Abstract This paper reviews Russell Aiuto's article, "The Trial of JesusChrist", about the trial, conviction and execution of Jesus. The reviewer points out that Aiuto's intention was to present his information in the historic context of ancient Judea, ultimately determining who was guilty in causing the death of Jesus. The paper is written from a religious Christian perspective and gives an in-depth examination of the role of the Jews and the Romans in Jesus' death.
From the Paper "For many people, especially those evangelical Christians who know little about the historical and political conditions in ancient Judea, it seems clear that the Jews killed Jesus. While it is certainly true that some Jews played an important role in bringing about the trial and execution of Jesus, it is a gross oversimplification to suggest that there was a vast Jewish conspiracy to kill Jesus. On the contrary, there were three main groups of Jews competing for power during Jesus' time: the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees. Aiuto describes these three groups of Jews as "interchangeable," which is not entirely historically accurate. (Aiuto). In fact, at times these groups competed viciously with one another for control of Jewish civil and religious law. However, they did share a religious and social background that separated them from the Roman population that occupied ancient Judea. Furthermore, all three groups believed that the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah would be fulfilled. (Aiuto). In fact, Jesus was not the first person to be proclaimed the Messiah. Understanding that there was a tremendous amount of strife and competition in the Jewish community is important, because it makes it clear that while some Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus, it can hardly be suggested that all Jews were responsible for Jesus' death. Instead, Jewish involvement in Jesus' death seems explainable by one of the truisms of murder investigation: murders are generally committed by same-sex members of the victims' racial group. Because Jesus was a Jewish male, it should come as no surprise that some Jewish males played a central role in his trial and execution. However, that statement should not be viewed as either anti-Semitic or as an excuse for anti-Semitism. While some Jews played a central role in Jesus' death, his apostles were also widely Jewish, Jesus self-identified as a Jew and had no interest in preaching to Gentiles, and the founders of the Church were Jews who initially preached to a strictly Jewish audience."
Abstract This paper compares the religions of Christianity and Hinduism. It specifically examines the similarities between the Vaishnavites' view of Krishna and the Baptist's views of JesusChrist. The paper briefly discusses the backgrounds of the lives of both Krishna and JesusChrist and their roles in Hinduism and Christianity, respectively.
From the Paper "Baptists, a sect of Christianity, worship Jesus Christ as their savior, a divine teacher, and the embodiment of God. Vaishnavites worship Krishna as a spiritual leader on the path of righteousness and the embodiment of God. Hindu's recognize Jesus as being an embodiment of God, appearing again on Earth when mankind is in need of spiritual guidance, just as Krishna was many millennia before Jesus. The lives of both Jesus and Krishna are represented in scared text each religion uses in their religious practices."
Abstract Both Prophet Amos and JesusChrist represent a radical demarcation from the Jewish traditional prophecy. This paper discusses how both the prophets criticized the prevailing religious practices and the social order. Jesus and Amos did not belong to a high rank, by profession a carpenter and a sheep herdsman, and never prophesied for money. It explains how, in these two figures, we see a radical stand against rigidity in religion and against traditional beliefs and practices.
From the Paper "Prophets Amos was one of the first Israelite prophets whose words were recorded on a scroll. Amos is also one of the unorthodox figures in the Jewish history and the lineup of the prophets. Amos was a blue collar prophet and unlike many other prophets did not belong to the aristocratic; he earned his living as a "herdsman and dresser of sycamore figs." [Amos 7:14]. In his scriptures he explicitly tells us that he was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, that is, in the professional sense of that term. In Israel many prophets use to prophesize for money and being a prophet was also a profession. Amos was born and grew up in small town Tekoa which was about twelve miles southeast of Jerusalem and five miles south of Bethlehem. We can thus imagine that to the cultured elite of his day Amos was an outcast" who probably spoke with an accent. Amos had no intension of becoming a prophet but he was called by God to do so and this was a difficult job for a herdsman of a small town. Being from the southern kingdom of Judah, Amos had the unenviable task of speaking God's prophetic word to the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos was an unwelcome outsider and therefore was forced out of town, "Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.? (Amos 7:13?15)."
