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...

Spirituality and Social Work Practice

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

Christianity and Shintoism: Death and Dying

Every religion has its peculiarities and customs that determine what life the followers of this religion lead. A person’s belief may have a significant influence on the decisions they make and their worldview. Some of the things that are influenced by beliefs are views on diseases, death, dying, and human...

“The Ministry of Health and Healing” by Ellen White

The Ministry of Health and Healing by Ellen White teaches its readers universal truths and wisdoms which should be born in mind by everyone. According to White, only the purity of soul can help a person get cured with sins which dwell in every person being primary causes of all...

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...

St. Augustine’s Views on Sexuality

This week’s readings included Books VIII-X, in which St. Augustine continues to tell the story of his conversion, his views on the importance of converting one’s opponents to Christianity, and the necessity of letting go of earthly temptations to find happiness and peace in God. What I would like to...

Religious Beliefs on Issues of Segregation

Introduction The 1950s were a challenging time for Americans concerning racial tensions. To many white Protestant Americans, the majority of which resided in the South, desegregation directly challenged their way of life. In the light of the Brown v. Board of Education, some chose to accept it while others continued...

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...

Euthanasia from Religious Perspectives

The ethicality of euthanasia is a controversial issue in the philosophy of medicine, ethics, law, and other disciplines connected to the notions of death and the right to it. Euthanasia has divided people into two main camps – those who see it as a crime against God or some higher...

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...

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...

Faith and Science: Did Darwin Kill God?

Did Darwin Kill God?, a documentary movie by Dr. Conor Cunningham, professor of the University of Nottingham, reflects my beliefs most fully. I think that God is a supernatural being that exists outside of time and space, its basis, and the driving force. Cunningham’s movie correlates with the classic definition...

Comparing Behaviorist Versus Christian Points of View

The question of whether people can influence their fate has always been of significance for many philosophers and religious figures. Some of them argue that a person is responsible for their current and future life, while others stipulate that supreme forces determine these issues, and individuals witness what is predetermined....

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...

French Huna for Health

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

Religion Is the Opiate of the Masses

Sociologists have defined religion as a social institution that involves practices and beliefs which society considers sacred. Different members of the community share virtues in light of symbols and rituals as an identity of spiritualism. Religions often have ethics and set rules that guide the way of living among its...

Contemporary Religious Art: Visual Art

Art has always been an integral part of religion, and visual art is especially effective in conveying religious values. The paintings by the Australian artist O’Brien are displayed in modern art galleries, as they are characterized by a bright palette and dedication to religious subjects. The artist had an eye...

The Ancient Readings of Genesis 1-3

Genesis 1-3 tells of creating the heavens and the earth in all its vast array and all living things. God created humanity: a man and a woman from his rib blessed them and told them to fill the earth and conquer it. He gave them as well as all living...

Religion: The Seven Storey Mountain

The Seven Storey Mountain is a twentieth-century spiritual autobiography written by a Catholic priest and a Trappist monk Thomas Merton. This book has many similarities with St. Augustine’s Confessions since it tells a personal story of seeking God and finding a vocation. The sincerity of the story and Merton’s writing...

Female Martyrs in Early Christianity

The persecution of early Christians was a process accompanying the development of religion in the past. From this perspective, a life of a missionary at the time was not easy, especially when the series of martyrdoms started with St. Stephen being the first victim of this policy initiated by Roman...

Solidarity and the Common Good for an Authentic Global Family

Globalization is one of the historical processes that cannot be neglected because it determines the quality of human life, as well as interpersonal relationships. When people prefer globalization over other concepts, they accept interaction between independent cultures and traditions. Not to be lost in a variety of available options and...

Women’s Role and Leadership in the Church

Most Christians think that women are oppressed, and their rights denied when limits are put on their roles in the church. This has led to the cropping of great challenges between complementarians and egalitarians on the limitation of women’s leadership roles. For instance, many women in the current churches fight...

Points for and Against Prayers

Introduction Praying is an essential ritualistic part of one’s faith, attested in the Bible and other religious texts. However, Thomas Aquinas, a renowned religious philosopher, doubted its necessity, along with God’s existence and other pillars of Christianity. Then, in his usual fashion, the thinker managed to reaffirm that praying had...

Old Statement Law Interpreting by a Modern Christian

The nineteenth chapter of the book “Grasping God’s Word” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays deals with the uneasy matter of interpreting the Old Testament laws and their relations with the ones described in the New Testament. The religious texts describe these laws clearly enough though many modern...

