...APOL 104 Critical Thinking Essay This term we have covered a reasonable amount of materials based on the different types of religions in the world. There are many religions that have strong views and principles, and in order to understand them we must have an open mind and a true understanding of their beliefs. For the purpose of this essay, I will focus on the world views of Islam and compare it to Christianity. Part I Islam is a traditional monotheistic religion that urbanized in the Middle East, Common Era was 622 A.D. According to the Arabic faith, Islam means “Submission” to the will of God . Followers of Islam are known as Muslims. They believe Islam was founded on the teachings of the last Holy Prophet Muhammad. Abraham, Moses and Jesus (to name a few) were also a series of prophets of Allah. Muslims believe “Allah” is the only God. He is the creator and sustainer of the world, Muhammad was his messenger. In Islam, Allah created mankind separate from animals. Animals are not abused nor killed. Muslims endeavor’s to live an Islamic lifestyle. They sustain their identity by believing Islam is the only way of life. They fully submitted to the will of Allah by being good and doing what’s right has human beings. Muslims seek knowledge and guidance from the sacred scriptures of Qur’an. Muslims hypothetical assumed the Bible became a misrepresentation of God. The Holy Prophet Muhammad repeated the words of God through the Angel Gabriel. Muhammad and ...
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...PART I 1. The Question of Origin - Buddhism began based on a foundation of Hinduism context. However, the creator of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, decided to split from Hinduism and form his own religious system. After four visions, Gautama decided to leave his life of comfort and ultimately find the true meaning of life through endless meditation, wandering and fasting. This created a following before and after his death to follow his teaching of how to reach a state of nirvana. 2. The Question of Identity – “Unlike the Judeo-Christian tradition, Buddhism affirms the unity of all living beings, all equally possess the Buddha-nature, and all have the potential to become Buddhas, that is, to become fully and perfectly enlightened, (Epstein, 1990). In essence, this state reveals that Buddhist see animals and all other living beings has sentient having life of equal value just as human beings. 3. The Question of Meaning/Purpose –It is my opinion based on research that the teachings of the Buddha make known that our experiences are what makes us all individuals and is one of the main purposes of our existence. Once we realize this valid profundity it helps us to dig a little deeper and thus reach nirvana. 4. The Question of Morality –In the Buddhist religion there are standards of right and wrong, which is why the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Noble Path was created to give followers guidelines of maintaining morality and virtue. 5. The Question of...
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...Critical Thinking Assignment Instructions Overview: 1. Answer the following questions in 2 clearly separate parts I, II (500 words). 2. Be sure to answer every question. 3. Meeting the minimum word count as required for each part (I, II) is important. a. Do NOT include the question as part of your word count b. Direct quotations should be short and limited 4. Quotations and material used from other sources should be cited using current APA, MLA, or Turabian formatting (whichever corresponds to your degree program). 5. Check your work for spelling and grammatical errors. 6. Be sure to do your own work, do not plagiarize. I. Part One: (250 words) 1. Select ONE of the worldviews (Secular Humanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam) that have been considered in the course content. 2. Using course content and/or sources outside of the course, complete the following- How would the worldview that you selected answer: i. The Question of Origin - ii. The Question of Identity - iii. The Question of Meaning/Purpose - iv. The Question of Morality - v. The Question of Destiny - * An overview of these questions can be found in chapter 4 of the Weider & Gutierrez text Consider. II. Part Two: (250 words) 3. Compare and contrast your selected worldview’s answers (as given in Part One) to a Biblical/Christian worldview. 4. Do not just copy and paste, but you...
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...Running Head: Critical Thinking Assignment 1 My Critical Thinking Paper Celestial Nikodemski APOL 104 Sept 30th, 2013 Running Head: Critical Thinking Assignment 2 Part I. The Question of Origin: The question of origin is answered by Hinduism in that they believe everything has always existed and everything is apart of God. They believe that God and the universe are the same. Hindus or Hinduism think that they have always existed and do not have a creator by any means. The God we know is viewed as an infinite, impersonal source. (Gutierrez and Weider 2011) The Question of Identity: The followers of Hinduism believe everything is spiritual or sacred. They like Christians believe a man’s soul is eternal, but when their soul (which they refer to as Atman) reaches Nirvana will become one with Brahman. They also believe in incarnation which can be determined or influenced by karma. (Gutierrez and Weider 2011) The Question of Meaning or Purpose: Hindus see everything as an illusion, a dream, or a mirage. They say that the life that is around us does not really exist as we know it or as we see it. People in general do not grow to understand that the life cycle is birth, death, and rebirth. (Gutierrez and Weider 2011) The Question of Morality: The Hinduism worldview answers the question of morality...
