Hi all! Our school is taking a winter break, and since we won't be able to communicate frequently, our blog will not be posting an article every day. However, we still plan to post several articles so check our blog occasionally if you can. We'll be writing about Islamophobia and Baha'i next, and also hope to take some interviews.
You can get updates by following us on Twitter (@rethinkreligion) or following our RSS feed (http://www.religionrethought.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default). We would love to have your input, so if you have any questions, comments or suggestions then feel free to email us at religionrethought@gmail.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can!
Happy Holidays from Religion Rethought
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Religious Holidays
by Nate
If religion has not affected you directly, by going to church or temple or some other form of participation, it has probably affected you indirectly, through religious holidays such as Christmas and Hanukkah.
In American society, Christmas is widely celebrated with things like Santa Claus, colorful lights, and gift exchange, but this is not how Christmas started. Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25th, which to Christians means something more – the birthday of Jesus. It is written in the Bible that Jesus was born in an animal manger in a stable. You can read more about this in our article about Christianity: http://religionrethought.blogspot.com/2010/11/christianity-brief-summary.html
Have you ever noticed Jewish kids getting presents for eight straight days during Hanukkah and wondered why this is? A holy Jewish temple in Jerusalem was once captured by Syrian-Greek soldiers and dedicated to the worship of Zeus. It took the Jews about a year to reclaim their temple, and by that time it had been horribly defiled by the sacrifice of pigs and the worship of what they considered to be false gods. To purify the temple, they decided they must burn ritual oil in the temple for eight days. Sadly they only had enough oil for one day, but this one day’s worth of oil miraculously lasted for all eight days.
Now that you know the history behind Christmas and Hanukkah, maybe this time of year won’t be confusing for you anymore. Happy Holidays!
Works Cited
Fairchild, Mary. "The Christmas Story - This Bible Story Summary Tells the Christmas Story of the Birth of Jesus." Christianity - About Christianity and Living the Christian Life. Web. 11 Dec. 2010 http://christianity.about.com/od/biblestorysummaries/p/christmasstory.htm
"Judaism - ReligionFacts." Religion, World Religions, Comparative Religion - Just the Facts on the World's Religions. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/index.htm
"The Land of Israel." Judaism 101. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. http://www.jewfaq.org/israel.htm#Promised
Pelaia, Ariela. "Hanukkah - What Is Hanukkah." About Judaism. Web. 11 Dec. 2010. http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/hanukkah.htm
If religion has not affected you directly, by going to church or temple or some other form of participation, it has probably affected you indirectly, through religious holidays such as Christmas and Hanukkah.
In American society, Christmas is widely celebrated with things like Santa Claus, colorful lights, and gift exchange, but this is not how Christmas started. Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25th, which to Christians means something more – the birthday of Jesus. It is written in the Bible that Jesus was born in an animal manger in a stable. You can read more about this in our article about Christianity: http://religionrethought.blogspot.com/2010/11/christianity-brief-summary.html
Have you ever noticed Jewish kids getting presents for eight straight days during Hanukkah and wondered why this is? A holy Jewish temple in Jerusalem was once captured by Syrian-Greek soldiers and dedicated to the worship of Zeus. It took the Jews about a year to reclaim their temple, and by that time it had been horribly defiled by the sacrifice of pigs and the worship of what they considered to be false gods. To purify the temple, they decided they must burn ritual oil in the temple for eight days. Sadly they only had enough oil for one day, but this one day’s worth of oil miraculously lasted for all eight days.
Now that you know the history behind Christmas and Hanukkah, maybe this time of year won’t be confusing for you anymore. Happy Holidays!
Works Cited
Fairchild, Mary. "The Christmas Story - This Bible Story Summary Tells the Christmas Story of the Birth of Jesus." Christianity - About Christianity and Living the Christian Life. Web. 11 Dec. 2010 http://christianity.about.com/od/biblestorysummaries/p/christmasstory.htm
"Judaism - ReligionFacts." Religion, World Religions, Comparative Religion - Just the Facts on the World's Religions. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/index.htm
"The Land of Israel." Judaism 101. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. http://www.jewfaq.org/israel.htm#Promised
Pelaia, Ariela. "Hanukkah - What Is Hanukkah." About Judaism. Web. 11 Dec. 2010. http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/hanukkah.htm
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Buddhist Church
by Gloria
I recently visited my friend’s Buddhist church in Seattle. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I was a little nervous about going. I went with Stella; this was the first time either of us had visited a Buddhist church.
When we got to the church, my friend’s mom, who is a Dharma school teacher, showed us around. I was surprised – I had been imagining a gilded temple with monks in robes everywhere, like the ones you see in movies, but the layout was surprisingly similar to some Christian churches that I’d been in before—bright classrooms filled with cheerful kids of many ages, walls plastered with colorful crayon drawings done by the Dharma school students. One of the major differences was the room where the service took place. There were still rows of benches with an aisle down the middle, but the front of the room was slightly more elevated than the rest and it had a stand with gold decorations surrounding a statue of the Buddha. There was also a small stand at the foot of the platform for burning incense. The smell was rich and pleasant and lingered in the air of the whole church.
I had a great time, and I also learned a few things. The church was of a branch of Buddhism called Jodo-Shinshu Buddhism. Jo means “pure”, do means “realm”, shin means “true”, and shu means “teaching”. The branch is mostly Japanese. When the service began, we chanted sutras from the prayer book. A gong was sounded whenever the prayer book dictated. The sound of the whole room chanting in unison created an atmosphere that was unique and very spiritual.
I recently visited my friend’s Buddhist church in Seattle. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I was a little nervous about going. I went with Stella; this was the first time either of us had visited a Buddhist church.
When we got to the church, my friend’s mom, who is a Dharma school teacher, showed us around. I was surprised – I had been imagining a gilded temple with monks in robes everywhere, like the ones you see in movies, but the layout was surprisingly similar to some Christian churches that I’d been in before—bright classrooms filled with cheerful kids of many ages, walls plastered with colorful crayon drawings done by the Dharma school students. One of the major differences was the room where the service took place. There were still rows of benches with an aisle down the middle, but the front of the room was slightly more elevated than the rest and it had a stand with gold decorations surrounding a statue of the Buddha. There was also a small stand at the foot of the platform for burning incense. The smell was rich and pleasant and lingered in the air of the whole church.
I had a great time, and I also learned a few things. The church was of a branch of Buddhism called Jodo-Shinshu Buddhism. Jo means “pure”, do means “realm”, shin means “true”, and shu means “teaching”. The branch is mostly Japanese. When the service began, we chanted sutras from the prayer book. A gong was sounded whenever the prayer book dictated. The sound of the whole room chanting in unison created an atmosphere that was unique and very spiritual.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Seattle Buddhist Church
by Stella
I am always excited when I visit a church or temple, because it's kind of like a whole other world. The Buddhist temple that Gloria and I visited on Sunday was very different from other churches or temples. This is how I remember our visit:
As we walk in, a lady hands us books filled with songs and chants. We sit down and she explains some of the things that are going on. There are people burning incense at the front of the temple, and the scent wafts through the whole building. The lady explains to us that it's meant to soothe and relax you. I expected everyone to be Asian, but there are a surprising number of white people around. Everyone wears a sort of a cloth necklace, to symbolize the Buddha's robes. Monks, the dedicated followers of Buddhism, wear full robes. A bracelet which you put around your hands when they are in prayer position symbolizes being one with the Buddha.
As service goes on, I start to feel the relaxed atmosphere of the temple. Following the introductory song and prayer, the priest has a talk prepared about different symbols of Buddhism. He goes on to talk about how not all Buddhists celebrate the same holidays, and why this is a negative thing. Afterward, all of the kids are sent to Dharma school (like Sunday school) so we follow along. This is even more laid back, with kids talking about pop music and dancing.
Overall, going to a Buddhist temple was a very interesting and exciting experience. I learned a lot about Buddhism and it's similarities and differences to other eastern religions.
I am always excited when I visit a church or temple, because it's kind of like a whole other world. The Buddhist temple that Gloria and I visited on Sunday was very different from other churches or temples. This is how I remember our visit:
As we walk in, a lady hands us books filled with songs and chants. We sit down and she explains some of the things that are going on. There are people burning incense at the front of the temple, and the scent wafts through the whole building. The lady explains to us that it's meant to soothe and relax you. I expected everyone to be Asian, but there are a surprising number of white people around. Everyone wears a sort of a cloth necklace, to symbolize the Buddha's robes. Monks, the dedicated followers of Buddhism, wear full robes. A bracelet which you put around your hands when they are in prayer position symbolizes being one with the Buddha.
As service goes on, I start to feel the relaxed atmosphere of the temple. Following the introductory song and prayer, the priest has a talk prepared about different symbols of Buddhism. He goes on to talk about how not all Buddhists celebrate the same holidays, and why this is a negative thing. Afterward, all of the kids are sent to Dharma school (like Sunday school) so we follow along. This is even more laid back, with kids talking about pop music and dancing.
Overall, going to a Buddhist temple was a very interesting and exciting experience. I learned a lot about Buddhism and it's similarities and differences to other eastern religions.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Agnosticism & Atheism
by Gabbie
Despite considering myself nonreligious, I’ve never fully understood the difference between atheism and agnosticism. But now, with the popularity of non-religion on the rise (Phan), I thought that the knowledge might become useful, and I wanted to share my findings with anyone else who’s also confused by this subject.
For an issue so personal and possibly arbitrary, I chose to go straight to the source. I found an atheist psychology student who maintains a blog called The Atheist Mind, where he recently posted an article entitled “Atheism vs. Agnosticism.” This post could not be more relevant, and can be found here: http://www.atheistmind.com/atheism-vs-agnosticism. The author gives a simplified, easy-to-understand comparison, where he describes agnosticism as claiming that “there is, nor ever will be, anyway to prove beyond a responsible doubt that a God does or does not exist,” while atheism is “complete disbelief in any form of deity.”
To back up what I read on The Atheist Mind, I explored the Skeptic’s Dictionary, an offbeat website describing itself as “a collection of strange beliefs, amusing deceptions, and dangerous delusions.” There I found definitions of atheism and agnosticism. Though at first the Dictionary appears questionably reliable (its alphabetical definitions list is titled “From Abracadabra to Zombies), it is actually well-cited and offers a wealth of suggestions for further reading. Its definition of atheism stipulates “active rejection of belief in the existence of God” and goes on to describe distinct categories of atheism, which include apatheism and polyatheism. Its article on agnosticism is short and to the point, defining it as “the position of believing that knowledge of the existence or non-existence of god is impossible.”
After reading articles with a decidedly non-theist bias, I decided to look for a different perspective, and happened upon the website of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. With resignation, I anticipated righteous, holier-than-thou arguments – perhaps unfairly, and was surprised at what I found instead. The author of “What is atheism?” lent an intelligent, reasonable tone to a helpful and well-written article. He defined atheism as “the lack of belief in a god, and/or the belief that there is no god” and listed some basic tenets of atheism, as well as exploring the varying degrees of atheism, ranging from weak to militant. He also included a paragraph on agnosticism, saying that members of this group “have concluded that there is no God” but “are open to further evidence for God’s existence”.
I enjoyed the chance to find some interesting information from some unlikely sources, and hopefully this article can help clear up your confusion. If you consider yourself atheist or agnostic, we’d love to have your take on the differences and similarities.
