...information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. . Nanzan University is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 137.132.123.69 on Wed, 2 Apr 2014 10:26:21 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Studies30/3-4:315-338 Journalof Religious Japanese x 2003 Nanzan Institutefor Religionand Culture YAMAGUCHISatoko[JriMf- Christianityand Women in Japan After a brief introduction to the situation of Christian or church-going women in Japan, articleintroducesa feministtheologicalgroup,the Centhis ter for Feminist Theology and Ministryin Japan,as one of the diverse new feminist movements among Christianwomen and men. This Center was founded in 2000 for feminists doing theology in the particularcontext of Japanwhere only one percent of the population are Christians,where the churchhas been especiallycarefulto preservethe authenticChristian faithin the midst of a non-Christianculture, and where Christianwomen feel that they havebeen offeredonly...
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...r Divine-Human Synergism in Ministry Dennis Bratcher A paper presented to the Breckenridge Conference on Clergy Preparation I. Introduction II. Synergism: A Biblical and Theological Base III. The Church's Mission and Ministry: A Recovery of Balance IV. Divine-Human Synergism in Ministry Footnotes Bibliography I. Introduction The Issue In Context The Church In this series of conferences begun last year, we are in process of reflecting on the direction and focus of the ministry and ministerial training in the Church of the Nazarene as our community of faith moves into the twenty-first century. We have attempted to approach our task from two complimentary perspectives, caricatured last year as the "field" of hands-on work and the "realm" of reflective inquiry (although I think there are serious problems inherent in such an artificial dichotomy of responsibilities). -1- From our initial attempts, it has become obvious that we face a multiplicity of issues in such an endeavor. The range and diversity of these issues arise partly from the variety of theological, historical, and practical concerns operating with each of us as individuals and partly from the assumptions and perspectives imported from particular arenas of ministry. One common element that keeps reappearing in various forms is the issue of the nature and mission of the Church. This issue is not unique to our enterprise in these conferences, as the new eleventh Article of Faith on...
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...The “Person” of the Holy Spirit Of the three “persons” to the concept of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is often shrouded in more mystery than the other two. While the person of God the “Father” as the creator and sustainer of creation is well established in the scripture and the history of Judaism and Christianity, and while the person of Jesus the “Son” as an actual person in the course of human history is well documented in history and scripture, the person of the Holy Spirit is a person whose characteristics are not well defined. While the responsibilities of the Holy Spirit are often documented throughout scripture, the question of how to address the Holy Spirit is sometimes vague. While there is plenty of scriptural attestation to the Holy Spirit, and while Jesus does use personal pronouns to describe the Holy Spirit, the modern depictions of the Spirit are often amorphous, lacking definition, and sometimes even pictures that do not infer personhood as much as substance, such as depictions of the Holy Spirit as a, “tounge of fire.” Some theologians have pointed to the scripture to attest to the personhood of the Holy Spirit in the same way as Jesus and the Father (with some scripture point to personal pronouns such as “he”) while others are more concerned with the function of the Holy Spirit rather than the form. This begs the question as to whether or not it truly matters what the Holy Spirit is rather than who the Holy Spirit is. The Holy Spirit is first mentioned...
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...Apologetics in Christian Theology Part One: A world view is a fundamental cognitive orientation of a society or an individual that encompasses the entire breadth of the society or individual's knowledge and point-of-view. This can include natural philosophy, theories of fundamental, existential or normative philosophy or an elaboration of the themes, emotions, values and ethics of that person or society (" Secularism," 2004). Part Two: Articulate the biblical/Christian Worldview (what is believed) First of all, we must define which Christian world view we have. Christianity is a combination of different sects. However, the particular evangelical world view of this author is best represented by the tradition that we have received through the aegis of Martin Luther who advocated a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and an emphasis upon salvation history to elaborate upon this (MacKenzie). In the personal experience of this author, this evangelical viewpoint was chosen due to its connection with Jesus as a man and his place in history. This history is our salvation history, which stretches back in the eons into our sister faith of Judaism back to Genesis. Due to the failure of the Roman Catholic Church and the scholastic movement under Thomas Aquinas and other Christian greats of the Middle Ages, more was needed than simply an argument from the beauty and order of the cosmos for a first cause or God ("Scholasticism," 2009) . Rather, faith had to be based upon reason...
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...Presence in History (1970), Fackenheim has tried to find a way to avoid both the absolute faith of the pious who do not see any special problem in the Holocaust and those like Rubenstein who argue that the only reasonable conclusion to be drawn from Auschwitz is the "Death of God" and the ultimate absurdity of history.22 If the former alternative blasphemes against Hitler's victims, the latter blasphemes against the God of the victims. Both victims and God have to be held together in dialectical tension after Auschwitz; neither can be devalued without resulting distortion and loss of truth. To keep God and Israel together is the demand of Jewish theology; it is still an imperative after the Holocaust; the problem is how it is to be effected. If Rubenstein's solution of Jewish communal existence without the God of historic Judaism is no answer, what then is the answer? Fackenheim's reply is both subtle and difficult. He is adamant in his refusal to allow any theological explanation of the Holocaust. In no sense, he argues, can any particular theodicy be propounded in which God's goodness can be vindicated and Auschwitz seen as part of a rational cosmic pattern whose interpretation can be understood by man. In this sense the Holocaust is devoid of explanation and meaning. Thus, like Rubenstein, he totally rejects any account which interprets Auschwitz in terms of mi-penei hata'einu—"because of our sins." The various attempts to explain the...
