...THE154-D01 and D04 Faith, Justice, and Catholic Tradition Final Term Paper We learn from the beginning of the Christian faith that we are made in the image and likeness of God. This first moment of creation was God breathing life into the earth and creating life. “Everything that is, the visible and invisible, the known and the unknown, owe their being to God.” (Marthler 67) Nothing exists on this earth without the act of God creating it. He is forever present in everything. At the moment of creation he intervened once. Now we experience his act unfolding. As Edwards says, “all of this is God’s work, brought about by God working in and through the laws of nature over immense lengths of time and with great patience.”(4) Now what does this have to do with abortion? Abortion is a serious political and religious issue. It is the removal of a fetus from a women’s uterus to end a pregnancy. It is the center of much debate primarily between the church and state. Currently the law states that abortion is legal; meaning that women have the right to choose whether or not they would like to continue with their current state of pregnancy or terminate it. The Church however has its own laws and guidelines set, and has a very strong opinion when it comes to the topic of abortion. Separate from the Church there are there are currently three positions that can be taken in the discussion of abortion; Pro-choice, Pro-life: another group of people who believe that there are special circumstances...
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... When it comes to the Protestant faith, it is extremely hard for me to understand their faith and what they believe in. I was born into a Catholic family and was baptized and confirmed, but I am not practicing at all. I actually did not even believe in the Catholic faith when I was confirmed, which I know was bad at the time but I continued with the sacrament for my family. Although I do not practice any faith, I associate myself with the Catholic Church because I believe it is easier that way and it keeps my family happy. What is really weird is that when I learn about other faiths that do not have the same thoughts or beliefs as the Catholic faith, I become very angry at that faith. I do not understand why I become angry at other religions besides Catholicism when I do not even believe in the Catholic faith. My boyfriend’s family is Lutheran and they are extremely religious. We sometimes have talks about our different faith backgrounds but when we do talk about it, I immediately put up a wall and do not even care what they say. There are a ton of things about the Lutheran faith that I do not like believe in or like. The first, and most important, problem I have with the Lutheran faith is that they believe in scripture alone. I strongly believe that traditions are necessary for any religion because I believe they lay the foundation for a religion. Without tradition, nothing would be passed down from generations that symbolize that faith. I believe that the Bible is written...
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...Orthodoxy, one of the three main aspects of Christianity, the Roman Catholic Church follows its past to Jesus Christ and his Apostles. In excess of centuries, Catholicism has built up an extremely refined theology and an intricate clerical composition regulated by the papacy, which is the oldest enduring definitive dominion in the world. In retrospect, the explanation of Roman Catholicism is directly linked as a relation of Christianity. In its individual analysis of history, Roman Catholicism was created in the actual rise of Christianity (Fairchild, 2011). An indispensable element of the characterization of any of the other domains of the Christian countries and groups in addition to its association to Roman Catholicism, how did Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy happen to divide? Was the split among Rome and the Church of England predestined? On the contrary, these questions could be vital to the explanation of Roman Catholicism itself. Such a description that remains rigorously to the authoritative Roman Catholic examination a general consensus in which the Roman Catholic Church has preserved a steady continuity from the time of the Apostles, all the while other religious groups, from the earliest Coptic to the modern church are a divergence from it. Now, the belief of faith that is shared by Christian churches is embedded in the New Testament (History.com, 2011). However, the New Testament perception of faith is not effortless. As a matter of fact it occupies an extensive...
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...D: Introduction As a teacher living in a highly religious state, it is important for me to know more about the main religions in Utah. The two most prevalent, being the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and the Catholic faith. I would like to know more about their beliefs, holidays, and family traditions. Some of the main beliefs in the LDS culture are Jesus is the Savior of all man, The Word of Wisdom, and the church was restored by their Prophet Joseph Smith. Some of the main beliefs for the Catholic faith are the Bible, the different Saints, and baptism. There are many holidays that are celebrated by both religions. Both Catholics and LDS members celebrate Christmas and Easter. The LDS faith in Utah has a special state holiday that is called pioneer day. The Catholic faith celebrates a holiday called All Saints Day. The third theme that I am going to look at in each faith is family traditions. Both cultures have a lot of respect for family traditions and rituals. In the LDS faith some of the main ideas are Family Home Evening, Genealogy, and keeping the Sabbath Day holy. In the Catholic faith, some of the favorites are Lent, 1st communion and Prayer or grace. I will take a more in depth look at all of these areas throughout my paper. E. Results First, I would like to take a look at the beliefs of the LDS Church starting with Jesus as their Savior. The LDS people believe that Jesus was sent to earth to be a Savior of all souls (Smith & Pratt, 1986). He was born...
