Buddhism in the Novel “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse

In Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse presents the theme of enlightenment as an unrelenting quest for the truth, which he considers essential for achieving a harmonious connection with the world. Nirvana, or a universal understanding of life, is the truth searched for by Siddhartha and Govinda, who both have a basic desire...

The Holocaust Impact on Jewish Theology

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 as a Source of Wisdom and Knowledge

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...

The Old Testament and Ancient Near East

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...

Christianity’s Directions and Branches

Christianity Christianity is one of the largest world religions regarding the number of believers. To date, the total number of Christians has exceeded two billion. Protestantism is the most fragmented and divided in many directions among all the branches. It has more than a dozen main branches, which, in turn,...

Sacred Time or Sacred Place in Judaism

Following the traditions of the Jewish religion is a theological doctrine that includes a combination of different approaches and practices that have been formed over the centuries. Sacred place and Sacred time are the crucial components of this commitment since the rise of Judaism is based on numerous historical references...

Religious Beliefs: Reasons Behind the Faith

Religious beliefs and the reasons behind them are very personal matters, and different people are likely to offer varying accounts and testimonies of faith. Belief in God is central to many people’s lives and, for them, requires no evidence, only trust in the Divine. Faith in the Deity is intuitive...

Pillar of Classical Religion: Scientific Support

Civilization is the process by which a human society or location attain an efficient form of development and prosperity and structure. While human civilization is vast, fundamentally every society is sustained by the fundamental “foundations” of classical religion, learning, and the family. Classical theology is one of the most significant...

The Rules of St. Columba: Exploring Irish Catholicism

Irish Catholic Church history is filled with notable and authoritative figures that defined the further development of Christianity and contributed to the evolution of the theological discourse, as well as the spreading of Jesus Christ’s philosophy. St. Columba, or St. Columbanus, was one of the people that predetermined the further...

Discussion: Taking Responsibility for the Enemy

Taking responsibility for an enemy is a major phrase that has been mentioned regularly in the secondary source computed by Linahan Jane. The book is entitled “Sermon on the mount and the creation of peace.” Contextually, individuals can use the phrase mentioned above to imply that an individual can regard...

How Biblical Worldview Helps in Everyday Life

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

The Deity of Jesus Christ in New Testament

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...

The Bible: Analysis of 2 Kings Chapters 17-20

Introduction The books partial to the Kings originally were a part of the ancient manuscript that depicted the end of life of king Solomon during the fall of Jerusalem. As part of the Biblical canon, they emphasize the unique place these works occupy as simultaneously works of literature, spiritual texts...

The Role of Religion in Propping-Up Slavery

Frederick Douglas was a slave in America, but at the same time, he became a figure who made a significant impact on the disappearance of slavery. In his book, based on his memoirs, the author described the horrors of slavery and the role of Christianity. The author vividly described the...

A Model of Christian Charity by Winthrop

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...

Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity in Society

Introduction Religions are ancient social institutions, designed to perform several tasks at once. One of the main goals is the formation of the worldview and behavior of people, which determines the belief in the existence of some supernatural force. There are four types of ancient religions that have existed for...

Thirst for Freedom: The Art of Bible Translation

Introduction Exodus is a Greek word that means the exit of a large group and the second book in the Old Testament. The book bases its story on the movement of Israelites out of Egypt. Egypt is considered bondage to Israelites. The exit is documented in accounts, phases, and Exodus...

Theology of Family Life, Marriage and Parenting

Marriage Marriage is a civil society institution present in all countries and cultures, where the pair enters a secular agreement in the eyes of the law. However, religious marriage is possible when a ceremony is conducted (simultaneously or separately, depending on religion) with the couple being wed in the eyes...

The Research of Theological History

Abstract There is a hermeneutical problem of Genesis 1: other approaches exist apart from a traditional one. According to one of the alternative approaches, Gen 1 summarizes an entire topical sequence of events that occurred after earth’s creation, which are discussed in volumes 2 to 31. Therefore, one of the...

Christian Apocalyptic Movements

Christian apocalypticism or millenarianism focuses on believing that the day of world destruction will come and take people to a better world of God. The fascinating aspect which encouraged me to explore this movement is that the apocalypse is treated not as dangerous destruction but as the opportunity to get...

Christ’s Relationships with Wealth and Poverty

The questions of wealth and poverty are some of the key ones in the narratives of early Christianity. The characters of the Biblical scriptures attempt to measure each other’s worth through indirect assessments of wealth and material possessions, manifested in their ability to worship notably. As the majority of religions,...

“Religion, Meaning in Life During Late Adulthood” by Krause & Hayward

Religious studies attempt to discover the meaning in life through seeking and maintaining a strong relationship with God. Scientific studies confirm this association by illustrating the evidence of meaning in life in wellness and healthcare outcomes. In the article “Religion, Meaning in Life, and Change in Physical Functioning During Late...

