...THEO 104-C07 LUO Spring Semester 2010 April 4, 2010 Jesus Christ Reflection Paper I. Introduction Jesus. This one name will bring out many different emotions. This one name will bring millions of people together to worship the God who holds this name. This one name will be cursed by man. This one name will be the topic of many discussions and heated debates. This one name is the name under which man will be saved. This name is not just a name; this name is Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, Jesus Christ the Son of God. This name is the name by which millions of people live their lives on a daily basis. This name is the name in which thousands of churches love their community. Through the name of Jesus power is given to powerless, strength to the weak, love to the loveless and hope to the hopeless. II. Section One – Jesus is God Jesus Christ claimed to be God. So what? A man who walked on this earth claimed to be God. Does this claim make this statement true? The man who claims to be Jesus Christ would have to “demonstrate God-like moral attributes of holiness, love and goodness. He would also have to back up His claim with demonstrations of power, vast knowledge and omnipresence.” (The Deity of Christ). There are eight aspects to Jesus’ claim to this deity. The eight aspects are as follows: 1. Jehovistic I AM 2. Old Testament Adonai 3. Identifies Himself with God in the baptismal formula 4. Be one with the Father 5. Forgive...
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...Michelle Ragland SID# 23615939 THEO 104- Reflection Paper I. Introduction: As I sat down to write this reflection paper, I had to give very much thought on what topics I wanted to discuss. I have decided after much pondering and meditation that I would like to discuss the topic of Canon and Illumination. This class has helped to give me a greater understanding of my convictions and make me a better Christian. II. Part One: Canon The word Canon is Greek for a rule, and its meaning can be translated as “measuring stick.” (Praxis, Gutierrez and Etzel, 2012, pg 53) The Canon of scripture areis the accepted books of the Bible, thatBible, which is to be a tool for Christians to allow the Holy Spirit to measure them by spiritually. This “Measuring stick” is the instrument that shows our Faithfulness or lack of, our Obedience or lack of, our Conduct , our Sight, and our hearing by the word of God. The canon is the infallible word of God, His instruction to us and communication withcommunication with us that we understand what and how he expects us to live. The Measuring stick of the Old Testament was hard for anyone to keep, because no one is without sin, we understand that God made provision for us and that now we are not measured by the law (Canon) but by our Faith, God’s Grace and our Purpose in Him. God is our measuring stick for our spiritual as well as natural lives, because it is...
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...2013 This paper is a reflection on Ancient Connections. It contains a discussion on two ancient religions and four resemblance characteristics, which I compared to my own belief system. The paper ends with a summary of how ancient religions still connect to today’s modern beliefs. Concept of Ultimate Reality The practices of Egyptian religion were efforts to provide for the gods and gain their favor. These gods included the royal patron Horus, the sun god Ra and the mother goddess Isis. According to Nigosian (2008), “The worship of one god (monotheism) took place during the reign of Pharaoh Amen-hotep.” They concept of ultimate reality was that dead components passed into a dark bleak realm that represented the opposite of life. Pharaoh when he was deceased was believed to ascend to the sky and dwell among the stars. Mesopotamian religion referred to the religious beliefs and practices of Assyrian, Babylonian and Chaldean people living in Mesopotamia. There was one supreme god or absolute lord of the city.(Nigosian 2008, p.45) Their concept of ultimate reality was known as the great below. When comparing these tw0 religions with my own belief system, I recognize the similarities. My concept of ultimate reality is that I believe in one God, and I believe that the deceased go to dwell in either Heaven (above the earth) of hell (beneath the earth). Survival after Death According to Mystakidou, Tsilka, Parpa, Katsouda and Vlahos (2004-2005), “Death has many meanings...