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...Specific (Catholic) Literary Principles for Interpreting the Bible What is the literal sense? Speaking of the “literal” sense or meaning of the Bible from a Catholic perspective can be very confusing because the Catholic Church does not mean by the term literal what is often meant by the word “literal” in popular American culture and vernacular. “Literal” as used by modern twenty-first century Americans assumes that the words of text describe something that factually happened. This restrictive meaning of “literal” is not what the Catholic Church means by the literal sense, literal level, or the literal meaning of the Bible. Rather, this modern contemporary American understanding of “literal” is closer to what is called literalism, which means, “fidelity to observable fact.”[1] The literal sense of some Biblical texts may require “fidelity to observable fact” but this is not always the case. Thus, in Catholic teaching, the “literal sense” is not synonymous with literalism. What the Catholic Church means by the literal sense is that the “literal sense is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation” (CCC[2]116).[3] It is called “literal” because the English word literal is derived from the Latin word “littera,” which is the Latin word for “letter.” So the literal sense, according to Catholic teaching, is not a literalist reading of the text based upon literalism but is the “meaning conveyed by the...
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...The ritual of marriage is significant in Hinduism and Christianity (Catholic). Hinduism is based on achieving liberation from rebirth as an ongoing struggle by fulfilling one's dharma according to the class in the caste system which one belongs to. In contrast, Christianity (Catholic) is based on the interpretation of the Word of God in the form of tradition. Through shared elements in weddings such as the importance of marriage, the involvement of the witness, the significance of the groom clasping the bride's hand, the exchange of vows and the underlying meaning of the symbol of marriage, one can argue that the theology of Hinduism and Catholicism are revealed. In the Hindu and Catholic traditions there are different perspectives concerning the importance of marriage. Hindu marriages are greatly rooted in the nature of man. Vasudha Narayanan states, "A man has an obligation in life to marry, raise children, and fulfill his debts to his community" (90). Thus, marriage becomes a responsibility, as producing sons in order to preserve the family line and culture, is highly regarded in Hinduism. In order for a male to fulfill his dharma and escape suffering from rebirth, he should attain the three major religious paths which are karma-marga, jnana-marga, and bhakti-marga (Bhogal: Hinduism II). Through performing rituals, priestly teachings, gaining knowledge from the Upanishads and expressing devotion to a god, the aim is moksha, liberation from suffering. Through marriage a man...
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...The Great Schism of 1054 is the split between the Orthodox and Catholic Church. The Orthodox Church originates from Constantinople after the fall of the Roman Empire. Their church believes that authoritative power should not be assigned to one person like the Catholic Church does with the pope. Due to this contrasting belief, they created a Council of Bishops to create a balance of power between people. Their holy works are based mostly around the Holy Spirit, while Catholics have the bible as their main holy work. Orthodoxs believe and teach that the reason they have kept traditions is due to the Holy Spirit. Also, without the Holy Spirit they would not know which works are truly apostolic and which can be used in their worship. They also...
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...contrast the difference between the two different Christian faiths, Roman Catholicism and Episcopalian. Although both churches are practicing the Christian faith they have different origins, development of denomination, primary teachings, doctrines, worship, spirituality, and moral precepts. When researching how the Roman Catholics and Episcopalians are distinctly different I can across the quote “All the ceremony and half the guilt”( ), meaning the Roman Catholic Church have a very distinct chain of command including the Pope and bishops, while on the other hand Episcopalians do not have figure head who represents the church as a whole. The difference between the Roman Catholics and Episcopalians traditions and practices seems to stem from the desire to have the freedom to choose ones own governmental and religious leadership. Since Episcopalian Church began the has always been a connection to the Roman Catholic Church as stated, “During the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The Episcopal Church organized itself independently from the Church of England around the time of the American Revolutionary War, and chose a form of government similar to that of the new nation. ” () The entire reason the Episcopalian Church was formed was to decide who its own political and spiritual leaders would be, completely separate from The Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. The differences between the Roman Catholic and Episcopalians development of denomination are can...
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...of education in the topic or the various religions. I grew up being Catholic. My parents, grandparents, and family members are Catholics. I on the other hand never really understood much of what was being said in mass. Prayer was more of memorization not understanding, same with the church choir I knew some songs because I had memorized the songs, not understood the meaning of the lyrics or exactly who the Catholics were parsing. There was a few things I would not understand or agree with, I never understood the concept of praying to statues or best known as saints. I felt that if Jesus Christ or God was so powerful and what not we should have only been praying to him as well as devoting our faith to him. I never exactly questioned my parents because I did not want to upset them. Traditions in the Catholic religion or ceremonies perhaps are baptisms, first communion, some form of presentation when the child turns three years of age, confessions, weddings, and mass services for the deceased that I know of, I am sure there are more traditions I am unaware of or have probably forgot with time. Every Sunday during mass services Catholics receive what is called the blood and or flesh of Christ through a piece of bread, in Spanish the piece of bread is called ostia and wine. I believe you need to be free of sin to receive the blood and flesh of Christ. When a young woman turns 15 years of age, Catholics have a huge celebration basically introducing the child to society as...
