...Religion is a topic that has been universally debated tracing back to the beginning of time. Religion shapes our lives and the way we live our lives as well as the way people behave. There are too many religions to study and discuss in a single paper; therefore, this paper will take a closer look at Christianity as it is the most common religion in the world covering 33% of the world’s population (Fisher, 2005). Why do so many people believe the words of the Holy Bible and claim the Christian faith? Is Christianity the truth? To truly understand Christianity, we must dive deep into the Biblical teachings and share the primary foundation of their beliefs. “Christianity is a faith based on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus” (Fisher, 2005, pg. 284). In the beginning of this story we must start with Jesus’ mother, the Virgin Mary was visited by an angel, whom told her that she would conceive a baby and he would be the Messiah. She should name him Immanuel, which means God with us. An angel visited Joseph as well, who told him that Mary was blessed by the Holy Spirit and would have a son, who would save the people from their sins. Mary and Joseph obeyed God, the baby was born in a stable, laid in a manager and they called him Jesus, meaning God with us (Matthew 1:18-25, New International Version). At the age of 30, Jesus started his mission and selected a group of 12 disciples to help him share his message. He went place to place and preached about God’s love...
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...Jehovah’s Witnesses I have had some personal experience with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, my wife’s aunt and uncle are Jehovah’s Witnesses. This came in to play during our wedding in fact. We had the wedding at the beach, one of the deciding factors in our decision to have it there was to accommodate her aunt and uncle who are not supposed to go in to another denomination’s church building. I have never had the Jehovah’s Witnesses come to my door, nor have I before closely examined their beliefs. Still, because of the family connection I have some familiarity with parts of their doctrine. Jehovah's Witnesses are described as a millenarian, and a restorationist denomination of Christianity. (Beckford 1975) They maintain non-Trinitarian beliefs which set them apart from mainstream Christianity. The Jehovah’s Witnesses claims a membership of more than seven and a half million who actively engage in the evangelistic activities for which the sect is known (watchtower). In 2010 the Witnesses reported an annual Memorial attendance of over nineteen-million (watchtower). The Jehovah’s Witnesses are led by the Governing Body located in Brooklyn, New York (Holden 2002) who are closely associated with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. This group of seven elders establishes and controls all the doctrines of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Currently the members of the Governing Body are; Samuel Herd, Geoffrey Jackson, M. Stephen Lett, Gerrit Losch, Anthony Morris, Guy Pierce, and David...
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...overseas. J. N. Andrews was born July 22, 1829, in Poland, Maine. He quit school at age 11 and was largely self-taught. It is reported that he was fluent in seven languages and could recite the New Testament by memory. His uncle Charles, a member of the U.S. Congress, offered to pay for his training as a lawyer so he could follow a political career. However, early in 1845, at age 15, John accepted the Sabbath from a tract written by T. M. Preble. It changed the direction of his life. Andrews had a long and productive association with the church and with James and Ellen White. His name first appeared in Adventist literature at age 20 when he wrote a letter to the editor of the Review, James White, dated October 16, 1849. When the first Adventist press was set up in Rochester, New York, in 1852, he at age 22 was one of a publishing committee of three with Joseph Bates and James White. The next year Andrews was ordained to the Adventist ministry. By this time, 35 of his articles had been published in the Review. In 1855, at James White’s request and using Bible proofs, he wrote a paper which settled sunset as the time for beginning the Sabbath. Ellen White had a vision that confirmed his conclusions. (See Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 116.) In 1858 Andrews led out in a study of systematic benevolence, the forerunner of our church’s tithing plan. He published the first of several editions of History of the Sabbath in 1861. In 1864 he went to Washington, D.C., and secured Civil War non-combatant...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Andrew Murray on Practical Theology in the Christian Life Part IV Submitted to Doug Taylor, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of SEMI 500-B33 Introduction to Seminary Studies by February 22, 2015 Contents Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………...… 1 Thesis…………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 A Brief History of Andrew Murray……………………………………………………… 1 Section 1: The Influential Experiences of Andrew Murray…………………………….…..... 2 The Influence of His Family……………...……………………………………………… 3 The Influence of His Travel...………...……….…………………………………………. 3 Section 2: The Theological Foundations of Andrew Murray………………………………... 5 The Basis of His Character………………………………………………………………. 5 The Basis of His Position on Practical Theology…………………….………………….. 6 Section 3: The Personal Applications Found in the Life of Andrew Murray…….………… 6 The Impact of Practical Theology in His Life…………………………………………… 7 The Impact of Practical Theology in His Writings...…………………………………….. 8 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………..... 9 Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………….... 10 Introduction “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Jesus spoke those words to the disciples the night before his crucifixion. Genesis 6:22 tells us, “Thus did Noah; according to all [emphasis added] that God commanded him, so did he.” When a Christian learns how to obey Jesus, his love for the Savior increases...
