Leadership in Church: Uncharted Territory

Leadership in a church needs someone who is courageous enough to stand up against external forces such as political leaders and lead according to the principles of the word of God. Someone like a pastor needs to practice what they are preaching to the congregation, which means they have a...

The Galatians 4:1-7 Passage Analysis

For my exegetical paper, I chose a passage from Galatians 4:1-7, which focuses on explaining why Galatians do not necessarily need to follow the Law of Moses as God’s children. The passage presents a specific interest in dissection and understanding because Paul uses a complex allegory in the text. The...

Buddhism and Denver Zen Center Experience

Introduction In order to experience and learn about other cultures, engaging with them on a personal level is often necessary. People are able to participate in events, travel and talk with professionals in their respective fields in order to better understand that which is foreign to them. This is especially...

Early Christology: Historical Theology

The history of Christianity is essential to understanding the formation of Christian doctrine. So, historical theology provides research of the way that the Church has undergone for interpreting the Scripture under various conditions determined by the different epochs. One of the subdivisions of theology, Christology, studied the logical formulations that...

Islam and Hinduism: Commonalities and Differences

Hinduism can be considered one of the oldest living religions known to humanity. This Eastern religion is approximately 4,000 years old, and the origins of the word Hindu in its name can be traced back to Sanskrit, an ancient language that is no longer spoken (Hinduism, n.d.). In contrast, Islam,...

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...

Interpretations of the Bible in American History

Charles G. Finney, a revivalist, epitomizes the significance of faith and redemption in American history. He highlighted the enormous significance of the personal decision in salvation as early as 1836. When Charles Grandison Finney thought God had called him to become a preacher, he quit a prosperous legal career (Finney...

Aspects of Christianity and Suffering

Introduction Every system of religious belief seeks to explain and justify the role of pain in human lives. One of the common factors that unite all people regardless of race or creed is our subjective experience of both physical and psychological suffering. We all feel the aches of illness, hunger,...

The Varieties of Religious Experience by W. James

People are usually concerned about the surrounding phenomena and events influencing their lives. James (2009) describes the most common questions related to the nature of history and the meaning of its importance. The answers can be diverse as every individual has specific beliefs and unique experiences. Religion usually consists of...

Religious and Political Discourse in Violence Justification

Various kinds of criminals often use religious and political discourse to justify their actions, while both sides of the conflict always find supporters among the population involved. Jews are a unique society with the oldest roots in the world, very closely associated with the most widespread religions in the world....

Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Relations

Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are three major religious and worldview traditions that divide people in their vision of the world and perception of history. These traditions are monotheistic and have one textual source – the Tanakh. Therefore, the dispute about who interprets the divine message correctly is difficult to resolve,...

Christianity: Origin and Adaptation

Introduction Christianity is studied as a monotheistic religion with many followers in almost every corner of the globe. Its doctrines differ significantly from those of other leading faiths, such as Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Its success is attributable to numerous factors that existed in various parts of the world in...

The Great Schism in History of Christianity

Summary Throughout the history of the existence of religious traditions, there have been conflicts between different churches due to views on spirituality and religious practices. The largest schism, which is called the Great Schism, occurred in 1054 and marked the separation of the Western and Eastern Christian churches. The center...

“Animism” or “Holistic” Concepts in Indigenous Religions

Indigenous religions involve ancestral faiths of peoples who are local to certain regions. Their faiths assist people in attaining the objective of living well in such regions. Thus, indigenous faiths differ, just as the locations their practitioners reside vary (Van Voorst 31). Most indigenous religions and other monotheist religions like...

The Future of the West and the Church

The world and society have changed significantly over the past few years. As Western countries were discovering their own identities, they developed various values, such as democracy, individualism, human rights, and religious faith. These ideas are likely to have an effect not only on the West but on the Church...

Beliefs One Must Gold to Be Considered Christian

Religion remains a significant part of the life of people around the world, despite atheism’s growth in popularity over the past decades. Christianity is a religion that is espoused by more than a billion people. As a result, there are numerous Christian denominations, the key beliefs of which often vary....

The Importance of the Dalai Lama in Buddhism

The Dalai Lama is the ultimate authority figure for every Buddhist on the planet, the one who unites the Tibetan people around him. Historically, Dalai Lamas were the rulers of Tibet – both in religious and official ways. Thus, one can imagine that, if the Dalai Lama XIV is not...

The Old Testament Theology Review

Approaches to Old Testament Theology This chapter is quite informative as it highlights all the approaches used to understand the Bible, especially the Old Testament. It is because the Old and New Testaments make up the Christian Bible, and Christians have regarded both as canonical and normative for the faith...

Ritual and Ceremony in Context of World Religions

Introduction A ritual is a historically formed form of complex symbolic behavior and an ordered system of actions typical of a group with the same identity. The first rituals emerged back in the Stone Age when priests performed various sacrifices and prayers. Centuries after, the lands of Hindustan became the...

