Catholicism

A Summary of the Movie

Prejean offers counselling to murder convicted criminals, where she seeks to help in order to avoid passing through the death row. As Prejean continues with her counselling work, she gets to meet with different convicts such as Patrick, who has been convicted for the kidnap of two kids, and Robert who has been convicted of raping and murdering a teenage girl (Tim, 1996). Prejean talks to the convicts and asks them about their past experiences which made them to commit the crime. She encourages them, and seeks justice, in order to restrain the convicts from entering into the death row. She communicates with different attorneys’, in order to support her in restraining the convicts from being murdered. Prejean’s efforts bear no fruits due to the corrupt leaders in the judiciary.

Summary of the Readings

            Catholicism has been over the years been affected by both the protestants, different movements and worldly things (Julie, 2000). These factors have consequently affected Catholicism, thus making the culture of the Catholics to be eroded by other types of culture, for instance in the US, protestants really influenced the Catholics into doing things which were not good according to the dictates of the Catholics. On the other hand, the spread of communism in Europe really affected Catholicism, making Catholics to forget their ways.

Relationship between the Film and the Readings

            The film and the readings are related in the sense that they are talking about the same thing. According to Prejean, it is not good to treat a wrong with a wrong (Julie, 2000). In other words, it is not good to kill those who kill. When it comes to Catholicism, one is not supposed to treat a wrong with a wrong. Moreover, there are many social injustices in the judicial system, which make most innocent people to enter into the death row. The same is in the world, whereby different denominations have come up, and are consequently affecting the way of life of the Catholics.

            The Catholics are under the Christian religion, and they consequently do things according to the dictates of the Christian religion (Julie, 2000). The Christian religion dictates that people are supposed to love one another, and they should only worship one supreme God through his son Jesus Christ. This is the religion which shapes the society of America, since it was the first religion which was adopted by the country.

Reference

Julie, B (2000). Roman Catholics and the American Mainstream in the Twentieth Century: Dept. of Religion, Duke University.

Tim Robins. (1996). Dead Man Walking Retrieved from: http://library.lib.asu.edu/search/?searchtype=p&SORT=D&searcharg=broyles

Judaism (The Chosen)

Summary of the movie, The Chosen

The movie basically talks about two Jewish boys who lived blocks away from each other in Boston. The two Jewish boys are Reuven and Danny. Reuven is raised from a family which believes in Judaism, while Reuven is an Orthodox, whereby his father Reb Saunders, is strongly Hasidic (Jeremy, 1981). The two become friends after Danny’s Hasidic team visits Reuven’s school for a football match, where they disagree due to their difference in religious beliefs, a thing which leads to a fight. Danny hits Reuven’s glasses with a stone almost making Reuven blind. Danny and Reuven later become close friends after Danny visits Reuven’s at the hospital and asks for forgiveness. The relationship of the two boys is however threatened, since they beliefs are very different. Reb Saunders, Danny’s father, is Hasidic, while David Malter, Reuven’s father believes in Judaism, and the two religions oppose each other.

Summary of the American Jewish Experience

            This article basically focuses on the life of Jews in America as immigrants, and the effects of different denominations against themselves. Jews moved into America in different periods, the first group moved in between the years of 1900-1924, while the second moved into the use in the year 1930 (Jonathan & Jonathan, 2000). The two Jewish groups were consequently separated from each other, since each group had its denomination. After the Second World War, the Jews were banned from migrating into the US, a move which consequently led to the segregation of the Jews in America. The two Jewish groups united in order to defend themselves against segregation. However their different denominations proved to be a problem, some were orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews. This denominations further divided them instead of uniting them.

            The film and the article relate in the sense that both of them are talking about the effects of denominations on the world. They consequently act as a dividing factor rather than a unifying factor. All of these denominations fall under the Christian religion which seeks to unite the whole world. This consequently explains how the religion may affect the lives of the people of America.

Reference

            Jonathan D. S. & Jonathan G. (2000). The American Jewish Experience in the Twentieth Century: Antisemitism and Assimilation: National Humanities Center.

Jeremy K. (1981). The Chosen. Retrieved from: http://library.lib.asu.edu/search/?searchtype=p&SORT=D&searcharg=broyles

 Islam (Malcolm X)

QUESTION 1

Malcolm x, born Malcolm little, was a black American activist who was introduced to Muslim religion while in prison. It was seen as an alternative to free both the prison of the mind and the physical confinement of the prison walls. When he was released from prison, he became a Muslim preacher for the Muslim people. The Muslims built a mosque and their congregation grew under Malcolm x .Malcolm x was also an activist who challenges the police department which takes one of the members of the Black Muslim community and beats him up. He fights for equal rights and advocates for justice. He rose up the ranks and became equal to Elijah Muhammad.After traveling to Mecca and seeing different races in the Muslims religion, he came back home and stops advocating for the black community to be separated from the white community in America and forms the organization for African American unity (OAAU) Malcolm is killed at a gathering where he had planned to preach. Four daughters and a wife survive him (PBS,2014).

Question2

Muslim is said to have its origin in Mecca, Arabia .The Muslims use the Koran and the Sunnah .The religion is based on praying five times daily, generosity and fasting  to Mecca once. The moors were believed to be the earliest Muslims in America. They came from the Senegal and Gambia region of Africa. When they were evicted from Spain, they came through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.Also, 10-15% of African slaves, though some were converted to Christianity, most of them retained their Muslim religion and spread it throughout America .A good example of this is seen in Georgia coast where African Americans maintained Muslim up to the 20^th century. Immigrants who came looking for jobs in America are from Syria and other Muslim-dominated nations in 1878 and 1924 (BBC, 2009).

Question3

The film is based on Malcolm x ,an African American who was a Muslim in an African American Muslim community .This concurs with the reading as the reading sites that  the origin of the Muslim community in America is black  hence does not contradict the film and goes further to prove the point.

Question4

The Muslim religion has been closely related to the Christian religion due to common characteristics such as Abraham, Moses and Jesus. The two religions also believe in the existence of one god.

Question5

Christians believe in Jesus Christ who has been seen as the son of God who came to the world to bring salvation.

Question6

The majority of Americans are protestant Christians. They form the majority of the population and they are involved in the political processes and legislation. They also influence the culture of the country through their Christian practices.

Reference

PBS. (2014) Islam in America http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/islam-in-america/

BBC.(2014)IslamataGlancehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ataglance/glance.shtml

History

Chapter 1 of the book The Color of Christ, Contains information concerning a young Indian slave with the name Tituba, who had an encounter with the devil in Salem. Tituba was testifying during the Salem Witch Trials, where she claimed to have seen the devil. She was terrified to see the devil, and he demanded to worship him and to harm the children of the village (Blum & Harvey, 2012). This testimony therefore relates to Major Problems in American History, whereby the Azteca had no one to support them, and so they died from the swords of the Spaniards soldiers. This is in the sense that Jesus was like a savior who came to save people from the devil, but in Tituba’s case no one was there to save her (Cobbs, Blum & Gjerde, 2012).

Chapter 1, section 2, of the book The Color of Christ, talks about the Native American’s first encounter with Jesus Christ (Blum & Harvey, 2012). Their encounter with Jesus was historic in the sense that at some instance they would embrace him, but they would later reject him. As time went by and decades past, they found it very hard to ignore Jesus. During that period, different communities had their own religions and it was so hard for one to convince them to follow Jesus. This story therefore relates to Major Problems in American History, when the people of Virginia were murdered by some people whom they perceived to be their friends. They therefore welcomed them and after they killed their people, they hated them. The same applies to Jesus, since the Native Americans loved Jesus at first and later came to hate him (Cobbs, Blum & Gjerde, 2012).

