...concern which is relevant throughout our world today. Peace is not merely the ‘absence of war’, but a state of mind in which a sense of tranquillity comes from actively working towards right relationships with individuals and God. To understand the way in which Muslims and Christians view peace it is imperative to understand the source of the teachings for each religion. The principles teachings of peace for Both Christianity and Islam are primarily found in the sacred texts of both religious traditions. Christianity looks to the bible and specifically the New Testament for teachings about peace, whereas Islam focuses’ on the Qur’an and Hadith to guide their beliefs of peace. These sacred texts guide the individual adherents of each religion to achieving inner peace which consequently develops their understanding to take responsibility to achieve peace with those around them, leading to ‘world peace’. An understanding of the Christian belief of peace is gained through a knowledge of the importance of the life of Jesus Christ in the beliefs of adherents. Peace is believed to be at the heart of Jesus' life and ministry and accordingly it is a foundational element of the Christian communities that seek to follow him. In order for Christians to experience the peace of God they must devote themselves to listening to the good news of God revealed through the Bible and commit themselves to following the example of Jesus in his life and ministry. This brings with it a requirement...
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...Jesus and Mohammed HUM130 Jesus and Mohammed Jesus and Mohammed are two of human history's most important figures. Who were these men and why are they so important to religion today? Jesus of Nazareth is the key figure in what is arguably the world's most practiced faith; Christianity. Mohammed is the central figure in what is the world's second largest religion by adherents, Islam. The accounts of the lives of both of these men may be argued for centuries to come. Their exact actions, exact words and very existence are in some instances matters of faith rather than fact. However, what is undeniable is the impact that both of these men have had on modern society. The words, actions and teachings of these men are so important that wars for the true ideology have been waged over their names for centuries. Who they were and their true nature though, is perhaps what is forgotten in this modern world. The history of Jesus of Nazareth is a case of conjecture and faith, however there does exist the commonly accepted history of his life. According to most scholars, Jesus was born sometime between 6 and 4 BCE. Most scholars accept this figure as it is reflected in the Christian scripture that Jesus was born during the reign of Herod the Great. Although there is no exact date known as to determine when Jesus was born, it is celebrated in most Christian faiths on December 25th on the holiday of Christmas. The ministry of Jesus is largely documented in what is known as the new...
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...JV12293 Christianity is a living dynamic religion that gives depth and meaning to the lives of the individuals and the wider community who follow its teachings. This can be seen through the practice of initiation through Baptism, the ethical teachings which are supported by sacred texts and the example of Jesus Christ, this is further enhanced through the development of Feminism to bring about greater equality within the church. ! Throughout the development of Christianity an immense change in its beliefs, doctrines and practices has arisen. A notable impact on Christianity has been made by Feminist theologians as they strive to procure a voice and input for women within religious movements and traditions to which they belong to (Buckley, Amy, 2014). The aim for Christian feminists is to accelerate the equality between women and men spiritually, morally, and socially. It has been occurrent and more prevalent of feminists defending and fighting for their rights within religion over time trying to attain their eminent goals (Wikipedia, 2015). The goals that are sought to be achieved within feminist theology comprise of language within the sacred texts (e.g bible) to be gender inclusive, expanding the status of women and allowing them to be of religious authority, in addition to equality in general (ChristianityToday.com, 2015). Feminists within Christianity have worked towards altering the view that many have power and control over them to grant them coequality ...
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...Christianity is a faith based religious tradition, of which the follower is considered to be a Christian adherent. Thus, being a living tradition, Christianity is continually subject to change in accordance to the needs of the adherent and reaffirming the Christian tradition within a contemporary context. The aspects, which attribute the present existence of Christianity and its dynamism therein, include sacred texts and writings, ritual and ceremonies, beliefs and believers, and ethics. Ultimately, the aforementioned characteristics strive to form and continually validate answers to the enduring questions of life through a process of change, which simultaneously highlights Christianity as a living tradition. Sacred texts and writings are materials that are held significant by a religion as they contain key information that explains how people are connected to the supernatural dimension (Coleman, 2006). The significance of the sacred texts of Christianity is necessarily their ability to timelessly connect the adherent to the divinity of Christ, through which enduring life questions are answered allowing their contents to be expressed and lived differently (Our Lady of Mercy College, 2014). The Bible is given fundamental centrality in Christianity, as the supreme scared text, and it is an essential guide for the Christian adherent to model their life on the ministry of Christ. Christ’s golden commandment, embodied within the verse, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart...