Christianity: Worldview Analysis and Personal Inventory

Nature of Spirituality and Ethics: A Christian Perspective Spirituality and ethics are crucial in healthcare since they provide the basis for cultivating values that allow nurses to remain empathetic and attentive to patients and their needs. Examining spirituality from the Christian perspective will show that the subject matter implies using...

Racism and Kingdom Ethics. Main Aspects

I conversed with a Christian leader in the neighborhood about the topic of race and kingdom ethics. His view and attitude towards the issue of race is optimistic; in that, it makes all people equal despite having a different skin color. Understandably, the Christian leader develops an understanding regarding the...

Protestants and Catholics Conversion in the New World

During the colonization of the New World, many conflicts emerged between the newcomers and the Native Americans. Among apparent differences that arose between them, the cultural and, more importantly, religious discrepancies were one of the most prominent ones. Shortly before the conquest of the New World, Europe survived one of...

Understanding Christianity in Secular Humanism

The secular worldview revolves around science and the lived experience. The identified friend appears to have some unique problems with the validity and nature of Christianity because it appears judgmental and intolerant. The individual is also pessimistic about the “suppressive sexual ethic” associated with religion. The inside-out approach seeks to...

“Villancico VI” by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

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

Presentation of Religion in the Passion of the Christ

Religious beliefs are based on historical accounts of the occurrences recorded in available books, such as the Bible and the Quran. The Christian religion is entirely dependent on biblical information concerning the nature of God and how He relates to humanity. Central to the Christian faith is the story of...

Worldview and Christian Beliefs

What is a worldview? A worldview is usually described as an individual’s view of other people, the world around them, and their place in it. Outlooks differ greatly among humans, so it is almost impossible to find 2 people with the same one. Worldviews are usually supported by a specific...

Death and Dying: the George’s Story

Abstract Euthanasia is considered as opposed to God’s guidance and Christian tradition. The inherent human dignity and medical occupation should always consider opposing perspectives and find a coherent decision through long-standing care, communication, and consideration of patient values and life choices. The analysis of George’s story through the prism of...

Religion and Politics. The Just War Tradition

Throughout history, religion has been a significant part of social and political life that emerged in nearly all societies in one or another form. However, religion was not the only social institution present in all civilizations – apart from religious faith, politics and warfare have been an integrative part of...

About Police Chaplaincy Program

Introduction At present, the public sees the police as forceful representatives of law enforcement. They deliver a prompt response in situations of crisis to citizens. However, the scope of the police’s helping methods is limited. At the same time, chaplaincy volunteers working alongside some police departments can comfort people and...

Modern Pluralism and Challenges for Christianity

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

How the Knowledge of God Transforms Our Lives

The learning paths that we embark on play a fundamental role in shaping how we view the world and the paradigms that we chose to live by. These constructs become rooted in our minds and govern our interpretations of life and everyday situations. Biblical education is different from other fields...

Arguments for the Existence of God. The Tree of Life

The central question that worried the consciousnesses of tens of thousands of human generations throughout their existence is the recognition of whether God exists. There is no doubt that this question will remain unresolved, as it is physically impossible to discover what is felt by the followers of faith spiritually....

The Major Abrahamic Religions: Christianity and Islam

Introduction Both Christianity and Islam are the major Abrahamic religions that share several key similarities in regards to monotheistic values. The debate is primarily focused on Jesus Christ, who is a manifestation of God in the former and a mere human prophet in the latter. The significant difference between James...

Religion and Belief: Comprehensive Review

Understand the key features of a sociological approach to religion and belief Beliefs constitute the backbone of any community. Indeed, “societies were founded, cohere, develop, degenerate and die based on their belief systems” (Usó-Doménech and Nescolarde-Selva, 2016, p. 147). These systems allow people to comprehend the surrounding world and provide...

Five Pillars of Islam and Armenian Community

Introduction Islam remains one of the biggest religions in the world today with millions of followers. Believers should be aware of the teachings and pillars that can guide them to achieve their spiritual aims. This discussion seeks to analyze the Five Pillars of Islam and why they are given such...

Catholic and Scientific View of Evolution

Introduction There has been a debate between scientists and theologians about evolution. Many individuals believe that accepting the scientific theory of evolution, which is based on the notion of natural selection, is equal to holding atheistic views. They interpret the story of Adam and Eve literally and use it to...

Speech on Mother Teresa: Poverty and Interiority in Mother Teresa

Opening device: In the modern world, does one have to be perfect to be canonized? Preview: In today’s speech, I am going to expand the audience’s knowledge regarding Mother Teresa by reviewing the criticisms of her work and the undeniable positive outcomes of her endeavors. Thesis: Surprisingly, there are varying...

