...main spiritual practices, which include: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. I will discuss their background and main philosophies, review the lessons I learned through research, give expert opinions and my opinions on incorporating religion in the medical field, and discuss how I can grow my practice. Background Information Christianity is a broad concept of religion that includes: Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Greek Orthodox, and Lutheran to name a few. The Christianity religion was developed around 2000 years and started as a movement from Judaism after the death of Jesus. Christianity is known as the number one religion and is the most practiced in the United States. 71 percent of Americans state they practice Christianity (Connolly, 2015). Christianity’s main philosophy is that there is one God who is united as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Christians strongly believe that God sent his son Jesus Christ to take away sins, and in the Holy Spirit he units both the living and the dead. (Christianity in View, 2014). However, this belief is differs from the Jewish belief in which Christianity broke away from. The Jewish people believe that Jesus was a preacher of God’s word (BBC, 2009) and they do not recognize them as a prophet just a regular man (Jewish Prisoner Services International, n.d.). Judaism believes that God would never subdivide himself into a trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and there is only one God. The Judaism religion is one of the oldest spiritual practices...
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...Today, Christianity is the world’s major religion representing approximately two billion believers. Christianity began as a small group of Judaism and is the major inspiration behind the rise of Islam the second largest religion. The Christian teachings are based on the life, teachings and death of Jesus Christ in the first AD century. The largest Christian groups include the Protestant churches, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches. There are numerous independent churches of Christians in the Eastern region such as Eastern Orthodoxy. Over the years, Christianity gained fame in Roman Empire after the introduction of Christian Roman emperors such as Constantine. The aim of this essay is to provide a description of the rise of Christianity during the Roman Empire. In the early centuries, the followers of Jesus spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. It is believed that Paul constructed a church in Rome. The majority of the first Christian groups were from the east, in Egypt, there was Alexandria as well as Jerusalem and Antioch. Due to Christianity teachings of the theology of love, caring for the orphans, widows, and sick, and stance against infanticide, abortion, and adultery it gained believers among...
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...African Christianity: A case study on Theology in Africa Today Christianity is a term that is used very broadly. Over the past few decades Christianity has mainly been predominate in the West and looked upon as a Western religion. For example, one would not expect high number of Christians in places overseas like Indonesia where it is a Muslim majority country. But as times have gone on the number of Christians throughout the entire world have drastically increased since then. According to the Phew Form, the top countries with the largest number of Christians are the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Germany, Philippines, China, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia. In fact Indonesia actually contains more Christians than the combined 20 countries within Middle East-North Africa region (Phew, 2011, 13). According to Barrett, within multiple graphs and statistics shows rapid growth of Christianity in the developing countries of the Global South, in places like Asia, Africa, and Latin America (1970). About 90% of Christians live in countries where Christians are in the majority leaving approximately 10% of Christians worldwide living as minorities (Phew, 2011). Christianity is a religion that is found everywhere throughout the world. The religion today can definitely be said to be nothing at all alike as to what it was like a century ago. Christianity has truly become a global faith accepted by people, communities, and homes across the entire world....
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...World Religions Darlene Lovely Hum/130 August 3, 2011 Charles Hall World Religions Islam is one the largest and fastest growing religions in the world, second only to Christianity. The Islamic faith believes that there is only one God, who is named Allah. The Qur’an is the holy scriptures of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the words of God revealed to the great prophet Muhammad for the purpose of educating Muslims on how to live spiritually, mentally, and physically pure lives. An interview on the religion of Islam was conducted with Lonna al’ Moctar, a thirty-nine-year-old administrative assistant at The Muslim Community Center of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. The Muslim Community Center of Louisville is the newest mosque in Louisville and is the “boldest architectural expression of Islam to date in Louisville” (Smith, 2010, para. 2). The Muslim Community Center of Louisville is a mosque “intended as a place of interaction for all faiths” to learn about Islam, and is also home to an adjacent school, the Islamic School of Louisville, for pre-school, elementary, and middle school students (Smith, 2010, para. 7). Not unlike the construction of other mosques across the nation, The Muslim Community Center of Louisville had its share of opposition; however, its neighbors never complained about the construction of the mosque itself. Shortly...
