...semicircular apse and the triumphal arch. The upper part of the apse mosaic illustrates the transfiguration of Christ on the mount is symbolically represented and the three sheep facing the jeweled cross symbolically represent his disciples Peter, James and John. The hand of God is represented by the cloud above the jeweled cross, the jeweled cross, the fish symbol in the Greek word means Jesus Christ, Son of God and alpha and omega at the side signifies that Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end. At the bottom of the jeweled cross, the word “Salus Mundi” which means salvation to the world. On each side on the blue background with the clouds are four symbols for the Evangelists, winged figures holding books. The eagle, angel, lion and ox represent John, Matthew, Mark and Luke respectively. The twelve white sheep marching towards Christ symbolizes the Apostle emerging from the doors of two cities Jerusalem and Bethlehem which signifies the Jewish and Gentile Churches. The lowest register on the triumphal arch, Archangels Michael and Gabriel are shown as celestial guards. They are shown against a golden background. The lower part of the apse shows the center of green landscape, Saint Apollinare is robed in a white dalmatic and purple tunic symbolizes eloquence, with outstretched arms praying. The twelve sheep at his feet symbolizes the community of the faithful believers in Christ. In videotape #19, Early Christian, Byzatine, and Islamic Art (Part 2), the Harbaville Triptych...
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...couldn’t live up to the righteous maxims of Christianity, he found the religion too hypocritical and its norms too uptight and self-righteous for his own sake. It was his contention that religion and its maxim’s purpose was to limit knowledge, especially to children and prevents their ability to think clearly by trapping them with norms and inhibiting them from cooperating with others whose views are different from theirs. He also believes that religion flourishes fear and dependency. He also asserted that religion caused war, oppression and misery that is happening right now. Issues: According to Russell, The character of Christ isn’t as divine as God because of the flaws in his teachings and to his followers. Russell attacks Christ’s divinity and characteristics and followers in attempt to debunk Christianity. And that the argument of design is unpersuasive because if God was omnipotent, why would he create such detrimental things such as the KKK and fascists. Russell asserts that God’s imperfections caused detrimental things. However, it’s very noticeable that Russell’s persecuting points about Christianity all stemmed from his biased hatred towards...
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...Title: Proof of God’s Existence By: Vicki Williams PHI208 Ethics and Moral Reasoning Instructor: Barbara Palomino de Velasco June 10, 2013 The Bible diagnoses humanity's deepest need and then prescribes what it claims is the only antidote: God saves sinners. Is there an intellectual basis for believing in God? Or is being religious just a matter of faith? Christianity invites scrutiny into its claims and its reasons for having faith and these deserve examination... Some people feel that acceptance of God is entirely a matter of faith. But the Scriptures actually claim that it is the truth which is the basis for this faith (Rom. 10:17). Truth is only truth if it is objective truth, that is, it is true for everyone regardless of time or circumstances. Thus, God is either true (and there can be objective proofs to support this), or He is not true and only subjective 'truth' can be offered for 'proof'. Some ancient Philosophers have argued that the fact mankind can imagine there being a God is a proof that there must be one. While this argument does have some merit, it mainly has limitations. Taken to its natural application this means that if anything can be imagined it must exist. Based on the nightmares I had as a three and four year old boy- I really hope this theory isn't true or I'm not going to sleep well tonight! On the other hand, 'beliefs' and 'truth' are sometimes not entirely related. Tertullian once bragged that the main reason he so readily accepted...
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...Explain the main theological problems of knowing God Calvin said that we can know God through Sola Scriptura (faith in God as revealed in scripture alone) and Sola Fide (salvation through faith alone). Calvin argued that we can have two fold knowledge of God (Duplex cognition Domini). We know God as creator and the redeemer. We can know God as the creator through the sensus divinitatis, conscience, creation as mirror of God and scripture. The sensus divinitatis is having a sense of the divine; Calvin said that we all have a natural, inbuilt sense of God. ‘There is indeed within the human mind, and indeed by natural instinct, an awareness of divinity. This we can take beyond controversy.’(Calvin, Institutes 1.1.3.) Calvin supported his claim with the universal consent argument, which was suggested by philosopher Cicero. The argument is that a God or Gods must exist as so many people from different ages and cultures, believe in a God or Gods of some sort. This seems to imply that all people have sense of the divine. Calvin developed the idea from St Paul that all humans have an innate, natural disposition to believe in God. In his letter to the Romans Paul wrote that knowledge of God is ‘plain to them, because God has shown it to them’ and Paul argued that we all know God unconsciously as without God we would not survive and thrive. A problem with this is the fact that many people believing in God does not prove his existence. Calvin said that God would still exist if no...
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...directly characterized but it is revealed that he is an open sinner – admitting to fornication, gambling, and swearing – and was almost entirely covered in extraordinarily colorful tattoos. Sarah Ruth proudly owns up to the Old Testament roots of her name while Parker chooses to go by his last name rather than use his given name, Obadiah Elihue. The reader recognizes that Parker is running from God while Sarah Ruth is living a Pharisaical life of rules and judgments. Sarah is by all indications the best person to lead Parker to God but in the end is unable to recognize Him when Parker finally does. O’Connor’s writing is heavy with Biblical and Christian symbolism. When Parker was a young teenager he saw a man tattooed with “a single intricate design of brilliant color [... forming an] arabesque of men and beasts and flowers” and was captivated by this image of the Garden of Eden, of what mankind could be (O’Connor 223). Parker spends the...