The Limits of Language in Theology

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...

Approach to Bible Study in a Survey of the Old Testament

Studying the Old Testament is a fundamental and complicated task. Bible is an integral part of the ancient Near Eastern civilization, into the languages and culture of which Western students need to dive deeply. In the first chapter of their monograph, Hill and Walton argue that the Bible represents God’s...

The Analysis of the New Testament Canon

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...

Atonement: Theories and Interpretations

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

Anselm’s Ontological Argument Analysis

The Proslogion contains the ontological argument that made Anselm famous throughout the ages. In this work, God is not thought of as the sum of positive qualities and the all-powerful possessor of various earthly goods. Anselm’s reasoning no longer proceeds from a conception of what God must be to assert...

Compendium of Social Doctrine on Economic Life

One of the primary lessons I have learnt from chapter 7 of the Compendium of Social Doctrine on Economic Life is the church’s teaching and perspective towards the management and direction of the economy. These teachings are meant to serve our society in a common good, referred to as liberal...

Biblical Congregation Is Healing Community

Introduction One of the fundamental problems, both theological and social, is understanding what the church is. In theology, the comprehension of this problem is called ecclesiology. It is aimed primarily at the mystical, mysterious side of the church’s life and, therefore, is not familiar to the outside view of secular...

The Story About Joseph: God Always Has a Plan

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

Scripture as Doctrine of God, Christology, and the Holy Spirit

The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture is one of the basic tenets of the Christian faith. The statement that the Bible is sufficient means that it is all we need to prepare ourselves for a life of faith and ministry. It provides a clear understanding of God’s intentions to...

The Bible. Living by the Book by Hendricks & Hendricks

Introduction The book Living by the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible is a recognized work not only in the global theological community but also among ordinary readers. The research that Professor Hendricks conducts with his son makes it possible to better understand the truths spelled out...

Lystra: The City From the Bible

Lystra was a city mentioned in the Bible, a location where a number of important events have taken place. This city was of particular significance to Paul, a disciple of the Christian faith. The city was located near a small channel called Salama in modern-day Turkey. In the days of...

The Problem of Evil and Reasoning Against God

Introduction The debate on the existence of God remains a perpetual one. Philosophy, philosophy of religion, and theology continue to provide arguments both in favor of the Divine existence and the impossibility of such presence. These assertations often vary in nature and address either the metaphysical, historical, or moral improbability...

Mormonism: Religious Denomination or a Sect?

There has been an enormous discussion on whether Mormonism is a religious denomination, a sect, or a non-religious movement. This question lingers in every individual’s mind upon mention of Mormonism. This question is pertinent in American society today, following the recent political happenings that involve members of Mormonism. Recently, Mitt...

Analysis of Article “Religions Resources and Church Growth”

The authors define resource mobilization theory as “the study of aggregation of resources” in the context of money and labor (Iannaccone, Olson, & Stark 1995, p. 706). From a theoretical standpoint, religious resources consist of ‘inputs’ such as time and money, which lead to the ‘output’ of church growth and...

Religion Research: Hinduism and Buddhism

Hinduism Hinduism is a significant religion with rich history, a considerable amount of followers, and the Bhagavad Gita as one of the most important sacred texts. Hinduism originated from Hindu, which is one of the most ancient religions mainly spread among South Asia. Today there are approximately 800 million adherents...

The Future of Religion in Canada

Introduction Canada has many different religions, but none of them is official in the country because of the great significance of religious pluralism in Canadian political culture. Canada does not establish a single national religion, and, on the contrary, its government supports the existing multitude of religious movements. Today, the...

Jawn Bin Huwai: A Martyr for Allah

Introduction Jawn bin Huwai is a significant personality in the history of Islam. Being one of those martyred at Karbala, he had undergone the reality of slavery since he was in servitude to several masters. However, his last master freed him and urged him to abandon his service and his...

Predestination: The Theological Concept

In theology, predestination is the belief that God has predetermined all events, generally concerning the person’s ultimate fate. Predestination interpretations frequently attempt to resolve the “phenomenon of free will,” in which God’s omniscience appears irreconcilable with human free will. Predestination can be seen as a type of religious determinism in...

Jerusalem’s History and Religious Developments

Introduction Jerusalem is a place on the political map of the world known to all the followers of the three Abrahamic religions. Its historical past and political status have been a thorny issue between the peoples and states of the Middle East, Arabs, Jews, Israel, and the Palestinian over the...

Sikhism: History and Practices

There are various religions globally, each with a unique history of origin. However, there are controversies on how some religions came into existence. Sikhism has had so many theories said about how it came to exist. The most common thought about the religion is that it has long been thought...

