of the...
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...
Introduction God calls himself the “I Am” in various parts of the bible. God reveals himself to people as a person who comes to redeem them from exile and revert them into a new form of life with eternity. The outlook of God’s name reveals him and what he looks...
Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity” described the formation of a new society by Puritan settlers. The work is often used to demonstrate the status of the United States as the leading nation. Winthrop demonstrates that Puritan made a covenant with God to establish a true Christian community, in which...
The pillars of the Islamic religion are crucial for its general practice and shared ideas. To be more exact, they constitute the basic norms of religious custom and are widely accepted by Muslim people. In addition, fulfilling the five pillars is compulsory for those who consider themselves the followers of...
Across the world, the Islamic religion is the second largest after Christianity. In India, the religion has a high number of followers after Buddhism. According to the 2011 census in India, 14.2% of Indians are Muslims (Auer, 2014). Islam ruled India from as early as the 7th century. The trade...
The Christian apophatic mysticism, also known as “via negative,” teaches to approach the divine using a negation, indicating what God is believed not to be. This form of religious practice and thinking contrasts with the cataphatic approach that requires affirmations when referring to or describing God (Lane, 1998). There is...
The Christian Bible’s New Testament includes twenty-seven books such as canonical Gospels, Revelation, acts as well as letters, the majority of which were authored by the apostles. The canon was developed according to specific criteria, such as the prophetic authorship of the writings, the Witness of the Spirit, the acceptance...
The Hebrew Bible is similar to and unlike other ancient Near Eastern writings. Scribes compiled the manuscripts that constituted the Hebrew Bible. They have educated members of society, and many of them worked in the big institutions of society, such as palaces and temples. More essential subjects, like cosmology, rituals,...
Life of Pi, written by Yann Martel in 2001, focuses on the unique attitude of the main character Pi Patel towards religions. He is Hindu; however, he has also embraced the following faiths: Christianity and Islam. Pi acknowledges every faith and absurdity that it might project on believers, and moreover,...
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...
One of the remarkable features of modern society is promoting diversity, not only in views and opinions but also in religious affiliation. Many people worldwide profess particular religious views, and according to the number of adherents of particular faiths, there are several world religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Interestingly, there...
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...
Both Raphael’s and Rocco Marconi’s paintings are similar in terms of the subject matter since they both illustrate biblical scenes involving groups of people displayed at the center of the pieces. However, the pieces are different in the mood of the stories depicted. Raphael portrays a joyous occasion of Mary...
Buddhism and Hinduism are two of the most commonly practiced religions in the world today. It is believed that both religions originated in northern India around 500 BCE. The two religions later on expanded to other regions, especially in Asia, where Buddhism continues to have a major spiritual and religious...
Hinduism is among the world’s biggest and most popular religions, yet people outside the regions where it is commonly practiced still struggle to understand it. Anantanand Rambachan takes the initiative to share knowledge about the basic pillars, concepts, practices, and beliefs of Hindus in the book chapter “To Recognize and...
The phenomenon of Baptism in The Holy Spirit has always been a complex spiritual endeavor, which obtains its unique significance across various confessions. The Catholic theology regards the process of Baptism with The Holy Spirit as a blessing received by Christians through conversion rites, including water baptism and confirmation. Such...
The five Solas, or Solae, are elements of the Protestant reformation that promoted the idea of adhering solely to five values. These included following teachings by faith, scripture, grace, Christ, and God alone. Catholic Christians reject the five Solas as they contradict many of their own teachings. This paper will...
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...
An approach that works within the contrast between Leviticus, Numbers, and the Pentateuch can be problematic. This is due to the fact that laws and rites used in the two books named first lost their meaning in New Testament times. The revelation made the priestly vestments, the altar, the altar...
In the modern world, the commitment to sports is actively gaining momentum. Now, even religious organizations are interested in sports, and some even promote sports for every person. There was a time in the past when the church was categorically against sports and any sporting events. I agree with my...
Al-Hallaj prophet Al-Hallaj was a wandering prophet, who perceived himself as a part of the Divine Truth, and preached his religious vision in Iran, Iraq, India, and China. The Vizier ordered the execution of Al-Hallaj, accusing him of the sin of proclaiming himself the Truth. According to some experts, before...