Works Cited
"Atheism vs. Agnosticism." Web log post. Atheist Mind. Blogger, 24 Feb. 2010. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. http://www.atheistmind.com/atheism-vs-agnosticism
Phan, Katherine T. "Survey: Non-Religious Americans on the Rise in Every State Christianpost.com." ChristianPost.com - Today's Christian News Online. 9 Mar. 2009. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090309/survey-non-religious-americans-on-the-rise-in-every-state/
Popa, Cristian. "Agnosticism - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com." The Skeptic's Dictionary. Robert T. Carroll, 9 Dec. 2010. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. http://www.skepdic.com/agnosticism.html
Slick, Matt. "What Is Atheism? Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry." CARM - Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. Web. 11 Dec. 2010. http://carm.org/what-is-atheism
Despite considering myself nonreligious, I’ve never fully understood the difference between atheism and agnosticism. But now, with the popularity of non-religion on the rise (Phan), I thought that the knowledge might become useful, and I wanted to share my findings with anyone else who’s also confused by this subject.
For an issue so personal and possibly arbitrary, I chose to go straight to the source. I found an atheist psychology student who maintains a blog called The Atheist Mind, where he recently posted an article entitled “Atheism vs. Agnosticism.” This post could not be more relevant, and can be found here: http://www.atheistmind.com/atheism-vs-agnosticism. The author gives a simplified, easy-to-understand comparison, where he describes agnosticism as claiming that “there is, nor ever will be, anyway to prove beyond a responsible doubt that a God does or does not exist,” while atheism is “complete disbelief in any form of deity.”
To back up what I read on The Atheist Mind, I explored the Skeptic’s Dictionary, an offbeat website describing itself as “a collection of strange beliefs, amusing deceptions, and dangerous delusions.” There I found definitions of atheism and agnosticism. Though at first the Dictionary appears questionably reliable (its alphabetical definitions list is titled “From Abracadabra to Zombies), it is actually well-cited and offers a wealth of suggestions for further reading. Its definition of atheism stipulates “active rejection of belief in the existence of God” and goes on to describe distinct categories of atheism, which include apatheism and polyatheism. Its article on agnosticism is short and to the point, defining it as “the position of believing that knowledge of the existence or non-existence of god is impossible.”
After reading articles with a decidedly non-theist bias, I decided to look for a different perspective, and happened upon the website of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. With resignation, I anticipated righteous, holier-than-thou arguments – perhaps unfairly, and was surprised at what I found instead. The author of “What is atheism?” lent an intelligent, reasonable tone to a helpful and well-written article. He defined atheism as “the lack of belief in a god, and/or the belief that there is no god” and listed some basic tenets of atheism, as well as exploring the varying degrees of atheism, ranging from weak to militant. He also included a paragraph on agnosticism, saying that members of this group “have concluded that there is no God” but “are open to further evidence for God’s existence”.
I enjoyed the chance to find some interesting information from some unlikely sources, and hopefully this article can help clear up your confusion. If you consider yourself atheist or agnostic, we’d love to have your take on the differences and similarities.
Works Cited
"Atheism vs. Agnosticism." Web log post. Atheist Mind. Blogger, 24 Feb. 2010. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. http://www.atheistmind.com/atheism-vs-agnosticism
Phan, Katherine T. "Survey: Non-Religious Americans on the Rise in Every State Christianpost.com." ChristianPost.com - Today's Christian News Online. 9 Mar. 2009. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090309/survey-non-religious-americans-on-the-rise-in-every-state/
Popa, Cristian. "Agnosticism - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com." The Skeptic's Dictionary. Robert T. Carroll, 9 Dec. 2010. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. http://www.skepdic.com/agnosticism.html
Slick, Matt. "What Is Atheism? Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry." CARM - Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. Web. 11 Dec. 2010. http://carm.org/what-is-atheism
Saturday, December 11, 2010
My experience as a Christian
by Nate
If you were to ask 100 different Christians what affect Christianity had on them, you would get 100 different answers, but here is my story. I became a Christian through a family decision in the second grade to be baptized in Saint Jude church. As far back as I can remember, I went to church every Sunday until third grade when my favorite priest was fired. Because of family reasons, I didn't go to church again until the summer of 7th grade. The only reason I decided to give Christianity another try was because I was influenced by a Christian camp, Camp Gilead. As of the beginning of 8th grade, I have gone with my grandmother to Sunday church at Saint Louise as often as possible. She has had a major positive influence on reviving my will to go to church and stay a Christian.
Something I have learned as a Christian is treat others the way you want to be treated; which is the Golden Rule as stated by Jesus:
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7.12 ESV)
I have also learned (the hard way) that violence is never the answer. In fact, I stumbled upon a bible verse that struck me as shockingly true:
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Matthew 26:52)
Lastly, the reason I am alive is purely because I am a Christian. Yes, this means exactly what you think it means. Since early seventh grade to the beginning of the ninth grade I had more family conflict than I want to admit. I wanted an easy way out and suicide radiated the most selfish and easy way out of them all. I was talking to one of my friends about it and he told me that to commit suicide was like buying an express ticket to Hell. I believe Hell, and for this reason I decided to flip through my bible until I found my truth, twice:
1. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (Corinthians 1:8-11)
2. Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. (Corinthians 3:16-17)
In summary, Christianity has played a huge part of my life.
If you were to ask 100 different Christians what affect Christianity had on them, you would get 100 different answers, but here is my story. I became a Christian through a family decision in the second grade to be baptized in Saint Jude church. As far back as I can remember, I went to church every Sunday until third grade when my favorite priest was fired. Because of family reasons, I didn't go to church again until the summer of 7th grade. The only reason I decided to give Christianity another try was because I was influenced by a Christian camp, Camp Gilead. As of the beginning of 8th grade, I have gone with my grandmother to Sunday church at Saint Louise as often as possible. She has had a major positive influence on reviving my will to go to church and stay a Christian.
Something I have learned as a Christian is treat others the way you want to be treated; which is the Golden Rule as stated by Jesus:
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7.12 ESV)
I have also learned (the hard way) that violence is never the answer. In fact, I stumbled upon a bible verse that struck me as shockingly true:
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Matthew 26:52)
Lastly, the reason I am alive is purely because I am a Christian. Yes, this means exactly what you think it means. Since early seventh grade to the beginning of the ninth grade I had more family conflict than I want to admit. I wanted an easy way out and suicide radiated the most selfish and easy way out of them all. I was talking to one of my friends about it and he told me that to commit suicide was like buying an express ticket to Hell. I believe Hell, and for this reason I decided to flip through my bible until I found my truth, twice:
1. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (Corinthians 1:8-11)
2. Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. (Corinthians 3:16-17)
In summary, Christianity has played a huge part of my life.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Religion and Me
by Gloria
I’ve never really understood religion, beliefs, or the power of faith, but I’ve heard about it many times. I have some friends that are Christian and are wholesome, goody-goody, never swear, homophobic — but some of my other Christian friends don’t act like that at all. They just go to church and say that they're Christian, but you would never know. I recently found out that one of my friends was Buddhist and my reaction was “What????” I was completely surprised; I didn’t think she was religious at all.
When my mom made me go to her church every Sunday for the summer, I had to join the teen worship group thing downstairs where there was a band and everybody would sing songs about loving Jesus and songs about God. I didn’t really want to be there, and I don’t have a great singing voice either so I watched everybody stand up, smiling, and sing, as I stood there quietly waiting for it to end.
What is faith? What makes people believe in something they’ve never seen and don't know for sure that it even exists? I’d been to Sunday school a few times when I was in kindergarten to 2nd grade, and I don’t remember ever learning much about God. I have scattered memories of praying at night for materialistic things and hoping that God would grant my wishes. I realize from my brief church experience that this isn’t what religon is; it’s something deeper that I don’t understand. If I had been born into a religion like many others, things would definitely be different. Personally I don’t believe in any religion, because it would hard for me to believe in something that I don’t know even exists. For me, it’s not realistic and able to be felt/heard/touched/seen in the physical world. Believing in something blindly like that is something too much to ask for from me.
Maybe that’s what faith is -- believing in something so strongly that you would stake your life on it, and never doubt it. This is something you’d have to experience to know about, something that can’t be defined simply by someone who is a stranger to it, something so strong it can change people forever. I’ve seen it happen.
I’ve never really understood religion, beliefs, or the power of faith, but I’ve heard about it many times. I have some friends that are Christian and are wholesome, goody-goody, never swear, homophobic — but some of my other Christian friends don’t act like that at all. They just go to church and say that they're Christian, but you would never know. I recently found out that one of my friends was Buddhist and my reaction was “What????” I was completely surprised; I didn’t think she was religious at all.
When my mom made me go to her church every Sunday for the summer, I had to join the teen worship group thing downstairs where there was a band and everybody would sing songs about loving Jesus and songs about God. I didn’t really want to be there, and I don’t have a great singing voice either so I watched everybody stand up, smiling, and sing, as I stood there quietly waiting for it to end.
What is faith? What makes people believe in something they’ve never seen and don't know for sure that it even exists? I’d been to Sunday school a few times when I was in kindergarten to 2nd grade, and I don’t remember ever learning much about God. I have scattered memories of praying at night for materialistic things and hoping that God would grant my wishes. I realize from my brief church experience that this isn’t what religon is; it’s something deeper that I don’t understand. If I had been born into a religion like many others, things would definitely be different. Personally I don’t believe in any religion, because it would hard for me to believe in something that I don’t know even exists. For me, it’s not realistic and able to be felt/heard/touched/seen in the physical world. Believing in something blindly like that is something too much to ask for from me.
Maybe that’s what faith is -- believing in something so strongly that you would stake your life on it, and never doubt it. This is something you’d have to experience to know about, something that can’t be defined simply by someone who is a stranger to it, something so strong it can change people forever. I’ve seen it happen.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Which country is the most religious?
by Gabbie
It’s hard to find any definitive data on this subject, since sources choose different ways to gather their information; i.e., the questions that are asked of the people surveyed. For example, the Gallup poll here: http://www.gallup.com/poll/114211/Alabamians-Iranians-Common.aspx asked people whether they considered religion to be an important part of their daily lives. Their results showed Egypt as the most religious country, with 100% responding with “yes,” and Estonia as the least – only 14% gave yes as their answer. The median was a substantial 82%, and the U.S. fell below, at 65%.
A different question was asked by the polltakers here, http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_chu_att-religion-church-attendance. The percentages of this poll reflect the amount of people who claim to attend church at least once a week. As their question is different, so are their results: Nigeria is listed as the most religious at 89%, and Russia as the least religious at only 2%. Rather than a median, Nationmaster used a weighted average, which was 26.2%.
These polls bring up some interesting issues; mainly, what are the possible reasons for these discrepancies? For countries that showed up lower on the second list, does this mean that residents consider religion important, but do not think that church-going is an essential part of religion? Or, for countries that showed up lower on the first list, does it mean that citizens attend church but it is not meaningful to them? If the answers to these questions are yes, then what does that say about these countries?
Works Cited
"Church Attendance Statistics - Countries Compared - NationMaster." NationMaster - World Statistics, Country Comparisons. Nationmaster.org. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_chu_att-religion-church-attendance
Crabtree, Steve, and Brett Pelham. "What Alabamians and Iranians Have in Common." Gallup.Com - Daily News, Polls, Public Opinion on Government, Politics, Economics, Management. Gallup, Inc., 9 Feb. 2009. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. http://www.gallup.com/poll/114211/Alabamians-Iranians-Common.aspx
It’s hard to find any definitive data on this subject, since sources choose different ways to gather their information; i.e., the questions that are asked of the people surveyed. For example, the Gallup poll here: http://www.gallup.com/poll/114211/Alabamians-Iranians-Common.aspx asked people whether they considered religion to be an important part of their daily lives. Their results showed Egypt as the most religious country, with 100% responding with “yes,” and Estonia as the least – only 14% gave yes as their answer. The median was a substantial 82%, and the U.S. fell below, at 65%.
