...changing throughout the history. The early Christians opposed to the death penalty as well as they opposed to the state. This attitude started changing when Christianity became an official religion. The Catholic Church as a power structure began utilizing all the repressive mechanisms inherent in a political formation. The clerical scholars started setting a theological basis to justify the murder. The inquisition became an instrument of the political suppression. Today, the Catholic Church changes the attitude to death penalty anew, retracing to early Christian positions. This paper analyzes the evolution of the Catholic thought on the issue of the death penalty. The early Christian Church opposed the death penalty, regarding it as the violation of the sixth commandment “thou shall not kill”. The teaching of Christ renounced the lex talionis tradition of the Old Testament which commanded to pay an equal price for a damage done (the principle known as “an eye for an eye”). The Old Testament distinctly orders to put to death a man who kills another man (Exod 21:12). On the contrary, at the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus preaches: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:38-39). Apart from Christ's teaching, some books of the New Testament include controversial episodes that report on the death punishment practice...
Words: 1007 - Pages: 5
...influencing Jane’s perception on religion. Although Jane is only ten years old and the concept of turning the other cheek is hard to grasp, Helen Burns, her pious friend at Lowood, keeps Jane level-headed and discusses faith with Jane. Helen informs Jane that she should "read the New Testament, and observe what Christ says, and how he acts," (116). If a reader has any basic knowledge of the New Testament, it suddenly becomes very clear that Helen Burns is a symbolic figure of the New Testament through all of her choices and actions. Matthew 5:44-45 in the New Testament states that one should “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (English Standard Version Matthew 5:44-45). Helen represents this verse...
Words: 438 - Pages: 2
...The Emergence of Different Sects of Christianity in the Late Second Century Prior to the creation of the currently accepted standard form of Christianity, there was a time period of pivotal decision making in which many sects were fighting for authority. Just as Orthodox Christianity gained authority as containing “true” Christian teachings, opposing groups such as Gnosticism gained followers which posed threats to the stability of the Orthodox Church. The tumultuous and unstable background of the time period is reflected in the variety of religious scriptures at this time period. This is most clearly seen in the opposing views of Judas between the synoptic and gnostic gospels which portray very different accounts of the immediate events surrounding...
Words: 1403 - Pages: 6
...correlate my own spirituality with the Christian Tradition as I am not exactly a believer. I think of myself as more of a skeptic on the whole thing even though I was brought up as a Baptist. As stated before, I do celebrate Christian holidays but in a more secular family-orientated light. Some Christian values I do try to keep as they generally are in line with what I believe in such as "turning the other cheek" and unconditional love even when such relations are strained. I see them as more guidelines than a set rules as it is impossible to stay on the straight and narrow throughout life as things change so one most bend with the times but not so much as to forget the shape one once was. Outside of those few things I just try to be a good person and do no harm to others around me and try to help those people who need it. The world can be a rather nasty place and I feel that we need to try to help each other out when we can or at least not add another thing on the list of daily worries for everyone else. Compassion and empathy are two things that I try to have for others. Jesus went about helping others and Corinthians 1:3-7...
Words: 398 - Pages: 2
...The essay topic that I will be writing about will be focusing on two parts that intersect. The essay will focus on Pope Urban’s reasons for the crusade and his aims and ambitions for the church. I will also be discussing the Popes use of exaggerating claims of christians suffering and being murdered and liberating the holy lands to gain support for the Crusade. I have looked at these sources and found some of these more useful than others in writing my paper. Pope Urban II’s call for a crusade:Four Accounts -This piece of work has four different accounts of one of the first sermons that Pope Urban gave about the crusade. The sermon was a response to Constantinople plea for help against the Turks. The sermon had called for Christians all around Europe to help save their Christian brothers and sisters who are being greatly mistreated and to take back the Holy land from the Muslims who were currently occupying it. These four accounts were written by churchmen and all of the accounts were written after the conclusion of the first crusade. The First Crusade and the idea of crusading by Jonathan Riley-Smith- I find this book so far to be a good read and chapter 1:Pope Urbans Message to very useful in helping me write my paper. This chapter discusses focuses on pope Urban and his sermons to the people. The chapter gives reasons on why the Crusade was called and how the church legitimized the crusade through his sermons. Also goes into the goals of the crusades that were mentioned over...