Abstract This paper discusses how, by utilizing the best-established facts surrounding this topic, the question as to what really happened after JesusChrist was crucified at Golgotha can be addressed with some certainty, while allowing room for much speculation. It looks at how a majority of contemporary Christian scholars, who study the Holy Bible and, especially, the New Testament, genuinely believe that the disciples saw the risen Jesus after his crucifixion, whereas the lack of hard data to support this belief leads others to believe that the story is, in fact, a myth.
From the Paper "In support of the information that Paul, Peter and James supplied about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is clear that the disciples experienced some kind of visual manifestation, for "it is almost impossible to dispute that at the historical roots of Christianity lie some visionary experiences. . . understood as appearances of Jesus, raised by God from the dead" (West, 235). But is it truly as clear as West maintains? Could the apostles have possibly fabricated all the material with the intention that it serve as the basis for their new religion, being Christianity? Logically, any new religion must have converts and the information provided to these converts must be strong and infallible, for without a solid foundation to lie upon, the entire structure will collapse."
Abstract This paper, written from a pro-Christian perspective, argues that the only way to gain salvation and a way into heaven is an unquestionable belief in JesusChrist. The paper uses sources from the scriptures to prove its points. It also looks at how non-Christian believers fit into this argument.
From the Paper "That key is a belief in, and trust of, Jesus Christ. Of course, there are religions other than the Christian one, and they have a right to their beliefs and customs. But, for a dedicated Christian who believes in the words of the Scriptures and follows and obeys the Ten Commandments, and understands that there is God, his Son and the Holy Spirit, it is this firm belief that man will find salvation through Jesus that keeps him hopeful and confident about his final place in the universe. The belief that Jesus existed and is what he said he was- and what his disciples said he was, makes some historical examinations difficult to rationalize for the true believers."
Abstract This paper uses ideological criticism to attempt to discover the true ideology behind the Fundamentalist Church of JesusChrist of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). In order to fully understand the ideology of this religious sect, it dissects it through Neo-Aristotelian and cluster criticism methods which allow the paper to separate specific elements of the speeches and display the full effect that rhetoric has in the FLDS belief system.
Outline
Nature of the Ideology
Research Question
Method
Ideological Criticism
Neo-Aristotelian Criticism
Cluster Criticism
Ideology of the FLDS
Three Artifacts: A Look Behind the Real Ideology
Contribution to Rhetorical Theory
From the Paper "Through this close analysis of speeches made by Warren Jeffs it is obvious that the FLDS seem to have, in their minds at least, a hegemonic ideology. They believe that they are the chosen ones on earth and that anyone who disagrees with what the Prophet says is deemed unworthy, ultimately placing themselves above every other non-FLDS member person in the world. They abide closely to the Prophet's word and are brought up from a young age embedded with the belief that the Prophet really is a human representation of God on earth. Jeffs uses an intense level of ethos in the beginning of each of his lectures and sermons. By cutting the FLDS members off from the radio, most television stations, and other outside influences, the Prophet is able to mold the minds of these young members from an early age."
Abstract In this article the writer discusses that 'Living Jesus: Learning the Heart of the Gospel' offers a deeply personal insight into approaching the meaning of JesusChrist within an admirably scholastic framework. The writer notes that the author's primary goal and objective in writing 'Living Jesus' may be to stimulate new modes of thinking about Gospel and to renew or initiate appreciation of the resurrected, living, omnipresent JesusChrist. The writer concludes that the title of 'Living Jesus' offers readers a double-meaning to contemplate. The writer explains that Jesus is at once living, fully alive and omnipresent and that the title also refers to an active incorporation of Christianity into one's personal life: living Jesus, living as a Christian.
From the Paper "Being a Christian, according to the author requires a heartfelt confession in the immanence of Jesus: His divine presence in the world. Johnson's emphasis is on action and process, rather than on historical analysis. While the author does not discount the relevance of historical examinations of the life and times of Jesus Christ, he denounces such historical investigations as missing the point. The historian's Jesus is dead, whereas the faithful Christian's Jesus is alive. The mystery of the resurrection is the central motif by which Christians can ponder the living Jesus and His role in the world. Moreover, the resurrection forms the actual inception of the Christian faith, because the cult of Jesus began with the moment of the resurrection."