The Gospel of Matthew vs. the Gospel of Mark

How and why would Matthew have edited Mark 6:45-52 contrasted with Matthew 14:25-27, 32-33? First and foremost, the Gospel of Matthew refers to the study of the life and preaching of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The features of the Gospel stem from its intended purpose for the Jewish...

The Role of Religion in One Amazing Thing

One Amazing Thing was written by an Indian-American poet and novelist Chitra Divakaruni, who used the ancient storytelling form of Panchatantra to write her own sapiential story in the post-9/11 United States setting. The novel emphasizes the notion of multiculturalism and tells the story of nine protagonists who are captured...

Foundations of Buddhism and Meditation

Introduction Different religions help people to achieve similar goals: come to terms with their grief and pain, find solace, sense of meaning, and sense of community. At the same time, they also illustrate the diversity of philosophies, customs, and values, and there is immense beauty in understanding and accepting that...

The Depiction of Religion and Hypocrisy in “The Summoning of Everyman”

The notion of God was created by humans to describe the facts and events they were unable to comprehend through the lens of their knowledge. Many modern people have skeptic views on religion, yet this unique moral play can find a relatable topic even nowadays. This essay discusses the ideas...

Martin Luther King and His Theology Analysis

Introduction. This point paper is devoted to the Martin Luther King and his theology. It is based on the book Luther, the Reformer: The Story of the Man and His Career by James Kittleson. This work contains a review of the plot, its main issues, and the internal and external...

Case Study on Death and Dying

Introduction Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a serious and practically incurable disease. George understands that. He knows that what awaits him is inevitable and has to make a decision that will ease his suffering and lift a burden from his family. Euthanasia provides a swift and painless way out. However,...

Abortions Through the Prism of Christianity

People all around the world often have to face different obstacles and make wise decisions based on their moral principles and fundamental values. Case Study: Fetal Abnormality provides its readers with an example of a situation in which individuals encountered a complicated life circumstance and had to make a hard...

Isalam – the Main Religion in the World

Introduction Being one of the main religions in the world, Islam undergoes prejudice and is associated with violence nowadays. However, a description of Islam beliefs, practices, and rituals should present the description of the religion itself, reminding us that knowing the issue should precede any judging. Historically, Islam originated from...

Catholic Moral Teaching on Charity and Social Justice

Catholic Church is also referred to as Roman Catholic. It’s the largest Christian denomination in the world. It’s amongst the first Christian denomination in the world. The church is headed by the Pope who is perceived as the successor of St. Peter, the apostle. Apostles of Jesus Christ are succeeded...

The Life of Saint Francis: The Story of Change

Introduction Saint Francis is one of the most significant figures in Christianity. Most texts about this individual explore his teachings, wisdom, and legacy. However, Francis’s life was not limited to religious service, and it should be considered a lesson on its own. Francesco experienced drastic changes in his attitude toward...

The Extent of the Holocaust as a Christian Problem

Introduction The phrase “a lesson to be learned and a tragedy to behold” is an adequate description of the horrors and lessons that humanity has learned from the genocide of the Jewish population during World War 2. On the issue of the Holocaust as a “Christian Problem”, two different views...

Teaching the Faith Forming the Faithful

Summary The book under analysis called Teaching the Faith, Forming the Faithful is dedicated to discussing the current environment in terms of people’s affiliation to church, as well as their understanding of the actual content of faith. The point is that many Christians are not fully aware of the fundamental...

Prayer in School and Gun Violence: Rough Draft

Introduction School-based gun violence has become a widespread occurrence in the United States. Importantly, numerous factors such as bullying, easily accessible weaponry, and a lack of conscientiousness regarding students’ mental health contribute to its growth. Prayer, as a moral guiding compass and an act of self-reflective mediation, could help school...

Popes Influence Throughout the 1500’s-21st Century

History of the Roman Catholic Church Christianity existed before the 1054 schism with most Christians living within the boundaries of the Roman Empire. Later on, the Roman Empire drifted into two parts: the Eastern and the Western. Expansions took place in the Roman Empire which drifted the western and Eastern...

“Think Biblically” by John Macarthur

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

Character Analysis of Mohammed V

Introduction Mohammed V who was born in 10 August 1909 and died on 26 February 1961 was Sultan and king of Morocco. His full name was Sidi Mohammed ben Yusef. He was the son of Yusef, upon whose death he succeeded. Born at Rabat in Morrocco, Mohammed V was a...

Modern Interpretations of the Bible

I am one of Jesus Christ’s disciples. I spent all my life discovering the truth to the people. Jesus Christ came to the Earth to put the people in a straight and narrow way. All his life, he preached God’s Word to the people but his sermons written in the...