Religion’s Impact on Mass Media

It seems reasonable to state that religion significantly impacts many spheres of life in today’s world. When it comes to mass media, this phenomenon should be taken into account. In another case, the desired outcome of a particular film, book, or TV series might not be achieved. Hence, the scholarly...

Approaches to Psychology. Discrimination of the Islamic Religion

There has been growing discrimination of the Islamic religion and its relation to terrorism. According to the behavioral approach, such a stereotype arises due to the interactions people have with their environment through conditioning and observational learning. This discrimination develops from people constantly seeing and hearing individuals from this religion...

The Influence of Catholic Upbringing

The history of the religious education of the person I interviewed confirmed that every believer has their own path to faith. My neighbor and I often meet on the street and in the church that I have attended since childhood, so I have always been interested in the reasons why...

Comparison of Daoism and Confucianism

Wuwei is one of the central concepts in Daoist teachings and describes the proper way of living. Literally translated to “effortless action” or “action without strain,” it refers to doing things without needless over-complication and exertion (Molloy, 2020, p. 209). As such, it is directly related to being in harmony...

Christ and the Adulteress by Rocco Marconi and The Marriage of the Virgin by Raphael

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...

Lutheran Theology – Insights for Today’s Church

Thesis statement: Martin Luther’s theology started the reformation in Germany through his famous 95 Theses and, in doing so, helped model the contemporary society and Protestant Church. Introduction The European Reformation, driven by Lutheran Theology, is one of the most ambiguous periods. This phenomenon always remains in the center of...

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

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

Concerns in Saint Luke’s Gospel and Their Analysis

Jesus’ disciples were left to emulate the good work that He had begun before ascending to heaven. Perhaps the disciples fearlessly worked out on their purpose as followers of Christ to enlighten the world about God’s intimate plan for all humankind. Thus, after His departure, Jesus’ disciples, who became apostles...

Religion and Europeans’ Attitude to Native Americans

As a matter of fact, Native Americans had highly diverse cultures and religions before and after European colonialists’ arrival. At the same time, in Europe, Christianity was an intrinsic part of people’s lives when the New World was discovered. Thus, it goes without saying that the meeting of people from...

“An Introduction to Hinduism” by Anantanand Rambachan

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...

Biblical Assertion of Baptism in the Holy Spirit

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...

Theology in the Context of World Christianity

In eastern parts of the world, there are cultures, the main basis of which is placed on shame and honor. So much so that it leads to questionable actions that may be considered crimes or up in people taking their own lives in order to maintain honor. Those cultures are...

Are Hinduism’s Practices Philosophical or Strictly Religious?

Introduction As one of the world’s oldest religions, Hinduism also serves functions of a considerable philosophical direction. On the one hand, millions of individuals throughout the whole world follow the main principles of Hinduism, thereby making this system of thought the third-largest religion after Christianity and Islam. On the other...

Contemporary Trends Criticism by Using Anthropological Approach

To begin with, there is a great number of contemporary trends nowadays. As a result, only general notions might be discussed due to their influence on society. From the anthropological perspective, the vast majority of trends could be criticized by using even the most primitive methods of qualitative analysis. On...

Books IX-XII of Paradise Lost by Milton

Book IX Milton reveals gender-related biases present in the seventeenth century – Eve is to blame for the couple being exiled from Eden. “To whom soon mov’d with a touch of blame thus Eve” states the poem and also emphasizes the author’s opinion by describing Adam’s disappointment in the woman’s...

The Spread of Islam With Trade and Geography

Translated from Arabic, the word “Islam” means “surrender to the One God” or “submission.” Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam is a theistic religion; this means that he proceeds from the understanding of the one God. This is the youngest religion in the history of humanity, which ranks second in the...

Christianity Views on Abortion Concepts, the Big Bang, and the Evolution Theory

Religious Studies The relationship between culture and Christianity is a problem in today’s society. When Christianity is presented as a substitute to the existing culture, the covert chooses to either follow Christ or remain in the world of evil doings or paganism. The Bible and other Christian articles provide information...

The Fertile Crescent Sumerian Religion

Cosmology and the Pantheon The type of society that will be living in the Sumerian pantheon is the post-human society. Post-human is a concept that mainly refers to the entity that exists in a state beyond normal human understanding. It originates from the science fields of futurology, fiction, philosophy, and...

Buddhism: New Religions and Human Balance

Despite its stance in society, religion will always be somehow reflected in the way people appraise the world and outline their values. Thus, Buddhism, one of the fundamental world religions, has been introduced in a series of new forms over the past years. A prime example of such a modernized...

Cardinal Ratzinger’s “The Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament”

In “The Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament,” Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger analyses how Eucharistic theology led to the emergence of the tabernacle in the second millennium. The chapter reveals how spiritual development in the understanding of the Eucharist manifested through changes in language structure and forms of thought. The chapter, divisible...