Christianity is one of the most important and popular world religions. It was founded approximately near 33 AD in Palestine, and it is centered on the personality of Jesus Christ, the life and deeds of whom were described in the Gospels (Köstenberger, 2020). For Christians, Jesus was a messiah, a...
Rapture of God’s church is one of the most contentious elements in Christian eschatology, specifically its timing with relation to other events, such as Christ’s return and the great tribulations. It is a significant eschatological event that has a considerable impact on an individual’s viewpoint about life and subsequent hope...
All people have a cultural object that shapes their behavior and social norms. The Bible is one of the world’s most influential cultural objects that posit fundamental roles in modeling individuals’ spiritual health. Ideally, it is a typical collection of historical events in ancient times held sacredly to the people...
Outline The aspect of religion where God is the superior Being has continued to diminish in contemporary culture. This modern culture is characterized by many technological developments in which man is the main innovator. The ability of a human being to influence creation has made him feel superior to the...
Globalization essentially aims at expansion of the economic status of communities usually at the expense of the cultural, social, and religious beliefs of a given community. It promotes the expansion of capitalistic ideologies whereby, the most resourceful succeed economically and socially, while removing religion from all spheres of human life....
The Biblical account of the creation story portrays God as the creator of all matter who exists beyond time. The Christian understanding of the creation is that God as the master architect whose power is unfathomable. The Middle Eastern texts, however, propose the versions of the creation which appeal to...
The Old Testament includes a range of themes and concepts later referenced and reinterpreted in the New Testament. For example, Luke’s descriptions of Jesus’ death are thoroughly connected to Zechariah’s prophecy presented in the Old Testament. Chapter 23 of the Gospel of Luke highlights the fulfillment of predictions about the...
Biblical Text The Call of Jeremiah The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not...
In his book, “Metadata and bibliographic control: Soul-mates or two solitudes? Cataloging & Classification Quarterly”, Howarth explores the evolution of metadata throughout historical timelines and the relativistic application of bibliographic control mechanisms which seemed to be missing in the literary world. This gap has been addressed through examination of past...
Reflections on faith as a foundation of worldview and ethical decision making Moral reflections on the ethical principles that bring meaning to human life are important in understanding principles on bioethics. Reflections based on faith are instrumental in demystifying suffering and the different lifestyles and cultures of people. Principles in...
My Homiletic Swimming Pool is a great religious book written by Timothy Tow. This paper seeks to analyze the concepts of the first two chapters of the book. The first chapter discusses two effective methods of communicating God’s word, which seems to be the central theme of the book; teaching...
The task of retaining one’s faith and staying true to one’s religious convictions becomes particularly hard during times of social unrest, and nearly impossible when sociopolitical issues result in war. In his short story “Defender of the Faith,” Philip Roth explores the difficulty of reconciling one’s responsibilities as a soldier...
Nowadays, the questions often arise as to whether men and women are equal in rights. There are even specific movements that defend women’s rights, trying to prove that they have the same rights in society as men. The interpretation of biblical texts regarding this equality is also controversial. This essay...
Genesis 1-3 tells of creating the heavens and the earth in all its vast array and all living things. God created humanity: a man and a woman from his rib blessed them and told them to fill the earth and conquer it. He gave them as well as all living...
The secular worldview revolves around science and the lived experience. The identified friend appears to have some unique problems with the validity and nature of Christianity because it appears judgmental and intolerant. The individual is also pessimistic about the “suppressive sexual ethic” associated with religion. The inside-out approach seeks to...
One Amazing Thing was written by an Indian-American poet and novelist Chitra Divakaruni, who used the ancient storytelling form of Panchatantra to write her own sapiential story in the post-9/11 United States setting. The novel emphasizes the notion of multiculturalism and tells the story of nine protagonists who are captured...
Introduction Mosques are a place of communication of Muslim people with Allah. It can be noted that usually, Islamic mosques are built as spacious and beautiful places reflecting the postulates of Islam. The uniqueness and beauty of religion are shown not only in the internal design but also in external...