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...Contemporary Issues in Western Religions Nerkeda Bulter, Regina Edwards Lakisha Lewis Sinceria Lewis Religion/134 October 11, 2012 Stephanie Cripps Contemporary Issues in Western Religions This paper will reflect research on contemporary issues in Western Religions. The main objective is to elaborate on Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. The other key focus is to uncover the struggles within its historical and modern times. Islam is an interesting subject because it has plenty history surrounding Islamic cultures, and the contrast between Judaism, and Christianity. Nevertheless, revealing how time has change from than to now also captivate some attention. Exploring the foundation surrounding Islam such as Abraham, and the other forefathers is rewarding when searching the history of these three religions. Historical connections Islam and Judaism share connections starting very early in history with the patriarch Abraham. Abraham had two sons, Ishmael, and Isaac, who eventually went on to lead two different groups of people. Ishmael led the Arabs who later became known as the Muslims and Isaac led the Israelites who later became Jews. These two different groups of religions grew and traditions known today in modern religion. Each religion shares a monotheistic belief and has similar...
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...RELIGION AND POLITICS 1 Religion and politics are quite interwoven into society both in the developed world as well as in the developing world. In this paper, I will discuss the major religions of Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism and how these faiths interrelate to politics of nations. Islam has always been a very mixed within state and society as a whole, with no true line between church and state. Islam began in the Arabia by the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century, and is the second largest religion in the world today. Muslims are the followers of the Islam and believe in only on God, or Allah. Muslims base their beliefs on their holy book the Koran and the Sunnah. The Sunnah provides the five basic Pillars of Islam. These are: declaration of faith, praying five times a day, giving money to charity, fasting, and a pilgrimage to Mecca at least one time. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ataglance/glance.shtml) Since there is really no true division of church and state, Islam teaches religion, but also how to run a state, government, conduct business, etc. An Islamic state is based on five principles as follows. 1. Sovereignty of power. Muslims believe that Allah is the all-powerful who knows what is good and bad for society. They use the laws in the Koran to base concerning life and believe that laws must be put to practice by an Islamic state for the greater good of human beings. ( http://www.angelfire.com/bc3/johnsonuk/eng/dawa/politic...
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...Expansion Through The Centuries June 18th, 2015 Thesis Statement: This research proposal will capture the journey and contribution of mission through centuries in expansion of Christianity. Christianity is a religion which has been diffused majorly through the missionaries. The Christian mission went many interior places to converts people into Christianities. Actually, this trend is even mentioned in the Bible where people were seen to be enamored by the personality of Jesus Christ. According to Daughrity, since time immemorial, missions have been playing important role to emerge Christianity as the religion followed by the largest population in the world. This research proposal will try to capture the scenario and history of expansion of missions through the centuries. From a large part of eastern Mediterranean known as Levant originated Christianity and after a journey of extensively long passage of Jerusalem, Assyria and Egypt (to name a few), it had been adapted as the official religion in Armenia, Georgia, Aksumite Empire and Roman Empire successively. Missions bore the extensive responsibility of spreading Christianity in the colonies of European countries such as England, France, and Spain etc. but, the largest empire of the world, England was itself a pagan nation and converted into Christianity by the eighth century as the result of the mission in 597 AD led by Pope Gregory I. Missions were very influential in teaching values among the tribes and aboriginals of Africa...