A different question was asked by the polltakers here, http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_chu_att-religion-church-attendance. The percentages of this poll reflect the amount of people who claim to attend church at least once a week. As their question is different, so are their results: Nigeria is listed as the most religious at 89%, and Russia as the least religious at only 2%. Rather than a median, Nationmaster used a weighted average, which was 26.2%.
These polls bring up some interesting issues; mainly, what are the possible reasons for these discrepancies? For countries that showed up lower on the second list, does this mean that residents consider religion important, but do not think that church-going is an essential part of religion? Or, for countries that showed up lower on the first list, does it mean that citizens attend church but it is not meaningful to them? If the answers to these questions are yes, then what does that say about these countries?
Works Cited
"Church Attendance Statistics - Countries Compared - NationMaster." NationMaster - World Statistics, Country Comparisons. Nationmaster.org. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_chu_att-religion-church-attendance
Crabtree, Steve, and Brett Pelham. "What Alabamians and Iranians Have in Common." Gallup.Com - Daily News, Polls, Public Opinion on Government, Politics, Economics, Management. Gallup, Inc., 9 Feb. 2009. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. http://www.gallup.com/poll/114211/Alabamians-Iranians-Common.aspx
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
African Traditional Religion
by Stella
Today most of Africa is Christian or Muslim, but there are still about 108 million people who practice what are known as African traditional religions, or ATR. They are very numerous and are different from each other, but still share many common themes.
In Africa, religion is a major part of the culture in a given community. African traditional religions are monotheistic, or of one god. However, certain religions believe that this Supreme Being is divided into parts. Another commonality is the belief in spirits of nature and the spirits of dead ancestors. The sacrifice and prayer involved in African traditional religion is thought to bring people closer to these spiritual beings.
African traditional religions usually involve a leader, who has special abilities. This leader is looked to for providing rain to grow crops, cures for sickness, and anything else the community might need. There are also believed to be witches or sorcerers, who can harm a person’s property, family or well-being. Spiritual leaders are supposed to protect those under their leadership from these people.
There are also many rites and ceremonies involved in African traditional religion. Children are greatly valued, and families are encouraged to have many of them. When they are born, a naming ceremony is held, and when they are old enough, another ceremony is performed to initiate them into adulthood. There are also special marriage ceremonies. In some African societies, polygamy is accepted and practiced. Music, especially drums, plays a large part in these ceremonies and is often accompanied by ritual dances.
Even though African religion isn’t as practiced as much anymore due to the spread of Christianity and Muslim, it is still very interesting to study and examine.
Works Cited
Friedenthal, Lora, and Dorothy Kavanaugh. Religions Of Africa. Philadelphia: Mason Crest, 2007. Print. Africa: Progress & Problems.
Today most of Africa is Christian or Muslim, but there are still about 108 million people who practice what are known as African traditional religions, or ATR. They are very numerous and are different from each other, but still share many common themes.
In Africa, religion is a major part of the culture in a given community. African traditional religions are monotheistic, or of one god. However, certain religions believe that this Supreme Being is divided into parts. Another commonality is the belief in spirits of nature and the spirits of dead ancestors. The sacrifice and prayer involved in African traditional religion is thought to bring people closer to these spiritual beings.
African traditional religions usually involve a leader, who has special abilities. This leader is looked to for providing rain to grow crops, cures for sickness, and anything else the community might need. There are also believed to be witches or sorcerers, who can harm a person’s property, family or well-being. Spiritual leaders are supposed to protect those under their leadership from these people.
There are also many rites and ceremonies involved in African traditional religion. Children are greatly valued, and families are encouraged to have many of them. When they are born, a naming ceremony is held, and when they are old enough, another ceremony is performed to initiate them into adulthood. There are also special marriage ceremonies. In some African societies, polygamy is accepted and practiced. Music, especially drums, plays a large part in these ceremonies and is often accompanied by ritual dances.
Even though African religion isn’t as practiced as much anymore due to the spread of Christianity and Muslim, it is still very interesting to study and examine.
Works Cited
Friedenthal, Lora, and Dorothy Kavanaugh. Religions Of Africa. Philadelphia: Mason Crest, 2007. Print. Africa: Progress & Problems.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Confucianism
by Gloria
There are some religions that worship a greater god that is unattainable, and some religions that are based off a set of principles. Examples of these are Christianity and Buddhism, respectively. When I started looking into Confucianism, I expected it to be a religion that was based off principles. But I asked my parents about it, and they laughed when I referred to it as a religion. I learned from them that in many parts of Eastern Asia, Confucianism isn’t a religion, it’s the culture.
My mother, grew up in Taiwan in a small town in the country. Their religion was Buddhism/Taoism: “The religion I followed was a mixture... it is hard to separate them,” she told me, but their culture was full of the teachings of Confucius. These teachings are what the belief system Confucianism is based on. Confucius’ Chinese name is Kong Fuzi. He is considered the greatest teacher and most revered person in China’s history, also called the “Sage of All Time” and “First Teacher”.
In Confucianism, the value of family is one of the most important; three of the Five Relationships are within the family. The Five Relationships are father/son, husband/wife, older brother/younger brother, ruler/subject, and friend/friend. The only relationship of equals is friend/friend; in the others, the more dominant member of the relationship is listed first. I can see these values reflected in my daily life, where my father is more dominant than my mother. There is no mother/daughter or father/daughter, but this seemingly sexist aspect of Confucianism feels outdated and doesn’t exist in my family; that may be the case in the rest of the world as well.
Confucius was born over 2500 years ago to a government official who died when he was three years old. At a young age, he had already shown a vivid interest in learning, thought it is unclear how he was educated. Most of the information on Confucius and his life is known from the Analects, a collection of his conversations put together by his followers after his death. Some stories in the Analects are legends, and have not been proven to be true.
By the time that Confucius reached the age of 50 and was appointed Minister of Public Works and Crime, he had already begun teaching and had gained many followers. There was some disagreement and conflict between Confucius and members of the nobility, so he was forced to step down and was exiled from his province, Lu. He and his followers journeyed to many other provinces for many years in search of a leader, or someone of power who would listen to him and could use his ideas to change the world, but he claimed that no one’s offer was sincere and returned home to teach again. He died at the age 72 and considered his life a failure, unaware of how his teachings would later change China.
Works Cited
Hoobler, Thomas. Confucianism (World Religions). New York: Facts on File, 1993. Print
Interview
Littleton, C. Scott. The Sacred East: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shinto. London: Baird, 2003. Print.
Riegal, Jeffrey. "Confucius (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 5 Sept. 2006. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/
There are some religions that worship a greater god that is unattainable, and some religions that are based off a set of principles. Examples of these are Christianity and Buddhism, respectively. When I started looking into Confucianism, I expected it to be a religion that was based off principles. But I asked my parents about it, and they laughed when I referred to it as a religion. I learned from them that in many parts of Eastern Asia, Confucianism isn’t a religion, it’s the culture.
My mother, grew up in Taiwan in a small town in the country. Their religion was Buddhism/Taoism: “The religion I followed was a mixture... it is hard to separate them,” she told me, but their culture was full of the teachings of Confucius. These teachings are what the belief system Confucianism is based on. Confucius’ Chinese name is Kong Fuzi. He is considered the greatest teacher and most revered person in China’s history, also called the “Sage of All Time” and “First Teacher”.
In Confucianism, the value of family is one of the most important; three of the Five Relationships are within the family. The Five Relationships are father/son, husband/wife, older brother/younger brother, ruler/subject, and friend/friend. The only relationship of equals is friend/friend; in the others, the more dominant member of the relationship is listed first. I can see these values reflected in my daily life, where my father is more dominant than my mother. There is no mother/daughter or father/daughter, but this seemingly sexist aspect of Confucianism feels outdated and doesn’t exist in my family; that may be the case in the rest of the world as well.
Confucius was born over 2500 years ago to a government official who died when he was three years old. At a young age, he had already shown a vivid interest in learning, thought it is unclear how he was educated. Most of the information on Confucius and his life is known from the Analects, a collection of his conversations put together by his followers after his death. Some stories in the Analects are legends, and have not been proven to be true.
By the time that Confucius reached the age of 50 and was appointed Minister of Public Works and Crime, he had already begun teaching and had gained many followers. There was some disagreement and conflict between Confucius and members of the nobility, so he was forced to step down and was exiled from his province, Lu. He and his followers journeyed to many other provinces for many years in search of a leader, or someone of power who would listen to him and could use his ideas to change the world, but he claimed that no one’s offer was sincere and returned home to teach again. He died at the age 72 and considered his life a failure, unaware of how his teachings would later change China.
Works Cited
Hoobler, Thomas. Confucianism (World Religions). New York: Facts on File, 1993. Print
Interview
Littleton, C. Scott. The Sacred East: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shinto. London: Baird, 2003. Print.
Riegal, Jeffrey. "Confucius (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 5 Sept. 2006. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Life of Moses
by Nate
Moses is considered by many to be the most important prophet of Judaism. He was born in Egypt to a Hebrew family, but when the Egyptian pharaoh ordered all male Hebrew infants to be killed, his mother hid him and he was found by the Egyptian royal family, who adopted and raised him. Thus he grew up among those who enslaved and abused the people to whom he would later become a savior.
After he had reached adulthood, Moses witnessed the murder of a Hebrew at the hands of an Egyptian taskmaster. His eyes were opened to the cruelty and oppression of the Egyptians, and he killed the taskmaster. He was forced to flee to Median, where God appeared to him and told him that he must return to Egypt and free the Hebrews. He was instructed to warn the Egyptians that if they did not comply and set the Hebrews free, they would suffer ten plagues. These were as follows:
1. (Exodus 7:14-25) Water would turn to blood
2. (Exodus 7:26-8:11) Frogs
3. (Exodus 8:12-15) Gnats
4. (Exodus 8:16-28) Flies or wild beasts
5. (Exodus 9:1-7) Disease of livestock
6. (Exodus 9:8-12) Boils
7. (Exodus 9:13-35) A storm of hail and fire
8. (Exodus 10:1-20) Locusts
9. (Exodus 10:21-29) Darkness
10. (Exodus 11:1-12:36) Death of the first-born
Finally, after the tenth plague had passed, the Pharaoh conceded and released the Hebrews. Moses led them triumphantly from Egypt, but the Pharaoh soon changed his mind and sent his army after them. To help the Hebrews escape the Egyptian army, God parted the Red Sea so that they could pass, and released his grasp on the sea when the army began to follow, so that they were all drowned.
During his lifetime, Moses would continue to teach the Hebrews the knowledge that was given to him by God. One of the most important things that Moses taught the Hebrews was the Ten Commandments, a list of principles that God gave to him and required his followers to live by. They are listed below:
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Works Cited
"Judaism - ReligionFacts." Religion, World Religions, Comparative Religion - Just the
Facts on the World's Religions. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/index.htm
"The Land of Israel." Judaism 101. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. http://www.jewfaq.org/israel.htm#Promised
"Prophets and Prophecy." Judaism 101. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. http://www.jewfaq.org/prophet.htm
Moses is considered by many to be the most important prophet of Judaism. He was born in Egypt to a Hebrew family, but when the Egyptian pharaoh ordered all male Hebrew infants to be killed, his mother hid him and he was found by the Egyptian royal family, who adopted and raised him. Thus he grew up among those who enslaved and abused the people to whom he would later become a savior.