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...COURSE DESCRIPTION This is a study in the development and application of the Biblical/Christian Worldview. This course will include an introduction and application of critical thinking skills, as well as a study of religious and philosophical worldviews, the nature of tolerance and basic apologetic methodology. RATIONALE APOL 104 is designed to deepen and broaden the student’s understanding of the core fundamentals of the Biblical/Christian Worldview, and to equip the student to present that view in the face of competing worldviews. The goal is to enable students to think more clearly and critically about Christianity and truth. It is also the goal to equip Christians to become more effective witnesses and participate more constructively in the larger socio-cultural debate. In order to accomplish this goal, we must (1) understand the essentials of Christian truth, (2) understand the historical opponents to Christianity and truth, and (3) present a biblical, logical, and reasonable defense of Christianity. Through studying worldviews, students can better understand the nature of humanity and individual conduct so that they are prepared to address relevant questions in a culture of relativism. As the apostle Paul states, “Know how you should respond to each person who asks us about such things” Col. 4:6 (NASB). By understanding worldviews, one acquires a powerful form of wisdom that characterized the sons of Issachar, “men who understood the times, with knowledge of what...
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...Critical Thinking Assignment Sarah Brown L25205543 APOL 104 I.) In Hinduism, the Question of Origin asks how life began. Not a single specific person can be linked to the Hinduisms origin. The word “Hinduism” is not in the scriptures and this makes it difficult for researchers to determine when Hinduism actually began. Hinduism is a system that “attempts to maintain a complex polytheism on the one hand, and an earth-based worship of nature on the other.” (Hindson & Caner, pg 263) At some point in between Hinduism was born. The Question of Identity is answered by the Hinduism worldview as everything is spiritual/sacred in life. Some believe “that a man’s soul is eternal and when he reaches a state of Nirvana, their soul (Atman) will become one with Brahman (Hinduism’s concept of eternal soul).” (Weidler & Gutierrez, 2011) Hinduism believes in reincarnation, which is determined by karma. The Question of Meaning or Purpose is answered by the Hinduism’s worldview as they view everything as an illusion. People usually believe that is a person doesn’t learn to understand this concept that they will stay in the lifecycle of birth, death, and rebirth. “Like a dream or a mirage, our life and everything around us does not really exist as we know it.” (Weidler & Gutierrez, 2011). The Question of Morality is answered by how they strive to be in a state of perfection, also known as moksha. To get there, they must release all wrong and evil doings. They do this by doing...
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...Critical Thinking Assignment Haley, Jennifer APOL 104 D43 November 26, 2013 Part one The Question of Origin: In Buddhism, they don’t believe in an all-powerful God who created our world so they diffidently don’t teach it. Believers look to Buddha, their religion’s founder, for a model of how act. Buddhist view, the world is infinite in both time and space; the world is created and destroyed over and over again in a process we call, natural evolution. The Question of Identity: Buddhist considers everything living to be sacred and/or spiritual in nature. They also believe in reincarnation and a person’s spiritual future is based only on ones good or bad decisions in a lifetime which is known as Karma. The Question of Meaning/Purpose: The primary purpose is to end suffering. Buddha believed and therefore taught that people suffer because they are too wrapped up in things that do not give long lasting happiness and are too busy trying to hold to things such as, friends, material possessions and things that do not last. In the end it will only lead to sorrow. This is where the Four Noble Truths come into play: teaches that all life is marked by suffering, suffering is caused by desire and attachment, suffering can be stopped, and the way to end suffering is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path. The Question of Morality: Love, respect and compassion are three things that are highly valued in Buddhism as an ethical and moral path for their model of behavior. The Noble...
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...Critical Thinking Assignment APOL-104 June 25, 2012 Critical Thinking Assignment PART ONE: The Question of Origin In Buddhism, they do not teach nor do they believe that there is an all-powerful God that created the universe. They look to Buddha, the religion’s founder, for a model of how to behave. In the Buddhist view, the universe is infinite in both time and space and the universe is created and destroyed over and over again in a process we call natural evolution. The Question of Identity Buddhist considers all life to be sacred and/or spiritual in nature. They believe in reincarnation and a person’s spiritual future is based solely on one’s good or bad actions in this lifetime, also known as Karma. The Question of Meaning/Purpose In Buddhism, the primary purpose is to end suffering. The Buddha believed and therefore taught that humans suffer because they are to consumed in things that do not give long lasting happiness and are too busy trying to hold on to things such as friends, material possessions, and things that do not last, and in the end brings upon sorrow. This is where the beliefs of the Four Noble Truths come in: teaches that all life is marked by suffering, suffering is caused by desire and attachment, suffering can be stopped, and the way to end suffering is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path. The Question of Morality Respect, love, and compassion are highly valued in Buddhism as are an ethical and moral path is the basis for their model...