Women’s Right to Abortion: Religious Perspective

Some religious people are right to accept the US court decision on limiting women’s right to abortion. They believe that the act is murder because life starts at conception. Increased access to sexual education, health insurance, and birth control would reduce abortion rates. However, religious actions create a culture of...

American Church’s Complicity in Racism

A country’s history of racial, political, and religious practices depicts the values held by the people and their influence in today’s sociopolitical environment. Tisby (2020), in the “Color of Compromise,” demonstrates what happens whenever the American church is “engaged in racism and prepared to repudiate the teachings of Jesus to...

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...

The History of the Christianity Religion

Introduction Christianity is one of the largest religions in the world that is based on the life and the teachings of Jesus Christ, the son of God. It is the largest religion, with a population of over 2.8 billion believers, otherwise known as Christians, spread across the globe (Denova, 2022)....

“Minimal” Facts Approach to the Resurrection Question

The set of reasons in favor of the resurrection of Christ can be summed up in its simplest form as the minimal facts approach. The approach’s most vital point is that most historians agree that all of these arguments should be treated as historical truths. In addition, it employs solely...

Role of Spirituality and Religion in Later Life

Spirituality and religiosity play a significant role in the process of later life development. Aging is associated with the deterioration of bodily functions accompanied by chronic diseases, physical fatigue, and an activity decrease. Moreover, people tend to leave their jobs, spend more time at home and become socially isolated. Such...

Integration Model: Theological Reasoning

Introduction The following paper dissects a case study of two couples who are unmarried. In reference to Piaget, Freud and Sullivan psychological theories, the paper will offer adaptations to the case study, in reference to theological reasoning. As the biblical theology highlights, a woman and man should only come as...

Seduction of Joseph in the Hebrew Bible and the Koran

Seduction plays an important thematic role in the story of Joseph. As a form of temptation, it presents a problem for the spiritual growth and righteousness of faith, and represents many of the dangers religion can protect from. In the context of both the Hebrew Bible and the Koran, seduction...

The History of Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism is generally divided into two periods of dissemination: earlier (ngadar) and later (chidar) dissemination. Tantric Buddhism, in turn, had a major influence on all types of Tibetan Buddhism. Vajrayana Buddhism in particular involves a significant emphasis on Tantric practices. Although there is no standard list of Tantric techniques,...

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...

Changes in the Second Vatican Council

There are numerous different religions globally, and each one has its traditions, rituals, and celebrations. Catholic Church also owns certain important and memorable dates on which it holds ceremonies that aim to honor some historical and religious figures or feast holidays. One of such celebrations is Holy Mass, which is...

The Problem of Evil in Religion

People of various religions have always tried to find the truth about forces leading homo sapiens through anger, joy, bias, sympathy, jealousy, and support. Many believe in God as a representative of good, divine, and pure. Evil is classically countering God, plays tricks on human souls, drags them to darkness,...

Conflict and Coexistence: Jews and Christians

During the Nazi era, the majority of the population in Germany belonged to the Christian church. The Roman Catholic church and German Evangelical church were the main pillars and had a significant role in shaping society. They used their traditional loyalty to the ruling government to get state influence over...

The Bible of the Poor and the Moses Window

One of the cultural legacies of world culture is a phenomenon called the Bible of The Poor. It is a series of windows depicting certain scenes presented in the Bible. The name refers to the fact that in the heyday of Christianity, many commoners could not read, and such objects...

Paley’s Teleological Argument and Intelligence of God

Paley’s teleological argument in the watchmaker analogy suggests that the complexity of animal organisms is sourced from the intelligence of the creator, God. One of the examples of animal features that can be compared in complexity to a watch analogy is the development of night vision. Night vision provides a...

The Spiritual Goal of the Hindu Philosophy

Hinduism developed from the teachings of different founders due to its diverse traditions and long history. It urges Hindus to worship Brahman, the universal spirit, which permits the existence of a pantheon of various divinities. Theodor and Greenberg suggest that some scholars refer to Hinduism as a henotheistic religion because...

Religion: The Main Approaches

Religion is a rather diverse but also complicated concept to explain. Some of the reasons why it is so hard to depict it is because every religion has similarities and differences, does not provide an explanation for various phenomena prior to modern science, and does not focus on one specific...

Discipleship Study Meetings and Leader Points

Discipleship study meetings consist of people who get together to discuss God’s word and get spiritual nourishment. A study meeting typically involves two or more people. As a discipleship leader, one needs to learn how these study meetings can be effectively facilitated. It is also crucial for a study meeting...

Grey Fathers Church From Sociological Perspective

Religion is a complex and integral phenomenon within the humanity’s history which can be defined in a plethora of different ways. According to Tylor, the key element of any religion is a belief in spiritual beings (59). Different creatures fall under the category of spiritual beings in different religions, be...