After he had reached adulthood, Moses witnessed the murder of a Hebrew at the hands of an Egyptian taskmaster. His eyes were opened to the cruelty and oppression of the Egyptians, and he killed the taskmaster. He was forced to flee to Median, where God appeared to him and told him that he must return to Egypt and free the Hebrews. He was instructed to warn the Egyptians that if they did not comply and set the Hebrews free, they would suffer ten plagues. These were as follows:
1. (Exodus 7:14-25) Water would turn to blood
2. (Exodus 7:26-8:11) Frogs
3. (Exodus 8:12-15) Gnats
4. (Exodus 8:16-28) Flies or wild beasts
5. (Exodus 9:1-7) Disease of livestock
6. (Exodus 9:8-12) Boils
7. (Exodus 9:13-35) A storm of hail and fire
8. (Exodus 10:1-20) Locusts
9. (Exodus 10:21-29) Darkness
10. (Exodus 11:1-12:36) Death of the first-born
Finally, after the tenth plague had passed, the Pharaoh conceded and released the Hebrews. Moses led them triumphantly from Egypt, but the Pharaoh soon changed his mind and sent his army after them. To help the Hebrews escape the Egyptian army, God parted the Red Sea so that they could pass, and released his grasp on the sea when the army began to follow, so that they were all drowned.
During his lifetime, Moses would continue to teach the Hebrews the knowledge that was given to him by God. One of the most important things that Moses taught the Hebrews was the Ten Commandments, a list of principles that God gave to him and required his followers to live by. They are listed below:
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Works Cited
"Judaism - ReligionFacts." Religion, World Religions, Comparative Religion - Just the
Facts on the World's Religions. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/index.htm
"The Land of Israel." Judaism 101. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. http://www.jewfaq.org/israel.htm#Promised
"Prophets and Prophecy." Judaism 101. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. http://www.jewfaq.org/prophet.htm
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Outsider?
by Gabbie
I’ve always felt like an outsider looking in on the world of religion and faith, catching occasional glimpses of something I would never understand. When I was old enough to wonder about religion, it took shape in my mind as a giant, nebulous mass full of mysterious ideas.
This is thanks mostly to my upbringing. To my knowledge, neither of my parents identifies themselves as part of any religion, and so there has never been any attempt to instill in me a faith in God, or in any deity or set of beliefs. The little knowledge I do have of religion has been gleaned passively, from idle conversation with friends or snippets of news articles that only left me more confused. Knowing so little, I had to wonder if there were any benefits to be had from knowing more. Was religion a missing piece of my life? Would it help me reach “true spiritual enlightenment,” or realize my path in life and find deep understanding of myself?
I didn’t have to mull these questions over long before I decided that the answer to all of them was no. Maybe there are people for whom the answer is different – for whom religion is a way of feeling more fulfilled, or connected, or comforted, or any number of things that I couldn’t imagine getting from religion myself. I realized that I could never reconcile any religious belief with everything that I’ve learned and hold to be true – everything that is scientific and logical; rational, even. My way of thinking always leads me to doubt and question, and this includes every religion I’ve ever come across.
Now that I’ve read about and researched religions and belief systems from Islam to Sikhism to Scientology to Pastafarianism, I can be even surer. Religions come with beliefs and practices, that I do not believe or have any reason to practice. Many religions laud themselves as not just a religion, but a way of life. But I would never want my way of life laid out for me; to me the best part of life is the freedom to choose, and to adhere to any religion would be to give up some of that freedom. This is true for anyone, unless that person truly believes in the religion.
I’ve questioned, also, whether there are really true believers, or whether they are a result of frequent or skillful brainwash. The question is innocent; not meant to deride religion – it stems from genuine curiosity, not cynicism. I still have many more such questions; for example, how were the first religions really formed, and why? I’ve read the histories of many faiths, but I still cannot make sense of exactly how they were created, and for what purpose. It’s clear that I still don’t understand religion, and as I’ve always thought, maybe I never fully will. But now, at least, I know that I don’t need to.
I’ve always felt like an outsider looking in on the world of religion and faith, catching occasional glimpses of something I would never understand. When I was old enough to wonder about religion, it took shape in my mind as a giant, nebulous mass full of mysterious ideas.
This is thanks mostly to my upbringing. To my knowledge, neither of my parents identifies themselves as part of any religion, and so there has never been any attempt to instill in me a faith in God, or in any deity or set of beliefs. The little knowledge I do have of religion has been gleaned passively, from idle conversation with friends or snippets of news articles that only left me more confused. Knowing so little, I had to wonder if there were any benefits to be had from knowing more. Was religion a missing piece of my life? Would it help me reach “true spiritual enlightenment,” or realize my path in life and find deep understanding of myself?
I didn’t have to mull these questions over long before I decided that the answer to all of them was no. Maybe there are people for whom the answer is different – for whom religion is a way of feeling more fulfilled, or connected, or comforted, or any number of things that I couldn’t imagine getting from religion myself. I realized that I could never reconcile any religious belief with everything that I’ve learned and hold to be true – everything that is scientific and logical; rational, even. My way of thinking always leads me to doubt and question, and this includes every religion I’ve ever come across.
Now that I’ve read about and researched religions and belief systems from Islam to Sikhism to Scientology to Pastafarianism, I can be even surer. Religions come with beliefs and practices, that I do not believe or have any reason to practice. Many religions laud themselves as not just a religion, but a way of life. But I would never want my way of life laid out for me; to me the best part of life is the freedom to choose, and to adhere to any religion would be to give up some of that freedom. This is true for anyone, unless that person truly believes in the religion.
I’ve questioned, also, whether there are really true believers, or whether they are a result of frequent or skillful brainwash. The question is innocent; not meant to deride religion – it stems from genuine curiosity, not cynicism. I still have many more such questions; for example, how were the first religions really formed, and why? I’ve read the histories of many faiths, but I still cannot make sense of exactly how they were created, and for what purpose. It’s clear that I still don’t understand religion, and as I’ve always thought, maybe I never fully will. But now, at least, I know that I don’t need to.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Islam: A Brief Summary
by Nate
I testify that there is no God but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is a messenger of Allah. – Shahadah (Muslim declaration of belief)
The literal definition of Islam is "peace through the submission to God". It is a monotheistic religion that originated in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 610 AD. To its followers, Islam sets the law for all ways of life, including the moral, spiritual, social, political, economical and intellectual aspects. The Qur'an is the holy book of Islam, believed by its followers to have been created by the one God, Allah, and recorded by Muhammad and his followers. To be recognized as a Muslim, one must believe and be guided by the Qur’an, as well as be committed to the Five Pillars of Islam and the Six Articles of Faith. However, each of the four major sects of Islam interprets these documents, as well as the history of Islam, differently. These sects are often in bitter conflict with each other due to their fundamental differences and a refusal to acknowledge the others as true Muslims; they are Sunni, Shi’a, Ahmadiyya, and Sufism.
The Five Pillars of Islam are practices that Muslims must live by. They begin with Shahadah, which declares the follower’s dedication to Allah, and to Muhammad as Allah’s prophet. The second pillar is prayer, which must be performed five times a day. The third pillar involves setting aside a small portion of one’s earnings every year to be given to the needy. The fourth pillar is fasting, and occurs from dawn until sundown during the month of Ramadan. The fifth and last pillar is pilgrimage, a journey made to Mecca by all those who are able.
The Six Articles of Faith are basic beliefs that define a Muslim. The first article is the belief in one God, Allah. The second is the belief in angels, and that they were created by the Allah. The third is the belief in Allah’s scriptures, including the Qur’an; the fourth is faith in Allah’s prophets, such as Muhammad, and the fifth is belief in resurrection and the Day of Judgment. The sixth and final article is the belief that Allah is all-knowing, and has control over everything in the universe.
Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 AD and died in Medina, another Arabian city, at the age of 62. For most of Muhammad's life he worked as a shepherd and a merchant; however, he was not satisfied with his life and set out to the surrounding mountains to meditate. It was there that Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel, who gave him a verse of the Qur'an. Gabriel visited Muhammad many more times, teaching him of the Qur’an and of Allah. Muhammad came to believe that he had been chosen as one of Allah’s prophets, and began to preach to others what he learned.
Works Cited
"30 Facts About Islam." MeccaCentric - MeccaCentric. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.meccacentric.com/30_facts.html
Bard, Mitchell. "Muhammad." Jewish Virtual Library - Homepage. Jewish Virtual Library, 2005. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Muhammad.html
"Islam Guide: What Are the Five Pillars of Islam?" Islam Guide: A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam, Muslims, & the Quran. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-16.htm
IslamReligion.com. "Muhammad’s Biography (part 4 of 12): Persecution in Mecca." The Religion of Islam. 13 Feb. 2006. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/172/
ReligionFacts." Religion, World Religions, Comparative Religion - Just the Facts on the World's Religions. Religion Facts. Web. 28 Nov.
"Six Articles of Faith." Muslim Bridges. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. http://www.muslimbridges.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=454:six-articles-of-faith&catid=18:understanding-islam-a-muslims&Itemid=103
I testify that there is no God but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is a messenger of Allah. – Shahadah (Muslim declaration of belief)
The literal definition of Islam is "peace through the submission to God". It is a monotheistic religion that originated in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 610 AD. To its followers, Islam sets the law for all ways of life, including the moral, spiritual, social, political, economical and intellectual aspects. The Qur'an is the holy book of Islam, believed by its followers to have been created by the one God, Allah, and recorded by Muhammad and his followers. To be recognized as a Muslim, one must believe and be guided by the Qur’an, as well as be committed to the Five Pillars of Islam and the Six Articles of Faith. However, each of the four major sects of Islam interprets these documents, as well as the history of Islam, differently. These sects are often in bitter conflict with each other due to their fundamental differences and a refusal to acknowledge the others as true Muslims; they are Sunni, Shi’a, Ahmadiyya, and Sufism.
The Five Pillars of Islam are practices that Muslims must live by. They begin with Shahadah, which declares the follower’s dedication to Allah, and to Muhammad as Allah’s prophet. The second pillar is prayer, which must be performed five times a day. The third pillar involves setting aside a small portion of one’s earnings every year to be given to the needy. The fourth pillar is fasting, and occurs from dawn until sundown during the month of Ramadan. The fifth and last pillar is pilgrimage, a journey made to Mecca by all those who are able.
The Six Articles of Faith are basic beliefs that define a Muslim. The first article is the belief in one God, Allah. The second is the belief in angels, and that they were created by the Allah. The third is the belief in Allah’s scriptures, including the Qur’an; the fourth is faith in Allah’s prophets, such as Muhammad, and the fifth is belief in resurrection and the Day of Judgment. The sixth and final article is the belief that Allah is all-knowing, and has control over everything in the universe.
Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 AD and died in Medina, another Arabian city, at the age of 62. For most of Muhammad's life he worked as a shepherd and a merchant; however, he was not satisfied with his life and set out to the surrounding mountains to meditate. It was there that Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel, who gave him a verse of the Qur'an. Gabriel visited Muhammad many more times, teaching him of the Qur’an and of Allah. Muhammad came to believe that he had been chosen as one of Allah’s prophets, and began to preach to others what he learned.
