Abstract This paper discusses Roman Catholicism. The author describes the beliefs and practices of Roman Catholics as well as the history and formation of the religion. The paper explains Catholics' idea of sin and belief in angels and Satan and also how Roman Catholicism differs from other denominations of Christianity.
Outline:
Introduction
Catholic Beliefs
Catholic Philosophy
Who is Catholic?
The Practice of Catholicism Holidays
Sharing the Gospel with a Catholic
Works Cited
From the Paper "Instead, bringing the Gospel to Catholics may require some extensive theological studies, so that one can argue about the true facts behind Christianity and the deception practiced by the Catholic Church. For example, one of the main tenets of Catholicism is that only celibate men can be members of the priesthood, based on the idea that Jesus only chose men as his Apostles. However, there is substantial scriptural and historical support for the idea that Mary, Mother of God, and Mary Magdalene were among Christ's first Apostles. Mary, Mother of God, certainly played an important role in the beginning days of Christ's church. Moreover, the Catholic Church has spent the last 2,000 years decrying the importance of Biblical writings that stress the equality of women, despite the fact that historical and Biblical experts place these books as part of the Bible."
Abstract This paper begins with a general definition on the Roman Catholic denomination of Christianity. The paper focuses on the the origins of Catholicism and offers a historical review on this topic. In the conclusion the author offers a personal opinion on findings, and mentions the theories that doubt the existence of a historical Jesus.
Table of Contents:
The Roman Catholic Version
The Historical View of the Origins of the Catholic Religion Conclusion
Works Cited
From the Paper "Very few non-Christian writings from the period mention Jesus or Christianity. Only the work of four major non-Christian historians contains any mention to Jesus or Christianity. They include Josephus, a Jew and Roman citizen who wrote Antiquities of the Jews in 93 AD; Pliny the Younger (c. 63-113 AD) who was a lawyer and philosopher in ancient Rome; Suetonius (c. 69-110), a Roman historian and biographer; and Tacitus (c. 56-117) another important Roman historian. Even the writings of these writers about Christianity are extremely sketchy and do not throw significant light on the light and teachings of Jesus, his early followers or the origins of Christianity. In fact the passage in Josephus' "Antiquities" about Jesus has been noted by some scholars to contain several "internal indicators" that are seem to be inconsistent with the rest of Josephus' writing, indicating that part or all of the passage may have been interpolated by later Christians."
Abstract This paper studies the dramatic changes and upheavals Roman Catholicism has faced in its three hundred year history in the U.S. The paper discusses how individual Catholics and their church have at times been the targets of glaring religious prejudice and discrimination. The paper also examines the relationship between the American church and Rome, citing that while the the church was established by Rome, it was actually later condemned by the Pope himself. The paper then examines how the American Catholic church settled back into a period of calm obedience with the Papacy, before once again becoming a noisy, fractious divided place of worship over the last four decades.
From the Paper "Remarkably, Americans began their branch of the Roman Catholic Church in distinctly democratic fashion. The first diocese began in Baltimore in 1789, and the first American bishop, John Carroll, was elected the following year by clergymen of the diocese. These clergymen and even Carroll himself envisioned the continuation of this elective process, though, of course, Rome's approval would be required for all choices. Indeed, they also envisioned a church grounded in principles of religious tolerance that would be open and inviting to all, and, of great importance, in which Mass would be said in English. However, it did not take long for this vision to fade. Under prodding from Rome, by 1800 the elective experiment had been abandoned and Rome was making all appointments of bishops. Soon, Latin displaced English in church ceremonies and services, and the American Catholic church more and more resembled a virtual clone of the ancient European model. At the same, American independence slowly slipped away (Gillis 58)."
Abstract This paper is an in-depth examination of the influence of the west's major religions on both classical and modern societies. Greek and Roman society are examined to illustrate how religion was first used as a political tool during these times. The conversion of Roman emperors to Christianity had a huge influence on the spread of Christianity throughout Europe. It looks at the rise of Christianity, and how minorities were affected, including the Muslims and Jews, and how during these times religion was used as a political tool to control these other populations. The author touches upon the Crusades, the Middle Ages and Protestantism in order to demonstrate Christianity' influence on policy and society during these different periods of history.
