Rapture?

by Stella

You may have heard about the theory about "the end of the world" set to take place today, May 21, at 6 pm, but what is it really? Harold Camping, an 89-year-old retired engineer and Christian radio evangelist who falsely predicted Rapture in 1994, claims that meticulous calculations point to today as the date of Rapture. Rapture is when true believers will rise into Heaven and be saved from suffering a massive earthquake that sweeps around the world, God's way of dealing with non-believers.

One question people have been asking is what time zone the 6 pm prediction is for. Well, the mighty earthquake will start in the Pacific Ocean at their 6pm and follow the time zones around the world.

Many Christians have been preparing for the rapture by saying goodbye to friends and family, and holding signs to inform people of Christ's return to earth. Have you seen this one by Harold Camping's Family Radio?

Anyone who accepts Christ as the messiah will be raptured, and Camping estimates these people to be around 200 million. Camping also claims that gay-rights movements are a sign given by God of the rapture, signifying that our world will be destroyed as Sodom was.

Atheists are not letting the rapture slide by unnoticed. Many are throwing after-rapture parties, and some have even started businesses to take care of believers' pets after they are raptured.

Which ever position you take, we will find out the truth at 6 pm today.

Works Cited

Betz, Dean. "The End-of-the-world FAQ Sheet : Hot Topics." SFGate. Web. 21 May 2011. .

Boyett, Jason. "Is Judgement Day May 21?" Beliefnet. 11 May 2011. Web. 21 May 2011. .

McGreal, Chris. "The Rapture: Judgment Day Imminent … If US Engineer Has Calculated Right."Guardian.co.uk. 20 May 2011. Web. 21 May 2011. .

Happy Easter

By Stella

As many of you probably know, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after he was crucified on Good Friday. This is the ending of Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. This is also the last week of Lent. Some traditions are less obvious, such as Easter eggs and the Easter bunny.

Easter eggs represent life and resurrection in the Christian community and painting them has to do with Jesus’s blood as he was crucified. Now, Easter eggs are mass produced and made of various sweets such as chocolate and marshmallows, but in many countries, especially in Europe, eggs are still intricately designed with scenes of life and beautiful patterns. The Easter bunny is another symbol of life. First recorded in Germany, the Easter bunny brings Easter eggs to children during Easter. Children make (or more modernly buy) brightly colored baskets for the Easter bunny to put eggs in. Peeps are a very modern tradition, starting to be mass produced in the 1950’s. Along with bunnies and eggs, chicks also represent life and being born.

This is an Easter basket consisting of Easter grass, chocolate eggs, peeps, colored eggs, a stuffed bunny, and a chocolate bunny.

The Origin of Music

By Stella

You might laugh at church music and Christian rock, but the truth is that most forms of music have their roots in religion. Western music, originating in Europe, developed from hymns and chants that eventually acquired melodies and became polyphonic (containing multiple notes). Early composers, such as Hildegard of Bingen (1098), set lyrics to hymns. Later, composers such as Tomas Tallis and William Byrd would branch away from religious seculars, and music would become a part of ceremonies and other royal events. Many kings and queens had their own composers. As music progressed, it moved beyond vocals and began to include many different musical instruments. During the Baroque Era, beginning in the 1600s,symphonies were written. This was the time of composers such as Antonio Vivaldi and J.S. Bach. Many pieces were still religious, such as masses and choral hymns, and most churches had organs for composers and musicians to use. Over the years, music evolved to include more instruments, composers writing massive symphonies and operas.

In Africa, music also originated from religion. In traditional African religion, music was used for ceremonies and for communication. This music used various percussion instruments, vocals, and wind instruments, and was usually accompanied by dancing. In the 1800s, when slavery was still prevalent, slaves who had been brought from Africa learned to play western music. This fusion of western music with traditional African music led to the birth of ragtime, Dixieland, and eventually jazz. Jazz evolved into rock and roll, and eventually pop.

Even today, music is a large part of religion, and vice versa. Many people still put passages from the Bible into song, or write songs with religious meanings. In most churches, hymns and songs are a very large part of ceremony and tradition. Whether you listen to pop or rock, jazz or classical, know that religion was the origin of the song you’re listening to.

Bahá'í Faith

by Stella

Have you ever heard of Bahá’í Faith? Chances are you know somebody who has. With over 5 million adherents in all parts of the world, people from all different religions are becoming Bahá’í.

The Bahá’í Faith started in the second half of the 1800s, with the birth of Baha’u’llah in what is now Iran. He realized he was a Messenger of God when he was thrown in a dungeon for giving up a royal life and following Bábism, the predecessor to Bahá’í Faith. He was exiled to Iraq, where he announced that he was the Messenger predicted by the Báb, the founder of Bábism. He was then exiled a second time from Iraq to Istanbul, and in the following years authored many scriptures describing his teachings. In 1892 Baha’u’llah died, leaving the religion to his son Abdu’l-Baha. Between then and now, Bahá’í Faith has gained many followers and created a local, national, and global democratic governing system.

The main theme of the Bahá’í Faith is unity. This includes unity between different races, classes, nations and any other traditional barrier. Other principles are that Baha’is must take part in daily prayer, refrain from partisan politics, have a profession or craft, and participate in a period of fasting. The Bahá’í faith considers males and females equal, and also prohibits non-medical drugs, gambling, and backbiting. A Baha’i’s lifetime is to be spent striving for all of these principles. Any form of community service or education is considered worship, and many Baha’is tutor, mentor or perform other types of service.

One interesting fact about the Bahá’í Faith is they have their own calendar. It starts on the 21st of March and each of the 19 months has 19 days, with 4 intercalary days (February 26th-March 1st) to make it line up with the solar calendar. On the first of each month there is a feast, and in the last month, (March 2nd –March 20th) all Baha’is aged 15-70 take part in a fast.

I really think this is an interesting religion. Its themes of unity and fairness are a breath of fresh air amidst all of the wars and murders that surround many other religions and their conflicts.

Works Cited
Baha'i Faith United States Official Website. Web. 03 Jan. 2011. http://www.bahai.us/

The Baha'i Faith- The International Website of the Baha'is of the World. Web. 03 Jan. 2011. http://www.bahai.org/

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.

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.

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

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

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/