Key Christian Beliefs and Practices

Many of the essential teachings of Christian faith come from the parables, or short stories, that Jesus told. The key beliefs included lessons that persuaded individuals to love God and their neighbours as they would themselves (Matthew 22:37-39). Forgiving those that have wronged you is also a notable value and...

Immortality, Personal Identity, Death and God

Introduction According to the traditional perception of immortality, the after-life or eternal life follows the physical death of a body, but the soul stays immortal. In conformity with the religious or philosophic fellowship, the personal identity of a human either stays the same, either disappears. The idea of the hereafter...

“Introducing World Religions” Through Christian Lens

Introducing World Religions, a book authored by Charles E. Farhadian. and published in 2015, is an insightful religious book that addresses the Christian audience of the 21st century on world religions viewed through a Christian lens. Professor Farhadian is a renowned author of Christian texts and a distinguished contributor to...

Ways to Ensure Understanding When Delivering the Gospel Message

The question of what the preaching of the Gospel should be in the modern world today concerns not only those called to deliver sermons but also every believer. They are all called to preach the Gospel, bearing witness to it, of course, first and foremost with their lives. They must...

American Society’s Reckoning About Race Issue

For this assignment, I engaged in discourse with a pastor at a local Baptist church located near my home. The Church is large, consisting of several buildings, including its own preschool and sports complex. It is located in a suburban part of town, middle class, and some affluent neighborhoods. The...

Islam: The Different Perspectives

Chapter 5 Summary Islam is a way of life, the basis of family and legal relations, a set of traditions and customs. The main principles and essence of Islam are the following points: among the tenets of Islam is monotheism, the most authoritative source of Islamic belief and practice is the...

Divine Foreknowledge and Rejection of Saul’s Kingship

In the article titled “Divine Foreknowledge, Divine Constancy, and the Rejection of Saul’s Kingship,” Fretheim discusses the implications of God rejecting Saul’s kingship and anointing David. First and foremost, the author aims to clarify the seeming contradiction regarding divine repentance in 1 Samuel 15. According to Fretheim, the passages about...

Al-Hallaj and His Influence on Islam

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...

Five Principles of Connection Art and Christianity

Christianity plays a significant role in the creativity and talents of the artists, explaining how these skills emerge and how people should engage with religious norms and expectations. Barrs (2013) applies five principles of this connection between art and Christianity to demonstrate how the artworks should serve all humans. The...

Discussion of History of Buddhism

Introduction Buddhism is one of leading faiths that has shaped human worship and behavior for over 2,500 years. Presently, this religion has more than 500 million believers. Historically, Buddhism remained prominent in Southeast Asia and East. This religion continues to promote a number of ideologies and philosophies that overlap with...

Amazing Grace: The New Testament

In my understanding, the New Testament offers countless opportunities for exploring the grace of God. It reaches its highest point in God’s decision to sacrifice his Son’s life in the name of humanity’s moral improvement and salvation. In Peter 3:18, the audience is encouraged to “grow in grace of our...

“Christianity and the Creed of Postmodernism” by Diogenes Allen

The article by Diogenes Allen, “Christianity and the Creed of Postmodernism”, examines the intellectual positions on the end of the world. According to Allen (1993), there are grouped views referred to as postmodern that claim the modern universe’s end. The end of the world is considered important since it was...

The Idea of Government According to the Bible

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

Christianity vs. Judaism: A Medieval Conflict

The world’s most significant religions existed together for millenniums, and even in the modern world of globalization and science’s domination, they stay valuable worldwide. Indeed, Christianity has more than two billion followers now, and a smaller but older religion, Judaism, is being supported by at least fourteen million (Hicks-Keeton, 2018)....

The “Other-Worldliness” of Christianity

It goes without saying that as the majority of existing religions, Christianity includes the elements of both “this-worldliness” and “other-worldliness.” However, from a personal perspective, the statement that Christianity is a predominantly other-worldly religion reflects its core to the fullest extent. First of all, despite the existence of differences between...

The Missional Church and Its Impact on Ecclesiology

Missional church is a community of Word, Sacrament, and Prayer, which involves certain religious activities to convert non-believers or apologists of other religions to their faith. Mission in a religious context and similar activities, especially in Christianity, are prevalent. The missionary church represents the various movements and denominations that shape...

Prabhavananda on the Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount found its response not only in Christian culture but also in Hinduism. In the text, Swami Prabhavananda presents his vision of the eight beatitudes, presenting them as stages of a person’s path to God and not as a classification (Clooney & Francis, 2018, p. 120)....

The Connection of The Lament Genre with The Book of Psalms

Main types of psalms are praising, teaching, and lamentation psalms. There are quite a lot of Psalms of Lamentation in the Psalter. Its specific concerns and interests are people who are not afraid to talk about their failures and weaknesses, problems and doubts before God and before people. Even in...