Zionism: The Evolution of Judaism

Zionism is an international political movement that identifies the existence of a sovereign Jewish national homeland. This is a movement that has been constantly campaigning and supporting Jewish return to their ancestral land since the recognition of the state of Israel. It is a movement that is based on religious...

“Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood” by Piper

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

United Methodist Church: Organizational Systems

Introduction Systems Thinking is the process of understanding how specific components work together within a whole (Meadows, 2008). This concept can be effectively used in the resolution of the problem by addressing challenges as constituents of an overall system (Seddon, 2008). This essay seeks to illustrate how the Systems Thinking...

Methodists Church: Organizational Leadership

The United Methodist Church is a global missionary church that is on the verge of bringing the good news to the people who have not received it as yet. Like any other missionary church, there are lots of difficulties the church has to encounter. The leaders have to concentrate on...

Relation Between Forgiveness and Justice

Introduction There perhaps is no effective way to show importance of forgiveness in human life. Human beings ranging from scholars, theologians and even atheists acknowledge that forgiveness is crucial to effective functioning of human life and relationships. Closely related to forgiveness is justice. Though various religions stress importance of both...

Religious Study and Theology. I AM statements

‘I AM’ is derived from Greek words. I AM statements are found both in the New and Old Testament. In the New Testament, the Gospel according to John emphasizes on the statements. The book of John opens up with a strong relationship between God and the Word. John 1:1-2 states...

The Power of Meditation

In most cases, it happens that we may not realize who we are. This results from the over-involvement with too much activity in work or studies, which denies us the time to reflect on whom we are or discover our inner self. As Holecek explained, the experience whenever we over-utilize...

Conflict Between Augustine and Pelagius

This conflict is based on the place of grace in the salvation of man as well as the doctrine of the ‘original sin’. Augustine believed that grace played a vital and central role in keeping man from sinning. Pelagius believed that man’s free will was adequate to keep him from...

“How to Read the Bible for What It’s Worth” by D. Stewart and G. Fee

Summary “How to read the Bible for what it’s worth” written by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stewart is a modern-day revolutionary text that goes into depth describing various aspects of the Holy Bible including the text, its meaning and application in the modern age. The book covers the different chapters...

The Interconnection Between Goddess Mythology and Ecofeminism

Introduction Most contemporary religions represent a man as the only deity. However, Goddess mythology serves as knowledge of how goddesses and, specifically, the Great Goddess were worshipped in ancient times. The evidence found all over the world lets the humanity suppose that there were times when the Goddess was the...

Religious Studies and Theology: Paganism in the Military

Overview Any form of involvement in a religious practice that goes against the Christian doctrine has been largely defined as paganism. This term is also used by the two main religious mainstreams, namely Christianity and Islam to refer to those who do not belong in either of the two religions....

A God-Sized Vision by Collin Hansen and John Woodbridge

Concepts and Insights from the Text The book under review is A God-Sized Vision by Collin Hansen and John Woodbridge. This book is a thoughtful and rather interesting work that provides a series of new insights for me as a believer and a practitioner of religion. First of all, discussing...

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

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

Mystical Experience in Real Life Analysis

The main characteristics of mystical experience highlighted in St. Teresa of Aliva’s statement Mystical experience is the process when the believer reunites with the transcendent casting away all material things and problems. The feeling of the whole unification of the cosmos, the deity or other reality, and a real-life penetrates...

The Great Awakening That Refers to the Spiritual Revitalization

The Great Awakening refers to the spiritual revitalization that swept across New England colonies in the 18th century, which sparked renewed religious activity in America. Many preachers participated in the dynamic transformation of the faithful and followers of the traditional Protestantism like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. This radical religious...

Importance of Speaking in Tongues in Christianity

Introduction Speaking in tongues is a term that is common especially when referring to the Pentecostal churches. It is a supernatural language that is believed to be imparted to Christian believers when they have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. The issue of speaking in tongues has raised a lot...

The Awakening of Central Asian Islam

Introduction Most Soviet Muslims lived in Central Asia; they were the first to adopt Islam from the chronological point of view (7-9th centuries). There are two things that characterized Central Asian Islam: The unofficial clergy in the region has always been very influential, having emerged from Sufistic orders; it opposed...

Reading Reflection “The Emotionally Healthy Church”

The main idea promoted by Peter Scazzero throughout his book The Emotionally Healthy Church is that many Christians appear to have a hard time trying to relate to their religious beliefs on an emotional level: “We have many people who are passionate for God and his work, yet who remain...

The Role of Religion in the Evolution and Creation Debate

Introduction Religion is one of the most essential factors or to be very precise one of the most discussed questions in human existence. Religion has its own way of describing the origin of humankind while great scientists have given explanations on the evolution of living beings. And as it goes...