“A Letter From Adelgida” Epistle Analysis

Authored by Adelgida in October 1030, the epistle “A letter from Adelgida” talks about Amadeus, the son of count Humbert, and his wife Adelgida’s requested gift charter. The letter, whose general focus is based on giving, encourages through the biblical verse stating that “Treasure for yourself treasures in heaven where...

“Can God Create Humans With Free Will Who Never Commit Evil?” by Thai

The issue of whether God could have created persons with free will who never do evil has been addressed by theologians and philosophers. The essay “Can God create humans with free will who never commit evil?” by Thai and Pillay delves into this complex topic, touching on God, free choice,...

“The Story of the Rich Young Ruler”: Inviting Conversations and Critiques

Introduction The story of the rich young ruler as given in Matthew chapter 19 from verses 16 to 30 reveals that the various persona in the text have different powers. In this text, Jesus is giving a critical lesson about the Kingdom of God. Jesus does not imply that the...

Christian Allegories: “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”

“The Parable of the Prodigal Son” is a story of a family and the importance of support and forgiveness. In Holy Bible, there are many cases that teach justice and fair relationships. Another Christian allegory of human interactions and help is in “The Parable of the Good Samaritan.” Although these...

Church’s Responses to Development of Capitalism

The Industrial Revolution is one of the most significant periods in human history that drastically impacted society and future development. There was a massive shift from the agrarian approach to the technological method of production, which transformed the common perception of work and people’s lifestyles in general. Factories moved from...

Analysis of Judah Ha-Levi’s Dialogue

History of the Kuzari Judah Samuel Ha-Levi (1075-1141) was a Hebrew poet and philosopher in medieval Spain. His most notable work, Kuzari, defended the Jewish religion against Christianity, Islam, and philosophy. The work is written in the form of a dialogue between Ha-Levi and Khazari, a Khazar king. The dialogue’s...

Researching of Religion: Judaism

Introduction Judaism is an ancient religion that preaches faith in one and only God. The peculiarity of Judaism is that this faith is accepted by only one people – Jews. The word Jew originates in the term Avar, which means crossed over and also came from the other side. Judaism...

Christians, Jews, and Muslims Have the Same God

Most often is a topic of discussion whether Christians, Islamic and Judaism religions worship the same God. This topic has been a matter of debate throughout history. Some individuals say that yes, of course, they do, while others will disagree. It is significant to note that when one states that...

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....

Modern Missionary Work and Religion Decline

About 100 years ago, and even at the beginning of the 21st century, religion spread much faster than in recent years. The period from 1981 to 2007 was analyzed for the spread of religious trends and missionary activity in 49 countries (Inglehart, 2020). As a result, it was found that...

Salvation and Its Justification Issues

Numerous concepts serve as the cornerstone of Christianity. Nevertheless, the doctrine of salvation is generally believed to be one of the most sophisticated phenomena that have been instrumental in the rapid spread of the faith. Moreover, numerous heated debates concerning the nature and the most precise meaning of the term...

The Issue of Religious Intolerance

Human beings have their perspective shaped by the peculiarities of their physiological and mental perception, interests, and dreams, and an internal drive to fulfill them. These things are called personality, inner will, and motivation, and they are present in all types of human activities and inevitably influence and manifest themselves...

“How Does God Speak to Us?”: The Speaker Assessment

The speaker began his story as emotionally as possible, even slightly aggressively: constant gestures and moving around the stage prove this. Therefore, his performance can be called good since the audience constantly reacted to his words. The speaker used relatively simple words, without terms, focusing on the unusual context of...

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...

The Trent Council: A “Counter-Reformation” Force

The Trent Council was the Catholic Roman Church’s formal response to the protestant theology of Reformation’s problems. From 1545 to 1563, it was divided into three significant meeting periods (Noll, 2022, p.209). It symbolizes the beginning of modern Catholicism’s turning point. The meeting was seen as an opportunity to end...

“God, Freedom and Human Dignity” by Highfield

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....

Christian Reform Movements of the 19th Century

Introduction The Christian reforms and corresponding movements of the nineteenth century were significantly informed by societal changes; however, the latter is more complex that it seems. This stance is supported by the evolving religious perspectives, which somehow complement these movements, deriving from the most critical issues of the population. Hence,...

Creative Layering of Belief in Southern Bénin

People tend to believe in various gods, spirits and witchcraft. Most of these beliefs are witnessed in Africa and Asian and North American countries like Cuba and Haiti. Witchcraft is also practiced in some countries, with a few believing in it entirely. Traveling as a tourist may be the ideal...

Islam, Christianity, and Judaism – Similar or Not?

The question of the relationship between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism is one of the most sensitive aspects of interreligious relations in modern society. Many claim that these religions are very similar, if not almost identical, in their nature, as all three worship the same deity disguised under different names. True,...