Works Cited
"30 Facts About Islam." MeccaCentric - MeccaCentric. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.meccacentric.com/30_facts.html
Bard, Mitchell. "Muhammad." Jewish Virtual Library - Homepage. Jewish Virtual Library, 2005. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Muhammad.html
"Islam Guide: What Are the Five Pillars of Islam?" Islam Guide: A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam, Muslims, & the Quran. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-16.htm
IslamReligion.com. "Muhammad’s Biography (part 4 of 12): Persecution in Mecca." The Religion of Islam. 13 Feb. 2006. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/172/
ReligionFacts." Religion, World Religions, Comparative Religion - Just the Facts on the World's Religions. Religion Facts. Web. 28 Nov.
"Six Articles of Faith." Muslim Bridges. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. http://www.muslimbridges.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=454:six-articles-of-faith&catid=18:understanding-islam-a-muslims&Itemid=103
Friday, December 3, 2010
What happened to Freedom of Religion?
by Gloria
I had just opened Internet Explorer and was about click on my Facebook shortcut when I saw something shocking that stopped me. The headline stood out on my MSN homepage, bold black letters on a white background: “Christian Woman Sentenced to Death in Pakistan for Blasphemy”. I had thought that this was something far in the past, that our world had moved past this like we had moved past slavery (which I found out later was also not true; slavery still exists). I clicked on the link and read.
Asia Bibi is the mother of five children, and her family is one of the few in her town of Sheikhupura, Pakistan that are Christian. This supposedly “blasphemous” incident occurred when she was asked to fetch water when working in the fields. When she fetched the water, several Muslim women refused to drink it because a Christian had touched it, making it “unclean”. An argument broke out. The other women later claimed that she had insulted the Prophet Mohammed during the argument, and a few days later she was set on by a mob. The police came and took her away to the police station for protection. The local court then sentenced her to hang for blasphemy. Bibi was held in isolation for over a year before being convicted a month ago, though she maintains that she did not insult the Prophet. Christians in Pakistan have been continuously harassed for the past years, much like how Muslims are discriminated against in some parts of the US.
Many human rights groups are protesting against this, and I agree with them. No one should be judged for their beliefs, and blasphemy laws like the ones in Pakistan are just used to persecute minority religions. This is obviously wrong; it’s no different than punishing someone for the color of their skin, or how tall they are. It’s ridiculous. What happened to freedom of speech? And freedom of religion? I am aware that this is in the Constitution only the United States, but this is an obvious, basic, human right. Everybody, everybody living on this earth, should be free to believe what they want to believe, whether it’s Pastafarianism or Scientology, Christianity or Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism.
Works Cited
Rob, and Aoun Sahi. "Christian Woman Sentenced to Death in Pakistan 'for Blasphemy' Telegraph." Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph Online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph. 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 03 Dec. 2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8120142/Christian-woman-sentenced-to-death-in-Pakistan-for-blasphemy.html
I had just opened Internet Explorer and was about click on my Facebook shortcut when I saw something shocking that stopped me. The headline stood out on my MSN homepage, bold black letters on a white background: “Christian Woman Sentenced to Death in Pakistan for Blasphemy”. I had thought that this was something far in the past, that our world had moved past this like we had moved past slavery (which I found out later was also not true; slavery still exists). I clicked on the link and read.
Asia Bibi is the mother of five children, and her family is one of the few in her town of Sheikhupura, Pakistan that are Christian. This supposedly “blasphemous” incident occurred when she was asked to fetch water when working in the fields. When she fetched the water, several Muslim women refused to drink it because a Christian had touched it, making it “unclean”. An argument broke out. The other women later claimed that she had insulted the Prophet Mohammed during the argument, and a few days later she was set on by a mob. The police came and took her away to the police station for protection. The local court then sentenced her to hang for blasphemy. Bibi was held in isolation for over a year before being convicted a month ago, though she maintains that she did not insult the Prophet. Christians in Pakistan have been continuously harassed for the past years, much like how Muslims are discriminated against in some parts of the US.
Many human rights groups are protesting against this, and I agree with them. No one should be judged for their beliefs, and blasphemy laws like the ones in Pakistan are just used to persecute minority religions. This is obviously wrong; it’s no different than punishing someone for the color of their skin, or how tall they are. It’s ridiculous. What happened to freedom of speech? And freedom of religion? I am aware that this is in the Constitution only the United States, but this is an obvious, basic, human right. Everybody, everybody living on this earth, should be free to believe what they want to believe, whether it’s Pastafarianism or Scientology, Christianity or Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism.
Works Cited
Rob, and Aoun Sahi. "Christian Woman Sentenced to Death in Pakistan 'for Blasphemy' Telegraph." Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph Online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph. 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 03 Dec. 2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8120142/Christian-woman-sentenced-to-death-in-Pakistan-for-blasphemy.html
Thursday, December 2, 2010
How Scientific is Scientology?
by Gabbie
Lately, I noticed that Scientology has been getting some very negative press. Not
knowing very much about this religion – is it, in fact, a religion? – I had to wonder why. I was interested enough to investigate further, and decide if there was truth in the rumors that are circulating.
The most alarming news came from an article in the Daily Telegraph, wherein a Northern Territory Health Minister condemned the Church of Scientology as “utterly irresponsible”. Volunteer Scientology representatives have apparently gone on a sort of a mission through Australia, targeting the indigenous Aboriginal people. During their travels these representatives distributed pamphlets describing formulas that L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, declares to be “the only successful drug and alcohol dependency treatment in the world”. Health professionals reviewing the formulas agreed that they could cause gastric ulcers or hypophosphataemia. If this is true, then shouldn’t we wonder – how scientific is Scientology? This article can be read in full here: http://www.news.com.au/national/scientologists-targeting-alcoholic-aborigines-with-killer-therapy/story-e6frfkvr-1225956836170#ixzz16pBE13xj
On a lighter note, St. Petersburg’s American Stage is soon to perform a production of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant in Tampa Bay. Ironically, the headquarters of the Church of Scientology are located in the neighboring city of Clearwater. The pageant is a musical satire which includes as a character L. Ron Hubbard, as well as John Travolta, Tom Cruise and Kirstie Alley – just a few among many celebrity Scientologists. It borrows dialogue directly from the writings of L. Ron Hubbard. The musical’s author, Kyle Jarrow, identifies himself as agnostic and freely admitted that his goal was to ridicule Scientology; he recalls that “At the time I wrote it, Scientology was sort of a punch line on South Park.” You can find out more about Jarrow’s Pageant here: http://www.tampabay.com/features/performingarts/american-stage-in-st-petersburg-to-produce-musical-scientology-satire/1133579
To other opponents of Scientology, however, it seems to be more than just a punch line. There are entire websites, full of links and details, devoted to the hatred of Scientology and the fight against it. At one such website (which can be further explored here: http://www.xenu.net/cb-faq.html), the author Andreas Heidal-Lund gives advice to people who have been contacted by the Church of Scientology. He says very seriously, “They will not hurt you. You should however never underestimate their ability to slowly reel you in.” Under the heading of “What is Scientology?” the author begins, “The Church of Scientology is a vicious and dangerous cult that masquerades as a religion. Its purpose is to make money. It practices a variety of mind-control techniques on people lured into its midst to gain control over their money and their lives. Its aim is to take from them every penny that they have and can ever borrow and to also enslave them to further its wicked ends.” Could it be? A logical, well-researched and proven answer to my earlier question: Is it, in fact, a religion?
Maybe not, but it’s still interesting to see the contrast between Heidal-Lund’s dire warnings and the explanation on the website of the Official Church of Scientology, where the same heading “What is Scientology?” is followed by this paragraph: “Scientology is a religion that offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of one’s true spiritual nature and one’s relationship to self, family, groups, Mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being.”
For now, my question remains unanswered, and the controversy of Scientology seems unlikely to resolve itself soon. What do you know about Scientology, and whose description do you buy into?
Works Cited
Fleming, John. "American Stage in St. Petersburg to Produce Musical Scientology Satire - St. Petersburg Times." Tampa Newspapers: The Times, TBT & Tampabay.com. St. Petersburg Times, 11 Nov. 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.tampabay.com/features/performingarts/american-stage-in-st-petersburg-to-produce-musical-scientology-satire/1133579
Heidal-Lund, Andreas. "Operation Clambake Presents: Frequently Asked Questions." Operation Clambake - The Inner Secrets Of Scientology. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.xenu.net/cb-faq.html
Official Church of Scientology: L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics, What Is Scientology?, Books, Beliefs, David Miscavige. Church of Scientology International, 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.scientology.org/
Toohey, Paul. "Scientologists Targeting Alcoholic Aborigines with 'killer' Therapy." News.com.au News Online from Australia & the World. News Limited, 20 Nov. 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.news.com.au/national/scientologists-targeting-alcoholic-aborigines-with-killer-therapy/story-e6frfkvr-1225956836170
"67 Celebrities Who Are Scientologists." Top Socialite. 25 Mar. 2008. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.topsocialite.com/67-celebrities-who-are-scientologists/
Lately, I noticed that Scientology has been getting some very negative press. Not
knowing very much about this religion – is it, in fact, a religion? – I had to wonder why. I was interested enough to investigate further, and decide if there was truth in the rumors that are circulating.
The most alarming news came from an article in the Daily Telegraph, wherein a Northern Territory Health Minister condemned the Church of Scientology as “utterly irresponsible”. Volunteer Scientology representatives have apparently gone on a sort of a mission through Australia, targeting the indigenous Aboriginal people. During their travels these representatives distributed pamphlets describing formulas that L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, declares to be “the only successful drug and alcohol dependency treatment in the world”. Health professionals reviewing the formulas agreed that they could cause gastric ulcers or hypophosphataemia. If this is true, then shouldn’t we wonder – how scientific is Scientology? This article can be read in full here: http://www.news.com.au/national/scientologists-targeting-alcoholic-aborigines-with-killer-therapy/story-e6frfkvr-1225956836170#ixzz16pBE13xj
On a lighter note, St. Petersburg’s American Stage is soon to perform a production of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant in Tampa Bay. Ironically, the headquarters of the Church of Scientology are located in the neighboring city of Clearwater. The pageant is a musical satire which includes as a character L. Ron Hubbard, as well as John Travolta, Tom Cruise and Kirstie Alley – just a few among many celebrity Scientologists. It borrows dialogue directly from the writings of L. Ron Hubbard. The musical’s author, Kyle Jarrow, identifies himself as agnostic and freely admitted that his goal was to ridicule Scientology; he recalls that “At the time I wrote it, Scientology was sort of a punch line on South Park.” You can find out more about Jarrow’s Pageant here: http://www.tampabay.com/features/performingarts/american-stage-in-st-petersburg-to-produce-musical-scientology-satire/1133579
To other opponents of Scientology, however, it seems to be more than just a punch line. There are entire websites, full of links and details, devoted to the hatred of Scientology and the fight against it. At one such website (which can be further explored here: http://www.xenu.net/cb-faq.html), the author Andreas Heidal-Lund gives advice to people who have been contacted by the Church of Scientology. He says very seriously, “They will not hurt you. You should however never underestimate their ability to slowly reel you in.” Under the heading of “What is Scientology?” the author begins, “The Church of Scientology is a vicious and dangerous cult that masquerades as a religion. Its purpose is to make money. It practices a variety of mind-control techniques on people lured into its midst to gain control over their money and their lives. Its aim is to take from them every penny that they have and can ever borrow and to also enslave them to further its wicked ends.” Could it be? A logical, well-researched and proven answer to my earlier question: Is it, in fact, a religion?