The Babylonian Exile of the Israelites as Calvin’s Metaphor

Babylonian exile of the ancient Israelites would be an important metaphor for Calvin to use in describing the Christian’s life on earth because Christians are held captive by sins thus getting punished. The Babylonian captivity is depicted as a punishment for idolatry as well as disobedience to God. The suffering...

Reading Lewis’ Works in the Faith Journey

Introduction C. S. Lewis was born in 1898 in Belfast in Ireland and died in 1963. He wrote many books, and several ones encompass Christian apologetics. His literary works contribute to religion and theology studies. Some of his works include Mere Christianity, Screwtape, and The Chronicles of Narnia, which is...

Confucianism vs. Daoism: Finding Four Differences

Confucianism and Daoism appeared in the 6th–5th century BCE in China as philosophical ways of life and worldviews created by Confucius and Laozi, respectively. Though they are from the same period of time and country, these two religions or philosophies are rather different as they are based on various concepts...

Christian Business Operation in Capitalism

In the world of capitalism, companies strive to be profitable as they can while providing their products or services. However, this ideology does not always align with the Christian beliefs and principles that do not place profitability as their primary interest. Although some Christians agree with the fundamentals of capitalism,...

The Bible and Economy: Sin Stock Aversion and Virtue Stock Affinity

Many Christians consider the Bible to be a book that tells about the non-material world and almost nothing about the material one. Therefore, they are often surprised when they hear the phrase ‘Christian economy’. There are many passages in the Bible about economics, especially economic freedom. The Bible draws parallels...

Christian Approaches to Hinduism

Hinduism is an integral part of the world’s religions, and there is no doubt that Christianity has succeeded in building its attitude toward this denomination. According to Light (2017), “Christian approaches to Hinduism are diverse but tend to study sacred texts, ways of life, or philosophy. Consequently, it is appropriate...

The Torah: Story, Law, and Poetry

In the tradition of Judaism, Torah, in the broad sense, refers to the substance of God’s divine revelation to Israel, thus offering divine teaching and guidance to His followers. The meaning of Torah has been mainly restricted in order to denote the first give books of the Hebrew Bible, or...

Christian Foundations and Worldview

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...

The Politicization of Muslim Identity

Primarily, Mamdani shares a concern about the violence of the modern age and how it is rooted in the political agenda. 9/11 was an essential event in the history of the United States that led to the juxtaposition of “bad Muslims” with “good Muslims” in society (Mamdani 2005, 15). The...

The Book of Revelation and Second Coming of Christ

In Revelation 20, a major event is described known as The Millennium. It is a highly controversial passage and there is much debate on whether the Second Coming of Christ will occur prior and lead to this prolonged period of holiness and salvation on Earth, or will the Second Coming...

Paul David Tripp’s Book “A Shelter in the Time of Storm”

Paul David Tripp’s book “A Shelter in the Time of Storm” explains the various hardships and troubles in life and how to get past them. Tripp introduces the main topics covered in the book by explaining that we live in a broken world that subjects us to lots of suffering,...

Consideration of Creativity: Perfection, Diversity, Profusion, and Inventiveness

Although society attributes art to secularity, there is immense evidence that God and humanity are the primary sources of creativity. In “Echoes of Eden,” Jerram Barrs explores this notion and encourages evangelicals to embrace art instead of shunning it. Barrs bases his arguments on Daniel Loizeaux’s four key ideas –...

Religious Pluralism as a Mark of a Healthy Community

The issue of religious beliefs has always been a rather contentious subject due to the often-conflicting interpretations of different religious principles. The absence of tolerance and readiness for a nuanced and respectful discussion of religious differences has provided the breeding grounds for conflicts throughout history. For example, the Thirty Years...

Spinoza and Lessing Confronting Religious Intolerance

Introduction The complications related to religious dogmatism are often portrayed in the literature written in the 18th century. The lack of acceptance of other beliefs and the confrontations between the representatives of different religions were commonly discussed by writers of that time. The author’s Benedict Spinoza and Gotthold Ephraim Lessing...

Christianity as an Other Worldly Religion First and Foremost

It should primarily be stated that responding to an argument that Christianity is an other-worldly religion first and foremost is hard. This is due to the fact that it definitely includes both other-worldliness and this-worldliness and they usually interrelate and produce a cause effect relationship. For instance, Christianity sates that...

Jehovah’s Witnesses Sect and Its Danger to Society

Jehovah’s Witnesses is a religious doctrine based on the Bible but unique in that it is radically different from all Christian religions. They are also known for their interpretation of the Bible, according to which they deny the doctrine of the Trinity. The sect was primarily organized according to the...