From the Paper "During the centuries immediately following the fall of Rome, Christianity became more and more powerful as this monotheistic faith began to conquer the older pagan beliefs. The process by which Western Europe lost both the classical religions brought to it by Greece and Rome along with its own indigenous religions and became Christian was a complex one and certainly not unified across the continent. Early European Christianity was no more perfectly uniform than classical Greek religion had been ? or arguably than modern European Christianity (Smith 78). Also, it should be noted that Christianity did not spread across Europe without opposition from the various native religions already being practiced, and now usually called collectively pagan. But the old gods would in general not prove to be very effective in their attempts to hold their own against the three kinds of Christianity that would spread across Europe: Roman Catholicism in the west and southwest, Protestantism in the north, and Eastern Orthodoxy in the east and southeast."
Abstract This paper argues that the basic characteristics of Italian's popular religion are the same characteristics that ultimately, have prevented the United States of America from developing a popular religion in its own right. These characteristics include political resistance and reaction against the power of the preexisting and prevailing dominant religious power force - Catholicism; social atmosphere that arises from an evangelical value that unites from and is sustained by religious symbols and rituals; and, an overall cultural feeling of fidelity to the sacred, to the past.
From the Paper "Popular religion is a religion of the people, one that is practiced rather than prescribed. Badone (1990) states, "popular religion can be referred to as those informal, unofficial practices, beliefs, and styles of religious expression that lack the formal sanction of established church structures" (4,6). Not merely a religion set apart from traditional Catholicism or Protestantism, its foundation lies in the friction of politics, where popular religion serves to unite the people, and becomes a reaction to the pre-existing religious power structures that oversee society. Essentially, it is a social creation intertwined with political dissatisfaction and the preservation, and restructuring of, sacred religious values. In this paper I will argue that the basic characteristics of Italian popular religion are the same characteristics that ultimately, have prevented the United States of America from developing a popular religion in its own right. These characteristics include political resistance and reaction against the power of the preexisting and prevailing dominant religious power force - Catholicism; social atmosphere that arises from an evangelical value that unites from and is sustained by religious symbols and rituals; and, an overall cultural feeling of fidelity to the sacred, to the past."
Abstract This paper explores the relationship between politics, religion, and literature from James I through William III, paying special attention to the move towards greater religious toleration in England as well as the rest of Europe. The literature of John Donne and John Milton is used to exemplify the changing times and numerous quotes from outside sources are used to back up main points.
From the Paper "The 17th century was a time of great political and religious unrest in England. The era saw both passive and militant Protestants and Roman Catholics be put on the throne, as well as the first and only Lord Protector in Oliver Cromwell, in the country's quest towards ultimate religious toleration. Most of the political upheaval of this era can be traced to fundamental religious differences dividing the country at the time. Brave and ground-breaking literary figures such as John Donne and John Milton emerged during this era, questioning the traditional values that had stood for so long as integral parts of the Church, playing their part in extending the fractioning of Christianity that had been started a century before by Martin Luther. By the time of the Restoration the view of Kingship would have changed considerably and great strides toward the goal of religious tolerance and understanding among the growing number of sects would be made."
Abstract The author explains how recent world events have highlighted the plight of women in several given societies with many atrocities still occurring against women in the name of religion. He contends that while some religions embrace the contributions of women, others completely ignore or forbid it. In some religions, women are encouraged to participate fully in the activities of the church, in others; women are not even allowed to enter places of worship. In addition, the social treatment of women differs according to the religion embraced by each particular society. While women are regarded as equals to men within some religious cultures, other cultures view the woman as little more than a slave and piece of property. To depict the realities of the statements made above, two religions and the way each regards and treats women are covered in this paper: Hinduism and Sikhism. Toward this end, the basic tenants and beliefs of each of these religions is provided.