Chapter 1 section 1, of the book Major Problems in American History, Contains information concerning how the world was in the beginning (Cobbs, Blum & Gjerde, 2012). The author therefore talks about a man and his wife who was pregnant, and she was craving for different types of food. This story is therefore relates to The Color of Christ, when it talks about how the world was formed, and how people came into being during creation.

Chapter 1, section 4, of the book Major Problems in American History, talks about the lamentation of the Portuguese military losses in Western Africa, in the year 1448. Alvaro Fernandez together with his men, were travelling towards Cape Verde, and when they reached the Guinea Island where there was a village, they stopped where they met two men who were guarding the village, and Alvaro Fernandez killed him with the use of his lance, and took the spear that he had. This story therefore relates to The Color of Christ, when the village of Salem was under the control of the devil, only for Jesus to come in order to save his people (Blum & Harvey, 2012).

Chapter 1, section 6, of the book Major Problems in American History, talks about the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs (Cobbs, Blum & Gjerde, 2012). Spanish soldiers dressed in iron cloths, with swords arrived in huge numbers under the command of Cortes. Moctezuma, who was also the leader of the Aztec, was shocked and he started weeping. Later the all his property was confiscated before the Spanish soldiers killed each and every Aztec who was on sight. The story relates to The Color of Christ, when Tituba was being disturbed by the devil, as he asked to worship and even pulled her hair. This time the village of Salem did not have anyone to protect them from the devil, the same as the Aztec’s since they did not have anyone to protect them from the Spaniards (Blum & Harvey, 2012).

Chapter 2 of the book Major Problems in American History, talks about an attack which was undertaken in the Early Virginia settlements in the year 1622 (Cobbs, Blum & Gjerde, 2012). This was after some Indians who were trading with the residents of Virginia, borrowed a boat and sailed with the savages who were friendly to them, and ended up murdering them. This relates to The Color of Christ, when the Native Americans first encountered Jesus, they loved him at first, but later came to hate him (Blum & Harvey, 2012).

Chapter 2, Section 3, of the book Major Problems in American History, is about the message which John Winthrop as he provides Christians with ways through which they can be of help to the society and one another (Cobbs, Blum & Gjerde, 2012). He therefore asks Christians to remain friendly to each other, and to love one another, in order to be able to do according to the teachings of God. In addition, he asks to act as good examples, in order to make God to feel happy. This story therefore relates to The Color of Christ, when Jesus was passing his teachings to the people, asking them to love one another (Blum & Harvey, 2012).

Chapter 3, Section 2, of the book Major Problems in American History, when all the people who moved to England and were not Christians in their homes, were turned into slaves and sold (Cobbs, Blum & Gjerde, 2012). This story therefore relates to The Color of Christ, when people used the name Jesus in order to justify slavery in the world. They therefore lied that Jesus was white, and he therefore symbolized slavery (Blum & Harvey, 2012).

Chapter 3, section 5 of the book Major Problems in American History, this section talks about a preacher who asked his flock to burn all their idols in order to get saved (Cobbs, Blum & Gjerde, 2012). They therefore started books in the public street. This story therefore relates to The Color of Christ, when Jesus asks his follows to burn all the idols, and worship none other than his father who is also God and the creator of the universe (Blum & Harvey, 2012).

Chapter 3, section4, of the book Major Problems in American History, this section shows an image of slaved working in a tobacco plantation (Cobbs, Blum & Gjerde, 2012). They are working very hard in order to be able to satisfy the needs of their masters. This section therefore related to The Color of Christ, where Americans have decided to use the name Jesus Christ, as a symbol of encouraging slavery, meaning that slavery should continue and slaves should work for the whites, since they are like Jesus (Blum & Harvey, 2012).

Reference

Blum, E. J., & Harvey, P. (2012). The color of Christ: The Son of God & the saga of race in America. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

Cobbs, H. E., Blum, E. J., & Gjerde, J. (2012). Major problems in American history: Documents and essays. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

The Church and the Mass Incarceration

The involvement of the church in the criminal justice matter that is mass incarceration most rampant in the United States is debatable and controversial. Some misunderstandings, as well as contentious issues, have emanated from this step made by the churches in the United States of America (Rawls24). Notably, mass incarceration is a historical term to describe the increment in the number of the people being detained or imprisoned in American prisons. The involvement of the church in the matter has to disagreement on the consequences and cause of the current mass incarceration in the US. Some of the pretentious include that the incarceration is a way of controlling the African American for political alignment as others claim that low justifies imprisonment. Therefore, the church engagement in to the mass incarceration matter has erupted a number of arguments and the contentious issue discussed below.

Arguably, imprisonment is justifiable by law that every law breaker and offender are to be incarcerated as a way of punishment. Moreover, it is agreed with both the church and the state that criminals should be punished after arraignment and conviction in the court of law as a form of punishment and promotion of a crime free society. However, when the law takes its course of punishing the criminals and offenders, then complaints rises from the same people with different pretensions, saying that the whole process is a social injustice as well as ungodly. Therefore, this kind of condition makes the matter very contentious, debatable, and even stringent to deal with hence requires an in-depth discussion.   

General overview of the matter

Although there is a legal and scholarly justification of the ongoing mass incarceration in the United States of America where the majority of African American youths are sitting on the verge or threshold of mass imprisonment, the matter has faced a greater level of dejection as well as disagreement from the church and the people. The mass incarceration in the United States over the past few decades has raised social concern in the region. The process of mass imprisonment is not the only experience in America but also in other states such as Cuba, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Nonetheless, the experience and the level of concern, which is perpetrated by the church, are high in the US (Garland 26).

The disagreement and arguments that emanate from the citizen, as well as the church in different parts of the world majorly, touch on the consequences that the detention brings and the causes or the aims of the mass detention. Some have articulated the mass arrest to anti-socialism, claiming that, because most of the detainees are African-American. Some have argued that the mass imprisonment may be a fourth institution to act as biopolitics or control the demographic fertility of the African American who entered the region as a result of trade called the Trans-Atlantic trade.

The mass detention is a number one promoter of social inequality. Recent studies conducted in the United States to determine the effects of the process to the individual who have been through the same process sometimes and their relatives indicates that their imprisonment has adverse effects on the community, family, and friends of the detainee. Owing to the fact that this process is unevenly distributed it has raised social concern among the citizens because of its various effect on the prisoner as well as the immediate relatives. On the same note, others have also alluded that the activity is some sort of political realignment with the process of changing for prospects for low-skilled men. Notably, this implies that there are management and control of the African population not to rise in power as always the case in any multi-ethical society.

As one could expect, it is natural that an increment in the crime rate in the country will automatically lead to an equal rate of imprisonment, since majority convicted and put in prison to serve their terms of punishments. Nonetheless, many pieces of evidence according to the many types of research that have been performed to address the issue confirms that even though the criminal and justice department has considered that massive increment of incarceration as a way of reducing crime rates in different countries in the world especially the United States of America makes the story different. The story remains ridicules because the opposite is true.

Despite the high rates of mass criminals’ detention in the prison of the past decades, the rate of crime rate has been gradually increasing instead of decreasing justifying the fact that mass incrimination has much less effect on the crime rates on doing in the different countries. Furthermore, the crime-fighting benefits experienced back then before the 1990s are no more as are no longer appropriate control strategy or a method of crime control (Alexander et al, 46).

The outstanding social inequality propagated and propelled by the mass incarceration process especially in the United States moved the church together with other humanitarian organization. The church has organized campaign and discussions hence the matter has a state religious subject what is referred to as public theology.

The viewpoint and the activities of the church

Similarly, the churches also sing the same song of the social injustices and ineffectiveness of the process as of the public only that theirs is ironical and debatable regarding the many contentious issues therein. This brings me to my viewpoint in the involvement into active politics. Nevertheless, in their case the church they used what were referred to as public theology to push their agenda.