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...Religion and Belief Systems in Australia post Students learn about: | Students learn to: | Contemporary Aboriginal Spiritualities * Aboriginal spirituality as determined by the Dreaming * issues for Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to: * the effect of dispossession * the Land Rights movement Religious expression in Australia – 1945 to the present * the religious landscape from 1945 to the present in relation to: * changing patterns of religious adherence * the current religious landscape * religious dialogue in multi-faith Australia * ecumenical movements within Christianity * Interfaith dialogue * The relationship between Aboriginal spiritualities and religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation | * discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the Dreaming * kinship * ceremonial life * obligations to the land and people * discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to: * separation from the land * separation from kinship groups * the Stolen Generations * outline the importance of the following for the Land Rights movement: * Native Title * Mabo * Wik * analyse the importance of the Dreaming for the Land Rights movement * outline changing patterns of religious adherence from 1945 to the present using census data * account for the present religious landscape in Australia in relation to: * Christianity as the...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY “A Select Issue in Contemporary Theology: God-Is-Dead Theology” Submitted to Dr. Eunice Abogunrin In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of THEO 510-B05 Survey of Theology By John Kohler Whitley October 5, 2014 Introduction Friedrich Nietzsche believed God is dead, and he has based his theology around these three words. Why does he believe God is dead? Friedrich Nietzsche could have called his theology God does not exist and easily conveyed his message. Nietzsche purposefully chose these three words to send a message to the Christian faith. Since the beginning of time the existence of God has been questioned. Science has attempted to provide humanity with an explanation for human origin and has failed. Atheists argue that God does not exist and do not really offer any strong counter argument to the contrary. Muslims, Jews, and Christians each claim they serve the one supreme Creator of the universe. Who is right and who is wrong? If God is dead, why is religion alive and well? This paper will attempt to answer these questions by providing examples and counter examples. By taking a closer look at the life of Friedrich Nietzsche, his beliefs, morals and values, one will find that he does not possess any evidence that God is dead. Friedrich Nietzsche The life of Friedrich Nietzsche started out rather sadly. Nietzsche’s father, Karl Ludwig Nietzsche, developed a problem in the brain...
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...Registration #: 100013 School: Calabar High School Territory: Jamaica Teacher: Date: February 2013 STATEMENT OF AIMS The aim of this research is to investigate the origin and development of orthodox Judaism knowing the reason why they were formed and how they differ from the other sets of jews. Methodology Information will be collected via internet and booklets that was given by the teacher of the subject. Statement of findings Origin and development of the orthodox Jews The actual term “Orthodox” is derived from Christian theology and was, at first. A term of reproach hurled against the traditionalist by the early reformers at the beginning of the nineteenth century, to imply that those who fail to respond to the modernist challenge were high bound. However the term was used by the traditionalist themselves as a convenient short hand for the attitude of complete loyalty to the Jewish past, although some traditionalist prefer the term “Torah true” to describe their Jewish positions. In any event orthodoxy came to mean faithfulness to the practices of Judaism to the Halakhah (Jewish law) in its traditional formulation. Orthodox Judaism rejects the notion introduced by reform that, in the light of modern thought and life in western society, Judaism required to be reformed, Granted that the Torah is a divine origin, as the orthodox affirm, to attempt to reform is to imply that god can change his mind, to put it somewhat crudely. Orthodoxy also takes issue...
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...Moses Maimonides, an important individual of the teachings of Judaism. A critical contribution provided by Maimonide is his three major literary works. Firstly, Maimonides summarised the Talmud in his Mishneh Torah to expedite the study of the Torah. Secondly, the Maimonides Guide for the Perplexed which lead in the bringing of philosophy and religion.Lastly, in his commentary for the Mish Maimonides “13 Principles of Faith” which is the groundwork for many Jewish credal statements today. The Mishneh Torah (literally, “Review of the Torah”) was accepted as an all-inclusive halakhic compendium ,a model to the entire system of Jewish law. Maimonides itemized the traditional 613 mitzvot of the Torah, dividing them into positive and negative mitzvot....
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...Numbers and Deuteronomy. The second book, Nevi’im is a collection of the Former Prophets. Here you will find stories and their teachings about the return of Israel to God. The last book, Ketuvim, contains poetry, theology and drama. The Hebrew Bible is thought of by Christians as the Old Testament. This is because all of the teachings found in it are before Jesus Christ. You can find the prophecy of Jesus’ birth in Isaiah 7:14 2. Describe the major similarities and differences between the four branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist). How are these four groups distinct from one another? The similarity between all four is very simple. They are all very proud of their faith and view it not only as religion but as a life style that they identify themselves as Jewish before anything else. Each one does have strong values and want to better their religion. The differences seem to be more in where they interact with the world outside their communities. In Orthodox Judaism, you will find the traditionalists. They do not believe in altering the Torah in anyway. The other side of that is Reform Judaism. They want to adapt the rituals and laws to fit into the modern world. In between those two you have Conservative Judaism. Here there is an understanding that there is importance in both areas, upholding the...
