When the class was speaking on the topic of Atheism and Agnosticism, many light-bulbs were turned on in my head. The notion of Atheism is to believe there is no God. There are many people in society, to my understanding, who just believes there is no higher being directing the steps of mankind and out to punish all those who choose not to follow the rules. Charles Darwin was an Atheist and it let him to research his theory of Evolution. Which explains why die hard religious people protest the Theory of Evolution for its assumption that God could not have possibly created man from one being, but through a series of steps.
The notion of Agnosticism is when there is a not knowing if there is a God or not. These are the people who wants to believe but needs first the proof that there actually is a higher being. They have no doubt that there must be some sort of being that is controlling the overall actions of how the world works. But they need that sound evidence to push them over the age that the higher being is actually there.
The world is full of people wanting more understanding within religion. That is why many dominations has opened up their doors to welcome everyone who wants to join. There should never be a discrimination when it comes to being a part of a religious domination because the Church is within the person and not the building itself. What we learn as humans is determined of how we piece together the information and interpret it and live it out within our daily lives. If we misconstrue the information, then it is our own fault. If the decision that we make tends to be detrimental, then we must suffer the consequences of our actions by our peers. Seems like we are all born into Agnosticism until either our parents or our own desires prove otherwise.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Sacred Writings
The talk concerning the sacred writings in the Jewish Tanakh sparked up to be quite interesting. It turns out that no matter of what spiritual book that has been authored as a teaching tool, the material is the same. The differences may include the names and actions, but the overall teachings are the same. The name Tanakh is actually an acronym of the Torah, Neviim, and Kethuviim. The Torah reminds me of the Old Testament because it focuses more of the laws of the early days of the religion and is the foundation of establishing new laws for the religious dominations and/or sects. The Neviim mirrors that of Proverbs due to its focus of the prophets. Prophets are teachers and gives sound advice of how the religious followers are able to live a peaceful life and how to seek help and wisdom with any problem that they may encounter on their religious journey of life. The Kethuviim is in sorts like that of the New Testament because of how it focuses on the writings and can actually guide the steps of the followers so that they will not make the wrong steps within their life.
This is why I have no preference of what book I use when I need religion clarification. Whenever I need to know a certain thing which concerns a certain religious sect, all I must do is pick up their book of teachings. But I can also pick up the Holy Bible, New World Translation, King James Version, Torah, and even bookstore novels when it comes to comparing facts and figures. I especially will switch between the New World Translation and King James Version whenever I need full understanding of specific scriptures. One good example is a passage within the New World Translation that was missing that concerned when an angel would fly down from heaven and disturb the waters of this pool. Whoever would enter into this water at that time would become healed of their ailments. I was able to get that missing information by referencing to the King James Version. We as a society must not be afraid to do more research when it comes to religion. We also should not be afraid to cross-reference between religions. There is not just one correct religion.
This is why I have no preference of what book I use when I need religion clarification. Whenever I need to know a certain thing which concerns a certain religious sect, all I must do is pick up their book of teachings. But I can also pick up the Holy Bible, New World Translation, King James Version, Torah, and even bookstore novels when it comes to comparing facts and figures. I especially will switch between the New World Translation and King James Version whenever I need full understanding of specific scriptures. One good example is a passage within the New World Translation that was missing that concerned when an angel would fly down from heaven and disturb the waters of this pool. Whoever would enter into this water at that time would become healed of their ailments. I was able to get that missing information by referencing to the King James Version. We as a society must not be afraid to do more research when it comes to religion. We also should not be afraid to cross-reference between religions. There is not just one correct religion.
Catholics vs Protestants
The discussion between Catholics and Protestants sparked up many different thoughts that started roaming in my head. The first is how Martin Luther King, Jr. mentioned how Protestants and Catholics would be one of many other pairs of denominations that would work side by side with mankind and one another in peace. The similarities that these denominations share is how they both teach that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are of one being known as The Trinity. Both denominations teach that we have an immortal soul and that wicked people go to a physical place known as Hell. They both also teach that good people will go to Heaven. How can two separate organizations have such close ties.
The ties of similarities comes from the separation that occurred when Protestants separated from Catholics. I would say when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door at Wittenberg which accused the Roman Catholic Church of heresy upon heresy. It is understanding how no groups wants to be accused of breaking its own rules by its own people. Many of the churches in England was under the authority of the monarch and the churches despised those who would dare to threaten the authority given to the church by the either the king of the queen. Many reforms and battles ensued as a result to individuals and groups protesting against the doings and rulings of the church. By these people protesting, they were referred to and still known as Protestants. There are Catholics to this day who probably still do not welcome the teachings and beliefs of Protestants, even despite the similarities that each denomination share. There are wars still going on in the Middle East due to this separation of religious denominations.
It is quite confusing how we as a society cannot live in peace without pointing out slight differentiations when it comes to our own beliefs and understanding. We would rather argue, fight, and kill then to just come to and understanding and agreement of the situation. I believe that once society quit assuming, comparing, and being jealous that the world can indeed be a better place to live in. But until we come to that understanding, there will always be war and the desire to make more weapons to kill.