Maybe not, but it’s still interesting to see the contrast between Heidal-Lund’s dire warnings and the explanation on the website of the Official Church of Scientology, where the same heading “What is Scientology?” is followed by this paragraph: “Scientology is a religion that offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of one’s true spiritual nature and one’s relationship to self, family, groups, Mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being.”
For now, my question remains unanswered, and the controversy of Scientology seems unlikely to resolve itself soon. What do you know about Scientology, and whose description do you buy into?
Works Cited
Fleming, John. "American Stage in St. Petersburg to Produce Musical Scientology Satire - St. Petersburg Times." Tampa Newspapers: The Times, TBT & Tampabay.com. St. Petersburg Times, 11 Nov. 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.tampabay.com/features/performingarts/american-stage-in-st-petersburg-to-produce-musical-scientology-satire/1133579
Heidal-Lund, Andreas. "Operation Clambake Presents: Frequently Asked Questions." Operation Clambake - The Inner Secrets Of Scientology. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.xenu.net/cb-faq.html
Official Church of Scientology: L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics, What Is Scientology?, Books, Beliefs, David Miscavige. Church of Scientology International, 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.scientology.org/
Toohey, Paul. "Scientologists Targeting Alcoholic Aborigines with 'killer' Therapy." News.com.au News Online from Australia & the World. News Limited, 20 Nov. 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.news.com.au/national/scientologists-targeting-alcoholic-aborigines-with-killer-therapy/story-e6frfkvr-1225956836170
"67 Celebrities Who Are Scientologists." Top Socialite. 25 Mar. 2008. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.topsocialite.com/67-celebrities-who-are-scientologists/
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
World religion
The CIA’s World Fact Book (which can be found here: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/xx.html) reports these statistics on the belief systems of the world’s population. Recently Christianity, though still the predominant religion, has been on the decline; in contrast, the number of people not adhering to any religion has been increasing.
Religious Affiliation: Percentage of the World Population
Christian: 33.32%
-Roman Catholic: 16.99%
-Protestant: 5.78%
-Christian Orthodox: 3.53%
-Anglican: 1.25%
Muslim: 21.01%
Hindu: 13.26%
Buddhist: 5.84%
Sikh: .35%
Jewish: .23%
Baha’i: .12%
Other religions: 11.78%
None: 11.77%
Atheist: 2.32%
"CIA - The World Factbook." Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 1 Dec. 2010..
Religious Affiliation: Percentage of the World Population
Christian: 33.32%
-Roman Catholic: 16.99%
-Protestant: 5.78%
-Christian Orthodox: 3.53%
-Anglican: 1.25%
Muslim: 21.01%
Hindu: 13.26%
Buddhist: 5.84%
Sikh: .35%
Jewish: .23%
Baha’i: .12%
Other religions: 11.78%
None: 11.77%
Atheist: 2.32%
"CIA - The World Factbook." Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 1 Dec. 2010.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Religions of India
by Gabbie
Following up our articles on Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism, this chart provides another look at these religions. It’s interesting to compare these statistics to those of our own country. In India, Hinduism is the predominant faith and accounts for 83% of the population, while only 2% considers itself Christian; in the United States, Christianity is the most common religion, counting about 76% of the population as its own.
Works Cited
Varshney, Ashutosh. Ethnic Conflict and Civic Life: Hindus and Muslims in India. New Haven, CT: Yale UP, 2002. Print.
Kelly, D. A., Ramkishen S. Rajan, and Gillian H. L. Goh. Managing Globalization: Lessons from China and India : Inaugural Conference of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Hackensack, NJ: World Scientific Pub., 2006. Print.
"Sociologist Debunks Myths on U.S. Christianity." ChristianPost.com - Today's Christian News Online. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100726/christianity/page2.html
Following up our articles on Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism, this chart provides another look at these religions. It’s interesting to compare these statistics to those of our own country. In India, Hinduism is the predominant faith and accounts for 83% of the population, while only 2% considers itself Christian; in the United States, Christianity is the most common religion, counting about 76% of the population as its own.
Works Cited
Varshney, Ashutosh. Ethnic Conflict and Civic Life: Hindus and Muslims in India. New Haven, CT: Yale UP, 2002. Print.
Kelly, D. A., Ramkishen S. Rajan, and Gillian H. L. Goh. Managing Globalization: Lessons from China and India : Inaugural Conference of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Hackensack, NJ: World Scientific Pub., 2006. Print.
"Sociologist Debunks Myths on U.S. Christianity." ChristianPost.com - Today's Christian News Online. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100726/christianity/page2.html
Sikhism
by Stella
India is home to many different religions. There are a great number of Sikhs in India, as well as the world, and although Sikhism may appear similar to Hinduism, these two religions are actually very different.
One major difference is the origin of the religion. Sikhism came about in the 1400s, when the first of the Ten Gurus, Guru Nanak, started to gain followers. The last living guru, Guru Gobind Singh, died in 1708 after founding the Khalsa and the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy scripture of Sikhism. The Khalsa is a group of Sikhs who are willing to die for their religion, and live by the five K's.
The five K's are kara, kangha, kesh, kachera, and kirpan. Kara is an iron or steel bracelet, worn to symbolize strength and eternity. Sikhs wear turbans because they do not cut their hair, to show their acceptance of God's creation. This practice is known as kesh. The Kangha is a comb that Sikhs use to keep their long hair clean and secure the knot that it is kept in. Kachera are shorts that Sikhs wear under their clothes, and Kirpan is a knife that reminds members of the Khalsa that they are willing to die for their faith.
Sikhism involves many other traditions, such as praying in the gurdwara, where a granthi, similar to a priest, reads from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Several festivals are held, including Baisakhi, Divali Mela, and Hola Mohalla Mela. They also observe all of the Gurus' births and deaths, called gurpurbs.
Despite its over 22 million adherents, Sikhism is often overlooked and thought of as no more than a relative of Hinduism, but it is really a separate religion with its own beliefs and practices.
Works Cited
Barnes, Trevor. Hinduism and Other Eastern Religions. Boston: Kingfisher, 2005. Print.
Dalton, David. Sikhism. Great Britain: Barrons, 2006. Print. This Is My Faith.
Mayled, Jon. Sikhism. Chicago: Raintree, 2003. Print. Living Religions.
Ross, Stephen. "Statistics Population, World, Countries, Cities, Religions, Roman Catholic, Muslims - Worldwide Missions - Wholesome Words." Wholesome Words Christian Website. 2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/greatc.html
India is home to many different religions. There are a great number of Sikhs in India, as well as the world, and although Sikhism may appear similar to Hinduism, these two religions are actually very different.
One major difference is the origin of the religion. Sikhism came about in the 1400s, when the first of the Ten Gurus, Guru Nanak, started to gain followers. The last living guru, Guru Gobind Singh, died in 1708 after founding the Khalsa and the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy scripture of Sikhism. The Khalsa is a group of Sikhs who are willing to die for their religion, and live by the five K's.
The five K's are kara, kangha, kesh, kachera, and kirpan. Kara is an iron or steel bracelet, worn to symbolize strength and eternity. Sikhs wear turbans because they do not cut their hair, to show their acceptance of God's creation. This practice is known as kesh. The Kangha is a comb that Sikhs use to keep their long hair clean and secure the knot that it is kept in. Kachera are shorts that Sikhs wear under their clothes, and Kirpan is a knife that reminds members of the Khalsa that they are willing to die for their faith.
Sikhism involves many other traditions, such as praying in the gurdwara, where a granthi, similar to a priest, reads from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Several festivals are held, including Baisakhi, Divali Mela, and Hola Mohalla Mela. They also observe all of the Gurus' births and deaths, called gurpurbs.
Despite its over 22 million adherents, Sikhism is often overlooked and thought of as no more than a relative of Hinduism, but it is really a separate religion with its own beliefs and practices.
Works Cited
Barnes, Trevor. Hinduism and Other Eastern Religions. Boston: Kingfisher, 2005. Print.
Dalton, David. Sikhism. Great Britain: Barrons, 2006. Print. This Is My Faith.
Mayled, Jon. Sikhism. Chicago: Raintree, 2003. Print. Living Religions.
Ross, Stephen. "Statistics Population, World, Countries, Cities, Religions, Roman Catholic, Muslims - Worldwide Missions - Wholesome Words." Wholesome Words Christian Website. 2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/greatc.html
Monday, November 29, 2010
Hinduism
by Stella
Although most Hindus believe that their religion had no "beginning", many other people believe that it was formed by people living in what is now Pakistan, more than five thousand years ago. It is based heavily on meditation and contact with the spiritual world. The main god of Hinduism, who is said to be ubiquitous and responsible for all creation, is called Brahman. He is worshiped through various gods and goddesses, the most well-known of which are Brahma the creator, Shiva the destroyer and Vishnu the preserver. These three deities form the cycle of life at the center of Hinduism.
Many Hindus have a shrine in their home, where they worship daily. They also worship in temples, under supervision of a Brahmin, or priest. These temples are believed to be Brahman's home. Some of the important scriptures in Hinduism are the Vedas and the Bhagavad-gita, which include important teachings and hymns.
We've all heard the phrase "that's karma for you," but where does it come from? Karma is an idea involved in several religions, including Sikhism and Buddhism, as well as Hinduism. Hindu's karma is the belief that your actions in this life shape your next life. For example, if you are mean in this life, you will be reborn as a poor person or a lower species.
An important Hindu holiday is Divali. This involves putting up lamps and setting off fireworks for five days in November or October, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Other important ceremonies are the coming-of-age rituals, called Ritu Kala for girls and Upanayana for boys. Hindus also believe that astrology is very important, and soon after the birth of a baby, the parents are given a horoscope by a priest. Then, twelve days after the birth, a naming ceremony is held.
Hinduism is a very complex religion with many interesting traditions. Even if you are not Hindu, there are many important lessons to be learned from its writings and teachings.
Works Cited
Barnes, Trevor. Hinduism and Other Eastern Religions. Boston: Kingfisher, 2005. Print.
Dalton, David. Sikhism. Great Britain: Barrons, 2006. Print. This Is My Faith.
Mayled, Jon. Sikhism. Chicago: Raintree, 2003. Print. Living Religions.
Ross, Stephen. "Statistics Population, World, Countries, Cities, Religions, Roman Catholic, Muslims - Worldwide Missions - Wholesome Words." Wholesome Words Christian Website. 2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/greatc.html
Although most Hindus believe that their religion had no "beginning", many other people believe that it was formed by people living in what is now Pakistan, more than five thousand years ago. It is based heavily on meditation and contact with the spiritual world. The main god of Hinduism, who is said to be ubiquitous and responsible for all creation, is called Brahman. He is worshiped through various gods and goddesses, the most well-known of which are Brahma the creator, Shiva the destroyer and Vishnu the preserver. These three deities form the cycle of life at the center of Hinduism.
Many Hindus have a shrine in their home, where they worship daily. They also worship in temples, under supervision of a Brahmin, or priest. These temples are believed to be Brahman's home. Some of the important scriptures in Hinduism are the Vedas and the Bhagavad-gita, which include important teachings and hymns.