Personally, I think that the church involvement in active politics is the inappropriate idea and it does not mean only disrespect of the religion by the state due to familiarity but also bring hatred between the two parties yet the church should a revered entity regardless of one status (Urbina and Alvarez 12). Suggestively, should focus on up lighting and raising the standard of righteousness of God as mosses lift the golden brown snake in the desert that whoever runs to the church for help will surely get it since this eradicates evil doing in the society that is resulting to none being imprisoned.

Nonetheless, many churches have gotten involved in the matter and coma up with a different philosophy to fight the ongoing mass incarceration. Some of the churches such as the God is still speaking, united church of Christ has accused the government with disparate and lengthy sentences claiming that there are some element of disparity in the mass incarceration as well as sentences and conviction conducted in courts (Garland 28).

The church in what thy refer to as ban box posits that mass detention is a direct link to poverty and claim that the only way to do away with this or the problem is to ban the box. To support their claim, they continue to say that, most so job prospects or descriptions requires that the employees to check a box this is to verify whether or not the applicant have some criminal history or history or conviction or arrest. Following the fact that many have undergone imprisonment due to the mass detention ongoing in the country especially, the element has become a common barrier for them to secure a job. With this respect, the Church posits that the question, which is found in almost all forms, is unlawful if the intention of its inclusion is to screen out people with imprisonment record, composing mostly of the African American young men.

On the same note, any historical background attaching the person to jail reduces the chances of that person being hired. Furthermore, if the individual is employed and able to secure a job, then the wedges are made much lower compared to whether the individual has no such records. Therefore, the church as considered this negative and they have indeed condemned it from one town to another (Urbina and Alvarez 12).

The God is still speaking, and other churches in the United States who are liberal minded have teamed up to fight what they term social inequalities civil right violation. The churches not only term the mass incarceration as a form of civil right violation and social inequality but also as anti-doctrine or against their doctrine and beliefs (Garland, 26). Therefore, a commission of Christian action filed a report to General Synod 2015; they did this to educate their members in order to support and engage in advocacy against the mass imprisonment.

In the report, maybe to highlight a few points, the Commission highlighted some social injustices the church learns from the scriptures. They highlighted that the suffering and despair emanating from the criminal systems and even went further to explain that the pain and despair are not only for the people who are inside but also the to the families and community on a biased conviction. In their statement, they included Romans 8:22-23, which explains the labor pains and the suffering that the people who have the first fruit of the spirit encounter.

In addition, commission sharpened the wits of their members on the fact that out of the psalmist teaching they also learn the many and grievous social harms that the mass incarceration brings not only to the believers and the members of the churches but also to the nation at large. Moreover, the Commission highlighted most of the children all over the country had become orphans and fatherless, with many mother remaining in the houses of windows lamentation 5:3.

The commission also added that and wanted to enlighten their listeners and followers on the historical injustices articulated to this act of mass imprisonment. They also developed and conducted lessons on the crimes that remain unaddressed and unnoticed. In their teaching, the priests inculcated and highlighted mass detention as a severe form of injustice that has failed to be addressed and even noticed. They added in their teachings that the current mass imprisonment is not a kind of punishment as inscribed in the law to fight crime but a plot of the ill motive of some individuals to accomplish their hidden agenda and selfish ambitions (Forrester,. 38).

Additionally, the commission of priesthood also asserted that overuse of something is dangerous and not proper since it now seizes to be a good thing to disastrous. They eluded the fact that the overuse of incarceration, which always serves as a form of punishments to criminals who are convicted by a court of law and this mass imprisonment has changed its mandate from being a penalty to a kind of retaliation or revenge. They supported this with Isaiah: 10; 1-2 that addresses oppression to the destitute in the society such as the orphans and denying them justice by making them the orphans and the widows a prey or object of ridicule.

Following the fact that the mass imprisonment has some of the sorts of racism and social inequalities the commission of the priesthood has taken upon themselves to teach their members on the underlying evil of racism as well as the harms the process bring to victims. The commission lamented the grievous victim that has engrossed the society and systems of power most especially the whole system of criminal justice in our time. They also lamented on the disparity and high sense of discrimination that has befallen the criminal judicial systems in their time along with the social injustices being propagated into the community by the so-called mass imprisonment to curb the high crime rates. In their statement, they quoted the book of Galatians 3; 28 and James 2:9 that address the act of putting others to slavery yet all are equal before Christ.

The commission in their statements highlighted that the mass incarceration is a profit-making industry to a group of people with ill motives and that the process has an evil agenda to accomplish in future. Thy also pointed clearly that the ongoing mass imprisonment is trailing as a result of fear of the community to literally come out and influence decision-making process to end the crime. Therefore, they argued people to sober up and stop the ongoing menace in the society. In addition, the commission refused the fact that the criminal justice department is resorting to the accused as evil people since innocent individuals in the Bible was also accused but innocent. After the serving, their full term in prison the commission say that the freed citizens suffer a lot of emotional issues such as stigmatization, difficulty in securing a job and a house recidivism, marginalization, and poverty.

Personal argument

The above discussion on the statements from the church supported by biblical verses is a clear prove that the church fraternity is against and opposes the mass incarceration. Explicitly, they have apparently made it known through their complaints and allegations that as a church they are against the mass imprisonment due to the effect the process has to both the members of their churches as well as the members of the society.

On the other side, despite the stiff opposition the church have concerning the matter of mass incarceration, with the concrete evidence and doctrinal support, the issue still seems stringent on the side of the state governance. It is true that the episode portrays some sort of social inequality and issues of job prospects because the majority of the victim comes from one side of the community even as the evidence and studies assert. The fact that this process has some detrimental effects on the freed citizens who have undergone the same such as stigmatization, marginalization, languishing in poverty and difficulty in securing a job is also true.

However, the same process that has been so much condemned by the church and the people, as a den of evil is legal and was passed into law by the opposers themselves. Furthermore, the Supreme legislation of the land and even the Christian doctrine that offenders and criminals or law breakers should be arraigned before a court of justice, persecuted and if found guilty imprisoned as a form of punishment allows it (Knepper 22). Therefore, it is difficult for the criminal justice systems to abscond their duty since it is justice to punish the criminal. Insofar as the church fraternity, they forgot that the law is against some malpractices such as stealing and murderer, which in the religious context they are referred to as sin. Furthermore, it is proper is the eyes in the face of religion to punish the wrong doers. Meaning when one commits a crime the individual should face the music by serving his or her full term in prison depending on the gravity of evil or offense he or she committed. Therefore, the complaint that victims of prisons plus their close relative is suffering is ironical in my view.

Additionally, the claim by the Church that and the citizens that there are social inequalities in the mass incarceration is also controversial. The law provides that a suspect is prosecuted and if found guilty be put to jail regardless of the ethnic background. Therefore, the question becomes, if the majority of the culprits are coming from a particular ethnic group naturally, should the criminal system imprison the other ethnic groups to tally the number. Isn’t that now the real social injustice? Hence, the Cray of the church as members of an individual ethnic community accusing the state of social injustices and inequalities may be vague (Knepper 28).

Since it is the obligation of the government through the judicial department to persecute and send to prison the wrong doers, it will be improper to stop the government from carrying out the duty mandated by the law, because without which there cannot be a peaceful coexistence, I think the amicable solution is to take the side of the government. Nonetheless, the process should be carried out genuinely; in that way only shall the whole nation receive peace.

In conclusion, the issue of mass imprisonment is controversial and debatable in the sense that is it the mandate of the government to maintain peace and order in a country regardless of the ethical background of a citizen. On the other side, the church is accusing the government of social injustices and inequalities and the suffering of the victims who are serving their term due to the offenses themselves committed. Nonetheless, the fact is that criminal who convicted must be punished to eliminate crime from the society.  

Work cited

Dzur, Albert W, Ian Loader, and Richard Sparks. Democratic Theory and Mass Incarceration. , 2016. Print.

