Abstract This paper explores the meaning and use of mysticism in the religious faiths of Christianity and Islam. The author shows the reader how mysticism impacts the faiths and allows the reader to explore the truth of the existence within the faith.
From the Paper "Around the world the religious faiths of people can be a powerful motivator for living a life free from anger and sin. Many people live their life according to a doctrine that they take to be truth based on little more than their own personal faith that the religion exists as does the higher power that the faith has been build upon. Mysticism in both faiths plays an important role. It guides the followers many times when the only thing they have is their faith. However, even though mysticism is woven into each faith it is used, viewed and believed in different ways."
Abstract This research examines the concept of faithfulness as it relates to religion. The research sets forth the context for looking at the religious principles that reflect moral character and then discusses how faithfulness to God's principles reflects a commitment to moral thought and action, as well as a faith and trust in God.
From the Paper "The life of faith might seem to involve a simple idea about belief in God, but in fact faith is a very complex concept. The term is used in various ways in the Christian tradition. There is of course the famous statement of Jesus when he calms the storm in the sea of Galilee: "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" (Matt. 8:26). In that context, faith is to be interpreted as the equivalent of absolute trust, or more specifically, the equivalent of man's unquestioned trust in God. The spiritual experience of trust is thereby interpreted as the actual experience of faith. This idea is also in the background of Paul's injunction to the Corinthians, in his discourse about how the first-century Christian community ought to behave: "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (I Cor. 10.13). Psalm 91 makes a similar point, characterizing the Lord as "my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust . . . He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." In The Book of Common Prayer, the latter line of the Psalm runs thus: "his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler." The slight difference in the meaning of faith conveyed in these various contexts is that faith is not a one-way street, inasmuch as those who do have faith are said to be able to rely on God's good will and/or providence in situations of moral uncertainty."
Abstract This paper takes an in-depth look at Florida's faith and character based correctional facilities - the largest in the United States. The author examines the accountability, legal and ethical considerations in addition to the political and stakeholder issues regarding these institutions in an attempt to discover a potential benefit for society or a potential harm in having a governmental agency run completely faith-and character-based institutions. The paper gives a brief history of the development of faith and character based correctional facilities and then discusses issues such as accountability, legal and ethical considerations and political and stakeholder issues.
Outline:
Introduction / Basic Organizational Information
A Basic Background and History
Accountability
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Political and Stakeholder Issue
In summary
References
From the Paper Lawety was established as a Faith-and Character-Based Correctional Institution for men on December 24, 2003 and has a bed capacity of 835, making it the first Faith-and Character-Based Correctional Institution in the country. However, of importance is that by this time the Florida Department of Corrections had already been operating 10 Faith-and Character-Based Dormitories in several of their prisons. Florida Department of Corrections [FDC-E], Nd.; Florida Department of Corrections [FDC-F], Nd.). Hillsborough was created on April 14, 2004 for women with a housing capacity of 292 beds, and Wakula was created on March 1, 2006 with a bed capacity of 1,756 for men. (id).
Tags: crime prison faith correctional institution florida, jeb bush, society police
Abstract A comprehensive analysis of the legality of parents denying their children access to health care on the basis of their involvement in a "faith healing" religion such as Christian Science or Faith Tabernacle. The paper explains that for some residents of the United States, traditional medicine is not religiously acceptable in the face of sickness. On the contrary, these residents are so strongly against medicine that they will not even allow their children to see a doctor if they suffer from life threatening illnesses. It discusses how many followers of these religions are denying the use of traditional medicine and joining a movement that shies from what society considers the norm for treating sickness by putting their belief in God's ability to heal their family's illnesses. The paper argues however, that parents' religious convictions about the disuse of any type of medicine for their children should not be allowed as a legal means of denying their children this medicine because these convictions often cause the needless deaths and suffering of many children whom medical care would have helped.