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...African-American History Exam 3 Fall 311/2061 1. Economic and social inferiority for African-Americans are a result of: a. Laziness b. Slavery c. Willie Lynch Syndrome d. Immigrant workers 2. Which of the following countries is not considered apart of Africa’s Classical Civilizations: a. Egypt b. Nubia c. Ghana d. Kush 3. The first African-American Studies program was established at: a. San Diego State b. Harvard c. Berkeley d. San Francisco State 4. Denmark Vesey slave conspiracy took place in a. Connecticut b. Virginia c. South Carolina d. Louisiana 5. Oludah Equiano was the first African-American to a. Write his autobiography b. Escape from Slavery c. Purchase his freedom d. Killed trying to escape 6. The first African-American Heavyweight Champion a. Booker Washington b. John L Sullivan c. Jim Jefferies d. Jack Johnson 7. This author of A Tradition of Myths and Stereotypes: a. Joseph Harris b. Edith Sanders c. Eric Williams d. Walter Rodney 8. How many Africans were brought to the New World during the Atlantic Slave Trade according to Phillip Cutain; a. 60-100 million b. 9-11.5 million c. 3 million d. 57 million 9....
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...2015). The Renaissance came about after one of the many rounds of Black Plague. It is the belief that the huge death toll in Europe brought about the middle class. In order to understand the effect this had on Leonardo Da Vinci is the need to understand what life was like in his time period. Prior to the Renaissance, people lived as peasants on the lands of Kings and other nobility. They worked the lands and had to give servitude and payment to whomever they owed their fidelity to. When the plague decimated Europe’s population there was less and less servants to work the fields and castle, pay the taxes and protect the borders. It was now the nobilities turn to pay the peasants as they could be choosy as to who they worked for. (James, 2011). Now...
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...both men have a great impact on people throughout our nations. Muhammad is known as a great prophet to many Muslims and they worship him as one of the greatest. Jesus is known as God’s son, a man of wisdom and who was killed to save others of their sins. I will be writing about the life and deaths, and the differences between Jesus and Muhammad and what they mean to the religious people that follow them. Jesus Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary (0 BCE) in Bethlehem in a stable with animals. Jesus’s mother Mary was married to a man name Joseph who was a carpenter in Bethlehem. Jesus’s life and death were written in the Bible. As an adult he became a carpenter in the town of Nazareth. At the age of 30 Jesus was baptized by John and was said to have been followed by the first disciples. The names of Jesus’s disciples are Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Jesus informed his disciples that they had to give up all their material things in order to follow him and live the life the right way. He later became a public speaker and taught God’s word and was said to perform miracles. The miracles that was said Jesus had performed were turning water to wine, giving the blind their sight, walking on water, healing those who were paralyzed, turning fish and bread into enough food to feed many people, and to take the demons out of people who were possessed. He told the people that God was a forgiving God for those who asked for forgiveness of their sins. With the amazement of his followers...
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...trustworthy argument for the existence of God is often termed ‘the argument from perception’ as the one experiencing perceives that the experience itself is birthed by something or someone independent of the recipient . The logic behind the ‘argument from perception is that since there are so many people who at various times in history have claimed to have Theistic perceptions, there simply must be something to them’( Gellman,17,2001). Concerning the area of ‘Religious experience’ It is interesting to note that in an article for ‘The Guardian’ by columnist Mark Vernon, he cites renowned Harvard University psychologist and philosopher William James as stating that the ‘strongest evidence for the existence of God was found in personal, inner religious experience’ ( Vernon, 2010). After extensive studies of religious experiences and conversions, James came to the conclusion that there was a very stark difference in depth concerning religious experience or religious conversion in contrast with a general change in attitude in human beings, He states that, ‘Human beings generally undergo alterations of character in everyday life, being one person at...
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...Abortion 1 Running Head: ABORTION Abortion Abortion 2 Abstract Abortion has placed a varying degree of cultural and religious views thus creating tensions between women’s rights, and political views that have resulted in a social problem that is not allowing our society to progress and create a solution. Abortion 3 Pregnant women used different ways to practice abortion during the ancient times. They used herbs, sharpened instruments and also applied pressure to abdominal areas. It’s stated that the Egyptian people were the first to perform the very first abortion that was actually seen by individuals. The abortion didn’t involve a doctor or surgical instruments; it involved climbing, hot water on abdomen, weightlifting, climbing, and paddling. All these activities are things that most doctors tell pregnant women not to do. But the Egyptians used it as a form of abortion. The Romans started laws concerning the acceptance of abortion, but it didn’t start until the 13th century. Their reasons for abortion was to help with the sizes of families, protect how women looked, and also hide the fact if they were pregnant and not married. Doctors and scientist did many researches on abortion and said the only way a women could have an abortion was if the baby was still a fetus. This research was done during the 18th and 19th century. It was known as “quickening” the pregnancy. After the baby came out of the fetus stage, it would be impossible to perform an abortion...