Abstract This paper attempts to present the salvation of JesusChrist to those of the Jewish faith. The author provides a short history of Judaism and points out the many similarities of Christianity and Judaism. The paper states that many Jews resist believing in Jesus, for accepting him may be seen as abandonment of the Jewish heritage. The author argues that Christ is the answer to prophecies in the Old Testament and that the New Testament is actually a continuance of the Old Testament. The paper also disputes that since the bible is seen as the true word of God, even those of the Jewish faith should give credence to the message of JesusChrist as observed in the New Testament.
From the Paper "Although similar in theology and origin, Christianity and Judaism incorporate differences which divide the two to the core. However, the Jewish people should recognize Jesus' message as the follow up from the one and only Lord. Christianity, as professed in the Gospels of the New Testament should be seen as the extension of the word of God, which originally appeared in the pages of the Old Testament."
Abstract This paper will seek to understand how a Gentile might have perceived Jesus or Peter in the early days of Christianity. By understanding the writings of the Bible, and more especially of those in Mark, and Paul, we can see how a Gentile might be extremely confused by these points of view. Not only did Christ think he was the Son of God, the Gentiles believed that God was an idolatry, and that Jesus might, indeed, have been this sort of 'royal' character. In any case, Paul and Mark proved to them to believe in his testimonial, and confusion and disagreement might have been put aside in the example Jesus set for them.
Abstract The paper deals with the purpose of the atonement of JesusChrist and how it was achieved, what happened during atonement and how it ended. The paper also looks upon whether human beings were saved by the atonement of JesusChrist, the Son of God. Written from a staunch Christian angle.
From the Paper "According to Christian faith and the Scriptures, the Son of God, or the Second person in the Holy Trinity, became man and came to the Earth to live among man. What was the purpose of this, and what did He hope to achieve by coming to live among mankind? This is what First Timothy has to say, that Jesus Christ came to the Earth again in order to 'live among sinners, and save them'. The question is this, how did Christ manage to accomplish the Salvation that He gives to the sinners among human kind? Apostle Paul in (1 Cor- 15:3) states that Christ in fact, died for our sins, and He died on the Cross, just to save the numerous sinners. What, exactly did Jesus Christ do at the time of His death? It is well understood that Jesus Christ died for our Salvation, and God was able to demonstrate and display His love for us by this selfless act wherein Christ was nailed to the Cross, and tortured. To ignore the Doctrines and the Scriptures that explain exactly what happened and why they happened is to state that you prefer to ignore the fact that God loves you, and also that God saved you from sin. In fact, it would be a downright insult to God to state that you do not care what He did, and how he did it, and how He saved humankind."
This paper analyzes the available evidence that suggests that JesusChrist had a strong connection to the Essenes people, a Judaic sect that prospered before and during the time of Christ.
Abstract This paper examines the evidence found in the Dead Sea Scrolls which were written and guarded by the Essenes, a Judaic sect that prospered before and during the time of JesusChrist. This paper ponders the available evidence that suggests that Christ had a strong connection to the Essenes and that some of his most renowned teachings in fact came from the Essene leader. This paper details the findings regarding the history of the Essenes people. The majority of scholars believe that the Essenes originated after the Maccabean revolt, which occurred around 167-160 BCE. The writer of this well-researched paper describes the culture and traditions of the Essenes community. The Essenes' daily life was one of simplicity and of worship. The teacher of righteousness was the leader of the Essenes and provided instruction as to how to read and interpret their texts.
From the Paper "The Essenes' daily life was one of simplicity and of worship. "They were mainly agriculturalists and arboriculturists, having a vast knowledge of crops, soil and climatic conditions which enabled them to grow a great variety of fruits and vegetables in comparatively desert areas and with a minimum of labor." They were against slavery, and had neither wealthy nor poor members, as both conditions were considered deviations from the Law. Purely a communal sect, they established their economic system based on the Law and believed that all material needs would be provided by the Law. On the Sabbath, which occurred from Friday evening to Saturday evening, they devoted themselves to "study, discussion, the entertaining of visitors and playing certain musical instruments, replicas of which have been found." All other days, they would rise before sunrise in order to study and meditate, bathe in cold water, dress in white garments, work in the field, eat a meal and pray, and then end their day in further study and meditation."