Words: 477 - Pages: 2
...CATHOLICISM vs. CHRISTIANITY HUM/130 SEPTEMBER 15 2011 CATHOLICISM vs. CHRISTIANITY Introduction Christianity is a practiced religion following the teachings of Jesus Christ, which started around 1 AD, and grew stronger after 3 AD when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross by the Pharisees, Jewish religious leaders, and the Roman government for what the Jewish leaders said was blasphemy of the Jewish belief that Christ Jesus was calling himself the Son of God. The strength of this religion goes by what Jesus Christ said he would do when he was put to death. He proclaimed that after three days he would rise from his tomb, and on the third day he did just that according to scriptures in the New Testament. Before Jesus was born, the Judea or Jewish laws as described in the Torah were the only religion that offered forgiveness of ones sins from God by sacrifice of a lamb, goat, sheep, or wing animal depending on your sin, that is what you had to buy for the Pharisee to offer to God as your sacrifice. Along came Jesus to offer another way for forgiveness of sin by offering himself as the sacrifice. He was also accused of teaching Gods law to all Gentile and Jew, when the Jews thought they were the only ones worthy of God’s laws and forgiveness. Catholicism was born from Christianity. Having the same structured beliefs Catholicism separates its beliefs by adding other religious figures into its religion. Mary mother of Jesus is hailed as a holy person because she was chosen as the...
Words: 2364 - Pages: 10
...Jesus and Mohammed Cassie Osborn 5/24/2014 HUM/130 Alice Aud Jesus and Mohammed Jesus and Mohammed both represent major figures in the Christianity and Muslim religions respectively. These two religions are completely different but each figure is of equal importance to their respective religions from the way each of their followers pray down to the holidays each celebrate. Jesus is of the Christian religion and Mohammed is of the Islam religion. These two figure are easily the two biggest, most recognized names in religion today due to the billions of combined believers in each faith. It is considered across most Christianity sects that Jesus was born on December 25th in the city of Bethlehem. Christians believe this so heavily it has been induced into their doctrine, but there is some dispute between other religious groups. There are scholars that believe he was born in spring or fall, or even that he was born in Nazareth and not Bethlehem. That being said, December 25th is the date that Christians hold to be his birthday and the day itself has become very important to his believers. The Virgin Mary was Jesus’s mother and she was married to a carpenter named Joseph. It is widely believed that because Mary was a virgin, she was impregnated with Jesus through the Holy Spirit or God, making him God’s only son. At this time, Jewish individuals had been awaiting the Messiah, which the old prophecies had promised them was coming. This Messiah would be in some form...
Words: 1373 - Pages: 6
...| Jesus and Mohammed | Hum/130 | | | 11/16/2013 | Jesus & Mohammed Jesus and Mohammed have shaped the course of history and the destiny of man for over two millennia. Christianity and Islam are currently the largest religions with a following of 1.8 billion and 1 billion respectively. No other religion in the world comes close to achieving such numbers. These are the only two religions that have a global presence; in other words you will find Muslims and Christians present in every territory in the world. Both Jesus and Mohammed shared a lot of similarities and differences which is reflected in their respective religions. Historically, we encounter reports of miraculous events before and upon the Birth of both leaders. The Christian Bible talks of a host of Angels appearing to shepherds (Bible, Luke 2:8 NIV). There is also the star of Bethlehem, a celestial body, said to have guided three Magi to the birthplace of Jesus where they rendered gifts. (Bible, Mathew 2:2 NIV). As for Mohammed, the Quran reports that as a baby he was sent to be taken care of by a nurse which was the custom in those days. Halimah, his nurse, explains that with the entrance of Prophet Muhammad, blessings showered her life such that their property and herd increased daily. Although drought had spread throughout the deserts and cities, Halimah's sheep were healthy and full of milk. Their shriveled trees prospered and grew back green leaves. The camels regained their milk. Furthermore...