We've all heard the phrase "that's karma for you," but where does it come from? Karma is an idea involved in several religions, including Sikhism and Buddhism, as well as Hinduism. Hindu's karma is the belief that your actions in this life shape your next life. For example, if you are mean in this life, you will be reborn as a poor person or a lower species.
An important Hindu holiday is Divali. This involves putting up lamps and setting off fireworks for five days in November or October, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Other important ceremonies are the coming-of-age rituals, called Ritu Kala for girls and Upanayana for boys. Hindus also believe that astrology is very important, and soon after the birth of a baby, the parents are given a horoscope by a priest. Then, twelve days after the birth, a naming ceremony is held.
Hinduism is a very complex religion with many interesting traditions. Even if you are not Hindu, there are many important lessons to be learned from its writings and teachings.
Works Cited
Barnes, Trevor. Hinduism and Other Eastern Religions. Boston: Kingfisher, 2005. Print.
Dalton, David. Sikhism. Great Britain: Barrons, 2006. Print. This Is My Faith.
Mayled, Jon. Sikhism. Chicago: Raintree, 2003. Print. Living Religions.
Ross, Stephen. "Statistics Population, World, Countries, Cities, Religions, Roman Catholic, Muslims - Worldwide Missions - Wholesome Words." Wholesome Words Christian Website. 2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/greatc.html
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Christianity: A Brief Summary
by Nate
Christianity is a very well-known religion, but unbiased explanations of it are still difficult to find. I hope this brief overview will clear up some confusion.
Christianity is considered an Abrahamic religion, along with Judaism and Islam. It has its roots in Judaism, and despite the many differences and disagreements between these two faiths, there are also many common themes and beliefs. Many people believe that Jesus was a Jew; however, many followers of Judaism reject Jesus as the messiah, while most Christians view Jesus as God incarnate, the savior of the world – the appointed one, the son of God, the bringer of salvation.
Accordingly, the teachings of Jesus are the foundation of Christianity. Christians believe that he was a real person, brought into the world by an immaculate conception, and executed by crucifixion for the sins of humanity. In the Bible it was prophesied that upon his coming, “The deaf shall hear; the blind shall see (Isaiah 29:18); the eyes of the blind opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped, the lame man shall leap like a rabbit, the tongue of a dumb man shall leap for joy (Isaiah 35:5, 8).” In Matthew 11:2-6 and Luke 7:18-23, Jesus fulfilled these prophesies. During his lifetime, he gathered many disciples, and preached to people, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40) To prove that he was truly the son of God, he performed many miracles, including walking on water and changing water to wine.
After Jesus spent years traveling and preaching, it was decided that he was a threat to the Roman Empire, and when he was about 33 his crucifixion was ordered by Pontius Pilate, then a governor. However, the Bible relates his resurrection and thereafter, the continuing of his teachings by his disciples, whom he instructed, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) These teachings are described in the Bible’s New Testament, which continues and expands on the Old Testament, and relates events after the coming of Jesus.
Christianity plays a role in the lives of an extraordinary number of people all over the world. In fact, about one third of the world's population, or 2.2 billion people, are Christian – making Christianity the most widely adhered-to religion there is, followed by Judaism & Islam. However, it is strictly regulated or even illegal in 51 countries, including those which are Communist (Cuba), fundamental Islamic (Nigeria) or Hindu. It is not a unified religion, having 22 major denominations and 38,000 minor ones, which differ in regard to apostolic succession, papal authority, and the nature of Jesus. Of Christianity, C.S. Lewis once said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Works Cited
"Birth of Jesus." Christian Bible Reference Site. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. http://www.christianbiblereference.org/story_BirthOfJesus.htm
"Fast Facts on Christianity." Religion Facts. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/fastfacts.htm
Hedrick, Charles. "What Is Christianity?" Geneva.rutgers.edu. Web. 25 Nov. 2010. http://geneva.rutgers.edu/src/christianity/
Oakes, John. "Where Did Christianity Originate?" Evidence for Christianity. EFC. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.evidenceforchristianity.org/index.php?option=com_custom_content&task=view&id=4002
Paradigm, Shattered. "Christianity - The Most Persecuted Religion In The Entire World." The Final Hour. End Times, 06 Feb. 2009. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://thefinalhour.blogspot.com/2009/02/christianity-most-persecuted-religion.html
Persecuted Countries." Persecution News of Churches Persecuted & Christian Sufferings. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.persecution.org/
Robinson, B.A. "Religions of the World: Numbers of Adherents; Growth Rates." Religions of the World. 20 Dec. 2009. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm
"Teachings of Jesus." Gospel Mysteries. Gospel-mystries.net. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.gospel-mysteries.net/teachings-jesus.html
"When Did Jesus Live?" TheologyWeb News - The Front Page. VBulletin Solutions, 22 Apr. 2003. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/archive/index.php/t-3476.html
Christianity is a very well-known religion, but unbiased explanations of it are still difficult to find. I hope this brief overview will clear up some confusion.
Christianity is considered an Abrahamic religion, along with Judaism and Islam. It has its roots in Judaism, and despite the many differences and disagreements between these two faiths, there are also many common themes and beliefs. Many people believe that Jesus was a Jew; however, many followers of Judaism reject Jesus as the messiah, while most Christians view Jesus as God incarnate, the savior of the world – the appointed one, the son of God, the bringer of salvation.
Accordingly, the teachings of Jesus are the foundation of Christianity. Christians believe that he was a real person, brought into the world by an immaculate conception, and executed by crucifixion for the sins of humanity. In the Bible it was prophesied that upon his coming, “The deaf shall hear; the blind shall see (Isaiah 29:18); the eyes of the blind opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped, the lame man shall leap like a rabbit, the tongue of a dumb man shall leap for joy (Isaiah 35:5, 8).” In Matthew 11:2-6 and Luke 7:18-23, Jesus fulfilled these prophesies. During his lifetime, he gathered many disciples, and preached to people, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40) To prove that he was truly the son of God, he performed many miracles, including walking on water and changing water to wine.
After Jesus spent years traveling and preaching, it was decided that he was a threat to the Roman Empire, and when he was about 33 his crucifixion was ordered by Pontius Pilate, then a governor. However, the Bible relates his resurrection and thereafter, the continuing of his teachings by his disciples, whom he instructed, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) These teachings are described in the Bible’s New Testament, which continues and expands on the Old Testament, and relates events after the coming of Jesus.
Christianity plays a role in the lives of an extraordinary number of people all over the world. In fact, about one third of the world's population, or 2.2 billion people, are Christian – making Christianity the most widely adhered-to religion there is, followed by Judaism & Islam. However, it is strictly regulated or even illegal in 51 countries, including those which are Communist (Cuba), fundamental Islamic (Nigeria) or Hindu. It is not a unified religion, having 22 major denominations and 38,000 minor ones, which differ in regard to apostolic succession, papal authority, and the nature of Jesus. Of Christianity, C.S. Lewis once said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Works Cited
"Birth of Jesus." Christian Bible Reference Site. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. http://www.christianbiblereference.org/story_BirthOfJesus.htm
"Fast Facts on Christianity." Religion Facts. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/fastfacts.htm
Hedrick, Charles. "What Is Christianity?" Geneva.rutgers.edu. Web. 25 Nov. 2010. http://geneva.rutgers.edu/src/christianity/
Oakes, John. "Where Did Christianity Originate?" Evidence for Christianity. EFC. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.evidenceforchristianity.org/index.php?option=com_custom_content&task=view&id=4002
Paradigm, Shattered. "Christianity - The Most Persecuted Religion In The Entire World." The Final Hour. End Times, 06 Feb. 2009. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://thefinalhour.blogspot.com/2009/02/christianity-most-persecuted-religion.html
Persecuted Countries." Persecution News of Churches Persecuted & Christian Sufferings. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.persecution.org/
Robinson, B.A. "Religions of the World: Numbers of Adherents; Growth Rates." Religions of the World. 20 Dec. 2009. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm
"Teachings of Jesus." Gospel Mysteries. Gospel-mystries.net. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.gospel-mysteries.net/teachings-jesus.html
"When Did Jesus Live?" TheologyWeb News - The Front Page. VBulletin Solutions, 22 Apr. 2003. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/archive/index.php/t-3476.html
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Snowy Church
This is a picture of the Lake Washington Christian Church that was taken when it snowed a few days ago. How pretty!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Buddhism
by Gloria
Most people’s impression of Buddhism is a bunch of Asians worshipping a fat god - at least that’s what I thought before I looked a little deeper. Buddhism actually originated in India, but now is widely popular in Asian countries. It is not a religion, but a philosophy and way of life. Even though my mom grew up a in a Buddhist culture in Taiwan, she is Christian now, and I never knew much about her religion. When my family visited my grandparents and extended family in Taiwan, we went to a temple and burned paper and set out food. I did not understand what we were doing, but after doing some research I understand a little more of what Buddhism is really about.
The Buddha is not a god, nor an idol; he is the teacher of a path to enlightenment. His followers do not worship him or ask for favors, but pay respect to him. The Buddha was Siddhartha Gotama, born in 562 BCE, into a royal family in India. An astrologer predicted that he would become a great king or spiritual leader, depending on whether he saw outside the palace walls. His father tried to prevent him from venturing outside, but eventually he did. There he saw an old man, a poor man, a corpse, and a holy man, and he decided to leave the palace and find inner peace. Seeing these people made him realize the suffering that people not in the palace feel, and the holy man seemed at peace with himself and the world. Siddhartha experimented with religions at both ends of extremity and found no peace; he eventually sat in meditation and created the Middle Way, Buddhism. His intent was not to create a religion, but to help people reach Enlightenment.
A few concepts of Buddhism are karma and rebirth. Karma is the belief that every action has an effect that manifests itself in another life. This explains why some people are born disabled, and some more skilled than others. Another concept is the Four Noble Truths; life is suffering, suffering is caused by attachment to desires, suffering will cease once attachment to desire ceases, and freedom from suffering can be attained by following the Eight-fold path. The Eight-fold path has eight areas and involves being moral, being mindful and aware of one’s thoughts and actions, and to develop wisdom and understanding.
Buddhism is very tolerant of other religions; in fact, it encourages others to practice their own religions as long as they promote the well-being of all living things. Buddhists do not try to convert people because they do not believe that other religions hold back world progress or peace; that is why no wars have ever been fought over Buddhism.
Buddhism is much more than just a religion; it is a path to Enlightenment and a way of life. It is different from other religions because it does not worship an unattainable god; it has moral philosophies and allows science to exist with it. It does not treat other religions as obstacles to world peace, but encourages them.
Works Cited
White, Brian. "A Basic Buddhism Guide: 5 Minute Introduction." BuddhaNet - Worldwide Buddhist Information and Education Network. 1993. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm
Dhammananda, Sri. "Buddhist Attitude Towards Other Religions." Know Buddhism. 13 Mar. 2009. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. http://www.knowbuddhism.info/2009/03/buddhist-attitude-towards-religions.html
Essentialsof Buddhism - Core Concepts. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. http://buddhaweb.org/
Most people’s impression of Buddhism is a bunch of Asians worshipping a fat god - at least that’s what I thought before I looked a little deeper. Buddhism actually originated in India, but now is widely popular in Asian countries. It is not a religion, but a philosophy and way of life. Even though my mom grew up a in a Buddhist culture in Taiwan, she is Christian now, and I never knew much about her religion. When my family visited my grandparents and extended family in Taiwan, we went to a temple and burned paper and set out food. I did not understand what we were doing, but after doing some research I understand a little more of what Buddhism is really about.
