Abstract The following paper critically analyzes 'Beowulf', a collection of heathen tales of the early Northland, put together and shaped by a Christian Anglo-Saxon poet in the era of Bede who was influenced by both Greek/Roman and Church sources. This paper examines the significant parallels apparent between Beowulf's adventure and Christ's death, decent into hell and resurrection. However heathen the original story was, the writer argues that it is reasonable to suppose that the account of Beowulf's decent into the grim fen, his encounter with the demon-brood staining the water with blood and his triumphant emergence from it into joyous springtime is at least an allegory of baptism. The following paper gives ?Beowulf and the "Historic Age" a far fuller historical meaning and even greater artistic value than the writer would have if it were only interpreted on a story level. The writer contends that if one were to start from scratch and invent a story whose every detail was to allegorize the story of salvation (which C.S. Lewis did in his "Narnia" series, for example), one could not do much better than was done in Beowulf by using plot inherent in the ancient tales.
From the Paper ?A classic work of literature is one that endures past its own generation. One reason a work endures is because it can be read, enjoyed and promote thought not only for the author's contemporaries, but for people who read it for years to come. In order to do that, it must contain universal themes that remain true across times and cultures.One thing that successive generations of readers do with a classic is relate its themes to their own lives and times. A classic may mean one thing to one person who reads it and another thing to another person. Quite often readers recognize a simple story as an allegory for something else. A recent example of this is how the "Star Wars" saga has come to be "adopted" by Christian readers because Christians realized that many of the main concepts could be metaphors for Christian ideals. "The force" can be God or the Holy Spirit who helps the Jedi (those chosen to lead and defend the common people, or in the Christian tradition, the clergy or ministers or even "everyman" Christians) to fight "the dark side".?
Abstract This paper begins with a brief history of Muslims in America and discusses the government's attention toward Islamic concerns, political and religious outreach efforts, and media visibility in general.
From the Paper "The most common stereotype, among American society, concerning Muslims was that they were radical terrorists who hated the Western world. This false accusation became a great embarrassment for America when journalists and politicians, with little evidence, rushed to point fingers at Muslims during the early hours after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. As the investigation continued, the media was soon made aware that their rash judgment was wrong. Yet, more of the same happened after TWA flight 800 crash in New York in 1996 (Lebor)."
Abstract The paper shows that Flannery O'Connor has been acclaimed as well as criticized for merging comedy with brutality and tragedy through her literary work. Although her literary legacy is comprised of only 31 tales, 2 novels and a few letters and speeches, what has distinguished her from other writers is her ability to promote the South's identity and provoke examination of Christian dogma. This paper answers her critics and illustrates her substantial contribution to literature, particularly Christian literature.
From the Paper "Her work also concentrated on the degenerating South and its condemned citizens (http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/flannery.html, 1). O'Connor believed that the essence of the South is derived from a fount of faith and attributes "absorbed from the scriptures and from her own history of defeat and violation: a distrust of the abstract, a sense of human dependence on the grace of God, and a knowledge that evil is not simply a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be endured." O'Connor wished to portray the dualism involved in comparisons of grace and nature, the human and the God-like, the corporeal world and Heaven, the spirit/soul and the body - all competing components of Southern religion (Collum, 1995, 1). She presented a different perspective on Catholicism and the South, that no other writer had conveyed previously and which many writers afterwards sought to follow."
Tags: A, Good, Man, is, Hard, to, Find, A, View, of, the, Woods, Good, Country, People
Abstract By using examples and sources from the Bible, the author of this paper shows God's intentions for his followers on issues relating to the environment. The paper shows that Christian Environmentalists believe that the earth was given to Man as a gift with certain conditions and that Man is not fulfilling these conditions by destroying the earth and annihilating species.
From the Paper "There are many examples in the Bible of Christianity's environmental concerns. There is a broad belief in taking care of all of God's creations, and we, as humans are to be the caretakers. God put the responsibility of caring for the earth with man. Man is required to take care of the resources God put on earth. The Bible warns us that those who destroy the earth will be destroyed themselves. God has put man to watch over his creation and it is our commitment to do so that portrays the ideas about nature in Christian beliefs."
Abstract Charlemagne was one of the greatest emperors that Europe has ever seen and this paper details how he came to power, what it took to stay in power, and how he lost his power. Included is his involvement with the Church and the first Crusades to spread Catholicism.
