...one of my favourite times of the year. The next forty days are filled with preparation for the most important holiday on the Christian calendar. As the foundation of my religion, Easter is a holiday heavily celebrated by millions around the globe. Now, if you aren’t a Christian, please try and refrain from rolling your eyes, moving to another page, or de-friending me on Facebook. Lent has inspired me to move away from my mommy blogging for a post or two and focus on something that is huge in my life. To talk about a person who has made me a better human being. Because, yes, I am mother. I am wife. I am a daughter. I am a sister, friend and good neighbour. I love reading and am fascinated by Canadian politics. I enjoy kicking...
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...Danielle Walker World Religions Field Trip Paper 4 May 2014 Different People’s Way of Life Many individuals abide or live life along a set of guidelines or follow a certain religion and that conveys their way of life. Religions have many values, beliefs, and aspirations among them. Worldwide many religions are practiced daily although some may be practiced more than others on a daily basis. I have learned about many aspects, values, and what the motive to practicing a certain religion may give to life. To studying certain religions in the classroom to attending churches and services of specific religions I have learned a great deal of information revolving around the true aspects of our worldwide ways of life. Among the few religions I attended in person to view what cultural values, beliefs, and aspects that individuals abided by were the Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, The Greek Orthodox Church, Unitarian-Universalist Church, and Pilgrim Baptist Church. All in which shared different views and progressions on the way of life. The Vietnamese Buddhist Temple I found to be one of the more interesting locations out of all because of the formal one on one interaction with the monk. My impression of the religion and its “world view” from the apparent architecture and artifacts was an impression that actually stunned me because of the precise actions of such an individual. The site conveyed a very neat and high class appearance in the terms of how those individuals live the...
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...ignorance is religion. I have gone to Catholic school since kindergarten and have consequently been very sheltered in the subject of religion for my whole life. I have always been surrounded by people that shared the same beliefs as me and had very little reason to ever look into other religions. Because of this the only real knowledge I had of religions outside of Catholicism was that of stereotypes and generalizations. Without a real understanding of alternate religions, I saw Catholicism as superior to other religions. I compared my 12 years of learned teachings and practices to the barely there knowledge of alternate religions and of course concluded that Catholicism...
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...World View Chart Assignment Branda Darling Elizabeth Jarnagin World Religion June 16, 2015 This course has been very interesting and creating the World View Chart over the past ten months has taught me a lot about many different religions. When I started this course I expected there to be a lot of differences between the religions. I was shocked and even excited to find that the religions I studied all have something very interesting in common. When looking over the World View Chart, I noticed that the View of Human Nature of all the religions are very similar. All of the religions believe that humans have the capacity to be generous, kind, loving and even divine. It is true that the views of human nature are alike between the studied religions, however the way that humans start aout differs greatly. For example, Zoroastrians believe that humans are essentially born with good in them. Whereas Christians believe that because of the sin that Adam and Eve committed, humans are born with sin in them. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalms 51:1). As you can see, these two beliefs are very different but they become similar. Both of these religions believe that humans have free will and can choose to good, choose to treat others with love and respect. Another example can be seen when you look at the Hindu religion and the Buddhism religion. Hinduism believe that when humans are born they are like a blank slate. They can either be good...
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...Islam Religion Stephanie Scott Professor Carmen Pai Daschke REL 212 World Religions 12/16/12 Islam Religion Today I am doing my paper over the Islamic Religion. Earlier in the semester I had some misunderstanding about the religion because I didn’t really know the religion and parts of me didn’t want to know. I knew going into this class I had to be opened minded but I wasn’t. I think it took me the whole class to build myself to where I could be open minded. The first thing I did in researching for this paper was to figure out how I wanted to get my information. I felt that I wasn’t quite to the point of actually going to a foreign service so I researched and found a man that goes by the name Yaser Birjas. Instead of emailing we spoke over the phone and it was quite an experience. I realized that I was being judgmental about the Islam Religion because I didn’t know really anything about it. During our discussion we talked about the history of the Islam Religion, the Six Articles of Faith, the 5 Pillars of Islam, and misconceptions. In speaking with Mr. Birjas about the Islam Religion he started out with a small history lesson about what the Islam Religion is about. He states that Islam is a sequel of previous religions and that there are similarities because all religions are born from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Ishmael. This was new to me, I didn’t know this about the Islam religion and I sure didn’t realize this was the beginning of learning something new. Islam...
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...Capstone Week 9 In what ways has learning about world religions influenced the way you think about religion? As I have studied the different religions and the beliefs of those religions. I have come to understand other religions and their dogma in a way; I was never able to before. I was forced to look at other religion, without letting my own beliefs hamper me. I let myself be curious about the why, when, where other religions developed. This class has taught me the beginnings of the major religions of the world and changed my thought process about my own religion. I also learned how the religion started, evolved, and where its believers are in the world today. It opened my eyes to the fact that many religions care for the poor, young and the old. I have learned not to close my mind when something is not of my own religion. Why is it important to learn about other peoples' beliefs and attitudes? It is very important for me to learn other’s beliefs and religions. This helps you to understand why you see a woman wearing a heading covering or a man a yamakl. This teaches you not to make snap judgments about other religions when a few people do bad things in the name of that religion. When you have an understanding of other religion’s it is easier to see the person not the religion. This has helped me to understand that not all Muslims hate American’s or that Hindu women are odd because of the dot on their forehead. When we understand another belief this may lead to peace. ...