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...World Religion Report Carolyn Maynard HUM 130 December 7,2010 Byrl E. Shaver II Abstract Christianity is the largest, and one of the oldest world religions. Although it began as one, it currently has various denominations. All of these Christian groups and churches, however, adhere to the central tenets of Christianity. Christians have a distinct understanding of the nature of God, the identity of Jesus Christ, and the role of salvation. While most of the Christian holy sites are in Rome and Jerusalem, two of the earliest centers of the religion, Christian sites can be found in all countries where the religion is present. The early Christian missions, located primarily in Florida and California, are an example of important sites for the religion in the United States. This paper provides an overview of the religion, information regarding St. Augustine Mission in Florida, an interview with a Christian, and a comparison between Christianity and Islam in order to provide a deeper understanding of the Christian faith. Christianity is currently one of the world’s largest religions. Approximately 33% of the world’s population or around 2.1 billion people profess the Christian faith (Major Religions…, 2007). Who are these people? What do they believe in? Where do they come from? Where are they going? These are some of the basic questions many people, unfamiliar with Christianity, could have about the religion. Many Christian symbols, such as the cross, are well known...
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...28, 2013 Islam and Christianity: Comparison and Contrast Religion is a large part of culture all around the world. Religion has effected governments, laws, and generations upon generations and has even been instrumental in the founding of some countries across the world. Among the world’s most prominent religions are Islam and Christianity. Both of these religions have influenced the world in a different way. Despite their differences, Islam and Christianity have many similarities in their core beliefs and convictions. Islamic and Christian people believe in one God that is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. They also both believe in God-sent prophets such as: Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Joseph, John, Jesus, and etc. The Ten Commandments and moral teachings are important to both the religion’s core beliefs and they have strong conviction that all people should live by the standards provided in the commandments and teachings (“Islam vs. Christianity”). Right and wrong are absolutes and cannot be wavered in between yet both religions claim to have “gray areas” that require personal conviction. Muslims and Christians believe that the Old and New Testament are Holy Scriptures inspired by God. Both Islam and Christianity believe in a fallen, evil angel called Satan. According to the religions, Satan should not be followed and people should avoid his temptations and spirits. Muslims...
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...the two largest religions in the world: Christianity and Islam. Religion has served in many societies as a mean of structure or social control, with rules that govern how people interact socially. We will be looking at the origin, similarities, differences, beliefs and festivals of each religion. Invariably, our aim is to ascertain through research data and interviews why Christianity is the world’s most popular religion, but more so why it is deemed most superior. Statement of Qualification. Our group strongly believes in the fundamental teachings of Christianity, having been exposed to its teachings from early childhood. We are respecters of all religions hence our research topic, to bring about a greater level of understanding of both, while identifying the beliefs and values these two great religion is built on. Based on our own individual experiences and personal realization of nature and how things are interconnected, we conclude that there is definitely a higher power that oversees everyone and everything, and it’s faith in this higher power that brought birth to Christianity. Review of Literature Religion is a controversial topic that has been debated with great enthusiasm by sociologists, theologians, and even students; some argue that the belief in religion is for closed minded individuals. One sociologist aimed to defend the fact that religion is an act of close minded thinking, he explains “if one religion is right...
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...Islam vs. Christianity The two largest religions in the world are Islam and Christianity. For most Americans, Islam is the religion of the Middle East; however, Islam is practiced all over the world by all races of people. The morning of September 11, 2001 was a very tragic moment for all Americans and unfortunately it caused most of us to view Islam as the religion of terrorists. As I started to prepare for this paper, Islam vs. Christianity, I wanted to focus on the religion and not the actions of some of the followers of the religion. But as I went deeper into the religious teachings, I could see how the religion itself could produce violent followers. Ahead, I will mirror some of the basic practices and principles of both religions to help us gain a better understanding of Islamic practices. Both Islam and Christianity believe in moral living and being good to others, but have different views on God and his interpretations. Both believe that there is a God; however, Christians believe in the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and Muslims believe that God (Allah) is the one and only. Both believe that Jesus Christ existed, but Muslims believe that Jesus was merely a prophet who received a revelation from Allah and not the Lord and Savior that Christians proclaim him to be. The Christian holy Book, The Holy Bible, contains the Old Testament which chronicles the lives of those who lived before Jesus and is also sacred to Islam, and the New Testament which is unique to...