From the Paper "The Hindu religion has developed over the last four thousand years, and lacks the organizational hierarchy found in many other religions. Unlike Western religions, Hinduism is a mixture of many beliefs and aspects, including that of magic, nature worship, animal veneration, and an unlimited number of deities and idols. In other words, the Hindu's find religion in almost everything, such as places like the Himalayan where they believe the God's live. The basic tenants of the religion hold that, "the multiplicity of gods and goddesses in its pantheon as manifestations of the one divine spirit, Braham" (Smart 70). According to Hindu?s, Braham is the "ultimate level of reality, a philosophical absolute, serenely blissful, beyond all ethical or metaphysical limitations" (Kussman and Jain, 83). In Hinduism, the basic view of God is one of "infinite being, infinite consciousness and infinite bliss" (83). Another important aspect of the Hindu religion is that of rituals. In Hinduism, these rituals include such activities as the lighting of incense, bathing, eating, and marriage ceremonies, all of which are meant to show that God is in everything (Smart 71)"
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses how the mystery religions influenced the religion of Christianity. The writer explores a number of the ancient mystery religions. The secret rituals of these mystery religions as well as their similarities are discussed. Most importantly, the writer examines the impact of these religions on Christianity and discusses why they are no longer practiced.
From the Paper "By the end of the first century small communities of Christians could be found in many of places in the Greco-Roman world. According to Jeffrey Sheler, writing for U.S. News World Report as the movement expanded during the second and third centuries, it proved to be anything but simple to deliver a consistent message. The early Christian church was torn by persecution and internal division as Christians struggled to understand and apply the meaning of Jesus' life, death and resurrection in the religious ... "
Tags: mystery religions and their impact on Christianity, historical context, Isis
Abstract The paper looks at magic and religion in Roman Egypt. In general, the paper explores religion in Roman Egypt. It looks at how Rome was a multi-religious empire and the Egyptians tended to use a lot of magic in religion. The paper explains how Christianity combined with the Egyptian religion to create the Coptic religion.
From the Paper "The Roman Empire was one of the greatest empires of the ancient world. According to Chris Brazier in "The No-Nonsense Guide to World History," "From about 275 BC to 50 AD Rome created a massive empire that included the Mediterranean region, most of Europe and parts of the Middle East" (Brazier 35). As this empire expanded it encountered countless cultures that were eventually assimilated into the Empire. Although these cultures were conquered they did not cease to exist. The cultures continued to survive within the Roman Empire, they were just somewhat repressed."
Abstract Religion plays a key role in the works of both Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx and a close look at their respective views on religion are therefore very important. With that in mind, this paper argues that, while both Durkheim and Marx are not strong advocates of religion, Marx is especially sharp in his denunciation. In particular, whereas Durkheim does see some salutary effects associated with religious practice - such as the promotion of social solidarity as well as a collective moral code - Marx views religion as being basically an appendage of the capitalist establishment. More than that, Marx's vision of both religion and of capitalism is so unflattering that he compares the former to an ancient Near Eastern religious sect which favored the sacrifice of children to an obscure deity.
Abstract By first examining religious phenomena, Durkheim's emphasis on the individual aspects of religion is outlined in this paper. This follows an examination of the typical functionalist ideal: That in order to understand a society, you must first examine its parts. It explains that Marx does not examine the facets of society, but this is because Marx is a materialist. Thus, Marx focused on the material foundation of religion, this being its economic origins. The paper then examines how Durkheim and Marx are very similar, as they both believe religion was created by society. It shows that, despite the differences in their respective paradigms, Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim's sociologies of religion are very similar.
From the Paper "There are many different paradigms within the study of sociology; each leads to a different conclusion regarding society. Two of these paradigms are evident in the work of Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx. Durkheim was a functionalist, Marx, a realist. The functionalist perspective can be defined as "The doctrine that the function of an object should determine its design and materials"(Functionalist, 2002). Thus, in order to understand society, one must examine its parts and their functions. Materialists, on the other hand believe "that physical matter is the only reality and that everything, including thought, feeling, mind, and will, can be explained in terms of matter and physical phenomena" (Materialist, 2002). These opposing theories are evident in much of their respective works, as Durkheim's description is more detailed and functional, and Marx's is more purposeful. However, with regards to the sociology of religion, these differences are only skin-deep. Contrary to common belief, their underlying arguments are actually quite similar as will be proved subsequently."