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...INTRODUCTION “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” Hebrews 2:11-12 A church is a place where we go every Sunday to praise and listen to the word of God. It is a home for every Christian family to worship, to serve and to fellowship. People come altogether and spend time at God’s Holy place. We come to make Him exalted in every shout of praises we are offering. God is delighted by His son’s adoration to Him, and we, His people want to be with Him always. In the old testament of the Bible, the Israelites have the Ark of Covenant. The Ark of Covenant is a place where they offer sacrifices for thanksgiving, for forgiveness and for daily supplication. It was built in the time Moses, when Israelites had an escape from Egypt. The Ark of Covenant was made and built with God’s supervision. God had explained clearly everything about the details in building the Ark of Covenant. He had instructed Moses and Aaron from the materials to be used up to the people who will build it. Designing was made by God, Himself. All the details were explained clearly in the book of Exodus, on its latter part. As time passed by, the Ark of Covenant was evolved into a larger and concrete temples built by the famous kings of Israel like the wisest King of Israel, King Solomon. God had instructed King David...
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...The North Rose Window at Chartres & Its Intricate Stained Glass Story that Depicts the Importance of Christ’s Heritage from the Old Testament Although it may seem an outdated medium, stained glass is one of the most striking and intricate forms of expression. Stained glass has been one of the most powerful sources of storytelling during its extended history, especially in telling the history of Christianity in churches, cathedrals and similar notable buildings. However stained glass hadn’t been the method of communication in Christianity before the Gothic style. “The elimination of solid mural surfaces and the transformation of the Gothic building into a skeletal frame led to the ascendancy of stained glass during the twelfth century” (Bleiberg.) Not only does stained glass serve to tell remarkable stories, but it is also a significant part of the architecture. It is unlikely to find original stained glass windows that are still intact, and so it is not surprising that Chartres Cathedral, 50 miles southwest of Paris, is renowned for its well-preserved stained glass. Chartres began construction in 1194 and continued to assemble until 1250, and so the Rayonnant style remains somewhat cohesive throughout the cathedral. Chartres has three rose windows, created around 1235, which show some of the most stunning examples of high gothic intricacy and tracery. The north rose window depicts the glorification of the Virgin, and through its incredible complexity and striking painted...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY “A Select Issue in Contemporary Theology: God-Is-Dead Theology” Submitted to Dr. Eunice Abogunrin In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of THEO 510-B05 Survey of Theology By John Kohler Whitley October 5, 2014 Introduction Friedrich Nietzsche believed God is dead, and he has based his theology around these three words. Why does he believe God is dead? Friedrich Nietzsche could have called his theology God does not exist and easily conveyed his message. Nietzsche purposefully chose these three words to send a message to the Christian faith. Since the beginning of time the existence of God has been questioned. Science has attempted to provide humanity with an explanation for human origin and has failed. Atheists argue that God does not exist and do not really offer any strong counter argument to the contrary. Muslims, Jews, and Christians each claim they serve the one supreme Creator of the universe. Who is right and who is wrong? If God is dead, why is religion alive and well? This paper will attempt to answer these questions by providing examples and counter examples. By taking a closer look at the life of Friedrich Nietzsche, his beliefs, morals and values, one will find that he does not possess any evidence that God is dead. Friedrich Nietzsche The life of Friedrich Nietzsche started out rather sadly. Nietzsche’s father, Karl Ludwig Nietzsche, developed a problem in the brain...
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...among different religion like Catholics, evangelicals, Protestants, Buddhism, Jehovah, Islam and the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Therefore, the largest group of people in the area are believers of Christ thus making them to be Christians. This paper focuses on explaining the reasons why most of the people are Christians, the history of the religion and why a large percentage of the people are believers in Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints church. History has it that Christianity takes about 60% of the population in state of Utah thus making one of the main religion in the great depression. As far as religion is concerned religion has made the state to grow both socially and economically since most of the people are business men...
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...Argument, which claims that everything has a cause, and thus there must be a First Cause, God. Russell points out God himself must have a first cause. (Russell, 6). The Natural-Law Argument, the view that God “set the planets in motion” and is the primary “Lawgiver”, was also refuted under the grounds that many natural laws are merely human conventions (Russell, 8). Russell tackled the popular Argument from Design, which asserted the conditions of the world are so perfect that it is only feasible some intelligent creator designed it. Russell pointed out the evil present in the world, and that no all-good, omnipotent, and omniscient God would allow that to occur (Russell, 10). Finally, Russell addressed the moral arguments for deity, which claim humans need religion to guide them towards a virtuous lifestyle. Russell promptly mentioned the logical fallacies involved in the differences between right or wrong, and also challenged views that God solely brings justice into the world (Russell, 12-13). One major objection to Russell’s arguments is his rebuttal to the Argument from Design. Russell fails to address the possibility that an all-good God uses evil to teach his creations, and that they are too simple to comprehend that. Other philosophers have argued that “evil” is merely a necessary counterpart to good, and therefore its existence does not disprove God. Russell also points out the many natural laws are mere human convention, but he doesn’t recognize that there are still many...