Forrester, Duncan B. “Punishment and Prisons.” Christian Justice and Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1997, pp. 63–85. Cambridge Studies in Ideology and Religion

Garland, David. Mass Imprisonment: Social Causes and Consequences. London [u.a.: Sage Publ, 2001. Print

Rawls, John. The University Of Chicago Law Review. 1st ed. University of Chicago, 1997. Print.

Urbina, Martin G, and Alvarez S. Espinoza. Ethnicity and Criminal Justice in the Era of Mass Incarceration: A Critical Reader on the Latino Experience. , 2017. Print.

Simon, Jonathan. Mass Incarceration on Trial: A Remarkable Court Decision and the Future of Prisons in America. , 2014. Internet resource.

Knepper, Paul, and Anja Johansen.  The Oxford Handbook of the History of Crime and Criminal Justice. , 2016. Print.                     

RELIGION/ THEOLOGY

 “Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath”

To begin with, the Sabbath has been one of the uplifting and intriguing sources of the Bible to the majority of the scholars. It is God who initiated the Sabbath day on the seventh day of accounts of creation (Bergant & Karris, 1992). This day also remains to be memorial of His creative powers. In the process of reinforcing it to His people, God incorporated the Ten Commandments with it (T.C.S.B, 2008). According to Isaiah 66:22-23, the Sabbath day is meant for resting and worshiping and therefore man will continue to preserve it through his life.  Regardless of that, the reason for choosing this quote is because there has been great debate regarding the relevance of observing it as the resting day given that some individuals do perceive that the Ten Commandments was dealt away with by Jesus Christ on the cross (Joe, 2009). Another point of consideration is that God’s grace dealt away with them i.e. the law. It is also believed that the Sabbath day was initially meant for the Jewish hence not applicable to the Gentiles. This shows that it is essential to validate these arguments.

According to Mark 2:18, referring Jesus as the Lord of the Sabbath is basically trying to experience his supernatural powers (Bergant & Karris, 1992).  With respect to that, the intention here is to clearly illustrate the main encounters regarding the teachings of Jesus as well as the truth of His personality (Mark 2:27-28). This it is a story of Jesus Christ and the purpose that the ministry He had while on earth served. Conversely, this is to say that is trying to have a clear picture of who God is together with the buzzing and presented message from various Biblical accounts (T.C.S.B, 2008).

Additionally, it already clear from this opening that the son of God has ultimate powers over all evil spirits, temptations, Satan, diseases, over sin, and so on. How significant this is in case He is to be Savior of mankind to remove all effects of falseness in the world, overpowering demons, diseases, death, and sin. This is to say that Mark, John, Luke had gone to the extent of identifying Him (although inspired to write it) as true God and our utmost redeemer (Pickett, 2013).

Basically, by calling himself the Lord of the Sabbath means that his disciples were already aware that God had ordained the Sabbath (Matt 12:11-13). For instance, it well explained that God had created everything for a period of six days but dedicated and blessed the seventh day as the day for resting. This shows that the intention of God was to bless, and sanctify the Sabbath day (Bergant & Karris, 1992).

Contextual analysis

Historically, the Sabbath is perceived as being the day of rest. It is a day which was sanctified by the creator at the end of the creation week. This implies that it is a memorial of the accounts of creation (Joe, 2009). As much as it is a recurring period of time, the enduring thing which is well known to man is that God had guaranteed man that He will always be with mankind to help those who will be keeping the Sabbath holy so as to attain the purpose of the creator (Mark 3:4). These remains to one of the wonderful gifts man could receive from God (H.P, 2008). The Sabbath, on the other hand, is the day Jesus Christ associated with salvation, redemption, and liberty. This evident from His preaching, casting of demons, healing, alleviating from stannic bondage, and so on (Luke 14:5).

Although the issue which is not dealt with is whether one is inclined to keep the Sabbath, the truth remains that man needs to know how to keep it (Exodus 3:12-17). Being that it main emphasis keeps on changing in the whole context, individual responsibility regarding personal worship during the Sabbath day indicates the desire of fulfilling the spirit of the law. This means that the Sabbath, according to Mark 3:12, is a present type of the true personality of God (H.P, 2008). Likewise, not working during the Sabbath day becomes a secondary law although a significant factor regarding the best means of keeping the Sabbath. Giving priority to fellowshipping with the Creator entails doing good works (Joe, 2009).  Conversely, preparation is crucial to roper Sabbath keeping i.e. indicating that adequate attention is given to the spiritual aspects and activities of the Sabbath (Mathew 11:28).

Considering the entire four gospel, it is clearly indicated that Jesus Christ was tried, convicted, crucified, and then buried on the preparation day.  This then indicates that the Sabbath is not the working day as the other days of the week. Of course it God Himself who gave instructions regarding the preparation day to all Israelites before they arrived Mount Sinai. As a result of that, the Jews decided to make sure that any holy day which are also the Sabbath days were to be preceded with preparation days (Pickett, 2013). Due to the fact that the holy days can equally fall under any day of the week, typically the preparation day can also fall on any day of the week (Mathew 12:12).

This then indicates that the Sabbath day is significant to the Passover. Since the Passover is relevant festival on its own right, the truth is that it similarly functions as the main preparation day for the holy day i.e. the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. From the biblical accounts of Jesus ministry, it is God who is has the right of instructing how the Sabbath was to be carried out (Mark 2:27). This means that he is sovereign. In other words, God is the supreme ruler of this day and His commandments are the ones which are used by man to define it. In addition to that, in Exodus 20:20-11, God instructs that “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”. He designated what it should be given to. This is to say that it was Him who laid out the laws regarding the Sabbath (Kohlenberger, 2003).

Formal analysis

Nevertheless, if anybody claims to be the Lord of the Sabbath means that he or she is typically claiming to be the son of God or God Himself (Mark 2:28).  Being that Jesus Christ acknowledged Himself the Lord of the Sabbath means that His was to do away with the burdening pharisaic system (T.C.S.B, 2008). This is because this system used to work on self-righteous which deteriorates one’s spiritual relationship with God. In the process of ignoring or disdaining the Sabbath, Jesus placed found Himself in conflict leaders as well as their spiritual leadership system (Mark 12:3-4). Both these incidents illustrate the back to back explanations regarding the Jesus Christ’s utter disregard of the Judaism treatment of the Sabbath day (Kohlenberger, 2003).

On the other hand, Jesus Christ Himself had initially recognized His feelings towards the manner in which they Pharisees Sabbath. For this reason, it means that the Jews had already strategized on how to persecute Jesus because of the activities he was doing on the Sabbath day. For instance, to the Jews, it was horrible to heal someone on the Sabbath day (Hebrews 3 $ 4). It should be noted that the sabbatarian tradition remained to be their domain hence making them to be fanatical about it. This was far away from teaching of the scripture. As it is explained, the scripture does not give restrictions about the Sabbath other than not working during that day. Despite that, they came up with impossible rules which were aimed at restricting the Sabbath conduct. In other words, they ensured that rules regarding the Sabbath had been made restraining as possible. The notion or behind this was that the more and more a person was to be deprived from the right way of keeping the Sabbath holy the more he or she was to become holy (John 17:3). In order to guard their rules more fiercely, it was mandatory for each person to observe them. They willfully did it for the sake of their freedom as well as to maintain their reputation as spiritual leaders (H.P, 2008). This means that legalism remained to their religion symbol of spiritual nourishment to man. In return, God denounced them all. Typically, the bible illustrates that He had no reason for confirming to the conditions regarding earthly rules which had extensively replaced the rule and regulation regarding the Sabbath (Mark 2:28).