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...old college student, and I am Jewish. Being a Jew means that I believe in Judaism, which is a monotheistic religion. According to Satlow, M. L. (2006) Judaism is an ancient religion that involves a broad spectrum of theological positions and practices, with the Torah as its foundational text. The Torah is part of the Hebrew Bible, a larger text, also known as the Tanakh. Judaism is not only a religious belief, but it also incorporates the culture of the Jewish community. There are also a few different approaches to Judaism that include: Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform Judaism of which I partake in, (Question 1) A typical day for me might sound a little surprising to most people who know little about Reform Judaism because they assume differences. My day consists of nearly the same activities of most other college students my age, except our religious beliefs may differ. (Question 2) I wake up and get ready for the day. I go to school and socialize with other students. After classes I come back home and do homework. I play video games, hangout with friends, work out at the gym, and get on social media. Every week I attend Shabbat services, which is similar to attending a church service, except there is no mention of Jesus, and sometimes the prayers are said in Hebrew. Other than that my day is not much different than many others. Sometimes my friends ask me questions about certain traditions of Judaism, and how I celebrate them. (Question 6) During specific holidays and events...
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...Jewish religion, the second most important principle belief is the covenant between God and the Jewish. The covenant between God and Jews is the structure of the idea that Jews were the chosen people. The first covenant known was between God and Abraham. A practise that is still participated in today through Judaism is that Jewish boys are circumcised at birth as a representation of this covenant between an individual and God. As God stated within Genesis, “You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.” (Genesis 17:11). This demonstrates the coming to age of either a young Jewish boy or girl as they enter into adulthood....
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...Jewish Holy Days Paper REL/134 Jewish Holy Days Paper The Jewish holy day, Yom Kippur, translates to “Day of Atonement”. This holiday occurs on the tenth day of Tishrei and is taken from the book of Leviticus. The Jewish community remains abstinent from all physical pleasures, and reflects on the sins committed in the past year. This holy day, along with other Jewish holy days, differ culturally because they do not fall on a specific day on the twelve month calendar used in America (Rich). Time of the Year Yom Kippur falls on the tenth day of Tishrei. Tishrei is the seventh month of the twelve month Jewish calendar (Yetzira). In the year 2013 Yom Kippur falls on September 13-14. In the year 2014, it falls on October 3-4 ("When is yom,"). This holy day is considered a Sabbath. “It is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur” (Rich). Historical Origin Yom Kippur’s historical origin can be found in the book of Leviticus. “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls...It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your Sabbath (Leviticus 23:26-27,32).” Moses first went to the top of Mt. Sinai and...
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...Assignment 1: Comparison of Two Religions Judaism is a religion which is a set of ideas about the world and how we should live up to it. Jewish belief also centers on the idea of one God and the love that He shares with all his creations through his covenant. Jews do not have a specific set of mandatory beliefs and rituals they have to follow, but one Jewish belief is the Rambam's thirteen principles of faith. The Jews practice their faith in many ways some people go to festivals or Shabbat for prayer services to read the Torah. Others may go to temples or synagogues which are Jewish houses for prayer and studying. Most Jews practice their faith reading the Torah which is known as the Old-Testament or Tanakh.(Judaism, 1968) There are three holy books the Jews study they consist of the: Torah which is the Law, Nevi'im the Prophets and lastly Kethuvim known as the Writings. The Jews also practice their faith by obeying the 613 mitzvot as well as they could, following the Judaism Rabbinic law and rules. One example of Jews practicing their faith is celebrating Hanukkah. (Kaplan, 1932) This is basically a Christmas for Jewish people, they light up a nine-branched candle known as the menorah. They do various activities such as lighting up a candle every night and eight candles would be lit in the last evening, eating oily foods reminding them of the miracle of the oil and play games such as "dreidel" which is a game with spinning tops that includes four Hebrew letters. There are...
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...Counter to Christian end time theology, promoted by popular books and movies, there will not be an evil man over a ten nation confederacy, ruling the entire world at the second coming of Yeshua. There will not even be a seven year tribulation. We will have no warning of the imminent destruction of the planet Earth. In Luke 17:26-30, Yeshua said, the end will be like the Days of Noah and Lot. Christian theologians completely miss the mark when interpreting the prophecies in the Bible. They try to apply the mysteries of the Book of Revelation and the Book of Daniel as future events relating to the world as a whole. But the first step in correctly understanding Biblical prophecy is recognizing that prophesy is all about Israel and Judah. Another disadvantage Christian theologians suffer is their lack of knowledge concerning Israel and Judah. Christian theologians are unaware that most of the prophecies in Revelation and Daniel are fulfilled, with the evidence being, Jewish history. Some theologians might call my views Preterism, a Christian belief that...
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