From the Paper "For centuries America has debated to what extent church and state should be separated. More recently the argument about the disuse of medical treatment for religious reasons and the resulting deaths of the children of certain religious organization's followers has arisen. Since the seventeenth century when settlers came to America to escape religious persecution and seek religious freedom, the issue of separation of church and state has been in debate (Council 1). However, not all religions were given equal rights before the Bill of Rights was created: in Boston anyone preaching outside the established church could be fined or banned from the settlement (Weiss 11). Also, in areas that practiced South Anglicanism, those who spoke out against the Christian faith were sentenced to death (Weiss 11). However, the first amendment to the American Bill of Rights, which was passed in September of 1789, changed these discriminatory practices on a federal level and caused less religious discrimination to occur (Weiss 31). This amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (Bartlett 3). This amendment did not, however, guarantee the protection of United States citizens from state religious discrimination; but the fourteenth amendment, which was passed at a later date, did (Weiss 32). Opponents for and against parents' rights to deny their child medical care based on religious convictions are eager to solve the question of the relationship of church and state and the necessity of parents to obtain medical care as required by state governments. This issue has thus become a pressing argument that must be solved quickly because many children's lives are at stake."
Abstract In this article, the writer looks at Kierkegaard's work "Fear and Trembling". Using this review, the writer offers an account of two models of faith presented by Kierkegaard. The writer discusses his ideas on religious believers. Further, the writer looks at the concept of faith, as expressed in Kierkegaard's model of humankind.
From the Paper "In 'Fear and Trembling' Kierkegaard explains that for religious believers to have faith they must simply yield to what is incomprehensible or absurd about their experience of the finite world. God the believer realizes is infinite and thus incapable of comprehension and the lesson of finite experience is that neither God nor reason works in the world. That is worldly experience is the absurd not to say evil. How then can there be faith? Repeatedly Kierkegaard uses the phrase 'by virtue of the absurd' which suggests ... "
Abstract This paper considers the nature of faith healing in today's society and traces its development through a belief in shamanism in traditional societies, noting how religion and medicine are often fused, with the religious leader also being the medicine man who knows the secrets of healing. Christians have faith in the healing power of prayer and depict Jesus as a healer as well.
From the Paper "Religion and medicine have had a long relationship. In modern times, the two are often at odds, with some believing more in faith than in science and others taking the opposite view. In traditional societies, religion and medicine are often fused, with the religious leader also being the medicine man who knows the secrets of healing. Christians have faith in the healing power of prayer and depict Jesus as a healer as well. Certain groups place a greater emphasis on faith than medicine, such as Christian Scientists, who do not take their health issues to doctors but to God."
Abstract This paper presents an examination of health issues in the Jewish faith. The paper outlines many of the beliefs of the Jewish culture and how these beliefs can affect the care of a Jewish patient. The paper then explains how nurses can comply with the beliefs of the Jewish patient in their care.
From the Paper "America has always prided itself on its cultural diversity. Millions of immigrants each year flock to its borders for the purpose of living in a land where all cultures are embraced. While America works hard to embrace the diverse traditions of its residents there are areas in which the differences can create complications. One of those areas is the health care field. In the field of health care nurses are charged with the care and advocacy of their patients and the patients? families. Within that scope it is important for the nurses to understand and work with the different cultures they may encounter. The Jewish culture is a unique one in the field of medicine as there are a disproportionate number of Jewish doctors in the field when compared to other cultures (The Healers..http://www.geocities.com/buddychai/Religion/TheHealers.html), but that does not carry into the nursing field. "
Abstract This paper relates that, in his book "Fear and Trembling", Soren Kierkegaard considers Abraham's climbing up the mountains to sacrifice his son, even though Abraham could not understand the command, as an act of blind and ultimate faith. The author points out that the concept of infinite resignation---when the tragic hero tries to make major leaps of faith and hopes to get nothing in return because he believes to have submitted to faith---is used by Kierkegaard in rather negative terms. The paper relates that, compared to infinite resignation, a knight of faith believes that acts of faith must be done repeatedly and regularly, feels that these acts must be "made in virtue of the absurd" and considers that the reward comes in the form of "gaining the finite".
From the Paper "Knight of faith is described as someone who gives up everything for faith but believes to be amply rewarded for all his actions. He is a simple man with an honest and sincere belief that he will be rewarded. Abraham as a knight of faith "The knight of faith is someone who is able to remain fully committed to an absurd action with faith that, as Kierkegaard says, through the absurd the object which was resigned will be granted back through the infinite." Infinite is something that is not within the boundaries of rationale and the phenomenon is unexplainable because when one accepts the repercussions of an action and acts..."