Biblical Principles of Government

Obedience to the law means the existence of legal norms that serve as a counteraction to the arbitrariness of power. The Bible has traditionally been considered as the most significant book on which the establishment of democratic institutions are based (Fischer, 2013). The goal of civil authority is to organize...

History of Protestantism in North America

Protestantism in North America begins with its early European roots and a German friar and lecturer, Martin Luther. His first step of the protestant reformation started when he led a charge against indulgences that benefitted the pope. His critiques gained popularity in Germany and with passing decades the protestant ideologies...

The Bible: Images and Portrayals of God

The Bible presents various images of God, in which he is portrayed from the perspective of the multiple roles he performs and the numerous character descriptions he is attributed. Across the Scripture, the readers might find a wide spectrum of vivid and metaphorical portrayals of God, which implies his power...

The Rhetoric of Condemnation in the Book of Job

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

Christian Gospel Essential Beliefs

Introduction Religion dictates the way people worship and pursue their religious goals. Christianity is one of the leading religions today that has clear guidelines, doctrines, and modes of worship. Followers of Christianity focus on the foundational commandments and pillars that make the religion what it is today. Those who follow...

Teresa de Jesús in “Book of Life”

Biographers and contemporaries describe Teresa as a very sociable, open, and intelligent person who was energetic and passionate in her actions. Following extreme mysticism in her religious works, she always had a good idea of the practical side of life (Weber 171). Perhaps, that is why she thought that in...

The Positioning of Systematic Theology

In a detailed discussion of the differences in existing approaches to the study of the Bible, it is worth emphasizing the nature of the object understudy in the first place. Strictly speaking, theology itself involves studying the nature of God and the religious beliefs that enable followers to believe in...

The Development of Western Religious Thought

The development of Western religious thought enjoyed its blossom in three historical periods: Late Middle Ages, when the fundamental elements of the rational comprehension of the Supreme Being were formulated; the Enlightenment, marked with the reconciliation of science and religion, and the beginning of the 20th century, with the spread...

Sociology of Religion: Inclusivists and Exclusivists

People have different beliefs in the wide variety of religious practices that currently exist. In each case, we have inclusivists who believe that other religions have some truths and learning which may be beneficial to everyone. From an exclusivist approach, the idea of acknowledging that other religions may have some...

Moral Questions of the Bible

The Unforgiving Servant The first parable appears in Matthew and can be characterized by its two-stage double indirect narrative. According to Snodgrass (2008), the plot of The Unforgiving Servant has a well-balanced three-part structure followed by an explanation. The parable tells the story of a servant who, at first, has...

Aspects of Imprecatory Psalms

The Psalter contains many examples of imprecatory psalms, among which verses #35, #109, and #137 are suggested for this discussion. Regardless of the specific part, however, we should first outline the significance and role of such poetic forms. In general, imprecatory psalms represent an appeal to God or a prayer...

Economic Approach to Religion

A grade “A” is an economic good because it is desired by many students, but it is not attained by many thus creating an opportunity cost. Exams are meant to evaluate how the examinee is faring on in a specific area of study. It is the dream of every student...

The Figure of Jesus in Islam and the Quran

Introduction The figure of Jesus stands prominently in Islam based on the various Islamic traditions and the many accounts of Him in the Quran. In one of the narratives, it is alleged that after Prophet Mohammed had his dream in the mountains, he ordered the cleansing of the different idols...

The Sources and Causes of Suffering in Judaism

Different religions have a distinct way of perceiving the sources and causes of suffering. In Judaism, the view of sorrow is that it is merely a characteristic of physical existence (Fitzpatrick et al., 2016). This means that misery does not necessarily have to be a result of punishment for misdeeds....

Seventh Day Adventists Fight Crime in Jamaica

Introduction Violent crime is a serious challenge in Jamaica. Robberies, rapes, murders, and assaults do not just lead to economic costs but may result in the loss of lives and severe emotional distress among victims. Crime also exerts a high toll on communities as the value of property increases and...

Socrates’ Understanding of God

Socrates is accused of impiety, or “not believing in the gods in whom the city believes (West & Plato, 1979, 24b).” At first glance, it appears as if Socrates is charged with atheism, but the philosopher is, in fact, ostracized for believing in “other new spiritual things (West & Plato,...

Teaching About Religion vs. Teaching Religion

Introduction Ever since 1963, when U. S. Supreme Court allowed sectarian teaching of the Bible in public schools’ classrooms, the issue of this decision’s appropriateness has been discussed from a variety of sociological and legal perspectives, with many critics rightly pointing out to the fact that there is nothing sectarian...

Religion and Science: Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

Introduction From epistemological point of view, science and religion are two distinct ways of knowing; the first one relies on logic and empirical findings whereas the other is based on faith which does not require substantiation (Griffin, 2000, p 7). The theory of evolution, introduced by Charles Darwin only emphasized...