Latin American Liberation Theology

Introduction It is important to note that the global spread of Christianity was a massive and intricate endeavor that was conducted through missionary efforts. A number of barriers emerged within the given process, which included cultural differences and communication challenges. Since the religion and faith were meant for the entire...

Job: The Example of Religious Fortitude

As it is known, both Testaments, the fundamental Jewish and Christian ancient sacred texts that constitute the Bible, are a collection of recorded folk myths and historical processes of the West Bank, Eastern Mediterranean, and Mesopotamia. Moreover, these are also principal religious treatises of Hebrew and Christian philosophy where theories,...

Peculiarities of Religious Belief in Theology

Introduction The study of the essence, role and functions of the phenomenon of religious belief has an enduring significance. In the modern world, on the one hand, we observe a systemic crisis of globalism and a crisis of culture; on the other, there is a search for identity, conversion to...

Analysis of Divine Command Theory

The Divine Command Theory (DCT) posits that a thing is good because God orders it to be done or wicked because God prohibits it from being done. Thus, to declare that loving our neighbors is good is linguistically equal to arguing that God compels us to love our neighbors. Similarly,...

Books on Teaching Children in Church

Follow Me as I Follow Christ by Cheryl Dunlop The first book I read for the course was Cheryl Dunlop’s Follow Me as I Follow Christ. This book is a guide for educators teaching children in a church setting. The experience of reading this book has been an invaluable contribution...

Then Again WebChron: Zarathustra Assumptions

Many philosophers and religious leaders ponder on human nature, free will, and the capacity of humans to make choices that can be viewed as morally right or morally wrong. Zarathustra, an Iranian prophet and prominent religious figure, was among those who argued that humans are capable of choosing between good...

The Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament

Introduction Although all religious people would desire to achieve a society where every individual is respected equally, regardless of religious affiliation, this situation seems unreal. Even inside the religious community, people will always find the causes of misunderstanding and discord. Therefore, the misconceptions and wrong prejudices should be addressed to...

World Religions: Researching of Buddhism

Introduction Oftentimes, the religion or philosophy that a person follows for spiritual purposes defines the individual’s social and cultural life. As a result, one’s religion defines values, morals, and lifestyle on multiple levels. Buddhism is one of the world’s most extensive philosophical branches originating in India and having distinct teachings,...

Norse Paganism as Viking-Era Religion

Introduction Norse paganism is a religious group with the Scandinavia people’s beliefs and practices before Christianization. Its origin date back to the Iron Age German people, and its progress continued upto when Christianity came to Scandinavia (Groeneveld et al.). The Scandinavian Norse people left their place in the Viking age...

Abraham in the Old Testament and Early Judaism

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...

Divine Command Theory and Zagzebski’s Moral Argument

Introduction I think divine command theory is the idea that morality exists because a higher force, typically God or gods, says so. In other words, God’s commands determine the rightness and goodness of an action. Divine-command theory aspires to raise moral notions above the transient character of human desire and...

Religious Practices of African Diaspora

People believe in different doctrines, values, and beliefs that certain religious and traditional practices contain. These beliefs and practices significantly influence how an individual responds to some aspects of life, challenges, and an individual’s general lifestyle (Upenieks and Schieman, 189). In African societies, it is believed that traditions have been...

Secularism and Buddhism: Rise of Violent Buddhist Rhetoric

Since the dawn of civilization, the paradigm of religion has been one of the central narratives for a national community and its value system. Essentially, religious establishments and faith organizations used to have a profound impact on the state’s population and government. However, the rapid growth of globalization and multiculturalism...

Three Voices of Puritanism: Analysis

Touching on the foundations of Puritan ideology, authors such as Winthrop, Rowlandson, and Bradstreet are founders of the diversity of voice. Moreover, their different approaches to a common ideology make it possible to view it from different perspectives, based on personal experience and intellectual exactions filtered through the prism of...

The Book “Introducing World Religions: A Christian Engagement”

The following report is based on Chapter 10: New Religious Movements in the 2015 textbook Introducing world religions: A Christian engagement by Charles E. Farhadian. In this chapter, Farhadian provides a comprehensive overview of major new religious movements (NRM) and identifies popular NRMs, particularly their historical beginnings, important individuals, fundamental...

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...

Selections from the Life of Muhammad

The stories presented in the “Life of Muhammad” are significant because they underscore the close relationships that Muslims and Christians have from historical and theological perspectives. Islam and Christianity are broadly categorized under the Abrahamic faiths because they all trace their origins to Abraham, whom they recognize as their father....

Ten Commandments’ Impact on Building of the US

Introduction Ten Commandments are principles from the Bible that are believed to be given to the people by God. They lie in the basis of Christianity and also play a very important role in Judaism. Ten Commandments have influenced human culture greatly, and the United States of America are not...

Scientology: Religion of Success or Pernicious Cult?