Abstract This paper goes into detail regarding the religion of Santeria. It discusses different aspects of the religion, the similarities it has to other religions, and includes problems it faces in today's society.
From the Paper "Religion, in some ways, confuses me. They all claim to be so different yet, when one takes a close look at them, they all have striking resemblances to each other. I was raised in a Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox household. Although both had some differences, anyone could see all the similarities that they possessed. All religions pick, choose, and blend from other religions and form a new version. A type of creolization if you will. Different aspects of two similar religions (Catholicism and Yoruba) were blended together to form what we now know as the worldwide religion of Santeria. In this paper I will be discussing the origins of this fascinating religion, what it entails, and a couple of the problems that people who practice the religion face."
Abstract The writer of this paper details how in the face of advanced science, people still turn to religion as their savior. This paper explores at length how religion affects personality while also analyzing the two forms of religious behavior, which have been recognized in recent research and are known as intrinsic and extrinsic. This paper also explains that religion, the conviction-faith of the personality, can triumph over despair born in the unbelieving material mind. Differing cultural views and religions are discussed and reviewed as well.
Relevant sections in this report include:
Introduction
Analysis
Conclusion
Bibliography and References
From the Paper "The effect of religion on an individual comes at two planes: the societal plane and the individual plane. At individual plane, it varies from the extremely benign to psychotic. Without generalization, one can say that the final influence of religion, how it molds a personality and how its ultimate effects on the personality turn out, depends a lot on the way religion is treated by the individual. In most cases, the effect on personal lives of people is benign. The people who are religious, are more likely to be, family men, more adjusted, more balanced in their outlook, more 'normal' in most senses, provided they are not extremists, not given to illusions of grandeur, not suffering from prejudices and jaundiced views about specific groups and specific ideas, and are not predisposed to hate followers of other faiths. This may look like a long list of 'ifs' but it all boils down to one thing: a middle approach."
Abstract This essay critically assesses the contribution of cultural sociology to the understanding of religion. It does this by first examining and summarizing how three "classical sociological theorists" (i.e.: Weber, Durkheim and Marx) see the nature of religion as a cultural form. It then looks at various recent theories of religion under globalization. The author then assesses the contribution that these cultural theories give to the understanding of real religious phenomena through examining whether they can help in an understanding of Islamic fundamentalism in general, and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Algeria specifically. The paper includes extensive use of quotes from the three theorists.
From the Paper "In fact, according to Giddens, Marx believed that religion is the "opium of the people" (Giddens, 1996, p464). In other words, Marx believed that religion defers happiness and rewards to the afterlife, teaching the acceptance of existing conditions in this life. This means that attention is diverted away from inequalities and injustices in this life by promising a better future in the Afterlife. In addition to this, Budd believes that Marx thought religion not only reflected the suffering of the working class, but offered a "fantasy escape" from that suffering (Budd, 1973). Marx believed that religion had a very powerful ideological element, and that religious beliefs and values often provide justifications of inequalities of wealth and power (Giddens, 1996). He further claims that religion often has ideological implications which serve to justify the interests of the ruling class at the expense of other subordinate classes (Giddens, 1996)."
Abstract This paper considers the belief that countries where religion has a major influence in governance, tend to develop slower than those where religious beliefs are not a main influence or consideration. The role that each of the four major monotheistic religions play in impeding the development of a country is examined and several third world countries are used as examples to support this claim.
From the Paper "The four major monotheistic religions in the world all tend to bar changes in one's life. Their faith or lifestyle does not involve material acquisition and is even hostile to it. They are bound to the wiles and stated will and preferences of an unseen Deity. Their happiness consists precisely in denying their own progress and contentment, the furthering of their blessings and potential. India is a supreme example of this. But this blind adherence to brutal fate and faith is also taken advantage by some opportunists, such as in the case of terrorists and dictators."