An Argument for God as an Initial Cause for Everything

Introduction Philosophical discussion of arguments for God’s existence appeared to become reduced significantly in the environment in which logical positivism prevails. However, the resurgence of the interest toward the ontological and cosmological arguments since the 1960s prompted new ideas and perceptions. The ontological side of the discussion has been mainly...

Faith-Based Healthcare Organizations

Religion has traditionally played a significant role in the development of healthcare institutions, but their current relationships are a subject of many controversies. With three-quarters of adults in the United States being religious, the scientific community has been struggling to incorporate the population’s religious preferences into the traditionally scientific medical...

Researching Religion in America

Religion in the United States of America is misplaced. Its position in the public realm is among the many prickly issues analyzed in religion, in America, including in government programs. Contributors and researchers find diversified conclusions about the private, religious lives of Americans and their personal attitudes on the social...

Two Arguments Against Christianity and the Christian Worldview

Christianity has shaped the worldview of its followers for thousands of years. Naturally, the more progressive humans become, the more they start to question the legitimacy of religion and go deeper into its roots to find out the truth. Therefore, it created a lot of arguments used by atheists against...

Christian Identity, Nationalism, and Patriotism

Christian Identity Since the institutionalization of Christianity, the Church has always competed with monarchs for control over the states. Only after the beginning of the Reformation did Christianity begin to cooperate with local authorities. It can be said that such a symbiosis of unique cultures and local Christian practice norms...

St. Benedict’s Guidelines of a Monastic Way of Life

St. Benedict is a Christian saint who is responsible for the creation of the Rule of Benedict, which is a set of rules and guidelines for Christian monks to follow. It is regarded as one of the most influential texts that helped establish the basic rules of monasticism in medieval...

Humans in the Universe: The Beginning of “Genesis”

In “Genesis 1-11,” two theories discuss the place of humans in the universe, including God’s intention to create an image of himself on Earth and the desire to undermine people’s mortality. The domination of the second theory of human mortality is evident. The Lord created humans last in his image,...

Women Martyrs Inspiring Christianity

Introduction Modern society knows a few stories presenting women’s role in early Christianity due to the dominance of patriarchal church hierarchies, established by the Apostle Peter. He believed that it is shameful for a woman to preach in the church. He also thought that women should entirely rely on their...

Religion and Its Role Among African Americans

Religion is subjective and plays different roles for varying groups of people. Some individuals practice religion because of family traditions and others because of their strong belief in the afterlife. The difference in such factors leads to variations in how worshiping affects people’s lives. For African Americans, religion has had...

A Nonreligious Cult “Free People”

A nonreligious cult called Free People becomes more popular among youth. It focuses on working with individuals aged 18-21 years, all genders, and belonging mainly to poor or low-income communities with problems in families. The cult promotes the idea of freedom, which can be achieved by refusing all burdens of...

The Description of the Religious Service

Getting familiar with other religions is an exciting experience which helps to understand other cultures and nations better. It is generally recognized that different religions are varying not only in traditions but also in the way a religious service is conducted. For this field trip report, I have visited Temple...

The Abortion Dilemma: Islam vs. Christianity

Introduction Human beings encounter diverse problems that affect their experiences, decisions, and relationships in their respective communities. Religion and ethics are two key areas that offer timely insights for dictating the way people pursue social dilemmas to meet the demands of the greatest majority. One of the primary concerns many...

Religiosity and Socioeconomic Status

Introduction The concept of religion has been deeply embedded in society for millennia and includes an array of different beliefs. Over the world’s history, the nature and understanding of religion have changed multiple times, as well as its importance in global affairs. While it was an integral component of all...

Pursuit and Experiences of God in Texas

Religion plays a crucial role in the development of each nation, and the Southwest of the United States is defined as one of the most religious regions in the country. Therefore, its pursuit of God and an understanding of religion in general always deserve attention and recognition. The region of...

Religious Values During War and Peace

Introduction Despite the existence of different religions and their development, the majority of scripture and religious texts proclaim that human life is the ultimate value that has to be respected. Hence, war and other types of violence are not parts of religious values because these religions support peace, however, many...

Relationship Among the Religions

Introduction When analyzing the dominant faiths, one can identify three religions with similar features and concepts: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. These theological doctrines have common features because, according to existing data, they have the same source of formation and a single-core – an emphasis on the Holy Scriptures as the...

Megachurches Research: Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church

Megachurches might be considered a relatively new but substantial religious phenomenon in terms of size and attendance. According to Hartford Seminary Institute for Religion Research, megachurches are “Protestant churches where more than 2000 people attend for the purpose of worship per week” (as cited in Cartledge et al., 2019, p....

Bioethics: Primer for Christians

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...

