Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Religion

What They Mean by Original Sin

The concept of original sin suggests that everyone is born with a predisposition towards wrongdoing, a desire for temporary pleasure or fulfillment. This inclination, while often diminishing with maturity, leaves a lasting impact on the human psyche. Consequently, our actions, purpose, and intentions become central to our moral compass.

St. Augustine's Perspective on Desire and Evil

St. Augustine, reflecting on his own youthful temptations, recognized a connection between desire and moral evil. Inspired by the simple life and virtuous intentions of St. Antony, he underwent a personal transformation, aspiring to become a better person.

Four Sources of Theology

Christian theology draws upon four key sources:

Scripture

This... Continue reading "Exploring the Sources of Christian Theology and the Nature of Sin" »

Principles for Christians Reading the Bible Together

Understanding Yourself and Others

• Every Christian must determine the context from which he or she speaks.
• Every Christian should recognize which theological orientation to the Bible is most natural.
• Patience and tolerance are needed to dialogue with those who approach the Bible in a different manner.

Working Responsibly with Ancient Customs and Beliefs

• Recognize that ancient Israelite society, as well as Greco-Roman society, were very different from our modern society.
• To understand these differences well, it may involve seeking additional knowledge beyond what we initially bring to the text.

The Three "C"s of Interpretation

Dialogue is enhanced if we commit ourselves to the three “C”s of interpretation:... Continue reading "Bible Interpretation: Principles for Christians" »

3 Treasures

• Compassion: groundbreaking responsibility to take care of others and care about others
• Frugality: being conscious and mindful of spending
• Humility: only humble people are generous and compassionate

Amaterasu

Sun goddess, her grandson becomes the 1st emperor of Japan, the imperial court lives on to be divine, Japanese flag is the sun, emperors are gods

Analects

Selected writings of Confucianism, discussed the Chun-tzu (superior man) which stated that leaders must be chosen by virtue and not just family name or appointment; small men are self-serving and have no accountability

Ancestor Veneration

A religious practice based on the belief that deceased family members have a continued existence, that the spirits of deceased ancestors will look... Continue reading "Ancient Japanese Culture and Beliefs: An Overview" »

Understanding the Old Testament Prophets

Major and Minor Prophets

Major: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel.

Minor: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

What is a Prophet?

A prophet is a messenger of God, a close advisor to the king, true to the Torah, an advocate for the people and God, and an agent of God, a truth-teller.

A prophet is not a fortune teller, a perfect believer, or a prognosticator/predictor of the future.

Superpowers and Empires During the Time of the Prophets

Persia, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Rome, Greece (these empires affected the Israelites).

Prophetic Actions

• Isaiah: Walked around naked for 3 years, symbolizing the people would be carried away naked, or without defense.
• Jeremiah:

WRITING

In Peru, we have a holiday called The Vendimia International Festival. Its main purpose is to promote the wine culture concentrated in the southern region of Peru. The festival is celebrated during March.

This festivity is a tradition to celebrate and give thanks for the fertile lands. Before the festival starts, different producers allow the public to enter their vineyards, giving tourists and visitors a special experience where they can enjoy learning about the process of making pisco and wine. Many people travel to their hometowns to spend The Vendimia International Festival with their families.

During the festival, a Queen is chosen. After this, there is a great parade before the winner is finally chosen after a short walk down the... Continue reading "The Vendimia International Festival: Celebrating Peru's Wine Culture" »

An internal analysis was made on the students' preparation and it is evident that 30% of the participants are men and they are more focused on having a logical thinking, obtaining a broad education, respecting different ideologies and organizing their time. They seek to develop the work environment by exploiting these qualities.

Women tend to focus on leaving a better image of themselves, exploiting their writing, reading and verbal expression that makes them look more intellectual and prepared for the future.

Both men and women are willing to work individually and in groups, which shows that they are multifaceted and adapt easily to their work environment. They also seek to update themselves in the technological area and increase their knowledge.... Continue reading "Gender Analysis of Student Preparation and Work Environment" »

-Secondly, there are many ways to donate, for example, raising money by making or organising different activities, like holding a rally or going on a march. But, in my opinion, the easiest and most effective way to donate is by doing voluntary work, because it is the most comfortable and fastest, besides that you can collaborate with NGOs.

In Conclusion

All Related with Charity is a Good Thing, If All the People Did Something for Charity, a Small Part of Poverty Would Disappear and We Would Make a Difference.

1. The Crusades and Anti-Semitism

Why do some historians mark the Crusades as the beginning of anti-Semitism in Europe?

Some historians view the Crusades as a catalyst for anti-Semitism in Europe. The crusaders' primary goal was to conquer Jerusalem, a city of immense religious significance to both Christians and Jews. During their journey, crusaders perpetrated violence against Jewish communities along the way, engaging in massacres and plunder. This violence stemmed from the belief that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus, a sentiment deeply ingrained in the Christian world at the time. These events are seen by some historians as an early manifestation of organized Christian violence against Jews, fueled by religious intolerance and... Continue reading "The Crusades: Origins, Impact, and Key Figures" »

The Protestant Reformation

The Spiritual Crisis of the Church

At the end of the Middle Ages, people began to question the practices of the Church, including:

• The luxurious lifestyles of the high clergy.
• The lack of culture and weakening of moral standards of the clergy, who set a bad example.
• The buying and selling of ecclesiastical positions for personal economic benefit.
• The selling of papal bulls and indulgences, which made the Church wealthy under the pretense of pardoning sins and granting access to heaven.

The Lutheran Reformation

In 1517, Martin Luther condemned the wealth of the Church, denied the value of indulgences, and advocated a new religion based on:

• Salvation through faith: Only faith in God could lead to eternal salvation, regardless

The author of Revelations is believed to be John. The overall theme of Revelations is the end of the world and the rise of a New Earth and New Heaven.

One criticism is falling into sin and following the devil.

One complement is keeping the faith and following Christ.

Babylon represents the Roman Empire falling. The jewelry represents wealth and the color purple represents royalty. These two are allusions to powerful people. The people who are given the names that God should have, we might apply this to today by saying that people are given the name "Lord" and that should not happen.

John is referring to when people are pure and time is right, everyone will enter heaven. This is also a reference to purgatory. We see this in scripture again when... Continue reading "The Themes and Symbolism in the Book of Revelations" »