Financial Burden as one of the Cults Predominant Attributes Throughout the 1970s, cults became big businesses and a notable social event. However, there has never been any accurate coverage of Scientology in the disarray of books published on these unique religious movements. Nevertheless, its history is rich in outrageous and...

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,...

The Key Texts of Hinduism Religion

Introduction Hinduism is a unique and inimitable monotheistic religion in its structure, essence, nature, and content, in which God embodies not one but many images. It is one of the oldest and most widespread religions globally; its origins date back to the time of the Proto-Indian civilization (Barman, 2020). Despite...

God Speaks to Humanity by Ingrid Mattson Review

The author of the book God Speaks to Humanity Ingrid Mattson is an activist in the field of theology and religious studies. She raises important issues in the religion of Islam, is engaged in educational activities that help people treat Muslims with an open mind. This book describes the history...

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

The Abrahamic religions are the most popular in the world. Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the three most famous of them. The word “Abrahamic” comes from the name of the biblical prophet Abraham, who lived about 4 thousand years ago. According to the Abrahamic tradition, Abraham was the first person...

Hinduism vs. Buddhism: Similarities & Differences

Today, it is normal to see people choosing different religions and following specific beliefs as an integral part of their lives. There are usually no restrictions related to the decision on what religion to practice, but understanding the historical backgrounds, morals, and metaphysical views remains critical. This essay compares Hinduism...

Natural Theology Book by William Paley

The two chapters analyzed are the works of William Paley, an English clergyman, Doctor of theology at Cambridge University, as well as the author of the fundamental work Natural Theology. Paley’s natural theology is based on the popular idea of the world as a mechanism for his time. This is...

Religious Education and Different Views on It

Introduction A worldview is a term whose use has grown tremendously across disciplinary boundaries. The term is broadly categorized into two parts, including the religious worldviews and the non-religious worldviews. Flanagan (2020) says, “Literature refers worldviews to discrete bodies of knowledge.” According to DeWitt (2018), a worldview is a system...

Casting of Lots: Biblical Integration in Business

The casting of lots was practiced widely in the Middle East to facilitate decision-making as it was believed that this method could help people know gods’ will. In this regard, Israelites cast lots on many occasions, such as land allocation, property division, duty determination, and assigning guilt, to name a...

The Challenges Facing Church and Denominational Leadership

Most of the American population is religious people, while the church and the state are separated. America has a very global population, and mass migrations have had a significant impact on religious trends in the country. Religion in the United States has a state significance, and it has happened so...

Misinterpretation of Christian Sermons and Heresy

The Christian faith has been preached across the world for generations. Spreading the word of God took many translations and interpretations of the message. With the need for clarification and consolidation, teachings, or doctrines, were required. Those could vary in meaning and weight; they were argued and debated throughout history....

Analysis of “The Material Culture of Lived Religion” Article

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,...

Theology: Japan’s View of Christianity

Christianity is one of the most extensively practiced religions worldwide, and, in some countries, it even has the status of a state religion. At the same time, there are nations, the majority of populations of which historically have been practicing other beliefs. Thus, it becomes interesting to trace the origins...

The Doctrine of the Lord’s Supper in Various Sources

The Christian Church has always emphasized certain rites or forms of worship known as the sacraments. Two of them were recognized by the early Church as Lord’s, going back to Christ. They were Baptism and the sacrament, which is now known under several names: Lord’s Supper, Breaking of the Bread,...

Conservative Approach to Genesis Reading

The accounts of creation in the book of Genesis have always faced opposition from scientific approaches. People have different methods of reading and interpreting creation accounts while seeking the light of truth. Our cultural beliefs significantly influence the inspiration of biblical teachings within the society in truth matters (McGrath, Wright,...

Christians Transforming Imprisoned Men

Purpose Imprisonment of fathers causes a significant effect on the development of affected children. For example, the father-child relationship and well-being of children are greatly strained when their fathers are imprisoned. The absence of fathers affects children in five main ways. It nullifies the importance of co-parenting, causes poor psychological...

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...

Aspects of Buddhist Monasticism

Buddhism monastic orders are the oldest types of institutionalized monasticism and Buddhism’s essential organizations. Buddhist religious organizations began thousands of years ago, during the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, in the Indus Valley culture. As they were known, the nuns and nuns-sangha were traveling knights-errant, as this was the livelihood of...

Supersessionism, Its History and Key Points

Introduction Supersessionism, also known as replacement theology, is a Christian doctrine that asserts that the New Covenant supersedes the Old Covenant. It establishes the current status of the Christian Church in relation to the Jewish people and Judaism, claiming that it has succeeded the Israelites as the definitive people of...

The Believability of “The Wonders of the Invisible World” by Mather

Cotton Mather finished The Wonders of the Invisible World in 1693, right after the Salem witch trials. The author mainly wrote this book to overview and explain the judges’ decisions. He also turned to his own experience and line of reasoning to defend the brutal fight against witchcraft in New...