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...Reflection Paper Brittany Clark February 7, 2015 I. Introduction Although I have been brought up in a Christian environment, it is through this class that I have delved into the meanings behind words that I have heard my entire life. They have a much richer and deeper meaning when looked at with detail, and are very important to know in order to understand our own salvation and relationship with Christ. In this paper, I will be covering two topics: the Trinity and the Death of Christ. II. Part One: The Trinity a. Theological Definition The word trinity in the Greek translates to “a set of three”. The trinity refers to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. However, this does not mean that Christians are polytheistic. These three beings share one essence. God is singular in numerical terms, yet within God are three individual beings that make up the Trinity. A better understanding of this is looking at Jesus coming to earth as a man. “Although Jesus performed miracles, He was also subject to human limitations by experiencing hunger, and thirst. Even in doing miracles, He relied on the power of the Holy Spirit to do the will of His Father.” (Towns, pg. 8) The reason we know that Jesus is God is how he explained himself while here on earth. “Perhaps the greatest boast of all is when Jesus constantly claimed to be the great ‘I Am’ (Towns, pg. 12). Jesus did not claim to be like God, or even next in command, but he claimed to be God himself! He was the physical...
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...31st, 2015 Abstract This paper gives an extensive view at the accompanying beliefs: Buddhism and Christianity. The reader will see the way Buddhism is even more a reasoning than a religion that spotlights on the brain similar to the inventor of disease and wellbeing. The reader will likewise find that Christianity is a religion that has confidence in one God, the inventor of all. This paper records the different segments that each of these religions may use at some time to impact mending including petition to God, reflection, droning, the utilization of healers, and so on. This paper additionally characterizes what is essential to individuals when watched over by suppliers whose convictions contrast from their own. Introduction Religious practice is one of the oldest traditional practices of the world till date, times may change, technology may advance, but vital beliefs of the people never alter. Before the advent of these religions, people believed in different things among the history. Some believed the sun, fire, evil god or gods, and sculptures. Some do not belief on anything at all. Their beliefs was due to their weaknesses under the nature and lack of understanding of natural events. They thought of a supernatural power that controls the universe. This led to the acceptance of religion....
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...Reflection Jeremy Simms Theology 104 Doctor Jones June 30, 2012 Reflection: I. Introduction: Throughout this course of study I have been challenged, and my awareness as a Christian has been heightened. There have been several questions raised that deserve not only an answer, but diligence in the research and understanding necessary to answer with confidence, vigor and enthusiasm. The first question that will be answered is simple in thought, but more complex in true understanding. Does the Bible have authority? Next, we will discuss the importance of personal testimonies in sharing the gospel. Finally, we will look at life as a Christian. If a person is a Christian, does it matter how they live their life? Throughout the following pages these questions will be explored and answered fully, truly and completely. II. Section One: Does the Bible have authority? Many people read the Bible with cynicism in their hearts and attempt to be overly critical as a result. This is true for both Christians and non-believers alike. In some ways it seems easier to look for a mistake or try to disprove scripture instead of having true faith. This poses the question. Does the Bible have authority? If so, where does its authority come from and how do we know? There are many arguments that show the Bible’s authority and confirm the scripture is the word of God. The most powerful to me personally is the convicting, convincing...
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...the human experience that is difficult to comprehend. Each person embraces their spirituality in their own manner. Spirituality is multidimensional and there is evidence that it plays a beneficial role in medical care and healing. Individuals derive this spirituality through their relationship with their families, themselves, and their faith experience (Anandarajah & Hight, 2001). The purpose of this paper is to acknowledge this writers spiritual perspective on healing and its critical components. After presenting a Christian perspective and approach to healing, the Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim faith perspectives will be compared to the Christian approach to healing. The conclusion will include a summary of the information obtained from these comparisons and ideas of applying it to this author’s health care practice. Authors’ Spiritual Perspective on Healing The core of this authors’ perspective on healing is founded on her faith and trust in God. This author understands a balance of seeking medical advice for physical ailments from doctors and also trusting God to heal. The Bible...
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...for beauty but are often disappointed and turn their backs looking elsewhere. The mirror represents truth and is not intended to hurt or be cruel. This poem is very engaging by way of point of view, language, and imagery which helped to address a common human experience in how a woman sees herself. The point of view in a piece of literature work is very important in that it helps a reader to understand the narrator’s purpose of the story. The poem Mirror is told from a first person’s point of view in which the speaker is a mirror explaining what it reflects. In the first stanza, it states, “I have no preconceptions / Whatever I see, I swallow immediately / Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike” (cited in Clugston, 2010, Poems for Reflection, para. 13). By knowing the thoughts of the narrator, it allows a person to not only understand but to also feel the emotions portrayed within the story. While reading the poem, one is able to know the intentions of the mirror. Its purpose is not to hurt someone, but to only be truthful in what it sees. It does not have feelings of love or dislikes, but reflects the image of what’s drawn in. When considering point of view, language is also expressed. The language of literature is shown by the use of words chosen by the author. Sylvia Plath used metaphors throughout...