The concept of dual faith revolves around exercising beliefs and practices drawn from different faiths. You could say that a Christian-Muslim dual faith system is unheard of. This would be true in as far as the tenets of both religious bodies are concerned. So for Ann Holmes Redding she cannot...
I am one of Jesus Christ’s disciples. I spent all my life discovering the truth to the people. Jesus Christ came to the Earth to put the people in a straight and narrow way. All his life, he preached God’s Word to the people but his sermons written in the...
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...
Introduction This is a critical analysis of the book entitled “Spiritual Life” by Westerhoff. Westerhoff says that it is not possible for preachers as well as the teachers to have a ministry that is fully effective if their personal divine lives are not effervescent. He therefore offers a resource to...
Abstract There are well over 19 independent religions in the world. These religions have been further subdivided into 270 groups. They differ mostly in terms of origin, ethical and sacred texts, and in numerical strength (percentage of the believers in the world population and their absolute numbers). According to (David,...
“The Christian philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas” by Etienne Gilson, the author devoted the book to the analysis of the teachings of Aquinas presenting the formulation of the Christian philosophy. This paper presents a summary of a chapter titled “The Creator” from the aforementioned book, addressing the analysis of the...
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...
Faith in God is a power which gives people life and allows them to be busy with their casual life. Faith in God gives power to live. There are a lot people who follow all God’s passages and live godly life. Jesus, God’s son, was transmitted to Earth to tell...
Abstract This paper discusses Islam as one of the major religions of the world today. The work done include the origin of Islam and the authors of the Koran, the religious book used among the Muslim faithful. It also gives an account of the major characters, where and when was...
Introduction The interpretation of the bible began a long time ago and up to date, different people interpret it in different ways. The teachings of the different churches about the bible also differ depending on the church that is doing the teaching. The bible has been criticized for some of...
The second part of the twentieth century, just as the beginning of the twenty first century may be called the epoch of democracy. The problem of democratization of human society should be treated as universal problem because the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness are not only main...
The Christian message of salvation can only be made clear if the one doing the preaching or the gospel presentation has come to understand the meaning of sin and the individual’s need for a savior. Needless to say, the one doing the presentation must also be able to explain why...
Introduction Evidence abounds to testify to the surmised and indeed existent relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The author of Hebrews manipulates allusions to the Old Testament scripture to reinforce his message and authorial persuasions. In Hebrews the author makes constant reference to the new covenant. The...
Introduction If we talk about the history of Islam the way it started was from one single person that was Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) that came up bringing Islam as the last religion with a revealed book Quran. Main body He was all for this religion so God rewarded him with the...
Introduction Holly Spirit is part of what the Bible calls the Holy trinity. It comprises of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ the Son of God and God himself. The Bible says that the Holly trinity is one but they act in different forms because of the different activities they perform....
Alma and Lila are teenage sisters from the lower-class suburbs of Aubervilliers who were expelled from their school in 2003 after they defied the French law requiring them not to wear headscarves. Their father is a Jew who does not believe in God and a lawyer who works for an...
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...
Introduction The existence of God is one of the oldest debates in the history of humanity, and the topic is still extremely popular today. Anselm of Canterbury was among the first philosophers to present arguments that explain why God should exist. The thinker’s ontological argument was provided in his Proslogion...
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...
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...
John Wesley’s (1703-1791) understanding of the relationship between the nature of a man and God directly relates to the concept of salvation. He can be responsible for the ‘revolution’ in the Christian faith. According to him, every human was born with a piece of Christ in himself rather than with...
Abstract In the minds of many people, Christianity is associated with the word “mediocrity,” which is often confused with humbleness. Such notions as, for example, do not stand out, do not seek the spotlight, do not aspire to greatness, be like everyone else are mistakenly associated with humility. While the...
Theravada and Mahayana are both schools of Buddhism that arose out of the basic teachings of Buddha. Both of the teachings are complementary but they are made up of different expressions of Buddhist teachings. The primary differences that exist between the two came into existence after Buddha’s death. Theravada Theravada,...
Introduction Roman Catholic Theology is comprised of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Decisions on the Scripture and the Sacred Tradition are interpreted by the “Magisterium,” and these form the basis of the Catholic teachings (McGrat, 2006). This article evaluates the theology of Rahner and Kung in terms of...