Words: 1397 - Pages: 6
...Both realized that no system of philosophy operates in isolation of its creators inherent prejudices. Any subjective viewpoint is biased; therefore, objectivity is impossible in any moral example. They both recognized that God no longer exists in religion in present-day expression. Men and women go about their daily lives in a manner irreverent of the possibility that there is an all-powerful God governing their affairs. Surprisingly, they proclaim their devotion to God when questioned about it. However, in their attempts to resolve this moral affliction Nietzsche and Kierkegaard are different in their quest for a cure. The very foundations of their moral constitutions were built upon conflicting ideologies: Kierkegaard put his in Christianity, while Nietzsche’s in individualism and self-determination. Kierkegaard saw the problem of religious downfall as an opportunity for renewal in Christian beliefs. Kierkegaard was born May 5, 1813 in Kopenhagen Denmark and died November 11, 1885. Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, religious author, and considered the first existentialist philosopher of all time. Soren Kierkegaard was a Christian man who believed in the Will of God. Nietzsche was born...
Words: 2004 - Pages: 9
...Through references to Harriet Tubman, Nat Turner, and other renowned activists and leaders, Coates develops his memoir’s theme of institutionalized oppression through racism. Coates speaks of Malcom X’s idea that it is “human for the enslaved to hate the enslaver, natural as Prometheus hating the birds,” in a manner that is quite similar to Firdaus speaking about those who oppressed her. Malcom X’s reference to the myth of Prometheus strengthens Coates’ notion through its gruesome nature. After wronging the Titans, Prometheus was sentenced to being chained to a mountain where birds would pick at his organs for all of eternity. However, Coates utilizes this point to further the impact of his next quote selection. He proceeds to reference Matthew 5:39 in the Christian bible, which states: “If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn them the other cheek also.” Malcom X, however, refused to turn away when he felt as though he hand been wronged, simply because of the color of his skin. Coates states that he “would not be your morality.” Instead, he found power in himself, while imprisoned, that encouraged Coates to “wield the same power…act as through [his] body were [his own].” Through refusing...
Words: 1382 - Pages: 6
...Johnson Dec. 9, 2013 Nonviolent Movements, Effective Results Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” is a response to criticism from American clergymen about demonstrations in Birmingham. It is among the world’s canon of the most influential writings. He successfully informs his fellow clergymen of the importance of African Americans gaining rights through nonviolent methods. He also speaks eloquently of the difference between just and unjust laws, which lies in the equality of rights. The 1960s were trying times for African Americans due to intense segregation. Despite these difficulties, Dr. King was able to respond with nonviolent methods. These methods are considered very praiseworthy as such a nonviolent response, particularly with such profound effects, is very rare in human society. Dr. King’s nonviolent approach for achieving equal rights, not only helps society make considerable progress on achieving equality, but also enlightens future societies to go for equality in a peaceful manner. According to Dr. King, the difference between just and unjust laws is whether or not everybody has equal rights; similarly, whether or not the law in question uplifts the human spirit. As Dr. King claims: “Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust” (King 3). African Americans were forced to face intense segregation and had to witness their friends and family members be subjected to abuse and humiliation...
