Abstract This paper presents the Catholic view of the moral issues involved in abortion. The arguments are supported by various Christian sources, varying from the Bible, catechism, quotes from Pope John Paul II and the teachings of Jesus. The paper focuses on the reasons for the Catholic church's pro-life stance, concentrating on articles from the Catechism, biblical passages, the ten commandments and moral law.
From the Paper "Since the first century, the Roman Catholic Church has affirmed the moral evil of every produced abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable, despite the outlook of the law and society. Present society possesses a great dilemma on the issue of abortion. Many agree while others strongly oppose, making the issue very problematic. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to Catholic moral law and raises many ethical issues. Some of the issues surrounding abortion are the disrespect for human life and the promotion and acceptance of selfishness. Many moral questions are also raised regarding abortion being constituted as murder of an innocent child."
Abstract This paper examines "the doctrine of justification by faith alone" by one of the greatest minds of the past, Samuel Johnson, an influential Anglican, who argues against salvation for the infant and the mentally handicapped because of their impossibility of faith. The author points out that the Heidelberg Catechism stated an idea that begins to be more positive towards the salvation of infants and the mentally handicapped. The paper relates that some of the most modern concepts of the Protestant movement stress, without doubt, that their salvation is allowed.
From the Paper "Here, there is a hint that there might be circumstances under which Johnson"and by extrapolation, other thinkers of his day and certainly those to whom he preached"would accept the possibility of salvation for infants and the mentally handicapped. Or not. To Johnson, trust implied a kind of resignation to the honesty or abilities of the other. On that basis, however, Johnson opens himself up to other substantial criticisms. One of the most paramount is this: if trust is, as he believes resignation to the honesty or abilities of others, and the other in this instance is God, then is God not necessarily deserving of complete trust?"
Tags: impossibility, anglican, catechism, protestant, johnson
Abstract This paper describes the various sacramental initiations and ceremonies performed in the Catholic Church. The paper examines and explains each ceremony, discusses its purposes and emphasizes the belief that sacraments are holy events, in which the believer enters more fully into the mysteries of the Catholic faith.
From the Paper "One cannot locate the word initiation in one's Bible and neither would find it in the Baltimore Catechism. However if we look at contemporary Church documents there are numerous references to initiation, Christian Initiation and the Sacraments of Initiation. We will find them, for example, in the documents of the Second Vatican Council, the rites of the Catholic Church, the Code of Canon Law, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church."
Tags: christianity, belief, religion, rituals, ceremonies, bible, catechism, holy, jesus
From the Paper "General Background
This essay is concerned with the educational reforms of Martin Luther. Also discussed is the extent Luther's ideas were influenced by the needs of the Reformation, and how the reforms reflect his theology. The Bible was an excellent educational instrument. However, considerably more was required not only for children, but also for adults. As Roland H. Bainton points out:
The children should be taught at church, at school, and at home; and to that end pastors, teachers, and parents should receive prior training. Hence Luther's plea that Catholic schools be replaced by municipal schools with a system of compulsory education including religion. 'The Scripture cannot be understood without the languages,' argued Luther, 'and the languages can.."
Abstract The book is a social history of the social functions of Protestant Sunday schools, from their origins in the 1790s--when they were started to teach literacy to poor working children--to the 1870s, when they had evolved into the Bible or catechism study classes we recognize today.
A critical discussion of Michael Sell's work, "The Mystical Languages of Unsaying" in relation to the works of mystic writers, Jalaluddin Rumi and Marguerite Porete.
Abstract This paper discusses the 'aporia of transcendence' which is a dialectical catechism or 'speaking away' that is used in philosophy. The paper speaks of the 'aporia of transcendence' as it relates to the works of Rumi and Porete. The paper reviews the work on this topic written by Michael Sells. It provides much research on Michael Sells and two other mystic writers, Jalaluddin Rumi and Marguerite Porete.
From the Paper "'Mystical experience' has long been portrayed as a remote awareness that can be explained and contrasted amongst other types of experience. But, this assessment has been met with substantial criticism in the past two decades. Such methodology evolved over time as a result of an assiduous decline of faith in humanity to impart paradigms by which people could attain secure identities. If society neglects to present convincing authority in regards to questions of Being, individuals often recoil to the internal sanctum of thoughts and feelings. In the alluring, vivacious, and sinister recesses of private musings, existence is validated and given merit. The clandestine struggle of a Mystic does not lend itself to understanding or provide insight into the intricate scaffolding of inspired philosophy. As Michael Sells comments, Mystic writers like Jalaluddin Rumi and Marguerite Porete did not aim to illustrate a specific type of experience. They hoped to generate an appreciation of the framework in which things take place at all and the human relationship to this fixed totality. "
Abstract This paper reviews "A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God and Discipline of the Churches of the New Testament" in which John Owen attempts to explain the set-up of a Christian Church. Owen's work is presented in a question and answer format, which the review imitates by addressing each of Owen's questions and adding commentary. The reviewer also criticizes some of Owen's ideas, including his liberal outlook toward other sects of Christianity. The reviewer concludes by describing Owen's work as a catechism or explication of Christianity.
From the Paper "The first question that Owen poses is, "What doth God require of us in our dependence on him, that he may be glorified by us, and we accepted with him?" Owen's answer to this question is, "That we worship him in and by the ways of his own appointment." Owen believes that the worship of God is natural because of the nature of God and the nature of man. God's nature means that anyone who knows God must worship him. Furthermore, man was created so that he could honor God in the manner commanded by God."
Abstract This paper explains that, in John 3:16, it is stated that God gave the world his only begotten son. The author points out that the Hebrew culture strongly rejects a man who takes another man's wife or daughter without consent; therefore, Joseph would have feared the reciprocation that would come from having intercourse with the mother of God incarnate and, thus, Jesus could not have had any brothers. The paper stresses that, if Jesus did have brothers, it would not have been by the righteous man Joseph, who God chose to raise him. The author concludes that no where in the Bible does anyone talk about someone's grandfather or grandmother because multiple generational titles are a custom used mostly in the western world. The paper does not include a bibliography but does use in-text biblical references.
From the Paper "The response to my first argument would be that Mary was married to Joseph and had relations with him after Jesus was born. The problem with this is that God is and always has been Jealous. Further, although, Joseph was promised Mary, no where in the bible does it say the Joseph had relations with Mary. In fact, if he believed that Jesus was the son of God, which he did, he would have never known Mary in such away. For in Hebrew tradition, she would have been married to God himself."