The passage of the Bible titled Genesis 28:22-10 narrates about Jacob who was traveling to Haran. When the sun sets, he takes the stone, puts his head on it, and falls asleep. Jacob sees a dream about the stairway and the Lord who talks to him about descendants. Waking up,...
Introduction There are approximately 4200 religions in the world today. Most of these groupings are characterised by organised behaviours, membership rules, and adherence criteria. The main aim of this essay is to take an in-depth look into the issue of how literature helps to illustrate the theme of religion in...
Introduction Haitian Vodou has a long and proud history that incorporates discoveries and insights into human nature and the place of a man within the realm of the environment. However, Haitian Vodou as a set of practices, traditions, and observations has been affected by the dominant culture for a while....
Introduction Human beings across the world tend to develop certain beliefs and practices. Some of these faiths are passed from generation A to B. This development has led to the establishment of different religious groups such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Taoism (Elton-Chalcraft, 2015). Evidence reveals that most of these...
Introduction The God that is seen in the Bible is described as the only true God and the only one that should be worshipped. This is beside the fact that the Israelite religion is not the only one that existed during the Old Testament period. Other religions were practiced by...
Theological reasoning strives to pose questions and answer them in terms of sacred theology. Such issues as meaning, essences, causes, distinctions, and so on compose the core of reason. For instance, questions about what grace is and what God reveals by it can be posed. This teaches how to consider...
The 95 Theses by Martin Luther was the work of art based on the Catholic practices referring to baptism and absolutism. The theses raised in The Ninety-Five Theses were against the idea of indulgence as the church had the power to sell salvation to a sinner. Luther was a famous...
Introduction Discipleship is a core element of Christianity and it enables believers to start their journey in the companionship of Christ. Nonetheless, before embarking on a journey someone needs to be aware of his/her current location in relation to his/her destination. In this scenario, discipleship will be addressed as a...
Introduction and Brief Summary The concepts of suffering and salvation remain to be central topics for discussion in Christian theology during a long period. Believers understand that their goal is their salvation, and they want to hope that salvation from sins and their consequences could happen only after a person...
Material Dimension The designated sacred space for the Jehovah’s Witnesses is the Kingdom Hall which they believe to be a representation of God’s Kingdom (Heyns, 2002). Simple design, lack of the altars, no sitting pews and images, are the main characteristics of the Kingdom Hall, the sacred places of Jehovah’s...
Introduction Jainism forms one of the oldest religions across the world, and it is traditionally referred to as Jain Dharma amongst the South Asian communities as transcribed in the Sanskrit literature. Jainism emphasized the doctrines of non-violence and peaceful coexistence towards all living beings, whilst prescribing equality and respect to...
Introduction Today, many Christians neglect the Old Testament, considering that it only contains bedtime stories and is not relevant for the modern believers. However, this approach is not correct. Studying the Old Testament gives a modern believer knowledge on the relationship between God and people, explains certain universal principles, helps...
One of the questions which remains unanswered among Christians concerns how the Bible came into being. How were the writings collected and organized into what is presently used as the holy Christian Book? Who exactly collected the writings composed in the New Testament? These and other questions address the entire...
Introduction Jainism is a religion in South Asia, India in particular, which is founded on the doctrine of non-violence to all creatures. Despite the faith sharing some concepts with Buddhism and Hinduism, it is imperative to note that Jainism is an independent religion. It is an essential component of South...
Introduction The topic is safeguarding church finances against theft, fraud, and embezzlement. Theft is taking money or property without the intention of returning it. Embezzlement occurs when funds entrusted to a person are misappropriated or stolen. Beasley defines fraud as getting value through deception. Financial accountability is critical, given the...
Introduction The powerful forces of colonialism and globalization have attracted the attention of scholars and historians since they have continued to transform people’s cultural practices, beliefs, and norms. The wave of modernism compelled Islamic leaders and teachers to present revolutionary ideas intended to reconcile the faith with most of the...