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...the following web link: http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-003.htm The Burj Al Arab hotel is located on Jumeriah Beach Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was designed by Tom Wright of W.S Watkins. The hotel stands on an artificial island with a height of 919ft and is connected to the mainland by a private bridge. Retrieved from the following web link: http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-003.htm While the hotel was being constructed, the workers had to drive 230 meter long concrete piles into the sand in order for it to have a good secured foundation. The found was protected from erosion by creating a surfaced layer of large rocks which formed a circled honey combed pattern around it. The interior was designed by Khuan Chew, design principal of KCA International. The hotel consists of the tallest atrium which stands approximately 590ft. Retrieved from the following web link: http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-003.htm If you take a close observation of the atrium you would...
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...written word. Christianity grew out of Judaism with the coming of Jesus Christ. Four Gospels were written as tribute to his life as the New Testament, and, with the combination of the Torah as the Old Testament, the Bible was crafted. The distinction between the Old and New Testaments create very different images of God. In the Old Testament, there is a God a vengeance and power. In the New Testament, God is merciful and full of love. Poets, such as William Blake, Countee Cullen, and Robert Frost have commented on this duality, inscribing their own beliefs onto paper. William Blake shows the contrast in God’s creations through two poems, The Lamb and The Tyger. The Lamb opens with a question: “Little Lamb, who made thee?” The speaker questions the lamb on how it was made, how it obtained its “clothing” of wool and its “tender voice.” In the next stanza, the speaker answers his own question: the lamb’s maker “calls himself a Lamb” and who resembles both the lamb and the speaker, a child. While the child’s question is an innocent one, it resounds as the constant philosophical question of creation that religion tries to explain. In the first stanza where the child poses the question, he approaches a literal lamb that by no means can answer. But by answering his own question, the child expresses a bold and joyful confidence in Jesus Christ as his creator. The lamb is a traditional metaphor for Jesus Christ, portraying values of meekness, peace, and love. The comparison given...
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...injustices. People are clawing at each other's throats on the internet over heinous atrocities that threaten to destroy the very essence of the American way, appalling things like…. paper…..cups? No, really. That’s what they’re mad about. Joshua Feuerstein, a former pastor and self-proclaimed internet personality, valiantly took it upon himself to call out the widely popular coffee company, Starbucks, on their new ‘politically correct’ cup designs. His internet movement entitled “#MerryChristmasStarbucks”, challenges customers to order their coffees under the name “Merry Christmas”, forcing poor baristas everywhere to begrudgingly write the name on the cups. Thus, “tricking” Starbucks into explicitly supporting the holliday....
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...scripture is so powerful, yet so simple. Selected this passage because it pertains to everyone’s problems and daily issues. Drama does not discriminate by color, race, sex, age or class, it is a universal issues that we all must go through and learn from. I also selected this passage because of I am working on in my personal life. My mother always told me that you have to have patience, that is was a virtue. As a young girl I had no idea of the magnitude the characteristics of patience would be worth. I have a young son and with children you have to learn to be patient. Children have the ability to make you proud, however obtain the same ability to work you down to your last nerve. But over my several years of parenting and growing with Christ I’ve learned that I must first acquire patience with my child. Children are more prone to listen and be obedient when you use a warm and soft tone, rather than a yelling angry tone which in turn will scare them and discourage any type of obedience. This scripture is most important to me because I’ve learned so much from it. Not only have my son and I regained a strong relationship, but my husband has also reaped the benefits from my progress and spiritual gain. The passage says that you must bear with one another in love. Meaning that in order to gain progress and work on our own problems we must do it out of love and not malice. We must...
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...Running head: Nichole Wise, Mary Alarcon-Ramirez, Robert Redcay, Christina Villa-Chism University of Phoenix Introduction to Humanities: The Ancient World to Medieval Times HUM/100 Shawmei Dee Hsieh March 22, 2012 Carolingian Architecture In the Carolingian period one of the most famous architectures is Aachen Cathedral also known as the Palatine Chapel and the Imperial Cathedral. The cathedrals unique design was highly influenced by German architecture and had a bit of a gothic flare to it. Symbolically the cathedral was saintly and had impressive historical meaningful value. Another symbolic meaning of the chapel was the mediation between God and common mortals. The chapel held many relics of high importance that were sacred and protected such as the cloak of the Blessed Virgin and the swaddling clothes of the infant Jesus (Sacred Destinations, 2010). The function of the Palatine chapel was to serve as an imperial church and was too based upon the Byzantine church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. The cathedrals forms and techniques had an eastern appeal with octagonal shapes, striped arches, marble floors, golden mosaics, and ambulatory are just some examples of the many features the chapel possesses. Most importantly historically and culturally, the Palatine Chapel housed an impressive collection of revered relics. Culturally the cathedral held high religious importance and is one of the oldest churches of Germany (Sacred Destinations,...
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