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...United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws (Meese 35). Our country was established with the idea of freedom from religious persecution. Researching all the reasons why same-sex marriage is illegal, I have found that the argument “one man + one woman = marriage” is based upon biblical reasons. The bible has been interpreted many different ways and many religions can’t even agree on what is biblical law. Slaves are common in the bible but we do not obviously, and for with good reason, own any person. That is obviously wrong, and we have found that we should treat each person as equal no matter their race or sex. We have included in anti-discrimination laws to treat each person as equal regardless of race, sex, religion, and, most currently, treat each person as an equal no matter the person’s sexual orientation. So why do we forbid those with a...
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...From the author This book was birthed in obedience to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He continually prompted me to put on paper the many truths that He revealed to me over a period of time; allowing me to gain a broader understanding of the inquisitive nature of children. For me, it was indeed a learning curve, a total departure from my own perceptions about children and why they do, say and ask the things that they do. This book focuses on how we can support children to using their “nosy” tendency towards the development of a deeper relationship with the Lord. There is a hunger in every child to know more, and parents, Sunday school teachers, grandparents, uncles and aunts, etc. can play a very important and effective role in supporting the spiritual growth and...
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...THE DRAMATIC IRONY OF SOLOMON’S REQUEST FOR WISDOM INTRODUCTION King Solomon was a scholar and intellectual who knew the importance of discernment and wisdom in governing the people of Israel. He knew that it was important enough to ask God to grant him this wisdom rather than health, wealth or prosperity. The granted wisdom would ultimately lead to his downfall from God’s grace. Solomon, born to David at the height of his reign, never knew simplicity, David had erred once in fidelity, resulting in marriage to Solomon’s mother; Solomon erred many times over by marrying hundreds of pagan wives. Any service Solomon did perform for his people was more self-centered than other-centered. Living a lifestyle so far outside of God’s protective ideals resulted in a growing love for self, rather than for God. Solomon differed greatly from David, even early on, in his seeming lack of the passionate love for God that David possessed. His choices did nothing to kindle a growing love for the God he honored (Foster, 2005, 492). This paper will discuss how Solomon’s request for wisdom is an example of dramatic irony on the part of the Kings historian. This will be accomplished by defining what dramatic irony is and then examining Solomon’s character and the early years of his reign as king of Israel. The wisdom that he requested led to choices that he made in his personal and professional life that ultimately...
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...NORTH AMERICAN FICTION BRIEF INTRODUCTION: Before starting our study of American Fiction we must understand what American Literature is in itself and which pieces of writing we can include within this label. It is believed that when a piece is written in North America, more precisely in the USA, it would automatically be given this epithet. But it should be taken into account that this idea is quite broad and doesn’t reflect the real essence of the term. However, there is also another definition that gathers this essence: American Literature is the one that represents the Americanism, the singularity of the USA philosophy and culture. This way, instead of focusing on who the author is, it is focused on the content of the writing. In that which concerns Fiction, the following documents are the ones considered as narrative: Speeches Letters Short Stories Essays Political Documents Sermons Novels Diaries 1 FIRST LITERARY EXPRESSIONS The first documents in which the idea of Americanism is very present are the Sermons. They respond to the strict Protestantism settled in the New Continent after the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers and Puritans in the Mayflower (1620) and the Arabella (1630). They established a theocratic community whose main and only point of reference was the Bible. That is why the idea of the ‘city upon a hill’ is still very present in American mentality. As we all know...
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...WHO AM I AND WHAT BELONGS TO ME? All Scripture is taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION Of THE HOLY BIBLE, unless otherwise noted. Apostle Shon Sterling Simpson Table of Contents Introduction...................................................................................................................1 How I Met Christ...........................................................................................................3 Religion and Tradition.................................................................................................5 Authority in Prayer....................................................................................................10 Stinking Thinking.....................................................................................................15 Identity Crisis...........................................................................................................18 Spiritual Gifts..........................................................................................................21 Five-Fold Ministry Gifts........................................................................................24 Appendix A............................................................................................................27 Appendix..............................................................................................................29 Notes and Bibliography............................................................
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...Notes for the Course: Religion and Ethics in our Modern Society, 2012 By Dr H Ndlovu Definition and Nature of Christian Ethics Ethics is derived from the Greek word “ethos” that is also comes from another word “ethika.” Ethika means norms, conventions, values, customs the society. Thus ethics is a discipline that examines one’s moral standards or the moral of a society. These are absorbed from family, church and friends. Why Study Ethics There are nine reasons why human beings have to study ethics. 1. Human beings are capable of reasoning from cause to effect with the understanding that everything done has effect. 2. Human beings are capable of making choices after comparing the alternatives, that is, internal and external. People have two cells namely: a. Real – what we have now b. Ideal – what we are aiming at 3. Human beings are self – conscious. This means we can study ourselves by being a subject and be the object at the same time. 4. Human beings are finite or limited not knowing what will happen from the next moment or next door. Thus, we must have principles to apply when situations comes. 5. Human life is an active dynamic phenomenon – We do something as if we do nothing. 6. People also can be taught to be good (Isaiah 1 :18) 7. Human beings are capable of filing an obligation 8. Human beings are also capable of understanding what moral terms like freedom, dignity and so on affects other people. 9. Finally, human beings need to survive. Human civilization...
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