Introduction One of the essential Bible scriptures about Jesus is found in Mark 8:27-38 and 9:1. It is at the outset of this section that Peter proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah (Mark 8:27). Additionally, Jesus foresaw his own death in the future. Afterward, in verse 31, he...
Introduction The idea that there are no moral principles in the world that are objective and applicable to everyone is known as moral relativism. Moral principles are considered meaningful only within certain cultural boundaries or in the context of personal preference, which is dangerous for society. The Books of Judges...
Introduction John Witherspoon was a “political parson” in the struggle of the North American English colonies for independence. His works played an important role in creating the American Constitution. “The Dominion of Providence Over the Passions of Men” is the most crucial of Witherspoon’s texts, a sermon that caused a...
Description of Zen Buddhism Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and millions of people practice it. This religion is based on finding life’s Zen, balance, and reaching nirvana. Nirvana, the supreme aim of Buddhist meditation, is freedom from suffering in the cycle of samsara (Brodd et...
Introduction New religious movements (NRM) refer to the new faiths that have emerged globally in the last few centuries. NRMs are considered syncretic, using material and human assets to spread their worldviews and ideas. These religious movements concentrate mostly on the self, which is a way of deviating from society’s...
Introduction Joshua was a man of great courage and resolve, as evidenced by the proof he had provided, but he still required these exhortations. Joshua 1:6-8 begins with the words, “Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to...
Introduction Clergy members use special clothing called vestments when conducting religious services. They are more than just a badge of religious identity; they also visually symbolize the spiritual significance of the event. The style, color, and decoration of a person’s vestments are generally unique to their religious organization or denomination,...
Introduction The figure of Christ represents many different aspects and roles, similar to how he connects the identities of God, his son, and the Holy Spirit. For example, In John 1-3, Jesus is identified as the Word, the Spirit from heaven, and a Lamb of God, which connects to the...
Introduction The Kingdom of God forms the biblical narrative’s bedrock, serving as its overarching theme. It signifies the dominion and sovereignty of the Almighty God over all things in existence. This concept lies at the very heart of Scripture, representing the ultimate goal of redemption that humanity seeks to attain....
Being Human: Insights from the Bible The Bible heavily associates being human with humans’ elevated status in the arrangement of the world. Instead of using the term “human,” the Bible refers to humanity as “humankind,” emphasizing humanity’s origins in the first human created by God. Thus, the Bible aligns humanity’s...
The Foundations of Joseph’s Journey in Jacob’s Story A wealth of knowledge and understanding may be found in the enormous variety of stories that make up the Bible. They also serve as timely reminders of God’s unwavering promises. The tale of Joseph, a shepherd kid who grows up to become...
Introduction The key duty of a youth pastor is to guide the young members of the church and help them understand how people’s actions align with the Christian faith and values they uphold. The situation that some adolescents have been experimenting with drugs and alcohol can be a concern to...
Definition of Theophany In Christian theology, a theophany is related to encounters with deities. As per this week’s resources, this term can be defined as the invisible God’s way of revealing Himself to those believing in His power (“Genesis, part I: Protology,” n.d.; “Genesis: Part II,” n.d.). According to the...
Summary For my assignment, I read Pepinster’s “Church of England submits blessings for same-sex-marriage couples to fierce debate in Synod” (2023). Same-sex marriage has been discussed within the religious sphere for decades, and this continuously divides the Church of England. The notable heads of the church came together to discuss a...
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,...
Scripture The process of revelation has always remained complex and personal to the individual, so it would not be easy to think of it as something general. Holy Scripture does have the meaning of revealing God’s attributes, but it cannot become the first cause of the realization of God (Romans...
Introduction Ephesians 4:15-16 is a powerful passage significant for individuals, families, and ministry contexts. This Scripture emphasizes the importance of building each other up and using gifts to serve one another (Guthrie 25). In Ephesians 4:15-16, the apostle Paul encourages believers to speak the truth in love and grow together...
Renewing the Mind: Setting Hearts on Things Above People should strive to suppress their desires and cultivate positive behavior patterns to avoid sin. Colossians 3:1-17 states, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (New International Version...