In Mathew 15, Jesus claimed that the leaders had ended up substituting the laws of men with that of God. Thus, this is to say it all this events had the potential of hitting the spiritual system of the Pharisees and scribes. The reason for that is because they were perceived as being compassionless and merciless towards people suffering. These leaders remained to be fanatical with their self-righteous rules. In Mathew 11:28, God Himself said that “Come unto Me all you who labor and who are heavy laden.” What this meant is that he was not referring to individuals with physical labor but to those who were oppressed with sabbatarian legalism through which a person cannot get relieved (Kohlenberger, 2003).

Detailed analysis

In accordance to that, receiving and to be rooted in true spiritual conditions implies that it is the ultimate means of accepting certain truths about Jesus Christ.  In other words, the general acceptance of truth is the ultimate means through which individuals come to all that is more than belief of the truths (Isaiah 58:14-14). It is through believing in the truth faith that lies in Jesus Christ that makes it easier to possess Him. Naturally, mankind is built in Kim and therefore in his compact union man finds a true support for life which is otherwise baseless. This then indicates that it is Jesus Christ himself who has the potential or capacity of exercising authority over the rules and regulations which governs the Sabbath day (H.P, 2008).

From the fact that He was proclaiming to the world, particularly to the legalistic Pharisees, that he was ultimately above the law all He meant is that He was the author of those spiritual rules and regulations (Mark 2:27). Being that the Pharisees were unable to keep them as required, they ended up instituting it with the complex and confusing spiritual system which became oppressive and legalistic. Other than including a number of forbidden activities in the laws, they made themselves the lords or the controller of the Sabbath, hence making them to be the lords of the people (John 1:1-3).

As a creator, it means that Jesus Christ is the original or main creator of the Sabbath. According to John 1:3, it is clear that Jesus Christ has the authority to overrule the traditions and regulations of the Pharisees. This is to say that the as a creator of the whole universe, he will always remain to be greater that the creation (Rowe, 2005). Likewise, the reason for claiming that authority was for the purpose of correctly interpreting the meaning of the Sabbath to mankind as well as the laws concerning it.  Due to the fact that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath day, it means that he has the right to do whatever pleases him with it (Hebrews 1:10).

With respect to the above considerations, it means the Jesus has the power, authority, and right to dispense the Sabbath day in any way that pleases Him even abolishing or reinstituting it as the Lord’s Day i.e. the day of worship because it was the integral part of His creation (John 5:16-17). By stating that the Sabbath day was meant for man and not the Sabbath to control the actions of man, it means that He was attesting that the Sabbath was meant to give man time to rest (Rowe, 2005). Typically, this was meant to offer rest from laboring so as to enable people to realize their salivation. Due to His sacrifice on the cross, it mean that man can forever cease from laboring to as to gain favor, mercy, and grace from God.

In connection to that, as the creator of the Sabbath means that we are all meant to obey the fourth commandment (Knechtle & Sohlmann, 1997). The secular law which illustrates that we should not kill indicates that all laws were meant for man and they ought to be followed without deviation (Exodus 3:1-5). The fact is that the Sabbath was ultimately meant for mankind during creation and thus there no single person who can deny that. So to this date, there is nothing which has changed. Since all the Ten Commandments were meant for man, it means that the Sabbath was mainly designed or ordained for the welfare of all humanity (Exodus 16:4).

Synthesis

It is, therefore, apparent that those who believe that the Sabbath was mainly made for man is a way of disobeying God. The reason for that is because there is no biblical verse which accounts for that. One thing that Jesus Himself approved is that it lawful for a person to good during the Sabbath day (Knechtle & Sohlmann, 1997). For example, Jesus illustrated that it is lawful to rescue a sheep if it falls in a hole. Equally, it is lawful for doctors, nurses, and so on, to work on the Sabbath day because it is necessity which is unavoidable. Furthermore, Jesus explained that all those who will be working on church during the Sabbath day cannot be blamed (Joe, 2009). These are the services which are essential to our everyday encounters. As the Lord of the Sabbath it means that offering that day as a way of seeking blessing from Him as compared to the legalistic rules and regulations which the majority of the Pharisees had turned it into (Rowe, 2005). As Jesus illustrates, he directs His attention to the creator hence His authority of determining the purpose of it. This is to say that Jesus Christ has the authority and power in determining all that is appropriate for this day unlike the manner in which the Pharisees were exceeding their prerogatives (Isaiah 66:22-23).

Nonetheless, from the teachings of Jesus Christ, the church leaders do not have the authority of loading the Sabbath with any form of oppressive restrictions. Moreover, the church should not transfer its sacredness to the laws governing the Sabbath day. In other words, it is not rightful for man to tamper with the Sabbath day whether he or she is a Christian or Pharisee. This indicates that the line of reasoning that Christ was trying to set to mankind is that Jesus was supreme leader of the church (Joe, 2009). The work which was to be performed in connection to the church services entailed keeping the requirements of the Sabbath (Exodus 16:4).

Reflection

From the above explanation, by Jesus Himself illustrating that He is the Lord of the Sabbath means that it is not some sort of magical sub-clause which is used to end the Sabbath commandments (Paul, 2015). From the fact that it the lord who has the authority of magnifying the law, it means that it was not a way of making the law to be less strict (Psalm 103:14). This is just to show that man has the liberty of choosing to obey these commandments or not. The Sabbath was fundamentally made for man and for that reason it is the responsibility of man to keep it holy (Mark 2:28).

With respect to the above considerations, Jesus Christ’s teaching had a lot of influence on the Sabbath day which in return angered the religious leaders. Although their actions was also angered Him, this was termed as a righteous indignation (Knechtle & Sohlmann, 1997). The reason for that is because the religious leaders had already made the Sabbath day a heavy burden to the people. As the bible clearly illustrates it, the Jesus Himself is the Lord of the Sabbath and for that case man should be use it an opportunity of seeking His blessings (Mark 2:27). What Jesus meant is that the Sabbath day was made for mankind and it was ultimately meant for good. Since someone who creates something is the true owner of it, the intention of God was to ensure that man has managed to do with it in a manner that pleases him (Paul, 2015). This is what the disciples did all the time they were with Him. This the main reason as to why Jesus said that He was the Lord of the Sabbath (John 3:3-4).

Conclusion

To some up, Jesus Christ is the true Lord of the Sabbath day. Therefore, we have no right or authority of judging other about what they do during the Sabbath day. When God was speaking about the laws governing the Sabbath day, He meant that the Sabbath was made for mankind so that they can have time and opportunity of worshiping God.

God Himself acknowledges that man was made for the dust and for that case He is aware how fragile our framework is. As our creator, He is aware that we require time to rest in the seventh day. The Sabbath was not meant to be a burden to man has the religious leaders had already tried to make it. It other words, the leaders were cruel to the extent of making it seem to be a camel which ought to be weighed down with all means available. The truth is that they incorporated it with several manmade traditions. Although they considered it to be somehow equal with the Sabbath commandments, it is obvious that they were greater and burdening that the law. The other reason for that is because such rules and regulations were not contained in the rules given by God Himself regarding the Sabbath. As the Bible explains, this was extensively opposite of what the Sabbath was intended by God to be like.

In this context, the word Lord is used to denote the sovereign ownership and rights. This then shows that there is no one who has the rights of telling Jesus what to do or not to do with the Sabbath. This the reason as to why Jesus kept on rebuking the religious leaders about it because they often made it to like something which a person could not keep properly according to the manmade self-righteous standards they had incorporated

References

Bergant, D., & Karris, R. J. (1992). The Collegeville Bible commentary: Based on the New American Bible. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press.

Hendrickson Publishers. (2008). The Holy Bible: King James Version. Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson Publishers.

Joe, C, .(2009). Jesus Christ Is God. Xulon Press

Knechtle, E. B., & Sohlmann, C. J. (1997). A people ready for the return of Jesus. Brushton, NY: Teach Services.