Words: 1619 - Pages: 7
...[From August Harpers and Sojourners Newsletter] The Christian Paradox How a faithful nation gets Jesus wrong by Bill McKibben, Updated August 3, 2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005. What it means to be Christian in America. An excerpt. Originally from August 2005 Harpers. Only 40 percent of Americans can name more than four of the Ten Commandments, and a scant half can cite any of the four authors of the Gospels. Twelve percent believe Joan of Arc was Noah's wife. This failure to recall the specifics of our Christian heritage may be further evidence of our nation's educational decline, but it probably doesn't matter all that much in spiritual or political terms. Here is a statistic that does matter: Three quarters of Americans believe the Bible teaches that "God helps those who help themselves." That is, three out of four Americans believe that this uber-American idea, a notion at the core of our current individualist politics and culture, which was in fact uttered by Ben Franklin, actually appears in Holy Scripture. The thing is, not only is Franklin's wisdom not biblical; it's counter-biblical. Few ideas could be further from the gospel message, with its radical summons to love of neighbor. On this essential matter, most Americans - most American Christians - are simply wrong, as if 75 percent of American scientists believed that Newton proved gravity causes apples to fly up. Asking Christians what Christ taught isn't a trick. When we say we are a Christian...
Words: 4595 - Pages: 19
...sporting champions have professed religious faith and attributed their success to divine power; fourth, the devotion of fans to sporting teams and individual “stars” resembles religions fervor; fifth and final, in the modern West, sport has become a functional equivalent of religion for some people. These connections between religion and sport are undeniable, but not uncontroversial. Scholars and critics who have attempted to articulate them and offer explanations for them have encountered pitfalls. Adherents of traditional religions such as Judaism and Christianity have vigorously objected to the equation of sport with religion and of sporting “peak experiences” with religious experiences or mysticism. Christian commentators have questioned how compatible the modern sporting ethos of bodily perfection and fierce competition is with a religion focused on the suffering savior who was broken on the cross and preached turning the other cheek. The problematic relationship of sport to war in the West is significant here. In the European Middle Ages, valued physical activities were those that could serve as military training, such as archery. The English king Edward III “prohibited on pain of death all sport except...
Words: 2055 - Pages: 9
...“it is far better to endure patiently a smart which nobody feels but yourself, than to commit a hasty action whose evil consequences will extend to all connected with you—and, besides, the Bible bids us return good for evil” (Bronte 59). Helen responded to Jane’s occurrence with Miss Scatcherd with “calm acceptance” (Markley 2). Maria, Bronte’s sister, was the ‘Helen” in Bronte’s life who corrected her when she did wrong and influenced her to have a strong understanding of God’s Word. As Jane struggles to understand, Helen stresses that “it is weak and silly to say [Jane] cannot bear what it is [her] fate to be required to bear” (Bronte 59). Because of her walk with God, Helen was “in many ways a model Christian who always turns the other cheek and her resolve to demand fair treatment in her life is solidified by [Jane’s] relationship with Helen” (Markley 2). Maria was the Christian in Bronte’s life who was a strong godly role model for her. Therefore, her sister Maria, who was represented as Helen, influenced her worldview as she advises Bronte to go to God for counsel and to approach situations in her life calmly as accordingly to the...
Words: 1640 - Pages: 7
...employed in religious denominations or organized religious groups such as churches, synagogues, temples, or mosques. | Part II Select at least 1 religious and 1 ethnic/racial group not your own from the list below. * Religious groups (based on http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/affiliations-all-traditions.pdf) * Christianity * Evangelical Protestant * Mainline Protestant * Historically Black Churches * Roman Catholic * Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) * Jehovah’s Witnesses * Orthodox (Greek, Eastern) * Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform) * Buddhism (Theravada or Mahayana) * Islam (Sunni, Shia, Sufism) * Hinduism * Racial/Ethnic groups (based on divisions in U.S. Census Bureau documents) * Asian (Asian descent) * Black (African descent) * Hispanic and Latino (South or Central American descent) * Pacific Islander (Polynesian descent) * White (European descent) * * Part III * Answer the following questions in 150 to 250 words each about the religious group you selected: * How does your selected religious group differ from other religious groups (such as in their beliefs, worship practices, or values)? Islam religion group is in between Jewish and...
Words: 2864 - Pages: 12
