...World peace is an ideal of freedom, peace, and happiness among and within all nations and people. Both Islam and Christianity highlight the importance of world peace within their religious communities and throughout the world by religious principal teachings which are emitted through sacred texts of the specified religion. Adherents of Christianity and Islam use sacred texts as a driving force behind the contribution of each religion to world peace. Christians turn to the bible for guidance and knowledge on how to live out the notion of peace. The New Testament is the normative text for all Christians, it’s the principal and foundational source of teaching for all Christians in which peace is mentioned over ninety times. Christians are taught to reject violence, the strongest statements against engaging violence come from the preaching of Jesus himself. In Matthew 6:39 it states ‘turn the other cheek’, this statement has a strong impact on all Christians and teaches them not to retaliate or return violence with violence. One major principal teaching supporting this notion is the ‘just war theory’. The Just war theory sought to establish guidelines under which it was morally acceptable to engage in warfare. It maintains that nations are morally justified in fighting war providing that the circumstances of the conflict meet the seven principles that suggest the requirements to be involved in war. In April 1963, Pope John XXIII wrote the encyclical Pacem in Terris due to the...
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...Philosophy of Religion Essay: Religious experience at Ram Mandir Hinduism is one of the oldest religions since the beginning of time and has grown from its ancient roots to become the third largest religion in the world. The majority of its followers originate in India and Nepal. Hinduism is a religion based on traditional values and philosophies that have evolved in India over period of more than a thousand years. On my visit to the Ram Mandir while I experienced a puja, “which is a name for prayers in Hinduism”. (V,2011) among the people, I noticed two different patterns that they follow, and observed that Hinduism has related the patterns to Emilie Durkheim’s and Stuart Hall’s theories of social solidarity and culture respectively through use of prayers and congregations, which is going to be the main focus of my essay in Hinduism the distinct patterns while performing the prayers. The two patterns are congregation who came together for the ritual performed by the Pundits( priests) and the book that priest themselves distributed to the people. The first pattern that was visible to me in the Ram Mandir was based on the congregation who came together for the ritual performed by the Pundits (priests). This gathering of people had a majority of Asian descendants which were mostly North Indians that spoke Hindi. Also, there were different languages that were being spoken by south Indians that are dark skinned, which were easy to distinguish. Since, Hindi is the most common...
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...Religion is a large subject. Some think it the most important matter for consideration (or the only one). Others believe that it wasteful to devote time to the study of what has proved to be an archaic and often destructive force in human society. I, personally, am not sure what I think. This series of essays is my attempt to clarify a little bit about the subject: what it is, how it affects people's lives, and ultimately whether it is true, and good, and useful, or not. This first essay will attempt a definition. Merriam-Webster.com has several definitions for religion: "the service and worship of God or the supernatural"; "a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices"; and "a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith." These are general enough, especially the last, to refer to atheists, communists, nationalists, and extremists of all flavors, as well as the more traditionally devout. But what really is religion? Some would say that our distant ancestors invented it as a way to explain the strange and mysterious world around them, and we are simply heirs to the diverse mass of mutually contradictory beliefs that have been invented, rejected, and revised by thousands of subsequent generations. (They then draw various conclusions about the usefulness of these beliefs, but that is for a future essay.) Others say that religion is simply truth that cannot be perceived by ordinary senses. At some point in...
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...Early American’s Challenges with Diversity in Religion, Gender and Ethnicity Life was not easy for the first Americans to set foot upon our wonderful country; individual freedom was challenged daily. In the early years, religion dominated daily life; strict religious observance was not a choice but a mandate. Gender diversity was a grim struggle for most women and children; women were treated as objects, belonging to their husbands. White women were awarded a few more freedoms than black women. Likewise, ethnic diversity was a challenge for Africans and Native Americans; wars were fought over the destiny of an individuals right to be free. Immigrants flocked to the United States to avoid persecution and strict religious worship guidelines; persecution and worship...