Ignatius Loyola and the “Society of Jesus”

Ignatius Loyola founded the religious order named the ‘Society of Jesus’. The Jesuits, a religious apostolic community, were involved in the establishment of Jesus’ society (Noll, 2022, p.201). They are people who are rooted in Christ’s love and enlivened by the visions of spirits of their founder, St. Ignatius of...

Discussion of the Buddha Religion

Philosophy of the Buddha Teachings of the Buddha serve as the foundation of the contemporary Buddhist tradition. The main aim of the Buddha’s philosophy is for an individual to find a path of liberation from suffering and towards knowledge about themselves. The Buddha posited that while there is a self,...

Role of Religious Myths in Society

The stories that are offered by various religions as moral guidelines reflect aspects of the spirituality of a society. In modern society, these myths persist because they are associated with the timeless and permanent features of human nature and life. They perform the function of guidelines, which are designed to...

Is Religion Still Vital for Society?

American law is closely related to the American civil religion, is its written basis, is regularly updated, refined and improved. Civil religion in the United States plays an important role both in legitimizing the decisions of the country’s leadership, especially those of a foreign policy nature, and in shaping the...

Karma and Reincarnation in Buddhism

Karma presumably is among the primary associations with Buddhism; a non-professional individual, who does not have a complete understanding of the notion, quite probably will possess a generalized view of its meaning. In one respect, this shows the necessity of such a concept in people’s worldviews, as many appeal to...

Gospel Communication Elements of Culture

Sharing information with someone from a different cultural background is not easy as you need to know their values and belief systems that shape and define the nature of the conversation. Jay, an Indian student, has shown much interest in knowing more about the story of God. I learned several...

Aspects of Christian Beliefs

Christianity is one of the oldest and largest religions existing in the world. It is an Abrahamic religion that is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. According to Christians, Jesus’ coming as a Messiah to save people was prophesied in the Holy Bible. There are four large...

The Book “The Future of Faith” by Harvey Cox

Introduction The book “The Future of Faith,” authored by Harvey Cox, presents an interesting insight into the historical changes taking place in religion, specifically spirituality. The reader can make a quick observation that the entire essence of the book is to distinguish between faith and belief, especially when Cox (2009)...

Controversies between Religion and Science

Introduction In recent decades, religious leaders and scientists have debated the theory of evolution by natural selection. A controversy between religion and science becomes possible if science is a rival of belief in some realm. This presupposes that there is a dimension in which both of them have a common...

Buddhism: The Concept of Mahayana

Buddhism is one of the world’s largest religious beliefs that believes that the life of a human being is that of suffering. Buddhists believe that the suffering of human beings can be solved through meditation and good behavior (Mark 2021). The concept of Buddhism has its origin in India and...

The Veil in the Modern Muslim Community

Introduction The purpose of this essay is to consider the most relevant theoretical and methodological approaches to the interpretation of the meaning of the veil and covering the face and body in women professing the Muslim confession. From the perspective of an outside observer who does not interpret Islamic culture...

Mental Status and Spiritual Views in Social Work

Mental status examination and biopsychosocial history are among the most critical aspects of learning during conversations between a social worker and a client. It is recommended to start the interview with generally accepted questions about well-being, which will help establish a trusting relationship with the client. In a conversation, the...

Queer People’ Perspective on Traditional Religious Concepts

Traditional religious concepts claim that queer and trans people cannot be compatible with religion. Moreover, conservative religious representatives view queerness as a mistake that does not deserve a right to exist. They state that LGBT people are far from God and that their behaviors and attitudes are sinful. Traditional concepts...

Religion in the Southern Region of the US

The southern region of the United States was christened as the Bible Belt by H.L Mencken, a journalist affiliated with the Chicago Daily Tribune. The term was informed by religious dominance in the region as identified through a high percentage of people identified as religious. A comparison of the region’s...

Religion and Governance in the United States

Summary Religion remains a significant part of the American culture to date, incorporated in most symbols of power and national unity, ‘In God We Trust, visible on the motto and coins. Religious freedom has seen the acceptance of different religious beliefs in the United States, from Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and...

Religion in Southwest Asia, North Africa, and South Asia

Several aspects of the Arabic language, natural resources, climate, religion, and weather are common in North Africa and Southwest Asia. Moreover, these two areas are the birthplace of the world’s three significant religions. In addition, these regions are studied together due to their geographic and cultural similarities. Countries in Southwest...

Pentecostal Religious Service and Experience

Pentecostalism originated from one of the Protestant movements, the Holiness movement. Glossolalia and the baptism of the Spirit and fire were practiced there. In 1906 in Los Angeles, on the basis of one of these communities, the so-called Azusa Street Revival began. It was massive public glossolalia and preaching of...