How Diverse Traditional Beliefs Affect the Spheres of Life in Ghana

Ghana is a post colonial country situated in Africa that embraces diverse ethnic group, religious concepts, beliefs, and languages, greatly affected by European influence. As in most African countries “religion is inseparable from virtually every aspect of Ghanaian life and is important in the determination of worldview” (Salm and Falola...

Al-Qushayri’s Epistle on Sufism Analysis

The book under consideration is called al-Qushayri’s Epistle on Sufism. It can be considered as an original textbook that served as a guide for generations of Sufi beginners (Al-Qushayri 10). It introduces readers to the everyday lives of Sufism proponents as well as to ethical and moral dilemmas they are...

Environmental, Social or Political Conflict in Buddhism

Any religion is the phenomenon which is believed to deliver messages of moral issues to the world community. Still, as contemporary society is highly concerned with economical, social and political questions, religions become the objects of speculation. Buddhism is not an exception. There is a simple fact which is known...

Christian Social Concern in Pentecostal Perspective

Pentecostalism has turned out to be a strong basis in terms of renewal and spreading of the gospel. The Pentecostal mission has grown and now has many followers who believe in God, and they just keep growing in number. The Pentecostal community teaches according to what is prophesied in the...

Religious Philosophy: Term Definition

There is indeed an infinite amount of variation in terms of what meaning is given by people to God. There are several common connotations which are often considered in this regard, especially amongst the people who come from more of a westernized culture of philosophy and religion. Since this category...

Christian Music and Vital Congregations

Music for Funerals and Weddings The chapter entitled “Music for Funerals and Weddings” in Music and Vital Congregations by W.B. Roberts is an extensive overview of music at weddings and funerals in churches. The chapter presents the author’s view, combined with different policies on planning such ceremonies, in which the...

Critique of Westerhoff’s Spiritual Life

Introduction This is a critical analysis of the book entitled “Spiritual Life” by Westerhoff. Westerhoff says that it is not possible for preachers as well as the teachers to have a ministry that is fully effective if their personal divine lives are not effervescent. He therefore offers a resource to...

The Gospel of Mark (Mark 10:46-52)

The verses 10: 46-52 in the Gospel of Mark contain two remarkable episodes, which are Jesus leaving Jericho with his disciples and the healing of blind Bartimeus episode. With blindness being a unifying theme for a whole section in the Gospel of Mark, Mark 8-10, the importance of Bartimeus’s story...

Scribes and Pharisees Once Christ Was Crucified

Introduction Literary critics have often described the fact that Anthology of World Literature by Sarah Lawall restrains the world’s best-selling literature. Sarah Lawall introduces each writer and their works with a detailed biography, background description, and critical analysis. The Scribes and Pharisees in Bible have often been considered as the...

Religion as an Issue in “I, Rigoberta Menchu”

Introduction In her engrossing and perhaps controversial narrative, I, Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala, Menchu presents the unsuspecting readers with an insight into the unique perspective and importance that the Catholic Church and Christianity hold for the native Indians. For a Guatemalan, Bible is, “not something you memorize,...

The Acceptance of Santeria in Modern Day Society

Freedom of religion and spiritual practices is one of the main issues granted by the Constitution. Santoria is a unique authentic form of religion that causes criticism and controversies because of its cruel practices and animal killing. Thus, the Constitution grants rights and freedoms to all citizens in spite of...

Buddha’s Four Noble Truths

Life is all about suffering Life symbolizes suffering. Human nature is imperfect, just like the world in which we live. Every human being has to endure some sort of suffering in their lives. Suffering includes physical affliction such as pain, exhaustion, injury, old age, and even death in the end....

Wicca Religion: Dimensions Overview

Introduction Religion refers to the belief in a god or gods and worship of such god or gods. There are many aspects of Religion such as beliefs and practices that shape the life experiences of those who practice them. One’s religion is identifiable by the type of prayers conducted by...

“Sharing Jesus Without Fear” by William Fay

Introduction William Fay has done remarkable work as an evangelist, seeking out to reach the masses to invite and arouse their interest in the words of the Gospel. “Share Jesus without Fear” is a very practical book, in which the principles are presented in the manner that it can be...

Comparing Islam, Christianity, and Judaism Religions

Abstract There are well over 19 independent religions in the world. These religions have been further subdivided into 270 groups. They differ mostly in terms of origin, ethical and sacred texts, and in numerical strength (percentage of the believers in the world population and their absolute numbers). According to (David,...