Kohlenberger, J. R. (2003). The evangelical parallel New Testament: New King James Version, New International Version, Today's New International Version, New Living Translation, English Standard Version, Holman Christian Standard Bible, New Century Version, the Message. New York: Oxford University Press.

Paul , L, .(2015). The Feasts of Israel: God's Plan of the Ages - Volume 1. Redemption Press

Pickett, E. (2013). Minister's companion bible: Mark (volume 1). Place of publication not identified: Lulu Com.

Rowe, C. K. (2005). Early narrative Christology: the Lord in the gospel of Luke. Berlin: de Gruyter.

The chronological study Bible: New King James version. (2008). Nashville, Tenn: Thomas Nelson.

Book 3 of Calvin's Institutes

This book contains most themes, which are centered on the activities of Jesus in the world. The book therefore inspires, and encourages Christians to do things according to the will of the Jesus Christ. This is because, Jesus Christ did a lot of things, which included giving his own life, in order to save the people from their own sins. This therefore brings about the theme of salvation, the theme of self-denial, and the theme of repentance (Gordon, 2016). In order for one to be able to get saved, he or she needs to accept the will of Jesus, and thus being able to serve him. God, who is the father, requires people to pray to him in the name of Jesus Christ. This therefore means that Jesus who is also the son of God, acts as a link between people and God.

The theme of repentance is mainly about giving oneself to God. Christians are supposed to give themselves to God, in order to be able to go to heaven after death. According to the book, repentance allows one to be able to cleanse himself or herself from all sins, thus being clean before the eyes of the lord. In addition, if one repents, then he or she can be able to easily communicate with God, since repentance links a person to the lord (Gordon, 2016). Moreover, when one person repents in the world, there is a celebration in heaven. This therefore means that God is usually happy when one decides to repent, and stops following the wrong ways, hence doing what God wants him or her to do. Furthermore, God listens to the problems of his followers, thus providing solutions. Hence one should therefore repent in order to be able to become the followers of God, thus being able to inherit the kingdom of heaven during the day when Jesus Christ will come to save his followers.

The theme of salvation therefore acts to provide us with ways through which we can be able to connect with God. This ways include the following, through repenting our sins, believing in God, and being baptized. After baptism, one becomes connected to God, thus making it easy for him or her to be able to communicate with God (Gordon, 2016). The word of God, which is in the bible, is therefore supposed to be followed to the latter, thus making it easy for one to be able to live a peaceful life in the world. God loves those who believe in him, and he will therefore show them the way they are supposed to follow.

The theme of self-denial is also evident in the book, where it encourages us to deny ourselves things which will hinder us from being able to enter the kingdom of God (Gordon, 2016). The author therefore uses the story of Jesus, who denied himself food and water while in the wilderness. This is therefore one of the things which Christians are supposed to do, in order to be able to connect with God. Christians are therefore supposed to deny themselves all luxuries which may lead them into temptations. These luxuries may therefore include drinking alcohol, as it may hinder one’s mental ability to think, hence leading to temptations.

Christians are therefore supposed to commit themselves to the lord, in order to be able to inherit his kingdom. Each and everything which may hinder one from being able to connect with God, should therefore be avoided. The author goes on to say that, those who deny themselves the luxuries of the world, will be able to inherit the kingdom of God (Gordon, 2016). Therefore, in order for one to be able to inherit the kingdom of God, then he or she is supposed to deny himself or herself the things which might limit his or her communication with God. Moreover, one can also deny himself or herself food, for a short period of time, in order to effectively communicate with God. This consequently helps in making the person to be able to connect with God, and in so doing, being able to fully communicate with the lord.

In addition, self-denial is not meant for physical purposes, but it is meant for spiritual purposes. God desires a clean heart, and so denying oneself food and other things just to be close to God, really helps in improving the relationship between God and his follower (Gordon, 2016). Salvation is also very significant when it comes to the worship of God, since one needs to be spiritually clean in order to seek salvation. One can therefore be able to seek salvation after repenting. Salvation should therefore be taken seriously since this is the only way through which Christians can be able to connect to God. The author has therefore been able to effectively pass the message to Christians through the three themes, hence making encouraging them to be able to connect to God.

Reference

Gordon, B. (2016). John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian religion: A biography.

Tilley and Boff

            Using Tilley’s explanations, Boff’s interpretation of Christian faith is of value.  Buff explains about the unity with power that stresses on worshiping and communicating with God. Liberation theology understands the faith of the church considering the prophetic way of showing partiality and harmony with the poor. This kind of option does not ground on political or self-interest powers as it would be the interest of an institutional church with a surfacing historical power. The theological approach to the poor show that biblically, God is a living God and the life sustainer (Boff, 43). 

            This explains that when people face such challenges, they should count on God to be their first helper.  God feels encouraged when helping the poor.  This reveals when God says, “I have seen the miserable cry of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry to be free from their slave-drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering and now the cry of the sons of Israel has come to me, and I have witnessed the way the Egyptians oppress them (Boff, 46)”. Christ acted in the same way and made his individual policy on the poor while he made them the main receivers of his message.  He claims that the poor obey his laws such as the Good Samaritan who integrated the neighbors and made them brothers and sisters.  Christ followers should abide by the rule as a way of expressing their faith in Christ based on the widespread poverty in the current world (Boff, 46). 

The gospel is clear in this approach; at the final moment of history and the time of the eternal salvation, he asks what our attitude will be on whether we rejected or accepted the poor.  The high judge recommends the statement claiming that everybody oppressed appears as brother or sister to Christ. Only those who integrate with the poor and the needy become the Christ sacraments and communicate directly with Christ. Since its ancient times in history, the church shows concern for the poor.  The priests and the disciples held all things in general so that there would be no one called poor among them.  According to the gospel, one main thing that people should not ignore and remember is helping the poor.  According to the supreme of the Greek fathers, the church split into Pagans and Jews, but based on the poor, there was no division made as they all belonged to a general church mission (Boff, 56). 

            Besides the main subjects based on liberation to theology, there are certain challenges faces the liberation theology including the subjects learned and acted upon the institutions and processes that are important to the type of reflection.  This has caused the connected development of a significant economy theology and political theology.  As a result, theologians can overcome these challenges of liberation theology to advance in sense of Christ.  They also need to connect strongly with the community and deeply encouraged by the spiritual matrimonial of popular religion and faith (Boff, 64).

            According to Tilley, the action of revealing the hidden asserts a story said to be true as the world see it in an actual way. For instance, a police officer can lay a case against the alleged criminal.  I was not aware of the caught up of the executor who is my friend. After listening to the office, I would say that “is it true that my friend was involved?” According to Philosopher Martin, he claims idea this to be revealing the hidden.  This notion cannot stand alone as it would associate the shock, surprise or reveal the truth.  However, if the aim of demonstrating the passion of Jesus and death is to express faith in Jesus, then the anti-Jewish telling of the story declines the main purpose of the story.  Revealing the truth on the story shows hatred but not faith or love for Jesus. Therefore, we need to review whether an expression truly reveals or whether it controls to show what is not real. Thus, the use of cohesion in revealing the truth is helpful (Tilley, 110).

            Cohering is an approach that focuses on the essentiality of an expression of faith to reveal.  It also focuses on the matter of what it reveals.  An expression that appears suitable with other facts can be true. This approach asserts two main claims of philosophical theories of truth such as truth as communication and truth as coherence (Tilley, 112). 

            Promotion of legitimacy talks about being true to oneself.  This kind of faith that does not helps us being genuine human beings fails to help us discover who we are.  A show of faith can be true if it helps people communicate with other individuals to become true to themselves. The issue on being an authentic self-differentiates through understanding where one started by reviewing where one is heading in life (Tilley, 118).