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...Research Assignment 2 December 7th , 2011 Religious understanding is a touchy subject. Many people are ignorant by choice to the principles, teachings, and interpretations of other religions because they feel as though the religion that they were raised in is the one true and correct religion and understanding. Personally, the religion that I have the most interest in learning about is the Jehovah’s Witness religion. I have a lot of question that are rooted in the understanding of my religion and the inconsistencies that I feel the Jehovah Witnesses as a whole possess. Needless to say, I learned quite a bit from my sit down and acute immersion in the Jehovah’s Witness religion. I chose to interview my friend Wyendi and her grandmother to get a well-rounded outlook and understanding ( at least partially) of the religion as a whole. This report will attempt to discuss the misconceptions that I had about the religion, analyze my prior understanding against my understanding now that I have spoken to a Jehovah Witness, discuss whether or not I believe that the misconceptions about the Jehovah Witness religion are common, and present one way that I think could minimize misconceptions that people may have about religions that are not their own. Based on my understanding of the Jehovah Witness religion I had about 6 key questions that I wanted to ask. The first question that I posed to my friend Wyendi and her grandmother dealt with their non-celebration of holidays. As a child...
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...“Wisdom can not be communicated” Throughout the course of Religions of the World we have explored and discussed many different religions. We have learned about various types of Gods and worship within that. Siddhartha claims that “Wisdom can not be communicated” but I feel like after taking this course I have definitely learned a lot about different religions not only through texts I have read but also through other students opinions in class. Themes that are conveyed through Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse and The Chosen by Chaim Potok are very different but they have both taught me a lesson that has helped strengthened my faith as a Catholic. Siddhartha is a very unique character and a main theme that is presented throughout the text is spirituality and enlightenment can only be found within yourself. When Siddhartha is having a conversation with Govinda and Govinda believes Siddhartha is “jesting” and wants to know more about Siddhartha’s independent ways. Govinda doesn’t really understand the fundamentals of Siddhartha’s past and how he has achieved his faith. Siddhartha powerfully responds, “I have had many thoughts but it would be difficult for me to tell you about them. But this one has impressed me, Govinda. Wisdom is not communicable…I am telling you what I have discovered. Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, be fortified by it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it” (Hesse, 142). What he means by this is...
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...Since the genesis of human cognitive function, religion has been one the crucial pieces of fabric woven into the thread of culture. Before I was able to take my first steps, the fabric of religion was woven into my life. With my grandmother as a Christian minister in training and my great-uncle as a pastor, the church has stuck with my family and I like glue. As I grew older, at the suggestion of my grandmother, I began to insert myself more in ministerial activities. Consequently, at the age of sixteen, I began to volunteer with my great-uncle, at a local nursing home. Each Sunday, for a year and a half, we would minister to approximately twenty residents who wanted to attend church but were physically unable to. Seeing the smiles on their faces, as well as developing a sense of fulfillment and amity, encouraged me to continue to work in the ministry....
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...the Interdisciplinary Degree with the cognates of Psychology and Religion. These are two very different topics, but together hold weight to further therapy, personal improvement and growth for those in need. Having a cognate in religion will allow me to exercise strong analytical and original thinking skills that will develop my ability to empathize with my fellow human beings (Emory). My other cognate is psychology which is the study of the mind and behavior. With this cognate, I will advance my ability to communicate with others, understand myself, expand my insight and critical thinking abilities (Wikipedia). Together these cognates will provide an impeccable foundation and wisdom with which to become the individual that I want to be in order to achieve my career goals. King Solomon is usually remembered as a wise man. He also had a profound knowledge of human nature (Solomon). Solomon's concern with the ethics of everyday life is evident in his Proverbs. They show that Solomon loved wisdom and was always trying to teach it to others. They also indicate that he was a keen observer who could learn from the mistakes of others. Like Solomon, these cognates will open my eyes to human nature and provide a greater insight with which to address the turmoils and emotional struggles of those in need. My religion cognate will provide me with the wisdom and roundness I need to be effective. This cognate will give me depth and understanding in my pursuit to relate with those I will...
