...Contemporary Issues in Western Religions University of Phoenix 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...
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... BIBLIOGRAPHY-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Introduction It has often been stated and thought that Martin Luther was the founder and originator of the Protestant Reformation. Was Martin Luther the founder of the Protestant Reformation? The historical record reveals that although Martin Luther played a very significant role in the formation of the Protestant Reformation; and contributed greatly to its cause and purpose, reformation against unbiblical doctrine was set into motion long before the appearance of the Roman Catholic Church or Martin Luther. All true Bible believing Christians before and after Martin Luther called for reformation back to the...
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...represents my own work and has not been taken from the work of others save where appropriately referenced in the body of the assignment. Signed Date: This essay explores the extent to which new religious diversity in Ireland challenges traditional definitions of Irish national identity. National identity can be defined as the cultural outcome of a discourse of the nation. This concept of national identity exists for a number of reasons. It gives us a sense of collective belonging, it decides who should be allowed become a full citizen of the nation, and it influences the goals of a nation that are thought to be in the collective social interest (O’Mahony et al, 2001). Irish national identity used to depend on Catholicism. Although predominantly Roman Catholic, Ireland today is a multi-cultural society where all religions are embraced and respected as playing vital roles in the societal make-up of the country (educationireland.ie). The first impression when religious beliefs and practice in Ireland are compared with those in Europe as a whole is that Ireland remains an outstandingly Catholic country (Fogarty et al, 1984). While it is true that the vast majority...
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...vulnerability to European conventions, including Roman Catholic traditions, characterized and differentiated Voodoo convictions and ceremonies. Art inspired by Voodoo gives new understanding on the magnificence and secrecy of Afro-Caribbean religion and society. Externally comprehended by westerners since the eighteenth century, voodoo has been reviled as disturbing, archaic, depraved and misguided through endless correspondence. Vodun, despite its initial elaboration in Haiti, is one of the notable accomplishments of individuals of African heritage in the western half of the world: an energetic, refined amalgamation of the customary religions of Dahomey, Yorubaland, and Kongo with an implication of Roman Catholicism. Furthermore, Vodun has propelled an astounding custom of spiritual...
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...Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) Born into an artistic family – her brother was D. G. Rossetti – Christina Rossetti started writing while still in her teens. An unofficial member of the Pre-Raphaelites, Christina published seven of her poems in The Germ. She also was briefly engaged to marry John Collinson (1825-1881), a Pre-Raphaelite, until he returned to Roman Catholicism. A strong evangelical, Rossetti wrote religious lyrical poetry and prose works, including Seek and Find (1879), Called To Be Saints (1881), and The Face of the Deep (1892). Her most famous work, Goblin Market, is rich with religious imagery channeling both spiritual and (uncannily) physical temptation, passion, and redemption. Its erotic undertones are softened and made acceptable...
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...In 1517 in the Holy Roman Empire, John Calvin posted his 95 Thesis that criticized and clarified the corruption present in the Papacy and Catholic Church. on the door of a church. Calvin’s brazen attempt to reform the church led to the formation of the Protestant faith, a faith still Christian, but reformed from previous Catholic issues and institutionalized with new ideas and values. This contemporary religion soon became widespread through Western Europe and caused tension between the Protestants and Catholics. Also, the reign of absolute monarchs came into view with many all-powerful kings and tsars completely controlling their country's actions and laws. Rulers became contentious with their people as documents, such as the Peace of Augsburg...
