...Religion Research MSB Religion Research Islam is one of the world’s largest religions with estimates of around 1.6 billion practitioners worldwide. (The Future of the Global Muslim Population, 2011, para. 1) The Islam religion is a monotheistic religion that actually shares some of the same beliefs and even texts as Christianity and Judaism. Even though Islam is considered by many to be the religion of terrorists the actual religious texts preach kindness and compassion to all creatures of the earth. The main tenants of the religion are the five pillars of Islam which include, (1) Testimony of faith; saying with conviction “there is no true god but Allah and Mohammed is his messenger”. (2) Prayer; all Muslims are required to pray toward Mecca five times a day. (3) Giving to the needy. (4) Fasting; Muslims are required to fast during the holy month of Ramadan from sunrise till sunset unless medically unable or traveling soldiers engaged in war are also exempt. (5) Pilgrimage; any Muslim who is physically and financially is obligated to make the pilgrimage or Hajj to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. (A Brief Guide to Understanding Islam website, n.d., Chapter 3) The biggest belief of the Muslim religion is that there is only one God, this is the one major point of contention that it has with Christianity. Muslims acknowledge Jesus as being a great profit and even acknowledge his birth to the Virgin Mary but deny that he is the son of God because if this were true...
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...Among the five great religions to which nearly nine-tenths of present-day humanity belong, Buddhism and Christianity have been the most frequent subjects of comparison. And rightly so. Because, together with Islam, and unlike Hinduism and Chinese universism, they are “world religions,” that is to say, forms of belief that have found followers not merely in a single though vast country, but also in wide regions of the world. Buddhism and Christianity, however, differ from Islam in so far as, unlike the latter, they do not stress the natural aspects of world and man, but they wish to lead beyond them. A comparison between Buddhism and Christianity, however, proves so fruitful mainly because they represent, in the purest form, two great distinctive types of religion which arose East and West of the Indus valley. For two millennia, these religious systems have given the clearest expression of the metaphysical ideas prevalent in the Far East and in the Occident, respectively. The similarities between these two religions extend, if I see it rightly, essentially over three spheres: (1) the life history of the founder; (2) ethics; and (3) church history. 1. The biographies of Buddha and Christ show many similar features. Both were born in a miraculous way. Soon after their birth, their future greatness is proclaimed by a sage (Asita, Simeon). Both astonish their teachers through the knowledge they possess, though still in their early childhood. Both are...
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...Both Christianity and Judaism are religions that have some relationship between them as much as they also have differences. Their origins, beliefs, the way they worship and their religious authorities play a major roll in the similarities and differences. It goes without saying that these two religions do have a lot in common, which is primarily due to the fact that Judaism was the forefather of Christianity as well as of Islam. The main base is the same for both religions – the Old Testament. Judaism traces its origins from the times of Abraham when God made a covenant with him and promised him to make his lineage a sacred people and give them a holy land. From Abraham, the children of Israel were born; the other patriarchs of Israel being Isaac and Jacob. They...
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...Zoroastrianism and Its Influences on the World With a membership of about 200,000, the importance of Zoroastrianism is far greater than its numbers suggest. Closely related to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, its concepts of Satan, angelology, demonology, a deliverer, future life, paradise and judgment in these religions may have been directly or indirectly derived from Zoroastrianism. Founded by the Iranian prophet and reformer Zoroaster in the 6th century BC, Zoroastrianism contains both monotheistic and dualistic features. Its concepts of one God, judgment, heaven and hell likely influenced the major Western religions. History of Zoroastrianism The origins of the Zoroastrian religion are shrouded in mystery. The prophet Zarathustra, later referred to by the Greeks as Zoroaster, founded Zoroastrianism roughly between the 16th and 10th centuries BCE. Zoroaster's birth date is also uncertain and modern scholarship currently suggests he lived in northern or eastern Iran or nearby such as in Afghanistan or southern Russia. In Zoroaster’s thirties he had a revelation in which he saw an angel who told him that there is only one true god and that God’s name was Aura Mazda (Clark, 1998). It is certain that by the year 549 B.C.E., Zoroastrianism had become a major world religion. It was Cyrus the Great, first ruler of the Persian Empire, who ordained Zoroastrianism as the official religion of his state. It was this same Cyrus that liberated the Jews from the occupation they...
