Abstract This paper looks at how the religion of Islam, Western modern culture and ancient African cultures and traditions all come together to create the "African culture". The writer claims that there is no one such culture and there is a patchwork of many cultures all fusing together. The countries of Mali and Nigeria are analyzed as an example.
From the Paper "From the distance of the New World, Africa may appear to be a relatively homogeneous country, black and exotic and poor and fighting a losing battle against AIDS. But Africa is no more homogeneous than is the United States. It is a fascinating and ever-changing blend of cultural values and social institutions, many of them shaped by the intersection of three essential forces: indigenous beliefs and values, Western cultural values and practices, and Islam. This paper explores how these three come together in Nigeria and Mali."
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to briefly introduce, discuss and analyze the prophet Isaiah as he appears in the Old Testament of the Bible.
From the Paper "Isaiah lived about 700 years before Jesus in Israel, during the reign of four different kings, and during a time of great unrest in the country. God sends him to help mend the Israelites ways, because they are facing a war with Assyria, and they have stopped worshipping God, they have become self-centered and preoccupied with their own lives, and they are sinners"
Abstract To better understand these two Founding Fathers and their attitudes towards Christianity, this paper compares and contrasts the sentiments of Thomas Paine ? author, pamphleteer, and political maverick ? and Benjamin Franklin ? scientist, author, politician, statesman, and diplomat. It examines their backgrounds, their familial upbringings, their personal experiences as young men: essentially, how their life experiences shaped and molded their thinking on Christianity. In many aspects, both Paine and Franklin share common grounds on religion, though there's sufficient diversification that they both publicly espoused and noted in print.
From the Paper "It's a surprise that America is not a Christian nation. The entire history of Mankind is replete with rising civilizations having a religion closely associated within the structure and framework of a nation's government and society, such as the Church of England in Britain. America's Founding Fathers had the foresight not to designate any one sect as the official religion of a nation. At no point does Christianity enter the context of governmental recognition or incorporation in the Articles of Confederation or the Constitution of the United States of America; yet, many ? if not all ? of the Founding Fathers were raised in one Christian sect or another. When the Puritans first fled England, they were seeking a place to live without religious persecution from the authorities. Their journey first took them to the Low Countries of Europe and eventually to the New World of America. These Puritans were looking for a new home where they can live their lives, raised their families, become prosperous, explore new lands, and worship freely. As England expanded its colonies in America, religious institutions and houses of worship became the cornerstone of any community from Maine through Georgia, but, still, Christianity never became America's national religion."
Abstract This paper discusses St. Augustine's sin of stealing the pears and what made him do so. It details the commentary on this, what was going through St. Augustine's head, and what were the consequences of his act. It describes how St. Augustine became one of the greatest doctors of the Catholic Church and details his great achievements despite this incident.
From the Paper "St. Augustine's account of his stealing the pears is a starkly honest confrontation of his ? and man's ? wretchedness without God. He freely admits that stealing is against God's law, which is inherently etched in the heart of man, a law which not even sin can erase. Nonetheless, man steals -- and Augustine stole those pears, not out of want for something to eat or any other need for them, nor for the desire to own the fruits because of their exceptional quality, such as color or taste. Augustine writes that he stole simply because he "lusted to thieve" (p 4 par 4). He revealed that the act came out of being habituated to sin, ?a pampered ness of iniquity.? (p 4 par 4), which inclined him to no other pattern of acts but the wrong ones. He said it exactly and clearly but in repentance, that it was out of a joy for the evil that he sinned by stealing: ?It was foul, and I loved it.? (p 5 par 1). It was doing something wrong for the preference and enjoyment of evil."
Abstract This paper explores the main themes of Jeremiah's writings. Jeremiah begins by condemning the people of Israel for their idolatry. He speaks of them as adulterers and harlots before the loving face of their Lord. He condemns their corruption, their lack of social justice, their greediness and cruelty and the fashion in which they put everything from wealth to ritual to appearances before the honor of God and the needs of the poor among them.
From the Paper "In chapter after chapter, Jeremiah explores the depravity of his people, and prophecies that they shall receive in just measure as they have sown. He declares that utter destruction is coming upon them: the people of the foreign gods they have embraced will crush them, their cities will be razed, their children killed, their own God will turn his back on them. Jeremiah speaks poignantly about a coming time of exile, when the people of God will no longer be allowed to remain within the promised land which they have so defiled. Yet Jeremiah is also traditional in his promise that God will not remain angry forever. He explains to the people that in time God will turn his face upon them again."