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...the Just War Theory is a military ethics doctrine derived from Episcopal philosophy of the Roman Catholic Church. As studied today, the Just War Theory is considered hugely informed by the Christian understanding of the justifications of wars of invasion. In ethicist literature as in moral theology and policy making, the Just War Theory is associated with the belief that conflicts can be justified under certain philosophical, political and religious criteria. This paradigm dates back to the times of Marcus Tullius Cicero, a Roman statesman, philosopher, lawyer, theorist and constitutionalist. The connection of the theory to medieval Christian theory and particularly, contemporary Catholicism is in the works of Thomas Aquinas and Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis (Gutman & Rieff, 2000). The former, also called Thomas of Aquin was an Italian Dominican priest, a theologian and a philosopher. The latter, also called St. Augustine, Blessed Augustine or Augustine of Hippo, was a onetime Bishop of Hippo Regius, a philosopher and theologian. This paper describes the tenets of the just war theory derived from the works of these philosophers and the utility of the theory within contemporary warfare. Specific focus is on the justification of the US invasion of Iraq and the consequences thereof. In the works of these three philosophers, the Just War Theory took a Christian connotation of the Roman Empire’s view of warfare. The Christian understanding of provocation to war and the ethics of...
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...Barcelona and both Andrea and Laforet moved away as children and returned during the early 1940's in their late teens to study at the University of Barcelona. From this, Laforet experienced the struggles of post-war Spanish society first hand and evidence of this pervades the novel, drawing a picture of the times, which are not only represented in the city, but almost metaphorically in the household in which the majority of the play is set. The household and its inhabitants in “Nada” truly represent many real life elements of postwar Spain, the tension in the household can be interpreted as the atmosphere all over the country at the time. The dullness and angst of life, with the haven of Iturdiaga's paradise, along with the disillusion of Román and Juan as artists shows the effects of censorship. Other...
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...Catholicism and Hinduism: Stands on Gender, Sexuality and Violence 1. Introduction This essay aims to compare and contrast specific aspects of Catholicism and Hinduism, more specifically their stands on gender, sexuality and violence. Catholicism and Hinduism are two of the world’s greatest religions; the former originated in the west and spread across the world whereas the latter is followed primarily in the Indian subcontinent and to some extent in the Southeast Asian states. Catholicism and Hinduism are essentially different in their approach towards god and religion; Catholicism believing that there is one deity, and Hinduism on the contrary recognizes the existence of many. Two essential points of Christianity, particularly sin and salvation, aren’t present in Hinduism. The two religions nevertheless have several points of similarity. Hindus worship a number of gods and Catholics worship several saints; both of them make use of the burning of candles and incense before the statues for purposes of worship. Both religions make use of images, icons, music and rituals. Catholics chant prayers, whilst Hindus chant mantras; both of them have tremendously wealthy temples, full of statues and golden artefacts and make use of priesthoods that intermediate between humans and gods. Such similarities and dissimilarities notwithstanding, these two religions have distinct and deeply entrenched religious ethos and epistemologies that govern their practice and the attitudes, approaches...
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...Three strengths of contemporary Catholicism: review and reflection The University of the Incarnate Word April 11, 2014 Three strengths of contemporary Catholicism: review and reflection The Catholic religion, like with others, faces criticism and negative news to combat. As with many concepts, ideologies and theories, these often get the lashings first, before any good ideas are mentioned. The article written by Nussbaum reviews three strengths which the Catholic church has. These strengths are, more on levels of today’s world, which is a plus. Today's world seems to be changing more than ever before. Most of it falls within human rights, politics, and moral and ethic behavior, but the Church remains constant in their faith. The items discussed in the article have less to do with faith, and more to do with community. The first strength according to Nussbaum is their “openness to other religions”. The Catholic church does not criticize others for their views or beliefs. There are no notions of hatred or disrespect. The Catholic church, rather, is not there to convert others, but is now a presence to work with other religions. The second strength is the church's new openness to scientific research. Rather than dismissing ideas and science on our creation and evolution, the Catholic church has come to accept this. Items the church accepts according to Nussbaum are things like evolution, the creation of the universe and people, and new discoveries about...