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...Malaysia, with Malay art dating back to the Malay sultanates. Traditional art was centred around fields such as carving, silversmithing, and weaving. Islamic taboos restricted artwork depicting humans until the mid-20th century. Performing arts and shadow puppet shows are popular, and often show Indian influences. Various influences can be seen in architecture, from individual cultures in Malaysia and from other countries. Large modern structures have been built, including the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers. Malaysian music has a variety of origins, and is largely based around percussion instruments. Much early Malaysian literature was based on Indian epics, which remained unchanged even as Malays converted to Islam; this has expanded in recent decades. English literature remained restricted to the higher class until the arrival of the printing press. Locally created Chinese and Indian literature appeared in the 19th century. Cuisine is often divided along ethnic lines, but some dishes exist which have mixed foods from different ethnicities. Each major religious group has its major holy days declared as official holidays. Official holidays differ by...
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...Capital Punishment As can be seen on a map produced by “The Economist” in March 2012, there are only a few number of countries in the world which sentence criminals to death, and even fewer which actually execute those criminals. But, also looking at this map, one can see that the distribution of these practices is mostly regional. Along with the regional distribution, how does religion play into the disparity between those countries who kill their felons, and those which do not? (Most information in this discussion, and all quotes within, are from each reference on the particular religion listed on the last page.) [pic] Islam The Muslim religion supports capital punishment. But, in the Qur’an, there are only two particular cases where the death penalty is supported: intentional murder, and spreading mischief in the land. The Islamic religion holds harsh punishment as a deterrent for serious crimes. This is the way that this particular religion balances the sacristy of life and punishment of crimes. Also, there is no support for vigilantes, and the court is the only approved way of meting out the punishment. Only courts of law are supposed to carry out this charge, as the “spirit of the Islamic penal code is to save lives, promote justice, and prevent corruption and tyranny.” One could infer from this that Muslims look down on those who take the law into their own hands. In the case of intentional murder, the family of the victim has the option to forgive...
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...Assess the impact of cotemporary ideas of the present state of religion in the world. Clearly, the diversity of religions in the world has been a fact throughout the entire history of all the world's major living religious traditions. Nevertheless, this diversity has been made the basis for contention rather than community in many cases, and the monotheistic religions have often been among the worst offenders on this score. The strong tendency to display hostility toward different religious positions is connected with a strong tendency toward xenophobia and ethnocentrism. The study of religion in the modern world calls for theories, approaches and methods that engage with the issues and processes that have affected the world within the last two hundred years, such as the impact of colonialism and subsequent postcolonial developments, globalization and the rise of global religious movements. For a start, it is worth asking if secular states and their underlying ideology, political secularism, are really under siege everywhere. Secularism was severely jolted with the establishment of the first modern theocracy in 1979 in Iran. By the late 1980s, Islamic political movements had emerged in Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad, Senegal, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and even in Bangladesh. Movements challenging secular states were hardly restricted to Muslim societies. Protestant movements decrying secularism emerged in Kenya, Guatemala, and the Philippines...