Introduction Christianity is a complex religion with a rich history, and various people choose slightly different approaches to worship. This diversity is excellently described in the works of Ruth and Lim (2017) and Smith (2009), who explain the Pentecostal and white mainline traditions. The current essay compares these approaches, provides...
Introduction The increasing skepticism surrounding Christianity and the Bible makes us think again about the truths underlying this faith. Christians believe in the virgin birth, sinless life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most widely debated topic because science cannot explain the resurrection...
Introduction Religion can support people suffering from illnesses; thus, in exploring the nature of God and perceptions of sickness in the Christian biblical narrative, people can find hope and comfort. However, not all parts of the Bible’s narrative directly connect to the themes of sickness and disease. The Christian Biblical...
Introduction The biblical culture of the church is the atmosphere in which its ministers exist. Culture arises from their experience in ministry and preaching, teaching faith and confession as part of the Christian’s journey. Culture begins with ministers and missionaries, who must also learn to come to God and open...
Introduction Martin Luther always pursued God’s mysteries rooted in the word, and one such exemplification is in the Heidelberg Disputation. He comprehended the occurrence of a great deal concealed in God that many do not know of yet. He was also privy to the fact that God ought to be...
Christian Strategies for Children One strategy that can be implemented in the Christian community to care for children concerns guiding activities. Scripture suggests that minors should be trained in order to remain on the right path when they grow up (King James Bible, Proverbs 22:6). Therefore, there should be a...
Introduction A keystone of divine self-revelation in the Old Testament is God’s deep statement, “I AM,” which reveals qualities of omnipotence and eternity. Moving into the New Testament, Jesus reiterates this divine declaration in a number of “I AM” assertions, especially in the Gospel of John. This essay seeks to...
Introduction Tolerance towards other religions can be traced not only in developed countries but also in remote African peoples. As representatives of Asian and African cultures, Uzbekistan and the Jola people demonstrate tolerance towards other beliefs. Tolerance Towards Other Religions Uzbekistan Uzbekistan is a significant country in the Central Asian...
Introduction After reading a helpful article about getting old and watching an interesting video about life in Chornobyl, I noticed an intriguing link between home, community, and older people. The Bible’s reflections on growing old underscore the significance of a life well-lived, with a focus on wisdom, legacy, and the...
Introduction Albert Mohler is the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the denomination’s primary educational institution in the United States. Dr. Mohler is a renowned radio presenter, as well as a well-known blogger and pundit. The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today have all quoted him....
Introduction Tim Goeglein emphasizes the importance of religious liberty and the right to follow one’s conscience in the United States. He contends that no government or other authority has the power to revoke these rights because God bestowed them. He also agrees that the Christian underpinnings of America are currently...
Introduction The seventh chapter of Jonathan Hall’s book “What Has Christianity Ever Done for Us?: How it Stopped the Modern World,” published by IVP Academic in 2005, examines what Christianity’s phenomenon meant for the history of the West in general and anthropological thought in particular. The author consistently studies the...
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...
Introduction In a society with many different belief systems, the relationship between philosophy and religion frequently becomes the main topic of discussion and controversy. Christian theism and Islam are two important worldviews that are compared in this paper. The essay seeks to clarify their main issues and guiding principles while...
Why Churches Typically Invest More in Youth Ministry Than in Children’s Ministry Many churches typically invest more time, effort, and resources in youth ministry instead of children’s ministry for several reasons. Primarily, churches recognize teenagers and adolescents as pivotal periods in an individual’s spiritual journey (Piper, 2005). They understand that...
Themes Connecting the Early Church to 21st-Century Church Music Three ideas or themes connect the early Church to the music of the 21st-century Church: worship, community, and theological reflection. Worship In the early Church, worship was a central theme, with believers gathering to sing hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs to...
Forgiveness as the Central Message of the Apocalypse The Apocalypse, which precedes the return of Jesus Christ to earth, will begin, according to Revelation. The author of the book of Revelation, John, had several visions of how this would occur and provides the main answer to the question of how...
Introduction It is important to note that Gospel essential beliefs provide a framework for understanding fundamental Christian tenets, and the emphasis is put on the core principles shared across denominational lines. Gospel Essential Beliefs Nature of God The nature of God in Christian belief is characterized as omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent,...