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...Contrast Between Catholic and Baptist Religion - Ask most people today if they have heard of Baptist and Catholic religion and most would say yes. In many ways the two are very similar. For instance, both are based on the Christian faith, belief in the trinity, and that God is the one true God. The two religions agree that Jesus died on the cross and rose again to atone for our sins. They share a 27 book New Testament and insist that salvation comes from Christ alone. On the other hand, while the Baptist and Catholic religions do have similarities, they also have differences, such as their services, communion, and views regarding salvation. The Catholic Religion - The world has more than one billion Catholics and with the ever growing population, it will only get larger in number. To be a Catholic means to have complete faith in God and his divine grace. Having God's divine grace means to obey it and keep it holy as it was created by God and given to his people. The religion itself is based on this and the people take it very seriously. Catholics believe that all people are of good nature but when one commits a sin it not only hurts that one person but the people and the Church.... [tags: Catholicism, What Catholics Believe, informative] 1922 words (5.5 pages) $14.95 [preview] Catholic religion - CATHOLIC RELIGION To belong to the church one must accept as factually true the gospel of Jesus as handed down in tradition and as interpreted by the bishops in union with the pope...
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...World Religious Traditions II REL /134 January 24, 2011 Contemporary Issues in Western Religions This paper will describe the historical connections and theological similarities with Pentecostal versus Roman Catholicism including what ways the two religions are the same, how the two religions differ from its ‘parent’ faith, describe the leadership structure, discuss its identity (practices, clothing, dietary, etc.), how the members view themselves, how outsiders view the group, and identify any contemporary struggles within the Pentecostal religion. The historical connections and theological similarities of Pentecostal and Roman Catholicism have ancient roots. Although the Pentecostal movement emphasizes the fullest extent of emotional Christian worship, Roman Catholicism emphasizes traditional teachings and practices (Molloy, 2010). Other similarities include the belief in the Holy Trinity, the authority of the Holy Bible, the Importance of good works, the value of tradition, guided interpretation of the Bible, Hierarchical authority, and sacraments (Molloy, 2010). Other examples of the similarities between Roman Catholicism and Pentecostal are that Jesus is the only begotten son of God and died for the sins of the entire world; the Trinity consists of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; by faith in Jesus Christ, believers are given eternal life. The Pentecostal movement believes “five cardinal doctrines: justification by faith, entire sanctification...
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...impacts have shaped doctrines and structures present today in the religion. His interpretation of the bible resulted in controversial insights which challenged roman catholic traditions and the papal power which influenced europe in the middle ages. he initiated the protestant reformation which was hugely significant in the history of christianity. deep study of the scriptures gave way to many revelations for Luther. He believed and preached that salvation and subsequently eternity in heaven could not be simply earned through the doing of good deeds, but can only be received as a free gift of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ as a redeemer from sin and subsequently eternity in Hell. At the time, the roman catholic church was selling 'indulgences' which were then believed to ensure acceptance to heaven and release from purgatory for those who bought them, regardless of sin, thus allowing people to think they could buy their way into heaven. The money was then used to construct cathedrals and monuments. Luther challenged the church on the corrupt nature of these promises they made to the public and endeavoured to expose the truths of the bible. As many germans were unable to read and understand the bible, they relied heavily on the word of the pope and the church, however Luther preached that ones faith and belief in Jesus Christ and God alone would result in forgiveness of sin, causing great chaos amongst the church and additionally, a large number of followers. ...
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...First, let me begin with a disclaimer. I am not anti-denomination or, for that matter, anti-church. I love the rich frameworks and traditions of faith that have been passed down to us through the ages, and the way that new denominations are continually popping up all over the world, seeking greater understandings of God and exploring fresh avenues for worship and connection with him and with each other. There is something of a unity in the body of Christ, despite the differences that define the particular denomination or tradition to which we personally subscribe. Whether we are Catholic, Pentecostal, or Methodist, Jesus binds us together as brothers and sisters in faith. There is a lot we can learn from each other as we share our differing...
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...that I would be interested in learning about religions other than my own. Throughout my life I was raised to follow the Christian faith. Everything that pertained to my life revolved around my faith. Although I do not regret being born and raised in a Christian home, some occasions have risen where I felt a sense of being “forced” into the religion. This caused myself to ultimately grow a disconnection from my faith. Coming to Seattle University with a sense of disconnection from my religion in actuality provided me the motivation and inspiration to possibly learn about different religions in order to compare and contrast their views from my personal ones, which...
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...Religious Traditions Rebecca Scales World Religions II Marilyn Flege May 9, 2013 Religion is the foundation of morality. Without religion, we would be living in a lawless society with no consequences. Organized religion has helped shape the society we live in today. Religion gives people something to believe in. The definition of religion is re·li·gion [ri-lij-uhn] noun 1.a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. 2. A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion. 3. The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions. 4. The life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion. 5. The practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith. Religion is practicing your own set of beliefs and traditions. Having a belief in something gives people hope and faith that there will be better days in the future; that everything happens for a reason. Religion is something that you may very much practice, and it may be something that one doesn't even care for. Every religion has their own set of traditions that they practice. When it comes to Christianity, traditions that they...
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