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...Is Jesus Still Relevant in Today’s Society 1 Is Jesus Still Relevant in Today’s Society? Kevin Carr HUM 400 Professor Johns December 9, 2009 Is Jesus Still Relevant in Today’s Society 2 Abstract This paper is designed to answer the question posed in its title. In 2009, with countless religions on the horizon, numerous inspirational figures gaining popularity, and the focus on science to produce answers; the questions must be asked. Is Jesus still relevant in today’s society? That is exactly what I set out to answer throughout the course of this paper. The life of Jesus has been discussed, written about and even debated by many people in the thousands of years that have passed between his birth up until now; his life and even more so his death have undoubtedly made him a legendary figure. Some people deny he even existed, while others say his was merely a prophet and still even some call him their savior and revere him as God in the flesh. In this work I wish to uncover the overall mission of Jesus and to evaluate his effectiveness at fulfilling his stated purpose. Every messenger has a specific message. With that said we will look extensively at the message of Jesus and discover if his message has withstood the test of time. Is Jesus Still Relevant in Today’s Society 3 Most historians date the birth of Jesus to be around 5 BC. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (Matthew 2:1). Besides his birth, the early...
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...HUM/130 March 3, 2013 Andrew Stein Islam Islam is one of the most misunderstood religions of the world today. One attributing factor for this misunderstanding has much to do with the fact that in recent years, Islam has been in the spotlight because of heightened tensions in parts of the Middle East. This tension serves to put its culture under the microscope of world attention; and although it is a major part of the Middle Eastern culture, it happens to be so much more. Like Christianity, Islam is one of the fastest growing religions today and it is rapidly spreading for several reasons. Islam has a strong political and cultural base because it happens to be the state religion of Moslem countries. Its simple creed and tenets gives it a universal appeal, and the fact that it has no racial barriers and it embraces universal unity also helps it to spread rapidly in both African and American communities. Furthermore, easy communication and practicality of its Five Pillars also helps it to spread even more swiftly in the Western Hemisphere. Many sources are available that provide information for extensive research on the topic of Islam; however, personal communication as a source, provides a more unique perspective on this topic. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to highlight as well as to summarize a recent interview with an Islamic adherent as he gives his opinion on this topic. This summary will provide an in-depth report with regard to the Islamic experience...
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...religions of Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism and how these faiths interrelate to politics of nations. Islam has always been a very mixed within state and society as a whole, with no true line between church and state. Islam began in the Arabia by the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century, and is the second largest religion in the world today. Muslims are the followers of the Islam and believe in only on God, or Allah. Muslims base their beliefs on their holy book the Koran and the Sunnah. The Sunnah provides the five basic Pillars of Islam. These are: declaration of faith, praying five times a day, giving money to charity, fasting, and a pilgrimage to Mecca at least one time. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ataglance/glance.shtml) Since there is really no true division of church and state, Islam teaches religion, but also how to run a state, government, conduct business, etc. An Islamic state is based on five principles as follows. 1. Sovereignty of power. Muslims believe that Allah is the all-powerful who knows what is good and bad for society. They use the laws in the Koran to base concerning life and believe that laws must be put to practice by an Islamic state for the greater good of human beings. ( http://www.angelfire.com/bc3/johnsonuk/eng/dawa/politic.html) 2. Man is the agent to represent Allah. In this, man is to always behave as Allah would want him to behave. 3. Consultation. Islam also teaches how to run a government and make...
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...The Semitic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and the religions of Indian origin (Hinduism, Buddhism) are historically peaceful religions and thus will bring peace to the world today. Essentially, every world religion supports and professes ‘peace’ through their various sacred writings and scriptures. However, war and violence can certainly be recognised historically, and at present within religion. What is the notion of ‘peace’? And how exactly have these religions assisted in the promotion of peace historically? How may these religions help is creating a further peaceful world within the 21st century? This essay will discuss how two major world religions grasp diverse spiritual and religious traditions and how each of these religions has contributed to the future establishment of a global culture of peace. Peace cannot simply be defined as there are many different perceptions of the idea. Wikipedia attempts in defining peace as ‘A state of harmony characterised by the lack of violence, conflict behaviours and the freedom from fear of violence.’ However, Sandy and Perkins (2001) state that: “any attempt to articulate the nature of peace and peacemaking must address those conditions which are favourable to their emergence. Freedom, human rights, and justice are among such prerequisites. Also included are proactive strategies such as conflict resolution, nonviolent action, community building, and democratisation of authority.” The concept of peace must also...