            Teaching faithfulness is an approach of being true to oneself and being true to others. We may seem true to our lovers but we may be unfaithful.  We forget that faithfulness and realism are closely connected. If faithfulness explores on how one treats their enemies, then the historic approach of the Christian conditions gives a proper life counter experience. Therefore, God’s children should stay like God as the kind of faith they have teaches them (Tilley, 121).     

            Constancy in seeking the true is a form of faith that lives in creative truthfulness said to be real.  Those who face actuality in their ideas live away from a faith seen more important than the people who have no ideas or chance to practice faith. As a result, the tradition of faith is constant if it only seeks the truth and willing to react on inheritance in order to show what is true (Tilley, 123).   

Work cited

Boff, Leonardo, and Clodovis Boff. Introducing Liberation Theology. Maryknoll, N.Y: Orbis Books, 1988. Print.

Tilley, Terrence W. Faith: What It Is and What It Isn't. Maryknoll, N.Y: Orbis Books, 2010. Print.                                 

Rhetorical Civilization Discussion Question

Preachers and evangelicals of the modern day are usually centered on certain evangelical views. Those views might be from a renowned evangelist who had dominated in the past. Through doing so, they are therefore able to conduct their work easily simply because they have a pillar whereby they can be able to stand on, and also the pillar can be able to guide them as they continue with their missions of preaching and spreading the word of God (Vessey & Reid, 2012). In addition, in order for an evangelist or a preacher to be able to grow his or her own church, he or she will need to have a pillar which consequently acts as a map in leading them as they preach. Most of the believers also tend to follow a preacher who focuses on the teachings of certain renowned evangelists, thus making them to fully believe whatever the preacher preaches. ‘

According to my point of view, I think both preachers and evangelists can gain insight into their mission through reading Augustine. This is consequently because most of the preachers tend to rely on the teachings of the prominent evangelists, who act as their mentors, thus making them to be able to fully understand how to pass the message of the lord (Vessey & Reid, 2012). Furthermore, modern day evangelists will also be able to attract huge followers, through following the teachings of Augustine, and thus being able to fully spread the gospel of the lord. In addition, due to different Christian denominations all over the world, it would be better for an evangelist to follow the teachings of Augustine who started his own denomination, thus understanding how one can be able to spread the gospel without depending on other denominations.

Reference

Vessey, M., & Reid, S. (2012). A companion to Augustine. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.

The Forgiving Self and how it Directly Relates to A Separate Peace

Introduction

Jealousy is one of the attributes which human beings tend to face on their daily basis. This is the act of having insecurity concern and anxiety due to experiencing a loss. Most people therefore tend to become jealous of other people, simply because other people can be able to achieve what they cannot be able to achieve. This therefore leads to a strong feeling of hatred which tends to affect someone, hence rendering the person a victim of his or herself. In addition, the victims of jealous tend to be very bitter towards successful people, and they may therefore develop a feeling of hatred towards them. In addition, this may also result in physical harm, particularly when the victim reacts after a small argument with the successful person. This paper is therefore going to analyze the novel, ‘The Forgiving Self’ and ‘A Separate Peace’, in a bid to explain how both novels directly relate to each other.

Karen believes that jealousy leads to victimization whereby the doer of the action becomes the victim of jealousy. Those who have inner conflicts tend to be jealous of those who have inner peace, since inner conflict leads to jealousy while inner peace does not (Karen, 45). Those with inner conflicts therefore tend to see others as being very successful, hence developing hatred and bitterness towards such kind of people. Jealous people have not therefore accepted themselves, thus they tend to think that whatever happens to other people cannot happen to them, hence leading to hatred and dislike towards those who have inner peace. For instance, Gene hates his best friend Finny, simply because Finny relates with other people very well, thus making him to be able to achieve more as compared to Gene. This therefore leads to hatred, whereby Gene hates Finny (Knowles, 27). Finny does not therefore know if he best friend Gene hates him, and he therefore believes that Gene is still his best friend.

Karen also believes that in order for one not to be jealous of other peoples’ success, he or she needs to reconcile with his or her inner self. This consequently allows the person to value himself or herself, and thus being able to work hard in order to be able to achieve what he or she thinks is hard to achieve. In order for this process to be successful, one should therefore accept him or herself the way he or she is, thus being able to forge forward and avoid any obstacles which are likely to come his or her way. In addition, one cannot be able to stop being jealous through asking for forgiveness, but instead the person needs to change his or her perception (Karen, 45). This consequently allows the person to be able to view others equally as the self, and thus being able to achieve his or her goals. For instance, Gene could not cry at Finny’s burial, even though he was his friend, simply because of how he was feeling guilty. Guilt consequently affects the victims of jealousy, thus making it hard for them to be able to perceive themselves as being better as compared to others (Knowles, 27). On the other hand, Jealousy also translates into violence, depending on the situation at hand. A good example is when Gene pushed Finny from the tree and he fell.

Finny fell off the tree and he was badly injured, thus showing how being jealous makes on to be very bitter, thus indulging in physical harm (Knowles, 29). The same applies in real life situations, whereby those who are jealous of you will always come up with ways of making sure that you do not make it in life. They may therefore come up with different issues in a bid to paint a dark picture of you. This may include gossiping and creating stories which do not make sense in order to make sure that everyone gets to hate you. This was what Gene was doing, in order to paint a dark picture of Finny, thus being able to look smarter as compared to Finny (Karen, 46). Finny could therefore be blamed for something he had nothing to do with, and this really made Gene very happy.

Karen believes that jealous people tend to blame others, and saying that they are the reason as to why they cannot make it (Knowles, 29). In addition, since jealous people do not have inner peace, they tend to blame others for not being able to achieve certain levels of hatred between them and their friends. They therefore hate their friends simply because they feel they are the ones who are making them not to make it in life (Karen, 48). In the end, this consequently leads to insecurities and anxiety in relationships, thus making the two friends not to be able to relate with each other peacefully.

            Gene consequently blames Finny for everything thus making him to really hate Finny. Finny does not always fight with other people, and he therefore relates with other people peacefully thus making other people to love him (Knowles, 31). Gene does exactly the opposite of what Finny does, and he therefore expects people to love him the same way they do with Finny. This consequently leads to blame, whereby Gene feels Finny is the reason as to why people are not attracted to her as they are attracted to Finny. Gene therefore hates Finny, when it is actually his own mistake that people are not attracted to him at all. This therefore explains why jealous people often blame others due to their actions. In addition, Gene has a feeling that he cannot be as good as Finny, thus limiting himself from achieving certain goals, and instead hating Finny (Karen, 48). Their friendship is not therefore bound to last for a long period of time, since Gene will always blame Finny for his failure and thus leading to hatred which leads to violence in the relationship.

            Karen believes that Gene is the victim in this case, even though Finny seems to be the victim of hatred. Gene admires each and everything which Finny does, thus making himself a victim since he cannot be able to be as good as his Finny is (Knowles, 30). This therefore makes Gene to always try as much as possible to fit into Finny’s situation, and in as much as he does so, he cannot be able to make it. This consequently makes Gene a victim since he cannot be able to come up with his own approaches thus being able to avoid fighting and not relating with other people peacefully. In addition, it reaches a point whereby Gene wishes he was Finny, since Finny’s character is attractive. Gene cannot therefore be able to lead a peaceful life, since he is trying to compete with Finny, and as he does so, he duplicates Finny’s behavior a thing which does not work very well as he expected (Karen, 49). When his approaches become unwanted, he tends to hate Finny, since he cannot be as good as Finny is, thus resolving to hate Finny. In the end due to the bitterness and anger that Gene has towards Finny, he decides to push him off the tree, where Finny falls breaking his leg. The Victim, who is Gene shows his hatred and bitterness towards Finny as he pushes him off the tree.

