Abstract This paper examines the difficulties in creating a multi-denominational and multicultural congregation. The author lists the major factors for creating such a congregation and provides an historical overview of Pentecostal, Christian, Caucasian and African-American, Roman Catholic, and Messianic congregation to support his opinion.
From the Paper "Creating a truly multi-denominational, multicultural, congregation from the ground up is a difficult challenge. Part of this has to do with the fact that historically, a cultures identity gets lost in the loss of ritual and community. A charismatic congregation seems to have the most open forum for spiritual expression it allows for a good foundation for which to build a healthy non-restrictive congregation due to the fact that its doctrines and practices allow for the individual take part in an individual's own representation of worship. Thirdly, some of its philosophies are very widely excepted, and easily translatable between denominations, religions, and cultures. However, charismatic congregations alone do not foster multicultural fortitude.
Along with the good foundation of charismatic ideals, there needs to be an active and dynamic set of standards to foster and nurture this sense of multicultural congruency within the congregation. In defining some of these ideas, as well as exploring the history of effective multicultural denominations and observing some the culture in these congregations, in particular Roman Catholicism, Pentecostal, in particular congregations with primarily Baltic Russian and African-American background, and Messianic Judaism, correlations can be made as to effective ideals, practices and doctrines for a charismatic multicultural congregation."
Abstract This paper offers an historic background of African-American church denominations. This paper examines specific denominations that have had a great impact on the African-American community. Specifically, the paper explores the use of music, known as Gosepl music, in Church ceremonies and prayer.
From the Paper "The African American church is centered on a wealth of tradition. The founder of the church was Richard Allen. Allen was in the forefront of the Abolitionist Movement; the church was an important station on the "Underground Railroad" as well as a recruiting station during the Civil War. The establishment of a unified denomination during the Abolitionist Movement was advantageous to African American people. After the founding of African Methodist Episcopal, several African Americans gradually left because of opposing views. The African American Church is no longer one, but instead many."
Abstract A discussion of the reasons for the decline of the mainline denominations from the 1960s to the 1980s in Australia. The paper explores how the churches have responded to this phenomenon. The major religions discussed include Chrisianity's streams of Anglican and Catholic, as well as Methodist and Protestant.
From the Paper "After experiencing a period of steady growth and an ongoing important place in the Australian community during the 1950s and the "remembered 60s" the mainline denominations found themselves losing numbers and influence from this point on, beginning a decline that would last throughout the eighties. According to Hilliard The "remembered sixties" are from1964 or 1965 to 1972 in Australia (p.210). In 1961 Protestants including Anglicans accounted for 65 per cent of the population, by 1986 this was 40 per cent (Breward p.226) and by 1996 had dropped a further 2%. In the state of Victoria from 1961 to 1986 the percentage of Anglicans in the total population fell from 6.11 per cent to 4.40. Likewise Methodists and Presbyterians combined dropped from 5.28 per cent to 3.70 in the same period. (Australians: Historical Statistics, Wray Vamplew (ed.), Sydney 1987, cited in Hilliard, 1997). As for the Roman Catholic Church, Australian Sunday Mass attendance figures fell from 55 per cent to 37 per cent in the period 1966 to 1981. (Campion p.248)."
Abstract This paper provides a thorough background of how Methodism started, including a short history of the Christian denomination. The paper includes an interview from a small town pastor of a Methodist church. It looks at how Methodism fits into Christianity as a whole.
From the Paper "Methodism, also known as Wesleyans, started from one man's vision to revise the Catholic Church and his name John Wesley (1703-1771). "In 1713 John was admitted to the Charterhouse School, London, where he lived the studious, methodical, and (for a while) religious life in which he had been trained at home." (New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, N.A) John Wesley became an Ordained deacon in 1725 and elected fellow of Lincoln College in the following year. He was then considered a priest 3 years later. (Outler, 1964)"
Abstract In this article, the writer examines how throughout Islamic history, Shi'ites developed a denomination distinct in various significant ways from that of Sunnis. The writer explains that the differences between Islam's two major denominations arose as early as the beginning of Islamic history and in fact took place shortly after Islam's fourth caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib came to power. Initially, these differences centered on a political dispute over who should serve as the prophet's successor after his death. The writer looks at both sides of the dispute. Initial differences over political ideology caused Shi'ites to branch off from the majority Sunni Muslim community and form their own ideological viewpoints on various other issues. The writer concludes that Sunni-Shi'ite relations since the beginning of Islamic history reveal that both took divergent paths in regards to the beliefs and practices of Islam.