A Marriage Built on Christian Love

Often people do not even know the meaning of the words they tend to use; this fact leads to misunderstanding, ambiguity, or creates a fundament for jokes and mockery. No one likes to be mocked; therefore, people try to avoid unclear or unknown words. Polite people use simple words if...

The Uniqueness of the Eight Fold Step

Buddhism is a religion that is based on the Eastern Philosophical faiths with their origins being traced in South Asia. Buddhism is against the Vedas authority and built independent textual traditions that are based on the teachings of the founders of the religion that later led to the development of...

Native American and African Religions

Religion has existed since antiquity. While different communities practiced different religions, they nonetheless have a common ground when it comes to the unity of the material and spiritual world. According to Toropov and Buckles, within the Native American spirituality, all processes whether human or non human (spiritual), are linked. Native...

Judaism’s Impact on Jewish Art and Early Christianity

The Major Innovations of Judaism and Their Impact on Jewish Art Judaism is the most ancient monotheistic religious observance. It is viewed as a way of life as well as the religion of Jews. In the context of religion, people who are not Jews can convert to Judaism as a...

Augustinian Themes in the Culinary Article

Introduction The article under analysis “Cilantro haters- it’s not your fault” was an examination of why coriander leaves or cilantro elicits very strong negative reactions from some eaters and surprisingly pleasant responses from others but it also demonstrates striking resemblances with “confessions by Augustine.” The paper shall examine common Augustinian...

Buddhism and Christianity: Understanding of Religions

Aisha listens carefully as two of her colleagues continue with the heated debate on whether Christianity is the true religion. In their argument, one believes that Christianity is the only true religion while the other, who is a pagan, prefer believing in Buddhism citing that this is the only religion...

Impacts of Censoring Religious Criticism

Introduction The religious censoring criticism has greatly influenced people’s behaviors. People consistently avoid talking about certain things since their religion views them as obscene and contrary to their teachings. Therefore, different religions have different censorship behaviors since they apply different scriptural teachings. Although the religious censoring intends to control and...

Theology History: Forms of Beliefs

Introduction The human race even from prehistoric times has been fascinated by the spiritual and the mysterious factors that exist in their social and physical environment. Humans began to worship physical forms commonly seen around them in the form of oceans, mountains, the sun and the moon, animals, and even...

Religion and Architecture: Christian Church, Buddhist, Islamic Mosques

Religious architecture is mainly concerned with design and building of houses of reverence or holy deliberate places such as stupas, mosques, churches and temples. Many cultures sacrificed a lot of their resources and effort in establishing places of worship. In fact, these places are among the most remarkable and durable...

The Literary Legacy of Paul of Tarsus

Introduction First, it is important to consider the direction of Paul’s life before the Damascus encounter, before turning to the encounter as supported by his epistles. In many occasions, we see Paul testifying about his conversation. He describes the vision to be a reality in as far as he saw...

The Array of the East Asian Religion Components

Eastern Religion Elements Matrix HINDUISM BUDDHISM CONFUCIANISM TAOISM SHINTO COUNTRIES inDIA, japan, indonesia CHINA, india, japan, korea CHINA,JAPAN, KOREA, TAIWAN china japan HISTORICAL FIGURES and EVENTS no founder, except divinly figures of holy books founder- ashoka, different budhist councils confucius from Zhou dynasty-founder, based on five classics hermit tradition, social...

Elie’s Faith in “Night”

In the novel Night by Elie Wiesel, faith is depicted in a lot of scenes. The Auschwitz environment was not friendly and thus it provoked a lot of religious confusion. At one point, Elie says, “Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever” (Wiesel 17). On arrival...

Paul and Philemon. Conversion of People to Christianity

Introduction During the period when the first church had just been established, Paul, then Saul, was a force to reckon, both before and after his conversion to Christianity. He exhibited strong leadership skills whichever side of the divide he was on. He believed so much in the ideals he followed,...

The Quakers. Their Origin, Ideology, and Meeting Houses

Introduction The Quakers, also known as the Society of Friends, were the participants of the religious movement of the 17th century in England. In the course of its expansion, the movement extended into numerous parts of the world, particularly to Africa and America. With time, the Quakers started constructing separate...

Religious Fundamentalism in Islam and Christianity

The religious fundamentalism is best defined as people’s tendency to idealize their sense of religiosity to such an extent that they begin to pose danger to themselves and to society. Traditionally, such fundamentalism is being closely associated with the Semitic religions of Islam and Christianity, which can be explained by...

Sin and Perfection in Religious Literature

The three stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne namely the Ministers Black Veil, the Birthmark and Rapaccini’s Daughter all have some elements of sin and perfection. Precisely sin is apparent in these works. In the Ministers Black Veil, the message conveyed is that of concealed sin. Here Hooper the town minister is...