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...Critical Thinking Assignment Buddhism/Christian Worldview Robert Barbour, Jr. Liberty University Online APOL 104 Professor Robert Hunter September 29, 2014 In Aspect I of this essay, I will make an effort to respond on several concerns regarding the overall viewpoint from which Buddhists see and understand the world. I deem that the Buddhists worldview can be very fascinating and complicated in several ways. In addition, in Aspect II, I will display how the Buddhists worldview makes a large comparison in comparison to a/the Spiritual / Christian worldview. Aspect I Presenting Buddhism’s Multiple Viewpoints on Worldview The question of Origin: Buddhism is a religion that involves a wide range of customs, values and methods mostly depending on lessons linked to Siddhartha Gautama. Buddhist believe the world have no beginning or end. “The Buddha added the notion that all creatures, including man, are fictions: there is really no "self"; only a series of occurrences that appear to be individual persons and things.” (The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error 2. Compiled by Steven Cory. Copyright 1986, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. ). The question of Identity: Buddhism instructs that there is no self, but instead there are individual, ever-changing elements that create who we are. Buddhists also believe “what keeps man in this cycle is known as Karma. Although good Karma can have a positive effect, it is still viewed as a curse; since good and bad Karma keeps a person...
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...Critical Thinking Part I – Analysis of Buddhism Origin A young prince named Siddhartha Gautama was whole heartedly affected by the poverty, disease, old age, and death he witnessed from beyond the gates of his shelter. Gautama rebelled and took drastic measures that included abandoning the life he was given, self denial of nourishment, and extended periods of meditation in which he achieved the highest level of knowledge called nirvana, hence the name the Buddha, which means “the Enlightened One” (Carner, 2005, p. 114-115). Identity Buddhism is a dharmic religion that charted off from Hinduism and thus becoming independent of Hindu’s vague philosophy and unsatisfying goals (Carner, 2005, p. 114). While Buddhism is a religion, it is also a philosophical belief system in terms of life in general; it teaches how to save oneself from life’s suffering and aguish by following very specific rules through doctrines known as Pali Canon, which were developed shortly after the death of Gautama. Pali Canon also called the Tripitaka, contained rules for conduct, methods for spiritual attainment, and the ethics taught by the Buddha (Rast, Contender Ministries, n.d.). Meaning The Buddha developed what is called the Four Noble Truths which he taught were the principles to live by in order to attain enlightenment. According to the beliefs of Buddhism, through his own efforts man can save himself from human desires, misery, suffering, and pain...
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...Mashanna Hartley Mr. Robert Hunter APOL 104 3 October 2015 Critical Thinking Paper What is Secular Humanism? Secular Humanism is a compressive, nonreligious, and life stance incorporating natural philosophy, a cosmic outlook rooted in science, and a consequentialist ethical system (What). Secular Humanism uses science, intellect, and personal opinion to answer life’s most difficult questions. Paul Kurtz said, “Humanism cannot in any fair sense of the word apply to one who still believes in God as the source and creator of the universe,” (Noebel, p.444). The question of Origin Secular Humanism View: Matter always existed and given enough time, the end result is what you see. The Human Manifesto II, secular humanism finds no evidence to belief in supernatural. God is not necessary for morals and God does not answer mankind’s existence, according to atheists, Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins (Weiner and Gutierrez, p.64). Man is a machine, according to naturalism. Man has little or no control over his/her existence. Since man is considered to be a machine, if the machine breaks, the man’s life is over (Weiner and Gutierrez, p.65). Christian View: Christians believes God created universe and all life (Genesis 1:1-25). Christians believe animals will change to adapt to their surroundings (Genesis 1;11-12, 21-25). God created us in His own image (Genesis 1:11-12). God made man out of dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7) and made woman from Adam’s rib (Genesis 2:22). She...
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...THE SYNOPTIC APOCALYPSE (MARK 13 PAR): A DOCUMENT FROM THE TIME OF BAR KOCHBA Hermann Detering* he thirteenth chapter of the Gospel of Mark belongs to those texts of the New Testament which have been examined particularly often in recent times. Despite many differences in detail, a certain consensus is apparent between exegeses in so far as they all assume that the text in question, the so-called “Synoptic Apocalypse” (hereafter abbreviated as the SynApoc), arose either in the first or the second half of the first century. This investigation, however, will show that there are a number of factors which exclude such a dating and that numerous of clues indicate rather an origin in the time of the Bar Kochba uprising (132-135 CE). To be sure, the possibility of assigning such a date, which diverges considerably from what is usually taken for granted, does not even occure to most scholars, since the conclusion of their investigation is clearly determined by a prior methodological assumption: since the common assumption is that both Mark and Matthew were written in the second half of the first century, the SynApoc must also belong to this period or even precede it. In my opinion, however, for various reasons, it is highly questionable whether the customary and generally accepted dating of Mark's gospel around 70 CE is correct. Whoever concerns himself with the question of when the Synoptic Gospels arose quickly notices that he has hit upon a genuine weak point in the scholarly study...
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