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...important examples of many religious traditions. The relationship with the divine is power of being or the realm of understanding different religious person’s to be present and to have revolution impact on their lives. Earlier in days man believed that divinity is to help converse away natural occurrences, such as, hurricanes, earthquakes, lunar eclipses, solar and, volcanic eruptions. But however the modern man continues to utilize divinity to push away supernatural phenomena, at which one usually refers to as miracles. I will give an example: a sudden and total recovery from a disaster, life threatening conditions, and surviving a deadly occurrence. In those conditions as a belief of the divine intervention was mainly responsible in taking place and reflection of the truth of the person’s religion. The Relationship with the sacred time defines as life goes on as time goes on. When it comes to sacred time the greater power and divinity breaks through. The eternity is the sacred time that many religions live by. Time has no sacredness of its own, but instead of a tool to be redeemed and in work by humans in order to participate and celebrate the eternal life. The question is what the sacred time is: It can attach members of the same religion together and build strength upon members and even others together with the almighty Christ. Sacred time also helps Christians understand that from born and to death; there is a comparison in the...
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...Torture Despite the strong commitments of the US legal system of torture, ever since 9/11, torture became an acceptable tool to be used. The practice of torture is difficult to address because there is not a concrete definition of what torture is. Thinking torture can be justified is not the same as thinking it is necessary. A survey posted by The Huffington Post, concluded that respondents were more uncertain about whether information gained through torturing suspected terrorists is generally reliable or unreliable. The survey also found significant uncertainty over whether the U.S. had used torture to track down Big Laden, as the new movie “Zero Dark Thirty” portrays. As defined by dictionary.com, “torture is the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty.” However, there are many other definitions. Defined by the United Nations Convention Against Torture, torture is an act where intentional pain is inflicted on a purpose. According to the Third Geneva Convention, torture is known to cause no “no physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever”. Who draws the line as to which specific practices are harsh enough to correspond to those words? Some have suggested that torture is worse than killing, and that torturing the innocent is morally worse than murder. The most prevalent forms...
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...Written Assignment 1; The Nature of the Good Life Greg PHI-286-OL-008; JUN-2016 Thomas Edison State University Abstract This paper explores the ethical dilemma of happiness and the nature of good life. The paper is broken into two sections to support both parts of the first written assignment for Contemporary Ethics (PHI-286 from TESU; Thomas Edison State University). The first discussion emphasizes the differences between the ways we act in society, whether it is to support our own self-interest or for the greater good. Plato’s The Republic (Newton 2003) is the premise of the first section, which notes the moral dilemma of the nature of man from a normative standpoint. Juxtapose to the normative view is the empirical view, as claimed by Thucydides, that considers the ethics of imperialism. The second discussion weighs the biblical view against the Utilitarianism view of the individual in society, and how they should act. The biblical and Utilitarianism views agree that humans should act for the greater good of society, however each view differs in its derivation and outcome. Section 1: Athenians The nature of the good life for centuries has been pondered among thousands of sophists. Is it better to live your life selfishly looking out for your own well-being or to look out for the improvement of the society in which you live? Thucydides (c. 421 B.C.E.) claims that is it best, for society, if those that are ‘strong’ enough to lead do so for the...