World Religions: Islam vs Christianity

Without a doubt, the three major religions on the planet earth are Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam. Available literature shows that these religions have followers in every region and sphere of the earth. Numerical evidence points out that Christianity is the largest religion accounting for an estimated 1.8 billion followers. It...

Christian Philosophy. “The Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas” by Etienne Gilson

“The Christian philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas” by Etienne Gilson, the author devoted the book to the analysis of the teachings of Aquinas presenting the formulation of the Christian philosophy. This paper presents a summary of a chapter titled “The Creator” from the aforementioned book, addressing the analysis of the...

Put Off the Flesh Put On Christ: Colossians 3:5-16

Introduction To correctly understand the meaning of these scriptures it is important to note the context within which Paul wrote the text. This letter was addressed to the church in Colosse which is a town in Asia Minor east of Ephesus. This particular church was under Paul’s jurisdiction even though...

Prophet Moses – Deliverer of Israel

Prophet Moses Moses was reluctant when the Lord called him to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt. God decided to perform miracles to Prophet Moses so that people would believe him (Exodus 4:1-2). God commanded Moses to throw the stick he had in his hand on the ground. He...

Marks of Christian Maturity

Introduction One of the major features of the Christian faith is the teaching that the believer must never stop growing in knowledge, wisdom and character. This development can be summed up in one word – maturity. Therefore the goal of every true believer is to be mature, like Jesus Christ....

Islamic Mosque Customs and Architecture

There were some substantial differences between the holy places of Roman Catholics and the Sunni Islamic Mosque at Florida, the most crucial one being the segregation between males and females for entering the mosque. The Florida mosque is only for male members and females are not allowed to enter the...

Christian Spirituality in History and Today

The question of spirituality and relationship of a man and God should be topical today taking into consideration the present cultural and ethical situation in contemporary society. Nowadays mankind is lead by and inspired by material values, the main characteristic of our life and lifestyle is their being mercenary. The...

A Beginner’s Guide to Preaching by C. F. Guthrie

Summary The book under consideration is called “From Pew to Pulpit: a Beginner’s Guide to Preaching” by Clifton Floyd Guthrie. This work serves to be a practical guide for the preachers that helps to choose the appropriate topic. It also learns how to be a good listener and an excellent...

Evolution vs. Religious Dogma

Introduction The theory of evolution was challenged by religion when first publicly demonstrated by Charles Darwin in the mid-Nineteenth Century. The religiously fervent still rejects the idea of man evolving from ape but over the past 150 years opinions have certainly evolved and most religious persons today accept evolution to...

Communicating with God: Revelation and Christology

The Old Testament promotes revelation as the most important process in religion which helps believers to communicate with God. The attention from the divine to believer through which all of a man is involved is revelation. It is God making Himself known to all people, disclosing Himself so that believers,...

The Role of Medieval Roman Catholicism in Christianity

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

Biblical Prophets of Israel

The Bible is an indivisible entity, a document of spiritual and historical relevance. Depending upon interpretation and usage, it has been and can be an indispensable tool of liberation or a weapon of mass destruction and oppression. It is the infallible word of God as depicted by His inspired prophets...

Religious Pluralism, the Interfaith Movement

Religious pluralism is a loosely defined term that means accepting and understanding the fact that more than one religion exists in the world. Ellis (2009) shows the difference between this term and religious tolerance. Religious tolerance is accepting the fact that each and every person is entitled to his or...

Five Percents of the Muslim Religion

The basic faith of Muslim religion is same, i.e. to believe in one God Allah and His prophets as messengers. Different Muslim sects evolve from followers of different Imams. Though basic teachings of Islam are same but with time different groups and denominations were formed. Theologically they are same but...

Religious Denominations Analysis: Christianity, Catholicism, and Lutheranism

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

Comparing Judaism and Islam

Two major religions in the world captured the imagination of many. It is Judaism and Islam, both springing up from the same region – Palestine. In the Middle East, followers of Judaism and Islam often find themselves in conflict. This is not simply a verbal tussle between two preachers but...

Christianity in South Korea and Japan

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

International Relations: Growing Importance of Secularization

At the beginning of the 21st century, growing religiosity and secularization are the direct causes of political, economic and social crisis affected modern society. Within the context of increasing secularization, religion undergoes two crucial changes. First, its authority is narrowed to an ever-diminishing realm, as social institutions differentiate from religion...

Church History: Egeria and the Crusades

Introduction The starting point of the present research should be the justification of the actuality and necessity of it. It is evident that in the study of historical events the primary role is always played by the study and analysis of the primary sources (documents, letters, etc.) as they the...