God Exists: Reasoning and Proof

One of the topics that can be discussed indefinitely is the existence or unreality of God. Neither this discussion nor any other can ever answer that question. Moreover, the debate about God or Deities has been going on since the human mind (Feuerbach, 2018). It is crucial to understand this...

Christianity: Culture-Maker Beyond Specific Timeframes

Introduction The notion of a successful state or historical period is always revolving around a variety of related factors that somehow contribute to their development and establishment whatsoever. One of the central concepts considered as inseparable with the emergence of a nation or era is the phenomenon of culture and...

Franciscan Approach to Monasticism

Saint Francis of Assisi is one of the most significant and authoritative friars in Christianity. He was the founder of a new Catholic order, which emphasized the uselessness of material possessions in the clergy and attempted to emulate the lifestyle of Jesus Christ. This essay aims at examining the personality...

Buddhism in China and Japan

Buddhism is one of the major religions in the world, and it is now practiced in various countries including China and Japan. This religion spread in China during the first centuries B.C.E. and became widely practiced in the sixth century (Heine xii). It entered China through trade relations with people...

Hinduism History and Links to Other Religions

Introduction Religion is the connection of man with the Divine and the ultimate goal of faith is the realization of Truth. Correspondingly, one of the religions is Hinduism, which took place over a long time and underwent several stages of development. The paper aims to provide a detailed description and...

Power of Religious Texts and Reasoning

Religious texts often become fundamental for individuals’ views and societies’ values, serving as the framework for the rules of the right conduct and behavior. In some cases, they tend to bear more significance for people than scientific research since their authority is rooted in hundreds and even thousands of years...

The Advancement by L. Russ Bush: Book Review

Introduction The Advancement is a work of Christian apologetics by the professor of philosophy of religion L. Russ Bush. Its author seeks to promote the philosophical positions of authentic historical Christianity over those of the seemingly dominant modern naturalistic worldview. He argues that naturalism suffers from debilitating internal contradictions, upholding...

The Different World Religion Summary

Judaism Judaism is considered to be the world’s most ancient monotheistic religion, which constitutes millions of worshippers worldwide. The core values of Judaism are outlined in the numerous sacred writings that bear a sense similar to the one of Christianity, being represented from a different perspective. Just like other western...

Hinduism and Christian Doctrine Investigation

Hinduism that originated in India is one of the oldest religious cultures in human history. Every religion to be a part of Hinduism should support the caste system, respect the Vedas (Sanskrit scriptural texts), and honor particular spirits and deities (Corduan, 2012). The main Hindu deities, the caste system, and...

Leadership Vision and Scriptures

A vision statement is extremely important for leaders to keep their followers motivated. A well-formulated vision inspires others beyond their duties by creating a picture of the positive and uplifting future (Parkay et al., 2019). There are six key areas of vision that help to keep the followers motivated. All...

The Mysterious Ways in Which God Moves

Introduction The discussion of the existence of evil and, more importantly, its coexistence with the forces of good as the cornerstone contradiction that may disrupt the very premise of the Divine existence has been discussed in theology for centuries. The dilemma can be worded in the following way: if God...

Religious Prejudice in “Defender of the Faith” by Roth

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...

Sikhism Religion and Its Major Ordinances

Introduction: Sikhism at a Glance With the total number of worshippers amounting to 30 million worldwide and makes up 0.39% of the population, Sikhism is one of the major religions originating from India. At present, the country houses 83% of all Sikhs with 76% of them residing in the north...

Religion in the Socio-Economic and Political Environment

Religion plays a critical role in the socio-economic and political environment in the global society. According to Turaki (2020), about 83% of the global population identify themselves with some form of belief in supernatural powers. Some of the classical religions include Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Bahai, Shinto, and Hinduism. Others...

An Interpretation of Revelation John 14: 1-5

In the text, John refers to seeing “the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion” (Revelation 14.1) The fact that he refers to the Lamb rather than a lamb, indicates that this was Jesus. Zion is referred to as the chosen citadel of God and a spiritual city true to the King...

Strategic Priorities and Christian Worldview

Since attending a Christian University, I have discovered that the University is committed to helping students achieve and pursue their educational goals. Christian University is a faith-based and Evangelical institution guided by the belief that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. As stated in the Strategic Priorities, their core...

Christian Theology and World Religions

Introduction Mircea Eliade was a philosopher and a historian of religion, whose book “A History of Religious Ideas” in three volumes outlines the key periods in human history in relation to religious traditions people practiced at a specific time. Religion in the context of human history has been a part...

Newman’s Religious Opinions

Commonly known as Saint John Henry Newman or simply cardinal, Newman was an English poet and theology expert throughout his life. His priesthood began in the Anglican Church, and later on, he became a Catholic priest. After several years of service, he was appointed a cardinal. In 2019, years after...