The Buddha is not a god, nor an idol; he is the teacher of a path to enlightenment. His followers do not worship him or ask for favors, but pay respect to him. The Buddha was Siddhartha Gotama, born in 562 BCE, into a royal family in India. An astrologer predicted that he would become a great king or spiritual leader, depending on whether he saw outside the palace walls. His father tried to prevent him from venturing outside, but eventually he did. There he saw an old man, a poor man, a corpse, and a holy man, and he decided to leave the palace and find inner peace. Seeing these people made him realize the suffering that people not in the palace feel, and the holy man seemed at peace with himself and the world. Siddhartha experimented with religions at both ends of extremity and found no peace; he eventually sat in meditation and created the Middle Way, Buddhism. His intent was not to create a religion, but to help people reach Enlightenment.
A few concepts of Buddhism are karma and rebirth. Karma is the belief that every action has an effect that manifests itself in another life. This explains why some people are born disabled, and some more skilled than others. Another concept is the Four Noble Truths; life is suffering, suffering is caused by attachment to desires, suffering will cease once attachment to desire ceases, and freedom from suffering can be attained by following the Eight-fold path. The Eight-fold path has eight areas and involves being moral, being mindful and aware of one’s thoughts and actions, and to develop wisdom and understanding.
Buddhism is very tolerant of other religions; in fact, it encourages others to practice their own religions as long as they promote the well-being of all living things. Buddhists do not try to convert people because they do not believe that other religions hold back world progress or peace; that is why no wars have ever been fought over Buddhism.
Buddhism is much more than just a religion; it is a path to Enlightenment and a way of life. It is different from other religions because it does not worship an unattainable god; it has moral philosophies and allows science to exist with it. It does not treat other religions as obstacles to world peace, but encourages them.
Works Cited
White, Brian. "A Basic Buddhism Guide: 5 Minute Introduction." BuddhaNet - Worldwide Buddhist Information and Education Network. 1993. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm
Dhammananda, Sri. "Buddhist Attitude Towards Other Religions." Know Buddhism. 13 Mar. 2009. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. http://www.knowbuddhism.info/2009/03/buddhist-attitude-towards-religions.html
Essentialsof Buddhism - Core Concepts. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. http://buddhaweb.org/
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Henry VIII & the Church of England
by Gabbie
Securing the executions of two of his seven wives was not the only thing that King Henry VIII accomplished during his 38 years as the monarch of England. He also brought about momentous religious reform, though this was not at all unrelated to his desire to replace his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
During their marriage, Catherine had borne several children but only one, Mary, had survived. Since Catherine had not given Henry a male child to carry on his line, she had failed him as a wife; also, he had once seemed to love and respect her, but sadly he had now grown tired of her and wanted to be rid of her so that he would be free to marry Anne Boleyn. King Henry cited the Bible as his grounds for a divorce; a passage of Leviticus states ominously, “If a man shall take his brother’s wife…they shall be childless.” Catherine was the widow of Henry’s older brother Arthur, though she maintained that their marriage was never consummated, because of Arthur’s declining health. It’s difficult to say whether King Henry, who seemed to be a devout Catholic, was truly haunted by Leviticus as he claimed to be or whether he found in it a convenient excuse.
Either way, King Henry decided to ask Pope Clement VII for an annulment, as per the suggestion of Cardinal Wolsey. Influenced by Charles V, the nephew of Catherine and the king of Spain, the pope denied King Henry’s request. King Henry soon realized that he need not subordinate himself to the decisions of the pope, and took advantage of the general anti-papacy sentiment to pass the Act of Supremacy, which named him as the head of the Church of England instead of the pope. His new power made him free to send Catherine away and make Anne his queen.
With King Henry as its head, the Church of England began to drift slightly. Probably in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience, he incorporated several Protestant ideas and practices. But it soon became evident that he was uncomfortable with these changes, and he eventually reverted to the old, more conservatively Catholic doctrines, which fit better with the teachings of his childhood.
Under the control of King Henry VIII, the Church of England had become different, but was still very much the same.
Works Cited
Hobbs, Jeff. "The Religious Policy of King Henry VIII." Britannia History. Britannia.com. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. http://www.britannia.com/history/articles/relpolh8.html
"Leviticus and the "Great Matter" of Henry VIII." UMKC School of Law. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/more/leviticus.html
Pollard, A.F. "The Life of King Henry VIII." Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/tudorbio.htm
"Tudor Monarchs: King Henry VIII." English History. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. http://englishhistory.net/tudor/monarchs/henry8-main.html
Wilde, Robert. "Henry VIII of England." European History. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/ukandireland/p/henryviii.htm
Securing the executions of two of his seven wives was not the only thing that King Henry VIII accomplished during his 38 years as the monarch of England. He also brought about momentous religious reform, though this was not at all unrelated to his desire to replace his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
During their marriage, Catherine had borne several children but only one, Mary, had survived. Since Catherine had not given Henry a male child to carry on his line, she had failed him as a wife; also, he had once seemed to love and respect her, but sadly he had now grown tired of her and wanted to be rid of her so that he would be free to marry Anne Boleyn. King Henry cited the Bible as his grounds for a divorce; a passage of Leviticus states ominously, “If a man shall take his brother’s wife…they shall be childless.” Catherine was the widow of Henry’s older brother Arthur, though she maintained that their marriage was never consummated, because of Arthur’s declining health. It’s difficult to say whether King Henry, who seemed to be a devout Catholic, was truly haunted by Leviticus as he claimed to be or whether he found in it a convenient excuse.
Either way, King Henry decided to ask Pope Clement VII for an annulment, as per the suggestion of Cardinal Wolsey. Influenced by Charles V, the nephew of Catherine and the king of Spain, the pope denied King Henry’s request. King Henry soon realized that he need not subordinate himself to the decisions of the pope, and took advantage of the general anti-papacy sentiment to pass the Act of Supremacy, which named him as the head of the Church of England instead of the pope. His new power made him free to send Catherine away and make Anne his queen.
With King Henry as its head, the Church of England began to drift slightly. Probably in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience, he incorporated several Protestant ideas and practices. But it soon became evident that he was uncomfortable with these changes, and he eventually reverted to the old, more conservatively Catholic doctrines, which fit better with the teachings of his childhood.
Under the control of King Henry VIII, the Church of England had become different, but was still very much the same.
Works Cited
Hobbs, Jeff. "The Religious Policy of King Henry VIII." Britannia History. Britannia.com. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. http://www.britannia.com/history/articles/relpolh8.html
"Leviticus and the "Great Matter" of Henry VIII." UMKC School of Law. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/more/leviticus.html
Pollard, A.F. "The Life of King Henry VIII." Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/tudorbio.htm
"Tudor Monarchs: King Henry VIII." English History. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. http://englishhistory.net/tudor/monarchs/henry8-main.html
Wilde, Robert. "Henry VIII of England." European History. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/ukandireland/p/henryviii.htm
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Outside of the Normal
by Stella
Most of us have heard about Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism, but many modern religions are less well-known. Parody religions have become popular during the last fifty years. These are religions or groups of people that mock or parody an established belief system. They might make fun of one specific religion, or the entire concept of religious belief. Some of the more popular ones are The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and Discordianism.
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or Pastafarianism, was formed when a “concerned citizen” named Bobby Henderson sent a letter to the Kansas school board in protest of the teaching of Intelligent Design Creationism in schools. He argued that in order for this to be fair, the schools would also have to teach the theory that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. He went on to say that if creationism cannot be disproved, then neither can Pastafarianism. According to the principles of Pastafarianism, its teachers must dress in full pirate regalia. A graph attributes the rise in global temperature to the decline of pirate populations.
Discordianism is based on chaos in the world, and is closely related to the second law of thermodynamics. It’s difficult to say whether Discordianism is a parody religion or whether its adherents are true believers. Either way, there is definitely a feeling of confusion and nonsense in the Principia Discordia, the official doctrine written by Malaclypse the Younger. The beliefs of Discordianism are based on the Greek story of The Original Snub, in which the goddess Eris, is not invited to a wedding and angrily throws an apple inscribed with “to the prettiest one” into the wedding. Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera fight over which of them is the rightful owner, and it is left up to Paris of Troy to decide. This eventually leads to the Trojan War. Afterwards, Eris enjoys a hot dog. Discordians also ascribe to law of fives, which states that everything is directly or indirectly related to the number five, and the Pentabarf, which is a list of “commandments” that Discordians must follow – some of which prohibit them from eating hot dogs and from believing what they read.
Some other established parody religions include The Invisible Pink Unicorn, which, as a paradox, has become a symbol for atheism, and The Church of the SubGenius, in which believers worship Bob. There are many parody religions too esoteric to understand but anyone can see that they excite many people and have numerous dedicated followers.
Works Cited
Cedestra. "10 Post-Modern Religions." Top 10 Lists - Listverse. 12 Apr. 2008. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. http://listverse.com/2008/04/12/10-post-modern-religions/
Henderson, Bobby. Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. http://www.venganza.org/
Malaclypse the Younger. "The Principia Discordia." Principia Discordia the Book of Chaos, Discord and Confusion Web. 23 Nov. 2010. http://principiadiscordia.com/book/
Most of us have heard about Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism, but many modern religions are less well-known. Parody religions have become popular during the last fifty years. These are religions or groups of people that mock or parody an established belief system. They might make fun of one specific religion, or the entire concept of religious belief. Some of the more popular ones are The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and Discordianism.
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or Pastafarianism, was formed when a “concerned citizen” named Bobby Henderson sent a letter to the Kansas school board in protest of the teaching of Intelligent Design Creationism in schools. He argued that in order for this to be fair, the schools would also have to teach the theory that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. He went on to say that if creationism cannot be disproved, then neither can Pastafarianism. According to the principles of Pastafarianism, its teachers must dress in full pirate regalia. A graph attributes the rise in global temperature to the decline of pirate populations.
Discordianism is based on chaos in the world, and is closely related to the second law of thermodynamics. It’s difficult to say whether Discordianism is a parody religion or whether its adherents are true believers. Either way, there is definitely a feeling of confusion and nonsense in the Principia Discordia, the official doctrine written by Malaclypse the Younger. The beliefs of Discordianism are based on the Greek story of The Original Snub, in which the goddess Eris, is not invited to a wedding and angrily throws an apple inscribed with “to the prettiest one” into the wedding. Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera fight over which of them is the rightful owner, and it is left up to Paris of Troy to decide. This eventually leads to the Trojan War. Afterwards, Eris enjoys a hot dog. Discordians also ascribe to law of fives, which states that everything is directly or indirectly related to the number five, and the Pentabarf, which is a list of “commandments” that Discordians must follow – some of which prohibit them from eating hot dogs and from believing what they read.
Some other established parody religions include The Invisible Pink Unicorn, which, as a paradox, has become a symbol for atheism, and The Church of the SubGenius, in which believers worship Bob. There are many parody religions too esoteric to understand but anyone can see that they excite many people and have numerous dedicated followers.
Works Cited
Cedestra. "10 Post-Modern Religions." Top 10 Lists - Listverse. 12 Apr. 2008. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. http://listverse.com/2008/04/12/10-post-modern-religions/
Henderson, Bobby. Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. http://www.venganza.org/
Malaclypse the Younger. "The Principia Discordia." Principia Discordia the Book of Chaos, Discord and Confusion Web. 23 Nov. 2010. http://principiadiscordia.com/book/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)