Abstract This paper will discuss the Kierkegaard's thinking on both theology and faith. It will be argued that at the heart of his discussion of both issues is his critique of the inherent weaknesses of traditional theology. It will be seen that Kierkegaard perceived the damage that modern theology - rooted in Scriptural textual analysis - was capable of inflicting upon Christianity. Thus, Kierkegaard argues for a faith based upon paradox and belief instead of reason or theology. The significance of this perspective is that it allows for the existence of faith in a secular age where textually foundationed theology is no longer capable of survival as a coherent tradition.
Abstract This paper focuses on Schleiermacher's revolutionary view on faith. The relationship between faith and reason, the difference between subjective and objective reality, and other topics regarding faith are discussed.
From the Paper "Having considered the previous characteristics of religion, Schleiermacher provides a definition as to what is religion. Religion is ?the contemplation of the pious which is the immediate consciousness for the universal existence of all finite things, in and through the Infinite, and all temporal things in and through the Eternal.? A pious person has this dialectic feeling when he realizes that he is a finite creature in an infinite universe. Religion is to seek this and to find it in all that lives and moves; it is a feeling of absolute dependence. The smallness is correlated with the largeness of the universe and a feeling of absolute dependence is established. A moral man therefore is not necessarily pious since morality always reveals itself as manipulating and as self-controlling, while ?piety appears as a surrender, a submission to be moved by the Whole that stands over against man.? Religion is also ?not a knowledge or a science, either of the world or of God.? Even without being knowledge, religion does recognize knowledge and science. ?In itself, it is an affection, a revelation of the infinite in the finite, God being seen in it and it in God.? According to this, there is not one true religion because it precedes the conception of truth and falsity and is simply and expression of feeling. Women, because of their nature, embody this feeling more than others."
Abstract The paper explains that some of the critical issues facing Faith Community Hospital, which the hospital needs to address, are basic financial problems; the conflict between the organization's spiritual heritage and values and the ethics of the medical profession; non-compliance with government, managed care, insurance regulations, and non-adherence to hospital operational policies. The author points out that Faith Community Hospital has an organizational management problem, which needs to be thoroughly analyzed rather than tyring to solve the various problems piecemeal. The paper states that, although the mission statement of Faith Community Hospital implies a broad goal of promoting the health and well-being of the people it serves within a framework of spiritual values, it can be inferred that the organization suffers from an absence of clear-cut policies and goals that are specific, measurable, targeted, and time-specific.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Identifying the Key Issues
Organizational Mission, Culture and Processes
Organizational Goals
Defining the Problem
The Mission Statement
The Absence of Clearly Defined Organizational Goals
Alternative Strategies
Alternative 1
Alternative 2
Recommendation
Conclusion
Appendix 1: Affinity Diagram
Appendix 2: Fishbone Diagram
From the Paper "The mission statement plays a critical role in setting direction and laying the foundation for the culture and goals of any organization. Indeed, this is clearly expressed in Hyrum Smith's model of instructive goal setting, which is commonly referred to as Smith's ?Success Triangle.? This model places an organization's governing values at the base of the goal setting process and recommends that goals must be linked to specific governing values in order to be meaningful and to help the organization achieve its mission (Parker, 2003). The mission statement of Faith Community Hospital appears to adhere to the strategic principles inherent in Smith's "Success Triangle" to the extent that it clearly emphasizes the organization's commitment to promoting the health and well-being of the people in the communities it serves, using its spiritual heritage and values as the foundation. However, since spiritual values can vary vastly across religions and individual beliefs, Faith's mission statement has led to broad individual interpretations that have, in turn, led to an organizational culture, which allows too much leeway for individual decision-making. This is evident in the anecdotal cases cited by the CEO of doctors independently deciding to either treat patients pro bono or insisting on insurance coverage prior to commencement of treatment; the pharmacist filling prescriptions for uninsured patients; and the inconsistency in adhering to hospital policy in areas such as "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) decisions."