Summary: Introduction and the Suffering of Self

The first introductory chapter begins with an emphasis on the encounter of the West and East. For the majority of history, Buddhism was solely spread in Asia, but the current technological and political connectedness of the East and West makes Buddhism a globally impactful religion, which requires tailoring in accordance...

Researching and Analysis of Hindu Monism

Hinduism is often considered a polytheistic religion because there are various gods and goddesses, semi-divine and demonic beings, and manifestations of the deity in human and animal forms. In Hinduism, followers of many streams of Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism worship one God who acts as the savior of believers and...

Religion and Politics: Eventual Separation Through Secularism

Introduction It is important to note that both religion and politics are essential elements of social dynamics, and they are among the core pillars upon which society rests. The given analysis will primarily focus on the given two categories in the context of citizenship, personhood, the state, and transition from...

The Role of the Four Gospels in Christianity

Religion occupies one of the essential places in every person’s life. The study of the postulates and the gospel of Christianity can give an extraordinary insight into what is happening in people’s lives. In addition, stories about Jesus can further strengthen people’s faith and give them hope for the best...

Roger Williams’ Opinion on Religion and Politics

Religion and government have always been considered topical issues that oppose each other in many ways. People’s opinions are not united when talking about religion and politics; they either choose one of the sides or incline from the conversation. Thus, Roger Williams, who was born in 1603 and was a...

Diversity in Social Work: Spirituality Concept

Spirituality is a core concept of Christianity and is enshrined in our core belief as Christians. The bible teaches us to be accepting of others no matter their beliefs. Today, social work is enshrined in the belief of Christianity, where we are taught to help people who are in need....

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism in Personal Life

Buddhism is an Indian-originated religion with complex beliefs and teachings taught by Buddha after wandering around searching for understanding. Buddha spent time learning the basic teachings of the Four Noble Truths, dealing with human suffering, which he had fully understood. Buddha spent the remaining bit of his life teaching elementary...

“The Articles of 21st-Century Faith”: Reimagining the Definition of Religion

Introduction The article “The articles of 21st-century faith” by Julian Baggini is the author’s attempt to reimagine the definition of religion to fit realistic expectations set by a society that is increasingly atheistic. Updating the Religion The article is a proposition that the author makes for religious people. It consists...

The Catholic Church and People’s Mental Health

Introduction It is hard to disagree that an extended number of people can struggle with their unstable mental health. Teenagers frequently suffer post-traumatic stress disorder; young adults can be diagnosed with anxiety or panic attacks; and older people often develop depression due to their loneliness. Statistics show that “7.1% of...

History of the World Christian Movement

In their book Readings in World Christian History, Coakley and Sterk (2004) suggest that the movement of Christianity as a religion has always been more expansive than any individual or local community. The diversity of beliefs and practices inherent to the religion that developed over the past two millennia is...

How to Be Heard from a Christian Perspective

People sometimes encounter situations when they need to be heard because it is the only way to get support. I have also had such problems in my life. In one such case, I needed help with moving to another apartment. I asked several people in my dorm to do this,...

Qureshi’s Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus Book

Few topics fuel as much disagreement between people as religious debates. Whether it is a matter of principle or habit, faith disputes are deeply emotional. What is more, most of the debates originate between similar religions. Both Islam and Christianity are representatives of Abrahamic religions, yet their distinctions are so...

“Bhagavad Gita” in Religious and Historical Contexts

Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu scripture written as a narrative dialogue in which the spiritual connotations are exemplified. The religious aspect of the book is present through Krishna’s aim to guide Arjun during the prince’s moral dilemma. The conversation between the two illustrates religious seeking and teachings that help find...

The Holy Spirit as Part of the Trinity

Introduction The Holy Ghost is the infinitesimally understood person of the Trinity. In fact, many believers share many misconceptions about the Holy Spirit. Some view Him as a force, as a ghost, and a second class replacement god. He is mistaken with the manifestations themselves and has even been presented...

Religion, a Coping Mechanism for the Human Experience

Introduction Attention-Getter Religion is one of the most important phenomena of human existence that psychiatry faces. It significantly affects the emotional sphere, thinking, and behavior of a person. Thesis Although psychiatry was formed as a natural science discipline, yet many years ago, psychiatric care was provided in religious institutions. The...

“Man Becomes the Image of God…” by John Paul II

The following work illustrates the ways in which the narrative of Genesis defines both the unity and duality of man. The unity is made distinct by the human nature of people, while the duality represents masculinity and femininity. It also depicts that man was created not only with a particular...

Biblical Interpretation of the Story

In my biblical interpretation paper, I decided to analyze the story that tells about an ambitious mother and her request to Jesus (Matthew 20:20-23). In this story, the mother of Zebedee’s sons is begging to assign her children to the leading positions in Jesus’s kingdom at his left and right...

Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela

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...