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...Comparing and Contrasting Judaism, Christianity, and Islam “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” This was said by Stephen R. Covey and it means that similarities relate people to each other but differences cause them to become stronger by making them stand alone. Though they are similar in ways such as having multiple denominations, holy locations, and being linked to Abraham, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are different. They are unique in how they live their daily life, the way they worship, and their ages. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share many similarities but also many differences. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity have many things in common. For example, they all have multiple denominations within their religion....
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...2014 There are many different types of religions that are being practiced from back in the day and in the present time. These systems have affected many different societies where they are being practiced in and everyone that lives in them. These religions are practiced in many different ways. As the years went on many more religions were created and some people use these religions define who they really are. While many religions have emerged and flourished over the centuries, few have had the impact of both Judaism and Christianity. Judaism was founded by Abraham the father of the Hebrews. This religion originally came from the Hebrews. Judaism is believed to be monotheistic. Almost like all the other religions that have a bible in Judaism has a bible that they call the Torah. This bible is a recording of all the laws and important events that have happened during the Jewish history. “Torah seems to be a very this-worldly document, filled with human stories, laws, commandments, and not a word about God alone existing” (Green, Arthur 2010). The Jewish thought very highly of their god. They look at their god as their protector. Jewish people do not feel like they are Jewish without Judaism. “Judaism as religion might not be the entirety of Jewish identity, but it is difficult to imagine a vibrant Jewish identity completely severed from it” (Shapiro, 2014). Judaism has a political system that is taken seriously like most religions have. The Jewish government was democratic...
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...Christianity (from the Ancient Greek translation Χριστός, Christos of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ, Mašíaḥ, meaning "the anointed one"[1] and the Latin suffixes ian and -itas) is a monotheistic[2] religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament. Christianity is the world's largest religion,[3][4] with approximately 2.2 billion adherents, known as Christians.[5][6][7][8] Most Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human, and the savior of humanity prophesied in the Old Testament. Consequentially, Christians refer to Jesus as Christ or Messiah. The foundations of Christian theology are expressed in ecumenical creeds that are accepted by followers of the Christian faith. These professions state that Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and was resurrected from the dead in order to grant eternal life to those who believe in him and trust in him for the remission of their sins. The creeds further maintain that Jesus bodily ascended into heaven, where he reigns with God the Father. Most denominations teach that Jesus will return to judge all humans, living and dead, and to grant eternal life to his followers. He is considered the model of a virtuous life. His ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection are often referred to as the gospel, meaning "Good News" (a loan translation of the Greek: εὐαγγέλιον euangélion). The term gospel also refers to written accounts of Jesus's life and teaching, four of which—the Gospels of...
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...December 21, 2012 India: How Spirituality Can Affect Democracy India is often referred to as the "Land of Spirituality". There is no major religion that they hold and this is one of the reasons that it is so diverse. However, this spiritual land is a well formed constitutional democracy. Could there be some correlation between the two? If we explore the major religions in India, we can see that perhaps the reason democracy is holding so well is because of these spiritual people. The six major religions in India are Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Sikhism. These religions, all very different, have played a crucial part in forming India and keeping it so culturally diverse. These religions all promote equality and freedom of man and they contributed not only to India being a democracy, but they also helped India to be the superpower it is today. Hinduism is a religion that supports those that want to join. They do not convert others into Hinduism, nor do they have religious wars. "Hinduism offers lots of freedom to operate. An individual decides his Guru, and follows him or her. When many devotees come together a sect is formed. Like democracy, the people select a leader." (Prlog.org) These sects often are made and unmade, relating to the constant changes in democracy. People would argue that Hinduism is a confused religion because there is a certain lack of structure to those that do not follow. Even those that are not democratic would argue that democracy...
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