Abstract The paper discusses seven similar aspects of, and events in the lives of Samson and Jesus based on the Biblical texts that tell their stories. The paper mentions similarities such as-- their births were both announced to their mothers by Angels, both were betrayed, Samson by his wife Delilah and Jesus by the Apostles and both died with arms outstretched. It also points out the differences between the two men, such as: Samson had a weakness whereas Jesus had none, Samson was a mere mortal while Jesus was both man and God at the same time.
From the Paper "Samson was thrice strongly entreated by Delilah to reveal the secret of his awesome strength, but he yielded to her wiles the fourth time. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, was also tempted three times and powerfully by the devil himself in different manners, but did not yield, because He had no weakness. Samson acknowledged that his fall brought much dishonor to God and scandal to Israel. But Christ's death and resurrection fulfilled God's plan for mankind, brought infinite honor to God His Father and salvation to those who would choose to be redeemed in Jesus Christ. Samson also acknowledged the pride, vanity and pettiness with which he used the privilege God gave him."
Abstract The writer explains why "The Gospel of Mark" is the least polished of the four Gospels, albeit the author reveals a talent for graphic description. The writer of this paper details and analyzes various passages from the the book. The narrative opens with the preaching of John the Baptist who represents the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Following the baptism and temptation of Jesus, Mark relates his messianic ministry and then quickly takes the reader to the climax, being the week of Jesus' passion at Jerusalem which culminates in the crucifixion. The writer ponders the author's intent in penning this book and contends that it remains unclear whether or not the author's aim was to influence his fellow Christians or to simply tell the story of JesusChrist as an historical event. This paper delves into the views and opinions of various theologians and scholars who contend that the primary purpose of "The Gospel of Mark" is to trace a genuine sequence of historical events. This in-depth paper also details one of the most important areas in the book, the passionate narrative which begins with the priests plotting the death of Jesus and concludes with the crucifixion.
From the Paper "When at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus' identity is questioned, and the author thus provides some background as to this question. First, when Jesus enters the synagogue at Capernaum, those in attendance are "astonished by his doctrine, for he taught them as one that had authority and not as the scribes" In verse 28, as a result of Jesus' teachings in the synagogue, "immediately, his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee." Once again, the strength of these verses illustrates that Jesus is a power to be reckoned with, due to his knowledge and God's proclamation that he is the only Son of God. Jesus then recruits other disciples, such as James and John, and decides to spread the Word of God to other parts of the region while doing good deeds, like miraculously healing the sick and the blind. As a symbol of his personality, Jesus does not accept the role of prophet and then forbids his disciples to spread the idea that he is the messiah, due to "the contemporary messianic ideals of the Jews which he rejected."
Abstract A discussion that focuses on how salvation through JesusChrist came about, how one can gain salvation, what it means to be saved and to be saved from what, and how one knows that they are saved.
From the Paper "Salvation according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ means the spiritual and eternal deliverance from one's sins and from the penalty of one's sins. It entails God's gift of eternal life and the fact of the presence of God in the believer's heart and life. The word salvation from the Greek and English translation "yasha" literally means deliverance, prosperity and victory. Salvation basically explains everything that God has provided for those who believe in Christ Jesus. This essay will focus on how salvation through Jesus Christ came about, how one can gain salvation, what it means to be saved and to be saved from what, and how one knows that they are saved."
Abstract This paper will examine the tradition of the parables. It will be argued that - although minor textual differences exist between parables in different gospels - all nonetheless reflect the singular theology and ministry of Jesus. The interpretation of the purpose of the parables as differentiating between an "in" and an "outsider" group will be shown to be based on a misreading of a Gospel passage. Finally, it will be demonstrated that the significance of the parables for modern Christians lies in their power to translate complex theological issues into everyday terminology and, in the process, allow us to establish an intimate awareness of the presence of Jesus in our lives.