What is this Good News?

Faith in God is a power which gives people life and allows them to be busy with their casual life. Faith in God gives power to live. There are a lot people who follow all God’s passages and live godly life. Jesus, God’s son, was transmitted to Earth to tell...

The Difference in the Islamic Terms

Introduction The world of Islam impresses with its historical and mythological background according to the religious approach toward the disciples of Islamic prophet Mohamed and his followers. In this respect the idea about Islam should designated in its unique and rather significant coloring in characters and people who provide the...

How Buddhism do not believe in Gods?

Any metaphysical speculation made so far in the history of the world religions proposes two theologies. First, it forbids to discuss things for which we remain unable to show some reasonable evidence, and secondly it do not allow to discuss things that are of no good use for us. Buddhism...

Argument From Evil Against God

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

Preaching Acceptance of Santeria in Modern Society

Introduction Santeria is regarded as the syncretic religion of the Caribbean origin. Originally, it is formed on the biblical legends and oral legends of the Africans. All the santerians are officially regarded as Catholics, and the participation in Catholic church is the obligatory condition for joining santerian sect. As for...

Bible: The Healing of Bartimaeus

Introduction The Bible is the literary source that may be compared with the treasury of wisdom and experience; it is not a hyperbole when a faithful person says that all the answers to all questions can be found in this holy book. The reflection on the literary merit of the...

Tibetan Buddhism and Zen Buddhism Comparison

Tibetan Buddhism (Dalai Lama) Rituals The Five Tibetan rituals are considered to be life changing which helps the Tibetan’s in the spiritual and religious obligations they desire. It’s also actually great for your body. You search within as you work through the exercises help to strenghthen your social acceptance. The...

A Letter From the Buddha to a Follower

My friend, in experiencing the world, you have no doubt stumbled across the problem of suffering, which is ever-present. All have experienced suffering and have seen its toll on the outside world. What is it that causes suffering and pain? The answer is desire. Desire for material goods, for social...

A Baptist Church Visit in Beverly Hills City

Introduction This report is based on a visit to a Baptist church that I attended. The report focuses on the events that took place in the church during that visit and the observations regarding the nature of the surrounding environment. It explains in details the external features that surround the...

“Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament” by Christopher J.H. Wright

Introduction Dr. Christopher J.H. Wright’s Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament is a complete analysis of the roles of prophets and law had in Jesus’ experiences with self-reflection, and thus enable the reader to gain an enhanced understanding of Jesus Christ. Dr. Wright himself is an esteemed scholar who has...

Jim Jones and Jonestown Cult Massacre

Introduction The tragedy of Jonestown, which took place in 1978 and left more than nine hundred people dead, immediately attracted attention of many sociologists, psychologists, because to a certain degree, this event reflected the tendencies in American mainstream culture (Chidester, p 11). Thus, it is of the crucial importance for...

Confucius. His Unique Contribution to World Religions

Introduction Many individuals who lived on this earth have made contributions to world religions. Long after their deaths some of the teachings they made still influence some world religions. Therefore they left a lasting legacy. This paper shall look at one such personality in history called Confucius. Give his historical...

Eastern Religion Elements Matrix

Elements Hinduism Buddhism Confucianism Taoism Shinto Countries Many people in India, NEPAL, Bangladesh, AND SriLanka belive the ideologies of hinduism. The countries are china, india, japan, korea, taiwan, and thailand. Confucianism is found in china, japan, taiwan and korea. Taois is a life philosophy mainly found in china. Shinto is...

Christian Salvation: Essential Elements

Introduction Salvation is derived from a Greek word sozo or soterion which means deliverance (Arnold para.1). Salvation in the Christian context can be used to mean deliverance to safety, which means individuals believably get their sins forgiven and thus they are rescued from the ultimate penalty for sinning. This essay...

Core Elements of Christian Understanding of Salvation

Every problem in this world is diagnosed depending on its cause. According to Christianity, the main human problem is sin which is known to cause suffering in this life and also in eternal life. Therefore, the only treatment or solution for sin is the salvation which sets someone free from...

Judaism and Christianity Comparison

Introduction There are a lot of religions in modern world and a question which religion was the first, the primary remains the main in modern society. Every religion wants to gain the status of superiority. One of the longest and widest contest continues between Christianity and Judaism. Christian people are...

“The Confusion of Tongues” by William G. Bellshaw: Article Critique

Critique The purpose of this article is to trace whether the gift of tongues is still present today and to understand if the Holy Spirit has really bestowed this gift upon some people nowadays. In order to examine the view of the Bible on this problem, the author presents a...