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...million people throughout the planet today. | Origin of All Things | Most indigenous peoples have creation stories where they believe the Creator or Great Father in the Sky made the earth, the animals and all humans. | Nature of God/Creator | Many believe that they have lost touch or even forgotten about a Creator that their ancestors knew, but disobeyed. They believe the dark gods of the spirit world are the ones to be afraid of or to placate. Thus they believe that the Creator God, if there is one, is distant, removed and angry with them. | View of Human Nature | Humans are often seen as lost or wandering from a true path that was lost to the ancestors long ago. Humans are seen as capable of good or bad and under the influence of curses, vows, incantations, or evil spirits. In this sense, they may be animistic. Many have a special shaman or witch doctor who is supposed to help them connect to the spirit world. | View of Good & Evil | Good and evil are seen as forces that compete for dominance in a person and in the world. Sometimes there is an ethnocentric idea that ‘our’ group is the good one and all outsiders are ‘bad’. This idea can lead to wars and conflicts. | View of Salvation | The idea of the path or the way or a lifeway is their main idea of salvation. It is the path to the good. This idea is closely aligned with a responsibility for nature and this world. Oneness with nature is for some seen as a goal of life. Others see ‘salvation’ as surviving...
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...himself or herself to the person talking to him/her without any form of suspicion. This writeup is made to x-ray the importance of one-to-one discipleship as stated by our lord and saviour Jesus Christ. This report also focuses on the hinderances to this missing ingredient in christendom today. 1.1 Disciple In Christian usage a disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ, an adherent to the Christian tradition. A student, learner or pupil in the school of his/her master (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers) Someone who believes in ideas of a great teacher especially a religious teacher and tries to follow him. Someone who has an aptitude to acquire knowledge from a mentor (disciplar). Someone that accept the doctrine of his master without any logical reason. The example is that of Jesus Christ and His disciples. Matt. 10:24 says “the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord’’. In other words no man can ever expect to be greater than Christ, for He is the only Lord and Christ (Act 2:36). The word disciple appears in the bible 28 times, while the plural form (disciples) appears 244 times The disciple, as an adherent and follower of Jesus is a prominent figure in each of the four Gospels, and is the counterpart of Jesus in His role as teacher, as well as LORD (Matt 8:25) and MASTER (Luke 8:24). The NT also employs a verbal form (math¢teúein) for the act of being a disciple or making a disciple (Matt...
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...AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM To observant Muslims, ritual prayer is as natural as sleeping or eating. Islam is not just one component of its believers' lives, a set of beliefs remembered on special occasions. Rather, for the devout, it is a way of life. Its tenets and rules permeate almost everything, often including politics and government. In a world swayed by misunderstanding of cultural differences, Islam and its adherents often are stereotyped and caricatured, branded with the violent or sexist image of a small minority of zealots. In reality, Islam is no better characterized by acts of Middle Eastern terrorists, for example, than is Christianity by acts of Northern Ireland's terrorists. Islam is an ancient religion with profound historical and theological ties to Judaism and Christianity. All three religions worship the same God, acknowledge large parts of the same Bible and revere Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses. And, as do Christians, Muslims regard Jesus as the messiah. In fact, Islam teaches that it represents the modern mainstream of a primordial, monotheistic religion that began with the earliest humans. Over millennia, the religion took form with the early Jewish prophets, was modified significantly by Jesus and finally shaped by Muhammad, the final prophet, who died in 632. Among Muhammad's most important acts was rejection of the old Jewish concept of a "chosen people." Instead, he taught that all people are born Muslim and that anyone -- regardless of color, nationality...