Abstract This paper is an in-depth examination of people's belief or non-belief in God. The author attempts to show some of the areas of conflict between believers and non-believers, including does God exist, do we have to believe in God to live a full life, and exactly how important is God in our every day life. The author looks at how different religions, authors, philosophers and theorists have attempted to answer these questions since the beginning of time.
From the Paper "The Intelligent Designer theory has gotten more sophisticated. Some of its proponents are Dr. Michael Behe- who proposed ordered creationism at the molecular level, and Philip E. Johnson, the self-styled leader of the Intelligence Designer movement. These theorists aver that the complexities of living beings, the mechanisms within even a single living cell, the balance of everything in nature, are unfathomable when looked at from a perspectives of evolutionists?the number of random permutations that had to occur before it all fell into place. In other words, the natural order of things we see around and within us had to have been pre-designed. The Intelligent Designer theory from a standpoint of astronomy is known as the ?anthropic principle.? Astronomer Sir Edward Hoyle and Mathematician Chandra Singh, both avowed atheists, calculated the odds that the world as we see it occurring by chance are 1 in 1040,000"truly, a number unfathomable even by astronomical standards. South African Astronomer David Block has observed that the Universe is expanding at the right rate and balance that sustains life on planet. There is an inbuilt design factor that cares for the universe"God the Intelligent Designer."
Abstract This paper details the similar origins of Hinduism and Jainism, explaining that both evolved from the ancient Vedic religions in the region of the Indus River. The similarities of custom and dress of the followers are given as well as their ideas about rebirth, salvation and heaven. The paper looks at their religious literature and their different ideas on the purpose of life.
From the Paper "Jainas and Hindus do not outwardly appear to be different. They are alike in many ways such as dress, occupations, games, language, literature, outlook on life, behavior, superstitions, religious festivals and fasts, sacraments, rituals and diet. Their similarities would not seem so great if we only examine the surface [Liebert, 1976]. However, that is where the similarities end. The Jaina deities, temples, places of pilgrimage, holy days, fasts, festivals, rituals and ceremonies are quite different from those of the Hindus. Although to the Westerner, they may appear to be the same. "
Abstract The paper first takes a look at the women accused and their backgrounds and pleas. Its inspects each one's life and social backgrounds and why it was thought that they were witches. The paper also includes recent studies as to why these poor women were thought to be witches by the towns people in Salem.
From the Paper "Witchcraft has historically been a part of English folklore and theology. Obsession with paganism began with a vengeance following the Reformation and, unfortunately, continued when many moved their families to the New World to avoid religious persecution. Though men were occasionally accused of practicing witchcraft, it was primarily women who were targeted. Why? The male-dominated society maintained that women, being the weaker sex, were more susceptible to the temptations of Satan. "
An analysis of the book "From Longhouse to Village" by anthropologist and missionary R. Daniel Shaw, regarding the study of mixing Christianity and native cultures together.
850 words (approx. 3.4 pages), 0 sources, 2002, $ 30.95
Abstract This paper examines Shaw's study and shows how he focuses specifically on the Samoan culture and its familial, organizational, and political structure. Shaw suggests that the introduction of Christianity profoundly changed the course of Samoan life through the process of ?syncretism,? or a blending of new cultural life with the old, a result of introducing outside religious structure in combination with indigenous social structures.
From the Paper "Can a person worship Christ on Sunday and visit a witch doctor on Monday morning for a healing remedy?? This question forms the central thesis of the book, From Longhouse to Village by anthropologist and missionary R. Daniel Shaw. (Shaw, p. 17) In his text on Samoan social and religious life from its inception to the present, Shaw puts forth a radical thesis viewed through a Christian, missionary lese. He suggests the anthropological thesis that apparently minor changes in the level of technological and philosophical religious development and the social and political organizational structure of a culture can have a profound effects on the way that culture changes and develops."
Abstract This paper begins with an introduction describing the magnitude of the Hindu religion. The history of the religion is discussed, emphasizing the importance of the ancient vedas and the Arya people. The wheel of rebirth is also discussed.
From the Paper "It is said that by the first century of the third millennium, approximately one billion people in the world will be Hindus. Apart from the millions of people outside India, who live their lives in accordance with the principles of Hindu thought, around 550 million Hindus live within the frontiers of India. Most of the people of India direct their lives by the Sanatana Dharma, which means eternal law. Within this eternal law, which is usually referred to as Dharma, there are many beliefs that interpret Hindu beliefs on life and death."