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...Comparative Religions Comparative Religions: Reflection Essay Luckily we live in a country where we are free to express ourselves religiously however we choose to. I was born into the Greek Orthodox branch of Christianity and have remained a Christian my entire life. Different religions have always interested me; I have even studied extremely different beliefs than my own such as Paganism and Wicca. As noted in the textbook, there are eight different elements in which religious beliefs can manifest, such as: A belief system, community, central myths, rituals, an ethical system, emotional experiences, material expressions of religion and sacredness. (Malloy, 2010, p. 6) Some people may feel that their religious beliefs are larger influenced by each of these eight elements, while others may only be influenced by a select few. I grew up in a very Christian household. My mother was a Christian, that’s what she always said even though she was Roman Catholic. I later learned that she meant she had strong beliefs in Christianity, while not adhering to some of the Roman Catholic beliefs. I would strongly agree that the element of community really played a significant factor on my initial belief in Christianity. Since I was surrounded by an entire family whose belief was in Christianity and around people that talked constantly about Jesus Christ being our savior, I was heavily persuaded into the belief system that is Christianity. As I was raised, my family would tell me great...
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...Religion and worship are a personal matter to most people. Discussing these matters with strangers, or writing about them may be difficult at the very least. I have never given deep thought to what my personal belief system is nor have I written out or explored my thought processes on religion. I have always thought what my belief system is what it is. I have never studied the Bible and I do not have such strong convictions that my ideas cannot change. While science continues to evolve and try to explain everything in the universe one thing remains constant on Earth, almost all humans, no matter where he or she live, have some sort of religious belief or religious tradition. Their beliefs may be structured and a commonly held conviction of a traditional religion or it may be something such as atheism. My personal beliefs are as follows; I believe in an all empowering entity. I believe in God. My belief in the trinity is as follows, God is the Heavenly Father, His son Jesus Christ came to Earth and died to atone for the sins of man, the Holy Spirit is within each person as long as the individual believe in God and Jesus Christ. I cannot explain how I came to these beliefs. My family has never been overly religious and we never attended church so my beliefs were not ingrained from birth. Me religious belief system is almost like an entity that you cannot grasp, I have it in my heart and mind but it is probably cannot be explained in writing. I was raised in a predominately...
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...and abstract, forming a definition is not a challenge; however the question, “What is ‘religion’?” has spurred millions upon millions of definitions from countless people who can be divided into two categories; insider or outsider. In Gary Kessler’s book, Studying Religion, Kessler does not preach his own views of religion; instead he teaches readers how to be a sympathetic outsider, while studying the practices and religion of an insider, among many other aspects that make up the foundation of religion. After reading portions of Kessler’s book, I would confidently say that although I do not incorporate a religion into my personal life, Kessler’s writings have influenced me to become a better student of the aspects of religion that he writes about, including sacred power and spirituality as well. If you had asked me to define religion ten years ago, I would have said that I was a Christian, I go to church at my school every Friday, and that I believe that Jesus Christ gave his life for my sins. It seems like a very standard response, albeit it does not necessarily answer the question, but more importantly is the context of my answer. Throughout my young adulthood, from kindergarten till sixth grade, my parents put me in private, Christian schools to get my education. Because of this, I incorporated school with religion and vice versa, so I guess you could say that I never found religion independently, nor did I...
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...World Religions Report Jehovah’s Witnesses Stephen Devon Hill Jr. Axia College of the University of Phoenix January 10, 2009 In modern society there are numerous forms of Christianity. Many may be familiar with Catholics, Baptist, or Protestants. One form of Christianity that has created mixed views since its start is that of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some thoughts that may come to mind when people think of Jehovah’s Witnesses are cult activity, unusual Christian practices, and domineering individuals. This paper will take a look at the life as a Jehovah’s Witness. The paper will cover some of the common practices and beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The paper will also try to clear up some of the misconceptions that others believe about Jehovah’s Witnesses. The author of this paper has taken the time to research the Jehovah Witness religion by visiting a local Kingdom Hall, conducting an in-person interview with an actual Jehovah Witness, and also conducting research on the internet, as well as the library. Background Information The religion of the Jehovah’s Witness began in at the end of the 19th century. The religion was started a small group of Bible students close to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1879 the students began publishing what is known as the Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. The group that was formerly known as International Bible Students became Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1931. Membership of religion is marked by baptism. According to the Jehovah’s...
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...Religion is based on a type of belief system; however, not all belief systems are represented as religions. A belief system can cover a number of different situations that may overlap with some religions; but, each individual belief is an opinion which determines how we interact with every aspect of our life. "Religion is essentially the art and the theory of the remaking of man. Man is not a finished creation." (Edmund Burke) I believe that there is some sort of driving force that impacts my life and the lives of all other people in the world. I believe that when we die there is neither a good nor a bad place where we go, but that death is just leading our soul to the next part of our spiritual journey. This energy does not control life, and it does not judge us or make decisions based on us, it merely guides and aides all the beings in the world into the betterment of the soul. I do not believe in associating this power with any sort of religion because many religions have major flaws and are too specific on how people should lead their lives. My belief is based on my own experiences and situations that I have come across in my life. With the knowledge I have gained and as I have progressed I have created a belief system in which I live by. Throughout my life I believe that this force helps me when I arrive at conflicts and road blocks in my journey and troubles with choice and judgement. Similar to the idea of Karma, I know that when I do bad things there will be a negative...
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