            Gene keeps jouncing simply because he does not have inner peace, and he is consequently experiencing inner conflicts. This therefore makes him to devalue himself, thus he feels Finny is good as compared to him. Gene cannot therefore appreciate the way he is, thus hating on Finny, simply because he is not as good as Finny is (Karen, 47). Moreover, Gene has not been able to achieve what Finny has been able to achieve thus leading to hatred, anxiety and insecurity in the relationship. Gene is therefore supposed to love himself the way he is thus being able to avoid the obstacles that he is currently facing in his life (Knowles, 32).

Conclusion

            Jealousy is one of the things which consequently leads to violence and hatred between people in a relationship. This is so because when one feels that he cannot be able to achieve what another person has been able to achieve, then this translates to hatred. The one who is being jealous becomes a victim of his own, simply because he or she cannot be able to make inner peace with himself or herself. As jealousy grows, it matures into blame whereby the victim starts blaming others for not being able to achieve certain goals. Victims cannot therefore be able to continue with the relationship since they tend to have a feeling of hatred which may result in violence.

Work Cited

            Karen, Robert. The Forgiving Self: The Road from Resentment to Connection. New York: Anchor Books, 2011. Internet resource.

            Knowles, John. A Separate Peace, John Knowles. , 2014. Internet resource.

Primal Religions

The study of the world’s religions is an important discipline because besides the knowledge it instills in a person, it promotes a deeper understanding and appreciation for the other religions that differ from our own. This study may also bring unprecedented changes in a person and make them to have a change of heart towards themselves.

A person gets to appreciate their origin and practices and with the study of religions, use the different aspects of their religion to promote their spiritual growth and wellbeing (Zinnbauer, Kenneth, and Allie, 1999, pg 889-919). Despite the benefits that can be reaped from studying the different world religions there are risks that come with it. With the variation in culture and religious practices, we may abandon our own religions for others that we think are better and more fascinating than ours. On the other hand, we may end up being critics of other religions because of their contradictory beliefs and practices. This may lead to segregation or worse, animosity amongst ourselves. We consider some practices inferior and the fact that a religion may be using them for their rituals, can lead to negative change of heart. On rare occasions, students have been known to use their knowledge of religions to create others that are considered cults. The fact that many religions have almost similar practices is also tempting to discard the belief in many religions and decide there is no use for the separate religions.

The study of world’s religions is essential for the purpose of historical comprehension. The many art museums we come across all over the world have a relation to religion and the people practicing it. Shrines and temples in Asian countries are good work of art which host monuments, canvas paintings, collectibles, earthenware and effigies which provide an understanding of the underlying religion (Kostof,1995). Their stories, hopes, dreams, fears and beliefs have been expressed in a form of art or put down on manuscripts. This way it is easier to understand the human history. Interdisciplinary understanding of the humanities is also key, and this is found through study of various religions. You get to understand the past, current and future changes in disciplines such as sociology and political science.

Thanks to globalization, there has been a healthy interaction between people of different faiths and religions in learning institutions (Csordas, 2009). We are surrounded by Muslims, Indians, Buddhists and many more. This has promoted an understanding among the different people making them more culturally sensitive. Only challenge here is the integration and prevention of discrimination. Every religion has its code of conduct and as a member living by it, will promote better coexistence. The acquisition of important life skills through the study of religions is inevitable, preparing one for the global community. Virtues are instilled in the students making them even more socially responsible beings.

The study of different world religions has opened up my mind on the practices affecting both the body and mind and how I can use them in the making of myself a better person. It has also answered the many questions I had about history and other faculties of life and provided a connection between them making it easier to comprehend and appreciate. Religion is no longer a mystery but part of a people and with this, the life anonymities have been explained. Top of all the other types of intelligence, I have gained spiritual intelligence and can make better decisions on the type of leaders to emulate.

As we have seen, the study of the different religions of the world is of importance because it shapes you as a person in all the ways possible. It strengthens your faith and beliefs and gives you inner peace. Religion plays a very significant role in the curriculum in nurturing the student and should be taken with seriousness. It is also vital to guide the students so they are not affected by the possible side effects that could come with the learning of the different world religions.

References.

Kostof, Spiro. "A history of architecture: settings and rituals." New York: Oxford (1995).

Zinnbauer, Brian J., Kenneth I. Pargament, and Allie B. Scott. "The emerging meanings of religiousness and spirituality: Problems and prospects." Journal of personality 67.6 (1999): 889-919.

Csordas, Thomas J. Transnational transcendence: Essays on religion and globalization. Univ of California Press, 2009.

SHINTO

Many communities in different parts of the world have their religious beliefs to which they owe their respect. It is the belief in a more supreme being and origin of the people that dictates how the members of the community go about their daily life activities and the code to which they stick. The Japanese are one such community and their religion, the Shinto is one big proof of the existence of such a culture. Evidence suggests that the Shinto practices have existed since the ancient times and are still observed to date. The Shinto faith is based upon strong belief on land and geographical ties. (Ono & Woodward, 2011).

Shinto beliefs are rooted in a myth that is out to enlighten the people on the origins of the Japanese land and the people in it. It came up when the Chinese culture was invading Japan and Buddhism practices were on a roll and there was a need to distinguish the two. The story behind the Shinto myth of creation is almost similar to the Jewish story about God creating and giving the Holy land to them. Just as Christians believe in a more powerful force beyond human comprehension, the kami concept of the Shinto faith is said to be a self-creative force of life (Mason, 2002) that saturates everything, both living and non-living. Its manifestation is in nature, in features such as waterfalls, mountains, hills, animals, rocks, trees, vegetation and people. None of the above can survive without this form of sacred energy.

The Shinto myth of creation states that long ago, in the beginning of the world, two gods, namely Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto, floating like oil, were bestowed the power to prepare the land and put it in shape by the primal gods. The two gods, standing on the Floating Bridge of Heaven, cast the Heavenly Jewelled spear into the sea and brine trickled from it to become an island. It is on that island that the two gods underwent a marriage rite around a pillar. Izanami bore the Japanese islands and their deities, the gods of the seas, rivers, mountains, fields, trees, fire, stones, amongst others. Izanami died while giving birth to the fire god as she was burned and succumbed to death. Izanagi went after Izanami to beg her return in the Land of the Dead (Yomi no Kuni). While the gods agreed to consult for her return, Izanagi impatience made him sneak into the palace of the gods where he found Izanami’s corpse severely transformed. He had to flee Izanami who was pursuing him and blocked the exit with a huge boulder, straight to the river where he sought bathing purification. His cleansed left eye bore Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess while his right eye bore Tsukushi no Mikoto, the moon god. From his nose was born the god of storms Susanoo no Mikoto. Izanagi charged them with different roles including, to rule the High Plain of Heaven, the Realm of the Night and Plain of the Seas, respectively. That is how Japan and the surrounding world came to be. It is evident how the Shinto creation story is comparable to the Jewish story of God’s creation.

The Japanese worship in local shrines or built altars in their homes. Due to the many deities who cannot all be worshipped; the sun goddess Amaterasu is the most revered of all. Christians believe Jesus was the son of God sent to be their one and only leader, who would save them from the burning fire of hell. For the Shinto faith, the Emperor was known to be a direct descendant of the sun goddess and he could perform specific rituals and devotions that were considered divine (Fisher, 1997). Jesus cleansed his disciples’ feet. These actions were delegated to both the rulers, who were considered as descendants of their gods.

Cultures in ancient Rome and Egypt considered their rulers divine and treated them with the respect given to the gods. Other religions consider pieces of land divine, a belief called animism. It was practised by the Coast Salish tribe of India and the people from the Haida nation, on the Pacific Northwest coast of North America.

References

Ono, S., & Woodard, W. (2011). Shinto The kami way. Tuttle publishing.

Mason, J. W. T. (2002). The meaning of Shinto. Trafford Publishing.

Fisher, M. P. (1997). Living religions: an encyclopedia of the world's faiths. IB Tauris.