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...and respect in front of the world, and for that he wanted to create more living space for Germans and thus he conquered the surrounding German speaking areas and created hatred among the leaders of those countries. This is the only way to co-exist peacefully in today’s world. This is important because it is seen in the past that attempts to bring democracy and socialism in the Arab world have failed so badly that it has made the people of the Arab world to denounce these ideas altogether. This attack is important not only because of how widespread it was; but it is also important because of the way it changed the course of the West towards Islam. With that, the West needs to incentivize the Muslim world to adopt democracy and liberalism so that they see the benefits of these systems themselves. ISLAM AND THE WEST – AN INTRODUCTION Islam and the West are different entities in many ways, but because of the globalization in the world; we see that there is an increasing interaction between these two entities, which becomes a reason for conflict in many situations. Modernization, liberalism and globalization are appreciated. This does not mean acquiring Western culture, music, language; but it modernization requires learning modern ways of doing things, progressing in secular education, bringing new technology, supporting globalization, democracy and liberalism. Strategic Book Publishing, 2011.Since Israelis were living...
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...A. THE QUR'AN 1. First, a little background on the Qur'an. Last time you'll recall we discussed the emergence of the Qur'an and the belief that it is a divine revelation from Allah. According to Islamic tradition, in the year 610 A.D. Muhammad received his first revelation from the angel Gabriel during the ninth month of Ramadan, outside the city of Mecca. I mentioned how,over a period of time from 610 when he received his first revelation to his death in 632, Muhammad had a number of revelations which today compose the 114 chapters or Surahs known as the Qur'an. 2. Now the Qur'an, just to kind of orient you to the Qur'an, is organized in a way that may be somewhat familiar to you in that it is somewhat similar to what we find at least in the epistles of Paul in the New Testament. The chapters of the Qur'an are not arranged according to chronology, but according to size, just the way the Pauline epistles are arranged according to their length, from the largest, the longest - Romans, down to the shortest. In the same way, you have the Qur'an organized according to the longest Surahs to the shortest Surahs without any particular reference to the timeframe in which they're given. 3. This sometimes can create some difficulty or dissonance when reading the Qur'an because the Qur'an also adopts what is known as "abrogation." Abrogation means that an earlier revelation can be abrogated, or overturned, by a later revelation, and so sometimes the abrogation occurs prior to when you...
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...UNRISD U NITED N ATIONS R ESEARCH I NSTITUTE FOR S OCIAL D EVELOPMENT Religion, Fundamentalism and Ethnicity A Global Perspective Jeff Haynes UNRISD Discussion Paper 65 May 1995 UNRISD Discussion Papers are preliminary documents circulated in a limited number of copies to stimulate discussion and critical comment. The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) is an autonomous agency engaging in multidisciplinary research on the social dimensions of contemporary problems affecting development. Its work is guided by the conviction that, for effective development policies to be formulated, an understanding of the social and political context is crucial. The Institute attempts to provide governments, development agencies, grassroots organizations and scholars with a better understanding of how development policies and processes of economic, social and environmental change affect different social groups. Working through an extensive network of national research centres, UNRISD aims to promote original research and strengthen research capacity in developing countries. Current research themes include: Crisis, Adjustment and Social Change; Socio-Economic and Political Consequences of the International Trade in Illicit Drugs; Environment, Sustainable Development and Social Change; Integrating Gender into Development Policy; Participation and Changes in Property Relations in Communist and Post-Communist Societies; and Political Violence and Social...
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...couples the right to a loving marriage. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. However, it seems congress has made a law respecting an established religion, and that law is affecting the rights of millions of American Citizens. The law in question is the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA is unconstitutional as the law has clearly been written with respect to the belief systems of an established religion. As Americans it is our responsibility to make sure that this law is changed to meet the confines of the United States Constitution, and to bring equality to all. The Defense of marriage act of 1996 (DOMA). DOMA is one of the key points of contention in the debate on Gay Marriage. So what exactly is DOMA? Well in simple terms, The Defense of Marriage bill was passed in 1996 while Bill Clinton was still the President of the United States. The bill defines marriage as between one man and one woman only. The bill also allows individual states the rights to set their own definition of...