The ties of similarities comes from the separation that occurred when Protestants separated from Catholics. I would say when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door at Wittenberg which accused the Roman Catholic Church of heresy upon heresy. It is understanding how no groups wants to be accused of breaking its own rules by its own people. Many of the churches in England was under the authority of the monarch and the churches despised those who would dare to threaten the authority given to the church by the either the king of the queen. Many reforms and battles ensued as a result to individuals and groups protesting against the doings and rulings of the church. By these people protesting, they were referred to and still known as Protestants. There are Catholics to this day who probably still do not welcome the teachings and beliefs of Protestants, even despite the similarities that each denomination share. There are wars still going on in the Middle East due to this separation of religious denominations.
It is quite confusing how we as a society cannot live in peace without pointing out slight differentiations when it comes to our own beliefs and understanding. We would rather argue, fight, and kill then to just come to and understanding and agreement of the situation. I believe that once society quit assuming, comparing, and being jealous that the world can indeed be a better place to live in. But until we come to that understanding, there will always be war and the desire to make more weapons to kill.
Freedom of Religion
Society try to hold true to all and whatever freedom that they are entitled to. Especially here in the United States. The founding fathers worked feverishly to have formulated a document that would cater to all the citizens of the New World, as well as those who come in the future. Today's legislature try to keep those well-wishes in their minds when it comes to ratifying new laws or tweaking old ones.
The debate regarding religion has always been a continuing battle because of differences in opinions by each individual citizen. There are actually two aspects of religion which has been discussed in class. The first aspect concerns the personal level. This aspect engages in the right that a person has to not belong to any religion or religious organization. This just means that an individual can not be forced to join a religion against their own will. That was the main basis of why the United States was established. Of course, after Columbus brought about the realization that there was another route to take to "India" and Amerigo Vespucci confirming that the world is round and there was other land out in the ocean. The first settlers fled to the New World to be free from British persecution when it came to practicing their own religion.
The second aspect involved the political side of religion. This gave individuals freedom from government imposition of religion. Basically, the government cannot interfere with a religious organizations operations if the organization is not causing direct harm to the public or breaking any justifiable laws. This gives religious organizations the freedom to practice their beliefs without having to answer to the government. Many new religions at times will take advantage of this freedom by depriving followers of certain privileges of the world or engaging in outlandish exercises that can be deadly.
This reminds me of how I was in a quest to find out just who I was and what I should do with myself. I studied with Jehovah's Witnesses and joined the Church of Christ. I studied and attended meetings with the Witnesses because that was how I was raised. I moved over to the Church of Christ because of how the sermons caters to the everyday problems that I am faced with. Both teachings were comparable the same. The only difference was the nature of the programs. The Witnesses congregated as an assembly and is calm throughout the session. The Church of Christ, on the other hand, is boisterous with music and the Pastor is very animated while delivering the sermon. I have come to the realization that by the teachings of religion sharing qualities that I can get my knowledge and comfort within myself. There is a fashion show going on at many religious institutions and organizations. I feel that I should be able to dress comfortably and not have to worry about being snickered and looked down upon by certain members of a religious congregation. I am not there to impress anybody, I am there to impress the Lord. The Church is located within all of us and not in a erected building.
The debate regarding religion has always been a continuing battle because of differences in opinions by each individual citizen. There are actually two aspects of religion which has been discussed in class. The first aspect concerns the personal level. This aspect engages in the right that a person has to not belong to any religion or religious organization. This just means that an individual can not be forced to join a religion against their own will. That was the main basis of why the United States was established. Of course, after Columbus brought about the realization that there was another route to take to "India" and Amerigo Vespucci confirming that the world is round and there was other land out in the ocean. The first settlers fled to the New World to be free from British persecution when it came to practicing their own religion.
The second aspect involved the political side of religion. This gave individuals freedom from government imposition of religion. Basically, the government cannot interfere with a religious organizations operations if the organization is not causing direct harm to the public or breaking any justifiable laws. This gives religious organizations the freedom to practice their beliefs without having to answer to the government. Many new religions at times will take advantage of this freedom by depriving followers of certain privileges of the world or engaging in outlandish exercises that can be deadly.
This reminds me of how I was in a quest to find out just who I was and what I should do with myself. I studied with Jehovah's Witnesses and joined the Church of Christ. I studied and attended meetings with the Witnesses because that was how I was raised. I moved over to the Church of Christ because of how the sermons caters to the everyday problems that I am faced with. Both teachings were comparable the same. The only difference was the nature of the programs. The Witnesses congregated as an assembly and is calm throughout the session. The Church of Christ, on the other hand, is boisterous with music and the Pastor is very animated while delivering the sermon. I have come to the realization that by the teachings of religion sharing qualities that I can get my knowledge and comfort within myself. There is a fashion show going on at many religious institutions and organizations. I feel that I should be able to dress comfortably and not have to worry about being snickered and looked down upon by certain members of a religious congregation. I am not there to impress anybody, I am there to impress the Lord. The Church is located within all of us and not in a erected building.
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