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...with approximately 300 million adherents worldwide. Buddhism comes from 'budhi', meaning 'to awaken'. It is one of the largest religions in the world, just behind Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. For this study, I conducted an interview and researched the religion to gain a better understanding of their practices and beliefs. I also included a comparative section to help understand the differences and similarities between this religion and Christianity, one of the largest known religions. Buddhism is different from many religions because they there is no belief in a supernatural deity, known as nontheistic (Fisher, 2005, pg. 134). Buddha is not a God and is not worshipped as one. Buddha was the man that founded the religion based on his desires to end human suffering. Instead of worshipping a God, Buddhists follow beliefs that will eventually lead them to an enlightened life and Nirvana in the afterlife. The beliefs that they follow are known as the Eight Fold Path. This path is used to help humans end the suffering in their life and achieve liberation. It is based on The Four Noble Truths that Buddha set forth in his first Sermon (Fisher, 2005, pg. 135). The Four Noble Truths speak of suffering as an inevitable part of life. It states that suffering can be ceased through the ending of wants and desires, because these things cause our suffering in life. By understanding the Four Noble Truths and following the Eight Fold Path, followers can learn to liberate themselves...
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...Assignment notes Christianity vs. Judaism: The major differencesHere, in great brevity, is a summary of some of the major differences between Judaism and Christianity. | Principle | | Christianity | | Judaism | Nature of God | | Trinity | | Unity | Nature of Messiah | | Divine, Sin Sacrifice | | Only human, Righteous King | Atonement | | Blood Required | | Prayer and Repentance | Sin | | Everyone stained by Adam and Eve ("original sin") | | All begin with clean slate | Righteousness | | No one | | Within our power to choose | Satan | | Fallen angel | | Agent of God | Torah | | Written only | | Written and Oral | Commandments | | Not eternal or valuable | | Eternal and of ultimate value | Exclusivity | | Only Christians go to heaven | | All righteous have a place in the world to come. | Land of Israel | | Irrelevant | | Crucial | Jews | | Replaced by the church; or irrelevant | | God’s chosen people | Judaism is one of the world’s oldest religions, dating back up to 2000 years BC from the time when God first called Abraham to leave his home and follow Him. At that time, God made a covenant (or agreement) with Abraham in which He promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation and that one day his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan if Abraham followed him. God’s plan was gradually revealed through the Old Testament and built on with further promises to Moses, David and the prophets...
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...Mormons What is Mormonism? Who is a Mormon? And what place does Mormonism have in the religious tradition of the United States today? This paper will attempt to give readers a better understanding of the Mormon religion by detailing the history of the religion from its beginnings to today. It will also describe what a typical church or “temple” (as Mormons call their place of worship) service is like. It will also describe any holidays the Mormon people celebrate that correspond with the Christian holidays of other Christian sects. It will not attempt to judge the Mormon religion, as either good or bad, as has been so frequently done in the popular media. Rather than judging it, this paper will attempt to achieve a greater understanding of the religion in its context in the Christian religious tradition and the American religious tradition. In 1820, according to the Mormon faith, Joseph Smith (1806-1844) prayed to God to ask him for a sign that would tell him what church he ought to join. Instead, Jesus Christ and God appeared to the young man and told him he ought to found what the Mormon Church is today. Smith was fourteen at the time, a farmer from the region of western New York known as the "burned-over district" because of its unrelenting religious enthusiasm. (All About Mormons Website) Mormons believe that this revelation to Smith was similar to that of God to Saul. They refer to Smith as “The Prophet” because his revelation was transmitted to...
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...Christianity- The Largest Religion PREFACE “Universal Online Solutions”, presents a series of short articles on different religions. A Jew might contain more information on the Judaism. Same could be predicted about the followers of other religions. Then why to compose an article on any religion? That is for the two major reasons: First, all people do not have sufficient information on their own faith. It needs a lot of research to know about a religion. Some people manage to spend the required time and do the needed research. Majority cannot or do not concentrate on the religion. They have the faith because their predecessors had the same. A Christian child follows Christianity without any persuasion. This series will give the major information to its followers which they never struggled to obtain. The article will provide them all the necessary information about their faith in a concise nutshell. Efforts have been made, after extensive research work, to establish the basics of a faith, its worships, prayers, rituals, its history and all interrelated information in one thousand words or so. We have spent weeks in research to introduce this faith to our readers in its fullest context, enabling them to know all about their faith in a few minutes. Second, the individuals who are interested to know about other religions; but refrain to go through scriptures and revelations. This concise article will be of great interest to them. The article is neither a critical...
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