Religion: Religious, Sociological Principles

Religion is a set of beliefs, attitudes, and practices around what a person considers holy or spiritually meaningful. For me, religion has a certain meaning, as it does for most people. I realize that the principles that religion promotes are a universal language of morality that allows people of different...

A Short History of Christianity by Tompkins

Stephen Tompkins, in his book, tries to tell the history of Christianity in an accessible language, avoiding specific church vocabulary and moral teachings. The author suggests listening to the story and thinking about how humanity came to today’s realities with positive and negative consequences. In the first chapter, Tompkins describes...

The Creator’s Benevolence: The Philosophical Review

The debates around God’s intentions and will during the creation of the human race remain forever inconclusive, although different theologists often attempt to provide the basis for such an act. This topic relates to such themes as omnipotence, perfect good morals, and God’s benevolence. However, there are certain limitations that...

Liberation Theology and Gutierrez’s Contribution to It

Introduction Religion plays a significant role in every human being’s life, and it arises a necessity to have an insight into vital parts of it. It is essential to be aware of liberation theology that can be considered a religious movement centered in Latin America, in the view of the...

Which Belief Was the First: An Eternal Debate

A large part of Abrahamic traditions has similarities with Zoroastrianism, especially within the core texts of these religions. In his study, Akbar extensively compares Islamic and Zoroastrian teachings and points out substantial similarities, especially about the afterlife and the journey of a human soul (91-93). The same paper also found...

“And Muhammad Is His Messenger”: Special Features

In the introductory part, the author points out that the purpose of his writing is not to discuss the deformation associated with Muhammad by the western scholars, which has been the significant reason why Islam, unlike Christianity, has a lot of obstacles. However, Muhammad represents a model and exemplar for...

Lord’s Supper: the Doctrine of Sacraments Summary

The Lord’s Supper is the last meal of the Savior with his disciples-apostles on the eve of His sufferings on the Cross, in Maundy Thursday. During the Supper, He established the Sacrament of Communion – the Eucharist – as a grace-filled means of uniting believers with God and with each...

Theological-Political Treatise

According to Spinoza, the superstition stems from the willingness of individuals not to link everything to certainty. Therefore, a person who is in danger or cannot support themselves is most prone to opening to divine assistance. This is an important idea that shows that fear represents a vital mechanism causing...

What to Do with a Former Informant?

The author of the article focuses on the issue of an appointed Archbishop of Warsaw, Stanislaw Wielgus, collaborating with the Communist secret police, with his role coming to light as the promotion was approaching. The main question that the article raises is how can a person who provided information to...

“Introducing World Religions”: Taoism and Confucianism

The book “Introducing World Religions” by Charles Farhadian addresses two religions that emerged in East Asia, namely, Taoism and Confucianism. The author seeks to create a dialogue whereby the reader understands the origin of the two socio-philosophical traditions that have become prominent in most parts of Asia. The source illustrates...

Improving Students’ Knowledge of Catholic Faith

Full bibliographic information of source Rymarz, R., & Gerard McLarney. (2011). Teaching about Augustine: Providing a scaffolding for learning. Journal of Adult Theological Education, 8(1), 53–64. Web. Stated research question and thesis The research question is how American Catholic youth’s lack of knowledge of their faiths can be amended. The...

Santeria and Other Afro-American Religious Expressions

The Santeria in Cuba The Cuban Santeria provides one of the best examples of a hybrid religious expression that developed in the recent past due to the blending of different cultures and beliefs. Also known as Regla de Ocha and Regla Lucumí, the Santeria is a polytheist religious expression that...

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...

“Salvation” by Langston Hughes

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...

Religious Study: Spiritual Leadership

Different representatives of society have a personal view of leadership. For someone, it can be a high position and control over people, and for others, it is a way of self-approval. In turn, the spiritual leader uses ministry and influence to guide people in following God’s Word. At the same...

The Religious Experiences of Enslaved People

Slavery, in one form or another and at one time or another, has existed in all parts of the world, and no race has been able to escape this appalling form of social development. In the late 19th century, slavery became an integral part of the American way of life....

Idolatry in Peru and Eradication of Faith

After reading these primary sources regarding the removal and prohibition of idolatry in Peru, I conclude that the measures taken by the Holy Church were against the traditions of these communities. They were antagonizing the long-standing ways of living of indigenous people through direct interventions and prevention of any worship...

Universalizing of Religion of Islam

Introduction Islam religion maintains that the great good is peace, which means the total surrender to the will of God and the greatest goal of man’s life is the only way to attaining the mission. “Muhammadanism” was used instead of “Islam” until recently. According to them, it seemed it seem...

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...

Religion: “Canoeing the Mountains” by T. Bolsinger

Once an individual is lost from the dance floor, a balcony offers more space and fresh air when compared to the closed dance room. The balcony provides an ample space that allows a person to look at the people in the room in a bigger picture. The balcony epitomizes the...