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...4 March: City of God – Utopian Reader – include a little bit on it – 22 volumes in all. Christianity – Augustine – classicly trained greek scholar. City in north Africa. Story like apostle Paul – orginially a person who persecuted Christians – north African wealth family from – found enlightenment in Christianity. Once he joined became one of the early scholars trained in greek – regulized Christian theology. Influence on western world – top four or five who influenced. Confessions and City of God his writings…look up! What’s the purpose of improving human society – complex – why do it? Can human society be made better? Why bother, what is the point, justification? Takes effort, misery involved, change, unknowns, takes energy, takes risks. HAPPINESS – justification for improving society. What do you have to have to be happy? What is happiness – PHI 101 – happiness according to whom? Lack of misery; literally the elimination of misery. Secondly, food – gives pleasure – Happiness is lack of human misery and maximizing /pleasure and happiness. Bliss 24/7 – hedonism Epicureanism – eliminating misery and maximizing happiness. The justification of utopianism = why did plato want the republic? Justisifcation for improving human society among the Greeks? Poor always poor, always unhappy, death claims everyone - it is rational to maximize pleasure and eliminate misery. Do eternally accouding to plato. Opinions – 1. Relativism is a retreat in the 20th century. Can’t...
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...Philosophy and Religion PHI 200 Angela Lohr Ashford University Abstract Philosophy and Religion have always been a source of contention between people. In the following pages we ask ourselves and discuss if humans need to prove the existence of god and if it is necessary? What the strongest argument for the existence of God is and what are the foundations of the universe. These are all important questions that we need to ask ourselves. In the end, no matter what your beliefs are, as long as you are happy with your life that is all that matters. God affects the lives of people differently and has certainly been a contentious subject for hundreds of years. Despite the antiquity of this question, new aspects of this debate have arisen recently, partly because of developments in science and philosophy. Big Bang cosmology is the best-known example, but each year brings new results of research into the origins of life and of our universe. Craig, W. Lane, Sinnott A. Walter (2004). Some people go through their entire lives and fully believe that there is a greater all powerful being somehow surrounding them and watching them. Others believe that there is nothing out there and that when you die that there is nothing in the universe that is going to judge you and condemn you to a life of pain and suffering, you just return to the earth and that’s it. So back to the question, is proof for the existence of god necessary. Clearly the answer to this question is...
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...(DRM) applied so that you can enjoy reading it on your personal devices. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO FEMIGOD Copyright © 2013 by Femigod Ltd. Published by Femigod Ltd. www.femigod.com Femigod® is a registered trademark of Femigod Ltd. ISBN: 9780992642600 For my darling sister, Pero. I love you dearly. No matter what you want, it’s yours. Beyond money and weapons. Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Book One: Understanding Mainstream and Organised Religion.............................................................. 5 Christianity ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Islam ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 Hinduism.............................................................................................................................................. 12 Buddhism ........................................................................................................................................... 155 Chinese traditional religions ................................................................................................................ 18 African traditional religions (& African diasporic religions) ....
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...THE HANDY RELIGION AN SWE R BOOK JOHN RENARD Detroit The Handy Religion Answer Book™ C O P Y R I G H T © 2002 BY VI S I B LE I N K PRE SS® This publication is a creative work fully protected by all applicable copyright laws, as well as by misappropriation, trade secret, unfair competition, and other applicable laws. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine or newspaper. All rights to this publication will be vigorously defended. Visible Ink Press® 43311 Joy Rd. #414 Canton, MI 48187-2075 Visible Ink Press and The Handy Religion Answer Book are trademarks of Visible Ink Press LLC. Most Visible Ink Press books are available at special quantity discounts when purchased in bulk by corporations, organizations, or groups. Customized printings, special imprints, messages, and excerpts can be produced to meet your needs. For more information, contact Special Markets Director, Visible Ink Press, at www.visibleink.com or (734) 667-3211. Art Director: Mary Claire Krzewinski Typesetting: Graphix Group Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Renard, John, 1944The handy religion answer book / John Renard. p. cm. ISBN 1-57859-125-2 (pbk.) 1. Religions--Miscellanea. I. Title. BL80.2 .R46 2001 291--dc21 Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved ...
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