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...------------------------------------------------- Wolterstorff’s Reflections in Lament For A Son Carla Soto Grand Canyon University: HLT-310V-0191 Spirituality In Healthcare April 26, 2015 During this paper, I will be analyzing the book Lament For A Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff, where the author interprets his traumatic recollection of the death of his 25 year-old son during a climbing accident, and how he was able to appease his grief based on his faith in God; therefore, I will be identifying the five stages of grief. The five stages include how the author finds joy after his loss, the meaning of death in the light of the Christian narrative, and how the hope of resurrection play a role in comforting the author. According to Elisabeth Kubler Ross, there are five stages of grief: denial and/or isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. These five stages of grief are associated in direct correlation with mourning as a response of a painful event such as loss of a loved one, terminal illness or the end of a relationship. During the bereavement process, we experience the five stages of normal grief, which may not necessarily be in order, or for a specific length. (5 Stages of Loss and Grief, 2015). For some that have experience death, we know that we may not experience it the same way. There are individuals that can be open to expressing their emotions; whereas, others may not be able to express their feelings at all. It’s important...
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...Reflection Paper I. Introduction In this paper I will be discussing the importance of the virgin birth, the truth and authority of the Word of God, and the significance of how Christians choose to live their lives. The virgin birth sets the stage for Christ to be our blameless and sinless substitute while showing the supernatural powers of God. The truth of the Scriptures can be proven through many different arguments-from historical evidence to the unique person of Jesus Christ. And how Christians choose to live their lives is important if we are to show Christ to the world. II. Section one: Did Jesus need to be born of a virgin? The answer to this question is absolutely! First, by Jesus being born of a virgin, God allowed the uniting of a fully human and fully divine nature into one person (Grudem, 1994, p.1). It helps us to more clearly understand that He was fully human, because He had an origin/birth like we did. Yet, we can see that He is also fully divine because His conception was supernatural. Secondly, through the virgin birth, Jesus was born without a sin nature, and this allowed Him to be the spotless, perfect sacrifice for our sins that God required. The sin nature is passed from the father to his child (Romans 5:12). Since Jesus had no earthly father, He did not inherit a sin nature like we did. He was able to remain sinless. God tells us in Genesis 3:15 that the seed of the woman would destroy the serpent. God made this come to pass through His own power...
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...Dr. Na Religion 207 Dec 11, 2015 Stilling of the Storm The canonical gospels are a result of the spreading of the news of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, they must be studied when interested in gathering an account of Jesus’ life and death. The synoptic gospels include the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is assumed that the author of the Gospel According to Mark wrote his gospel first and therefore becomes a blueprint for the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Therefore the synoptic gospels have similar events, structure, and timeframes. One major event in all three synoptic gospels is the story of the stilling of the storm. Assuming markan priority, this paper will discuss the Gospel According to Mark’s command that Jesus uses to rebuke the wind and sea: “Peace! Be still!” The stilling of the storm is a triple tradition event, meaning it is found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This event is contained in the passages of Mark 4:35-41, Matt 8:23-27, and Luke 8:22-25. Some similarities throughout this particular event are very evident and can be shown through the main course of events in the pericope. The first similarity is all gospels have Jesus asleep in the boat during a storm. Another similarity is that Jesus rebukes the natural elements and comments on the disciples’ lack of faith. Another important similarity is that the disciples question the authority of Jesus when the wind and water obey him. These three similarities lay out the foundation...
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...Reflection Paper 2 [Introduction: Prayer and Hope in the modern world.] Christians strive and struggle to remain strong in their faith while navigating today’s secular world. Faced with a constant bombardment of negative messages, portrayals, and media by popular culture Christians have to deal with outside influences as well as their own personal struggles. Prayer and Hope are two of the most powerful tools God has given Christians to renew their faith and receive Gods blessings. Prayer is the very act of a Christian reaching out to God for wisdom, help, renewal, forgiveness, and blessings. God requires prayer (1 Timothy 2:8 ESV), God rewards prayer (Luke 11:9 ESV), and God guides us in prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV). The hope God provides is in the reward of everlasting life in heaven. (Core Christianity by Elmer Towns) God wants Christians to be hopeful and at peace with the future. (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV) Prayer and Hope can change the very way a Christian presents themselves in public and allow themselves the ability to stand firm in their faith knowing Gods promise. [Part One: Prayer] a. Theological Definition As stated in the introduction Prayer is the very act of a Christian reaching out to God for wisdom, help, renewal, forgiveness, and blessings. It is through prayer that Christians build their relationship with God to seek His presence and guidance in their lives. Prayer is considered to be the intimate relationship between God and the individual. Beyond just...
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