From the Paper "Initial differences over political ideology caused Shi'ites to branch off from the majority Sunni Muslim community and form their own ideological viewpoints on various other issues. Besides politics, Shi'ites later developed their own distinguished set of beliefs regarding theology and jurisprudence. This meant that they now developed their own understanding of belief in the Islamic creed, practice of the five established pillars of Islam, interpretation of the Quranic text, acceptance and rejection of the prophet's Hadiths, sources of Islamic jurisprudence, and position of the various eminent Islamic personalities in history, particularly from among the prophet's companions. The Shi'ite branch later subdivided into various smaller sects, which hold differing viewpoints about various matters despite sharing some fundamental concepts of the Shi'ite belief system."
Abstract The paper examines the role of religion in shaping attitudes toward capital punishment. It looks at how different religious denominations take a different attitude toward the subject so that followers take their cues from that denomination, such as the current divide seen in America between many evangelical Protestant churches that support capital punishment and the Catholic Church that does not. It also discusses how, at a deeper level, support often hinges on the degree of reliance on the Bible as an unerring source, with those supporting capital punishment finding a direct admonition for capital punishment in scripture.
From the Paper "Robert L. Young more specifically looks at the way religious orientation and race produce certain levels of support for the death penalty. The researchers look at the 1988 General Social Survey showing that fundamentalism, evangelism, and devotionalism have significant by very different roles in shaping attitudes toward capital punishment. Young notes first that religion should have a role because religion deals at its most basic level with issues of life and death, including the question of the role of the state in taking a life. "
Abstract The paper discusses the origin of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in North America and reports on the denomination's roots in the Reformation of the sixteenth century. The paper talks of the participation of the Canadian CRC and notes the views of the chaplain, the great Dutch theologian and statesman, Dr. Abraham Kuyper. Kuyper's great contribution to the CRC was a more outward-looking faith. The paper continues by discussing its relationship with the government and the social changes that resulted. The paper also details the seven key strategies that the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) which started in 1962 and brings relief in times of disaster, and CRWRC uses and discusses these. The paper concludes with the role of the church in society.
Outline:
Introduction
Theological Motivations
Role, Relationship to Government and Effectiveness as Denomination Role and Effectiveness of a Local Church
Conclusion
From the Paper It is appropriately called First Vancouver CRC and was established in 1926. The church is located at 2670 Victoria Drive, near the Broadway and Commercial SkyTrain stations, and has a current average Sunday service attendance of 150. It was begun by a group of Dutch immigrants and grew with the influx of more Dutch immigrants after WWII, many attracted to Canada because the Canadian army played a major role in the liberation of the Netherlands (Schaap, 1998:311). This church accurately reflects the fact that "very few faith-based agencies give expression to their religious commitments by limiting clientele to their own community members...rather, they serve the general public."
Abstract This paper outlines the call of Scripture for Christians to be further separated than only from the world, but also within denominations.
From the Paper "Although faith is the call of scripture, and not denominations or religion, certain practices of certain religions should not be accepted or condoned by other religions."
Tags: christian, faiths, followers, in, interdenominationalism, of, other, relation, the, to
Abstract This paper examines the new monetary unit in Europe, the euro. The author looks at the groundwork that led up to creating a common monetary system, the methods of circulation, the coins' designs and denominations, and the problems that may arise from the system.
From the Paper "On January 1, 2002 over 300 million European citizens saw the Euro transform from a virtual currency into reality. Twelve countries ended their use of individual currency and joined forces in creating a uniform monetary system. These twelve countries are Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. Britain, Sweden and Denmark choose not to switch to the Euro. The creation and implementation of the Euro was a long and tedious process that began in 1958 with the Treaty of Rome. The objective of this treaty was to create a common European market, which would benefit the regional economy by bringing these countries closer together economically."
Tags: coins, currency, money, exchange, silver, uniform, nickel, market, system
Abstract This essay is a brief review of "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok, as well as a comparison of Judaism with Roman Catholicism. The author discusses the differences between Hassidism and Orthodox Judaism, the walls and the conflicts between the two sects as portrayed in the novel.
From the Paper:
"The novel "The Chosen", by Chaim Potok surrounds the friendship of two young boys. Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders grow up facing the differences between their conflicting Jewish denominations. Reuven is an Orthodox Jew and Danny is Hasid. The story takes place in Brooklyn, New York near the end of World War II."
Abstract This paper looks at the Church of the United Brethren (UB), which was the very first church denomination in America. The history of the church is detailed, as is its belief system. The differences between this church and the other church establishments that existed at the time are also discussed in detail. The church's belief system is covered in detail, as are the eleven expectations that members of the church are expected to follow. The author also looks at the modern UB, and shows how it is now a worldwide network of congregations.