Abstract This paper traces the allegorical references to the Bible in Hawthorne's novel. The writer shows how the aspect of sin in prevalent in every aspect of the novel. The story tells the tale of a young preacher and his mistress and of original sin. Original sin is seeking self-gratification or placing the self above the community. The writer shows the parallels of stories in the Bible and in the novel - the Garden of Eden, the sin of the apple and others.
From the Paper "Sin is prevalent in society. There is no escaping the burden of sin. These facts are brought into view through Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. When the woman gives birth to a child, the sin of adultery comes into plain view of the Puritan society surrounding them. According to the Puritan view, there must be accountability for such actions. Such Puritan views originated from devout practice of biblical law, especially the Old Testament. There are several allegorical references to stories told in the Holy Bible. The story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden parallels that of Hester and Dimmesdale, while the life of Hester closely resembles that of Queen Esther."
Tags: allegory, Bible, Hawthorne, Nathaniel, sin, community, Puritan, holy, Adam, Eve
Abstract This paper analyzes the meaning of life. The writer gives a personal and brief account about what he considers to be the most important aspects of life and the reasons for living.
From the Paper "It seems as though everyone is looking for something - objective answers to subjective questions. That is philosophy. One of those philosophized questions is to the meaning of life. The word "meaning" can be defined as "to give purpose". I believe this purpose of life is the act of LIVING. Life is a journey through a time of many physical experiences and cognitive development. It is this constant evolution of each thought and experience building upon the previous ones that is known as living. In living life, one considers from which he came, the variety of emotions and feelings, and the awareness of living."
Abstract The writer of this paper shows how Anselm (1033-1109), philosopher, theologian and church leader presented an argument for the existence of God that has been debated by philosophers and academicians for centuries. The paper shows that from the beginning, Anselm's argument has been met with criticism, appreciation and interest by philosophers such as Kant, Descartes and Spinoza. The writer is of the opinion that, after studying the argument, although interesting, it has certain basic flaws, which he attempts to bring out in this paper.
From the Paper "While analyzing Anselm's argument and focusing on its weaknesses, the obvious question arises: Why has the argument fascinated so many philosophers over the years, if it was such a weak argument? The answer probably is that it is difficult to prove Anselm's argument wrong logically. Even Kant's argument that ? existence is not a predicate? has been challenged by others who have argued that there are senses in which existence is a predicate. So the controversy of and fascination with Anselm's argument is far from over and is likely to continue."
Tags: Book, on, Behalf, of, the, Fool, Lost, Island, Proslogium, Gaunilo, Liebniz, RAA
Abstract This paper is an in-depth exploration of the role of the Apostles after Christ's resurrection. The author details 'The Acts' and its teachings, which marked the beginning of Christianity. The Apostles' goals in the aftermath of Christ's death and resurrection and the roles they played in shaping the development of Christianity is examined in detail. Some of the topics discussed include the sins of the people, the life of Saul, who became Paul, and many of the issues surrounding Baptism and the occurrence of miracles.
From the Paper "As well the apostles are required to help the world understand the teachings of Christ and to encourage them to carry forward the word of the Lord themselves, that is, in order to be converted and Saved. To that end, Peter performs a miracle, and both he and John preach the word of God to the people; as a result, the people begin to sell their possessions and give their lives over to Christ. An enraged Jewish authority then arrest the apostles for their heresies about resurrection and their apparent threat to what the authorities would have felt was their own just and rightful leadership. The apostles proclaimed Christ to be the one true power, and though the authorities were swayed by their "notable miracle" (4:16), they chose to contain their voices by commanding them not to speak, nor teach, the Word of the Lord. Of course, the apostles would return to their teachings in the temple, performing miracles, and would again face conflict with the authorities."
Abstract The paper looks at the development of the Church of England from its beginnings as an English version of Roman Catholicism, to its later establishment as Protestant English, the basis of both Church and State in England. The paper asks why the counter-reformation failed under Mary Tudor, and how the Church established its law. It also examines in what respects and to what extent had the Church of England by 1553 became a Protestant Church.
From the Paper "The church in England by 1553 had passed through a series of phases from the time of Henry VIII's 'Great Matter' to the death of his son Edward. By examining the different actions taken over the years we can begin to see how the church changed from Henry's view of an Anglican Catholic institution, unconnected with the strident, evangelical Protestantism of Germany to a Protestant church in England which would survive the attempted counter-Reformation of Queen Mary. The Church of England was founded on a basis that was both clerical and secular, and was enforced on the people by methods that were in turn both harsh and more circumspect. We will examine both types of methods and look at the role played by the bishops of England, the people of the country and by those who possessed lay power in the Council and magistracies."