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...them is religion. Religion is an important part of human life that contains and maintain human beings to keep going from one step to another. Utah tends to be among the areas that has lived according to his will and it is sighted by its culture that dwells in his presence (God). However, religion is diverse within the area since it is divided among different religion like Catholics, evangelicals, Protestants, Buddhism, Jehovah, Islam and the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Therefore, the largest group of people in the area are believers of Christ thus making them to be Christians. This paper focuses on explaining the reasons why most of the people are Christians, the history of the religion and why a large percentage of the people are believers in Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints church. History has it that Christianity takes about 60% of the population in state of Utah thus making one of the main religion in the great depression. As far as religion is concerned religion has made the state to grow both socially and economically since most of the people are business men...
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...During the spread of Christianity, the Roman Empire saw the new religion as a threat to their power. Christianity, in the eyes of the empire, broke tradition and disobeyed laws. In fact, Christians were openly disobedient. Christianity further challenged the ideas of the popular stoicism which believed in earthly pleasures. The rise of these new religions were so worrisome that two emperors, Decius and Diocletian, led major persecutions against Christians. Romans were mostly polytheistic. They had many main gods and goddess’, household cults, and the emperors were considered to be deity’s, someone having divine status. Throughout the calendar year, there were many games and celebrations all across the Roman Empire. While not all in the empire had the same beliefs as the Romans, they all were required to partake in the celebrations. The Christians and Hebrews did not participate in the...
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...Right-wing populist relationship with Christianity has more to do with identity politics, and not because of shared values through common faith. Conclusion In this paper I have identified the relationship between Christianity and far-right populism in Europe as a salient issue related to the topic of populism which requires further research. I argue that right-wing populist parties in Europe maintain a relationship with Christianity primarily for its usefulness in the arena of identity politics, and not because of shared values between the prevailing sects of Christianity and national populist movements in Europe. The argument is supplemented by a review of the relevant literature and of previous analytical analysis conducted on the topics of religion and populism in order to outline the state of the art in the field of this research topic. This review revealed the need for further research specific to the relationship between Christianity and far-right populism in contemporary Europe. The paper then provides an appropriate quantitative research design by means of a survey assessing the European electorate’s religiosity through comparing individual voters’ dominant values against their preferred political party or the party voted for in the most recent state or European Union election. This survey, if conducted, will provide statistical evidence to show that far-right populists in Europe co-opt Christianity for reasons relating to identity politics and not because of shared values with...
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...Topic: Compare and contrast the customs and laws of TWO world religions on ONE of the following topics: A sacred text is used by a religion to understand their worldview and their religion better. A sacred text is what a religion believes is holy and authoritative. Religious texts help its followers to worship and pray. Both Christianity and Judaism are monotheistic and as such there are similarities but also differences within each religion. The sacred text for Judaism is the Tanach while Christianity has the Bible. The essay will explore the structure of each sacred text, what type of literature is in each canon, authorship of the text and how it is used in practice. Structure of each canon Christians believe the Bible is their sacred text. The Bible is a library of 66 books and is made of two parts, Old Testament (39 books) and New Testament (27 books). The Old Testament...
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...Why the Word Religion Good? Religion is an organized institute that shapes the way of individual's life accompanied by the worship of superhuman powers or other gods. Various theories tried to explain the validity of the word religion. Huston Smith is one of the most dedicated scholars who studied about religion, and contributed a lot for understanding of various religions. In his The World’s Religions vividly explains the belief, concept, and practice of different religions. Even though the names, symbols, the way of worship, and practices of the religions are unlike, their ultimate goal is alike, to build morality within the followers. The word is universally accepted by individual followers who worshiping various deities. Based on the...