From the Paper "Members should also follow social standards. A member should be a good citizen of their community, they should take standards against the evil, believe in equal rights and justice for all, agree with the democratic system, affirm the right to serve and bear arms in the National Armed Forces, have the right to refuse to bear arms, advocate abstinence by all people from using tobacco, drugs, and alcohol, attain form gambling, eliminate pornography, be occult, and have decision-making foundations (Getting acquainted with the Church of the United Brethren pg. 50-55)."
An analysis of the evolution of the African-American culture according to Ira Berlin's article, "Time, Space, and the Evolution of African-American Society".
Abstract The essay demonstrates how Ira Berlin's article presents the evolution of African-American culture in a new light. Before WWII, most texts about American slavery portray the African-American as the happy and contented slave at ease in his plantation surroundings. While studies done in the past three decades realize this as a misconception, many studies cite the institution of slavery itself as the common developmental denominator shared by members of African-American society. The essay explains that, unlike other studies which group all members of African-American society together, Ira Berlin divides the black society of colonial America into three separate and distinct cultures, and presents the theory that the class distinction that evolved within the black society stemmed as much from the factors of economy, cultural diversity and geography as they did from the confinements of slavery.
From the Paper "Given the wild winds of economic, political and societal change that swept across the nation during the last half of the twentieth century, the year 1977 appears to have passed through the annals of American history somewhat uneventfully. The roar of the sixties' riots and the violence of the Vietnam Era had taken their toll, and with the Watergate Scandal barely three years past, a still shell-shocked America of '77 quietly mourned the passing of Presley and placed their political faith in a farmer from Georgia. In retrospect, 1977 appears to have been quite an unmemorable year in American society and culture, an unremarkable moment in time that passed passively into the past along with Pong, PacMan and platform shoes. In reality, however, the year 1977 marked a milestone in the nation's culture, for it was during this year that both modern American and modern African-American society turned on its collective television set and found itself face to face with its collective past. For six consecutive nights in 1977, an enamored nation watched as Africa gave birth to Kunta Kinte, America gave birth to slavery, and Alex Haley's Roots exposed the harsh beginnings of the African-American culture. It touched nerves, but it also touched hearts, opened eyes and widened perspectives."
Flannery O'Connor uses a recurring structural pattern in the development of the main characters in four short stories: "Greenleaf," "Good Country People," "Revelation," and "Everything That Rises Must Converge."
Abstract A focus on the five main characters of these stories (Mrs. May, Hulga, Mrs. Turpin, Julian, and his mother) . It shows how they are all based on a common denominator in their character makeup, that of emotional contempt for the world they inhabit and, even more, contempt for themselves. O'Connor sets up these characters with inflated egos, then she pulls the rug out from under the characters in a climactic moment. Ironically, each character is smashed by something he or she held in contempt.
From the Paper "The pattern consists of three stages: (1) the author makes use of the omniscient point of view, allowing the reader to be privy
to all the characters' thoughts and motives; (2) then a disconcerting and jolting climax occurs, usually very harsh for the character; and (3) readers finally discover how this climax affects the characters."
An assessment of the idea that partitioning Lebanon according to religious denominations might settle the centuries old conflict between Moslems and Christians.
Abstract The paper studies the 1000 year old battle for cultural, religious and political supremacy between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon. It shows the demographic make-up of present day Lebanon and investigates the possibility of dividing the country according to the dominant religious group in the area. It brings examples of other countries in the world where this method of partition was implemented.
From the Paper "In this framework, it was inevitable that the creation of Israel would be seen not as returning residents to their old land, but of Europe using the Middle East for expansion of power, influence and control. Israel was viewed as the puppet of European interests, and they saw themselves as pawns being played by outside forces in the Cold War between the U.S.S.R. and Western interests, and Israel as an example of Western colonialism in the middle of the Arab world. (Esposito, 1997) This view would be strengthened when the U.S.S.R. attempted to defeat the Moslem country of Afghanistan, followed after a relatively brief period by United States military action there."
How courts process & deal with adults who have committed petty offenses (crimes against public order or property). Common denominators of defendants. Police action. Function of judges. Disposition of cases. Proposed reforms.
3,825 words (approx. 15.3 pages), 15 sources, 2001, $ 135.95
From the Paper "This research paper discusses the way in which the American criminal justice system processes and deals with adult persons suspected of having committed low level criminal offenses.
1. Types of Cases
a. Kinds of behavior involved. Lower level criminal courts process and dispose of petty offenses, usually misdemeanors, crimes involving maximum sentences of less than one year, and sometimes lesser felonies. Crimes involving defendants under the age of 18 are generally handled by juvenile courts. Traffic offenses not involving vehicular homicide are generally handled in summary fashion by special traffic courts. According to Feeley (1979), his study of the operations of the lower Court of Common Pleas in New Haven, Connecticut in the late 1970s showed..."