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...member of the audience, from Massachusetts to Moscow. A synthesis of artful diction and promoting patriotism, John F Kennedy's speech conveys a sense of faith to the audience while subtly promoting the president in a new light that is relatable to all Americans. Listening to the speech, one may feel in awe of the powerful words Kennedy calmly utters. Upon further inspection of the speech, each word is utilized not only to persuasively describe America, but to describe himself. John F Kennedy uses words that are related to "new" and "young", a parallel to his own identity. As he declares to a "new generation of Americans" that this is a "beginning", "renewal", and "change", he excites the audience by sharing his contemporary hopes to correspond his contemporary self. Indeed, the young new president represented change and was willing to share this with America. John F Kennedy knew his viewers. In his inaugural address, Kennedy was conscious of the broad and diverse public listening to him speak. In order to be accepted by the masses, he focused in on the varying groups in different sections of his speech. He complimented and skillfully appealed to each and every listener. By speaking "to those old allies", "to those new states", "to those people in huts and villages", "to our sister republics", and "to those nations who would make themselves our adversary", he acknowledges every audience members importance, as well as establishing a relationship with them. He engaged the...
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...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. The most important thing in this divine tradition is the Bible, its text determined and disseminated by the church. The church, according to the Roman Catholic catechism, is the only Christian body that is “one, holy, catholic (universal)”. The doctrine of apostolic succession is one of the key parts of the Catholic faith.... [tags: essays research papers] 748 words (2.1 pages) $14.95...
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...The Catholic Church and Protestants have not had the greatest of relationships. In fact since the reformation, Protestants were not even considered brothers within the realm of the Catholic Church. Within the pages of Vatican II one can find a decree to not refer to them as brothers. However something new has occurred and this is what this paper will aim to delve into. While not attempting to be an exhaustive work regarding the meeting of the minds. It would seem that Baptist and Catholics have started talks across denominational lines. This paper will focus on why this meeting took place and what can other denominations gleam from these talks. CATHOLIC CHURCH “Over the past three decades a true revolution has occurred in the Catholicism in respect to the authority and use of scripture.” According to Donahue the Bible was believed to have held an extremely high position within the Catholic Church, he believes that the period between the Council of Trent leading up to the Vatican II represented a deviation from that school of thought. To be a candidate for the Priest hood one...
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...Christianity Christianity (from the Ancient Greek word Χριστός, Christos, a translation of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ, Māšîăḥ, meaning "the anointed one",together with the Latin suffixes -ian and -itas) is an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and oral teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. Christianity is the world's largest religion, with approximately 2.2 billion adherents, known as Christians. Most Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human, and the saviour of humanity whose coming was prophesied in the Old Testament. Consequently, Christians refer to Jesus as Christ or the Messiah. The foundations of Christian theology are expressed in ecumenical creeds. These professions of faith state that Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and was resurrected from the dead in order to grant eternal life to those who believe in him and trust in him for the remission of their sins. The creeds further maintain that Jesus bodily ascended into heaven, where he reigns with God the Father. Most Christian denominations teach that Jesus will return to judge everybody, living and dead, and to grant eternal life to his followers. He is considered the model of a virtuous life. His ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection are often referred to as "the gospel", meaning "good news" (a loan translation of the Greek: εὐαγγέλιον euangélion). The term gospel also refers to written accounts of Jesus's life and teaching, four of which...
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...Composers of texts often seek to present their opinions in such a way that influences the responder to agree or empathise with the composer. In both Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth, the composers’ perspectives on these historical figures and events are portrayed in unique ways which contradict and are contradicted by perspectives from other sources. Reasons for these differences can include the form of text and context of the composer, both of which affect not only the composer’s perspective, but the way in which they present it. Both Julius Caesar and Elizabeth are forms of text which serve primarily to entertain the audience. Even supposedly ‘historical’ plays and films do not have to adhere strictly to the ‘facts’ of history, but often stray from such accuracy in order to enhance entertainment value. For this reason, the viewpoint they may present on historical events or personalities can often conflict with accounts from other, more strictly historical, sources. For example, Julius Caesar was largely based off and echoes Plutarch’s Life of Caesar, and yet the two differ notably in many respects, such as the depiction of the funeral oratories given by Brutus and Antony. In Plutarch’s history, events are recounted very drily and matter-of-fact: “Brutus… came down from the capitol, and spoke to the people.” There is no direct quotation, details of the speech, or emotive language. Shakespeare on the other hand has both men give a detailed and well-crafted...
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