From the Paper "During the reign of Charlemagne, from 768 to 814 A.D., the growth of the Church in the west gained increasing power over its eastern counterparts. Charlemagne, the son of Pepin the Short, was indoctrinated with the Christian religion early in his life, and as a result he grew to become the leading proponent of Christian belief throughout the west. He continued the role of papal protector in Italy and his father's policy of territorial conquest in the north. After defeating King Desiderius and the Lombards in 774 he crowned himself "King of the Lombards". He began to increase the size of his kingdom by forcibly converting "pagans" into Christianity. His most difficult conquest was converting the Saxons into loyal Christian citizens. Thus, after thirty-three years of war the Saxons accepted Charlemagne's terms and renounced their religion and customs and adopted those of Christianity, while those that refused were relocated throughout Gaul and Germany. In 800 A.D. on Christmas day Pope Leo III, who was imprisoned by the Roman aristocracy a year earlier but escaped to the protection of Charlemagne who then restored him as pope, crowned Charlemagne emperor."
Abstract The following paper examines how throughout time there have been, and still are, important similarities among many of the world's religions. The writer seeks to find in this paper any one aspect of religion that transcends every different sect. This paper argues that, with the presence of atheists in the world and their lack of belief in any god at all, be a single, divine source of all knowledge and understanding is difficult to create.
From the Paper "Certainly, it is possible that one of these is the true faith ? if by "true" we mean that there is a high correlation between the tenets of that religion and what anyone of us may find after death. But this seems unlikely for one simple reason: Surely if there were a single faith that was the true one than there would be far less disagreement about religion. If there were indeed only one true god (or goddess or pantheon), then it seems that this would have become apparent over the long course of human history. There might have been some disagreement over which faith was the real one, but over time it seems to me that whatever divine force was at the center of that religion would manifest itself to more and more people, who would adopt or convert to that faith."
Abstract The following paper examines the story of Noah ? or rather the story of the destruction of the world that exists at the beginning of time and then its recreation after a flood. This paper explores the fascinating aspects of Findley's book that reminds us that the story of Noah is really a story about how God admits to making a mistake and having to start again with a fresh slate
From the Paper ?The story of Noah and the flood is a fascinating one, not in the least because it allows us to draw connections between Christianity and a number of other religions. While it is certainly not universally true that all creation stories include tales of great floods, such stories are so common across the breadth of the world's cultures and the length of history that they seem to constitute more the rule than the exception.Timothy Findley's Not Wanted on the Voyage is thus more than simply a retelling of a biblical story; it is also a retelling of an essentially and nearly pan-human story, and we should read it in this context.?
Abstract This essay examines the content of Pre-Qin Chinese religious thinking, namely the religions of the Shang and Zhou dynasty. It explores the forces, which according to the religious beliefs of the Shang and Zhou people, controlled the human and non-human world. It shows that, according to these beliefs, the two worlds mentioned above co-existed and affected one another. Subsequently, the essay reveals that the ancient Chinese ideas about cosmic order and disorder were very closely related to the political domain.
From the Paper "However, at the same time, it can be argued that the human world also controlled, or at least affected, the non-human world. The term "non-human" can be defined very broadly. It simply means "anything that is not human". The people of the Shang Dynasty believed that natural happenings such as storms, droughts, comets or eclipses were affected by human conduct. They were seen as warnings sent by the heavens, so that ?human beings especially rulers might reform their personal conduct as well as their conduct of government.? It is clear that there was a belief that the behavior of the human world would affect the happenings of the non-human world- bad behavior would cause natural disasters."
Abstract The paper shows that one of the main focuses of religions are the "rewards" of living a religious life ? exactly what you are going to get at the end of your life for having devoted much of your life to the work, or ministry of your religion. This is a complex subject, one that cannot be generalized very easily among the vastly different religions in the world today. The paper explores how Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Shinto predict the afterlife.
From the Paper "Muslims (followers of Islam) believe that there is one Supreme Being to be worshipped ? Allah. They are taught through the Quran that life does exist after death, and this will begin when the Day of Judgment comes about. This Day of Judgment is the day when the fate of every person's soul will be determined based upon their "record of deeds", or what they have done while on Earth. Those who are true believers, and who have suffered persecution while on Earth will be greatly rewarded, and those who have not heeded what they have been taught about Allah will suffer greatly for eternity. In a similar fashion as Christians, Muslims live their lives in accordance with their moral standards (Five Pillars of Islam) and strive to attain a more perfect life within their lifetime. More specifically, the Quran speaks of how this life is in preparation of the next life ? every work that is done while in this life will effect the afterlife, which is motivation for Muslims to live better lives, and to be accepting of their persecution from outsiders, much like Christian beliefs."