Abstract This paper takes a close look at each specific section of the Book of Job and then at the book as a whole to examine the issue of Job's suffering and faith. By investigating the nature of each section, the paper attempts to answer some religious questions specific to this text. For example, would a person still be religious if not for the expectation of reward or punishment? The paper maintains that the purpose of the text is to address faith and integrity, rather than suffering. The paper concludes that the text illustrates how one can maintain one's faith and integrity during the most devastating times.
From the Paper "With the Epilogue comes the restoration of Job's material and familial wealth. He is given vindication over his narrow-minded friends and granted a long, full life. What about our many questions? Can man remain faithful to a "religion" without the expectation of reward or punishment? With regard to Job's complete immersion in suffering, the answer would appear to be "yes" and "no." We are given an example in which the main character looses everything, suffers, humbles himself, and is then vindication. What would happen in the case of a character who lost everything, suffered, and what never vindicated? In the context of this particular Biblical text, none can understand the will of God. He does what he pleases and because he is our Maker, those actions are justified."
This paper discusses that science and religion or faith are thought to be irreconcilable; however, recently some scientist and religionists have attempted to reconcile these arenas.
Abstract This paper explains that religion is an experiential based field that relies on faith alone and is therefore highly subjective in its world view; whereas, in contrast, science is experimental but anchored in observation and has an objective interpretation of facts and events. The author underscores that both science and religion are based on faith and have as their common objective the quest for a formalized type of truth that can be applied universally to the human condition. The paper contends that achieving some sort of balance between science and religious faith is critical if mankind is going to continue to advance as a species. The author points out that, for Albert Einstein, the melding of science and religion was not a conundrum at all but rather, for him, the real problem lay in how man consistently chose to interpret both scientific and religious concepts and particularly religious concepts.
From the Paper "One of the primary points of contention for the religious proponents has been the view that science attacks religious precepts and undermines religion's doctrine. Many scientists have patently disproved this argument as being somewhat disingenuous since much of their activity has been centered only on illuminating the specific characteristics of systemic phenomena in the physical world and make no judgment at all on the origin, necessarily, of these phenomena per se. Science and scientists almost as a collective unit admit that while they can understand many of the systemic processes in the physical world they are at a loss as to how many of these highly complex processes could have simply evolved out of the molecular fabric of space."
Abstract This paper explains how spirituality in the workplace has become an important topic since the 1990?s. The paper uses the article, "The Ethics of Shrewdness", to help show how Christians can remain true to their faith while maintaining relationships with others that do not share that faith so that they may be successful in business together.
From the Paper "Christians in the workplace face many rash and fastidious decisions. In the workplace, a manager may argue against dishonorable acts because they may ruin the company's reputation, but he may not imply that those acts are wrong in the eyes of God. During competition and pressure to succeed in business, he or she is enticed to be ?shrewd.? A beneficial quality in decision-making is shrewdness. ?The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines the word "shrewd" to mean ?sagacious, sensible, discriminating, astute, judicious.??(McLoughlin 5) However, cutting corners or cheating to achieve success, as well as bribery are considered to be shrewd business. In order to remain successful in business endeavors, one must be shrewd in these pacifications. In undertaking decisions, absolute ethics would prohibit this fashion of shrewdness. Therefore, a Christian's coherence to an absolute measurement of virtue is viewed as business suicide as well as "religious fanaticism.? In order to coexist with a value system that is opposite of their beliefs, a Christian in the workplace can relate to other business people by simply being shrewd."
Abstract This paper looks at the modern-day notion of spirituality, religion, and faith and how each has a slightly different meaning within the context of our times. The paper explains these differences and points out that, while Catholicism has, to some extent, embraced the contemporary notion of spirituality and faith, both concepts are still connected to and influenced by religious structures and culture.
From the Paper "The words spirituality, religion, and faith, are often used interchangeably. When they are used to connote or denote a specific form of theistic phenomenon, more often than not, the term "spirituality" is usually used to suggest the more individualistic aspects of God-focused thoughts and actions, the word "religion" is more often used when discussing the issues of a particular traditional strain of philosophy regarding the divine essence, (such as the phrase "the Catholic religion") and the notion "faith" is often referred to as a schema of belief that may or may not be communal or individual?in other words, to say that one has faith in God means that one has a belief in God."