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...Sometime we too forget how powerful our God is, and how much we deserve death. It makes sense why the puritans were so plain in their writing, they didn’t want to draw attention to themselves, but to God. The sermon shows not only how religion was a huge priority, but also how it impacted the writing of this time. After the age of new lands, colonial times approached. The American Revolution had begun and freedom from Britain and it’s harsh taxes was in the future. This time period was known as the age of reason, and enlightenment. During the enlightenment, people valued reason over faith. Which contrasts immensely to the puritans and era before of New Lands. Unlike the Puritans, the people believed humans are by nature good. Famous writers...
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...Question 1: Explain how the study of Hinduism challenges Western and Christian categories of "religion?" Hinduism represents a different approach than it regularly seems from some of the Western and Christian religions. Religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam believe only in one God while Hinduism believe in various gods and deities. “With its many gods and goddesses, who are understood as manifestations of Brahman or the ultimate, Hinduism understands the entire world as related to and frequently even manifesting the divine” (Valkenberg, pp.133-134). However, Hinduism is not polytheistic religion. Yes, there are many gods to choose, but followers only believe and follow one god. This one god can differ within the Hinduism religion and...
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...Native religions have similar characteristics for their religious beliefs than those that are not indigenous. Both have set worship sites, life goals and rites and rituals they partake in. However, just as Christianity and Hinduism are different in their beliefs, the beliefs of Native Americans also vary based on the tribe they are associated with. Native American tribes have a long, established relationship with nature and the animal population. Depending on the tribe they belong to, the Native Americans might believe in a number of different gods or spirits which are usually linked to nature and their dependence on it (Molloy, 2009). The Great Spirit is well known throughout many indigenous tribes, to be a collection of spiritual energies,...
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...The search for truth ponders the mind of religious believers. Therefore, spiritual welfare lies between Christianity, religion and the Islamic faith. Christianity and Islam differences bring tremendous conflict in religious committees past and present. For centuries the debate which religion symbolizes the true religion has taunted the minds of followers. And still today this question continues to divide God’s people. Religion shapes the very existence of people. The belief of a higher power challenges the heart of the young and the old throughout the world. The desired feeling of purity gears ambition to seek truth in God through religion of Christianity or Islamic faith. Much disgrace, rage has surface the mind of believers leading non-believers...
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...The Entwistle 4mat Review Theology Religion Essay Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity allowed me to understand the past occurrences of psychology and theology. The book displayed the religion and confidence that psychology and Christianity should combine for it to possess a higher understanding and permitting the client a higher probability of healing. So as to do this there should be an entire understanding of every element in and of itself. Entwistle’s (2010) book presented all the facts from history as it has formed society these days. As he mentioned these historic events, it shows simply how the knowledge today may be a reflection or reaction of what happened then. Christianity has invariably had an enormous impact on world history and the way the planet is viewed. The author makes it clear that God offers humans reality and honesty in His Word. When consideration of his works is given his Word has begun to demonstrate an impact on the planet. The Word of God is the Bible that God created as a guide to living life in the way that God designed to be the best for humankind. Theology and Psychology do not appear to be to be compatible however they are similar when it involves the appreciation and comprehension that enables a person's life to be meaningful. The planet is filled with individuals that have many abilities to share. God created us in his image therefore that makes each of us distinctive in our own sense. We all have things of our own to share...
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...The United States is filled with heretics and Christianity has been bent to serve the needs of individuals rather than benefit the world as a whole. This is what Ross Douthat claims in his book, Bad Religion, in which Douthat closely analyzes modern Christianity and what has become of the original teaching of the Catholic Church. Throughout the book Douthat challenges the practices of many prominent modern preachers and theologians such as Joel Osteen and discusses such dangers as simplifying the Bible or twisting the gospels to serve superficial purposes such as financial gain. Ross Douthat offers a unique and critical prospective on what modern Christianity has evolved into and what prominent ideas that exist today are actual heresies to orthodox Christianity derived form the Church. In the opening of the second half of the book Bad Religion, Douthat discusses the controversial 2006 unveiling of the “Gospel of Judas” which was expected to challenge or even disprove Christianity, as the world had known it. This supposed “gospel”, claimed that Judas, instead of being the traitor, was actually...
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