Abstract This paper examines the reason the prophets John the Baptist and Elijah were sent by God to proselytize and is key in discovering the prophetic connection between the two devout men. The author states that they are stalwart examples of unwavering faith in the face of persecution.
From the Paper "The New Testament writers often refer to John the Baptist as the "New Elijah". The similarities between the ancient Israelite prophet from the Hebrew scriptures and the forerunner of Jesus Christ are striking. Both men were steadfast in their dedication to the true God, unwavering in the face of persecution, and similar in their demeanor. The only significant disparity in the congruity of their religious service occurred at the end of their lives."
Abstract The author illustrates because of many historical factors, religion among black people is the only institutional area that was permitted to develop to any significant degree. During several centuries of slavery other institutions were deemed illegal and remained relatively undeveloped. As the only significant social institution other than the black family, the Black Church has taken on multiple roles and burdens that differ from its white counterpart.
From the Paper "Black churches have remained overwhelmingly Protestant because blacks have little contact with Roman Catholicism. Some blacks have become Catholics, however, and because other religious orders refused black candidates, two communities of black nuns were founded - the Oblate Sisters of Providence in 1829 and the Holy Family Sisters in 1842. The first black American priest, James Augustine Healy, was ordained in 1854."
Abstract The paper provides a short history of male circumcision and its present day status in the world. It then provides a thorough examination of the arguments for and against circumcision. The paper shows that arguments for circumcision are the health benefits such as the reduction of HIV and penile cancer. Those against male circumcision claim that it is traumatic for the baby and that there is no evidence of health benefits.
From the Paper "Even though genital mutilation of females under the age of 18 is now a felony crime in the United States, after over 20 years of debate, boys however, are apparently not entitled to equal protection. ?This entire legal interpretation, aside from being in conflict with common sense, as well as British and American common law, is also in conflict with existing international law.? In the United Nations, the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers has acknowledged that male infant circumcision is, in fact, a form of child abuse. NOCIRC also presents information that male infant circumcision is clearly in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
Abstract A paper which discusses Jonathan Spence's book "God's Chinese Son: The Chinese Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan" about Chinese Christian missionary Hong Xiuquan who led the Taiping "Great Peace" Rebellion in a bid to gain power over China's major cities and succeeded in seizing Nanjing in 1853. By examining Spence's book, the paper delves into questions such as: What is the nature of Christianity and how should the missionary movement conduct itself in foreign lands? How did the Taiping Rebellion affect geopolitical forces, in China and abroad? Did the Taiping Rebellion carve the way for the Communist revolution in the following century? What does it mean to have a religious conviction and apply it with military force?
From the Paper "Christianity already had its claws in Asia by the 1840s, as did Western trade interests. China's Qing dynasty faced serious challenges to its integrity as it pondered the course of the nation's future. Protestant missionaries that had flourished in the 19th century began to distribute, on a large scale, religious tracts and Chinese-language Bibles. The impact of these missionaries and their publications might not have been foreseen by the Qing dynasty, which already had begun to splinter. It is within this chaotic and semi-stable environment, coupled with the personal stress of continuously failing his Confucian exams, that Hong Xiuquan had his spiritual visions."
Tags: Confucian Heavenly Father, Mother, and Elder Brother demon-devils Emperor Sir George Bonham
Abstract This paper discusses the stories of "Arabian Nights". The writer illustrates how the stories within the main story are told with the purpose of teaching lessons about life in the Islamic culture and religion.
From the Paper "The stories of "Arabian Nights" vary as much as the lands they originate from. However, all the stories have a spiritual message and a message about values during life. The stories talk about life and how to live it, based on the Islamic culture and religion. Each story gives the reader a vivid image of life in Islamic culture."
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to introduce, compare, and discuss the short story "Rappaccini's Daughter," by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Specifically, it will compare and contrast the characters with those of Adam and Eve in the Bible, and show their commonality. The paper describes the symbolism in the story in relation to the Bible.
From the Paper "From the very opening, the reader knows this is to be a story concerned with good and evil, as Giovanni lives in a home where the former occupant was a "partaker of the immortal agonies of his [Dante's] Inferno" (Hawthorne 293). Clearly, Rappaccini represents the Devil, as he is a truly evil and corrupt man. His lovely daughter, Beatrice, represents Eve, as she too spends her life in a garden, and drinks in the poisonous effects of the vile plants her father has grown. "
