About a month ago I shared a video called “The Driver of a Sticky Faith.” Today I want to invite you to
About a month ago I shared a video called “The Driver of a Sticky Faith.” Today I want to invite you to
Theodicy and Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero Every day certain circumstances cause people throughout the world to face undeniable questions about God and his abilities. Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero takes viewers through the stories and theodicies of multiple people affected by the horrendous tragedy of 9/11, questioning God’s role in the evil that took place on that sorrowful day and the impact it made on their futures. In the film Kirk Varnedoe, Tim Lynston, and Dasha Rittenberg provide their input and opinions about God and the good or bad power he has on this earth, relating to the works of Holy the Firm, and Holy Terrors. In Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero, Kirk Varnedoe, former Chief Curator at the Museum of Modern Art, offers insight…
Father Cry (Reading Response) “Father Cry,” by Billy Wilson, was an intriguing book, which highlighted the crucial need of physical and spiritual fathers of many young people of today’s society. The use of Wilson’s personal testimony made the book captivating and easier to read and relate to. Mr. Wilson’s difficulties with his father is something that many youth in today’s society experience.…
Ultimately, Divided by Faith aims to assess the issue of racial divisions and its causation and relations within the black—white population of evangelicalism. Many white evangelicals are unaware that their religious methods and cultural lenses are the driving forces of the race issues they want to eradicate. It seems as though white evangelicalism further sustains the black—white racial divide, despite their efforts to abolish it. Why? - History - Thorough acceptance of and reliance of free market principles…
In “Reasonable Religious Disagreements,” Richard Feldman posits that two reasonable peers cannot come to a reasonable disagreement. The premise of a “reasonable disagreement” has various conditions, in short being that the peers must be epistemic, and they must have shared all of their evidence pertaining to the argument. By this criteria, it is not plausible for two epistemic peers with access to the same body of evidence to ever reach reasonably different conclusions. However, a problem arises with the previously stated criteria when examining the point regarding full disclosure of evidence. When examining Feldman’s article from this perspective, it is possible that it may not be considered fully viable.…
This is a complex, loaded question, but it is one that must be addressed if the church is to openly and honestly dialogue about the issues of race and about racial reconciliation. The two main contributing factors to the racialized nature of evangelicalism are slavery (and the aftermath thereof) and the disestablishment of religion. The first slave ship arrived on the shores of Jamestown, VA in 1619.…
The second principle of faith that Maimonides points to is the “truth of prophecy.” The second purpose of the “test” was to teach the prophets to believe in his or her own prophecies and to show no doubt in them. To explain this it is necessary to know that, according to Maimonides, God’s command came to Abraham in a dream or a vision, or in other words, a prophecy. As it is known that Abraham didn’t question this and didn’t doubt the truth of the prophecy, it is meant to be an example to other prophets. A prophet is supposed to see his or her own prophecy as true just as much as anyone would see true anything that they physically saw, felt, or heard with their physical senses.…
Faith, Imitation, and Imagination Faith, what people personally believe, exists independently of whether or not people share with others. It can be confidence in something that is not seen, such as a promise and an engagement; it can be a belief that has not been proven, for example, a religious belief shared by a group of people who work together to provide support for going deeper into their similar faith. In “God, Science, and Imagination”,Wendell Berry indicates that fundamentalists of both religion and science do not adequately understand or respect imagination, which, when properly defined, is a way of knowing as much as science or religion is. Susan Blackmore, the author of “Strange Creatures”, asserts that it is the ability to imitate…
The Trinity of Religions Throughout Chicano literature, one sees a constant conflict of religions, with everything from the mythology to folklore to Catholicism taking root deep in Chicano heritage. Rudolfo Anaya sees these religions not as three separate entities, but rather, as three religions that could be combined into one, seeking truth in the heart of man rather than the philosophy of scholars and theologians. In Bless Me, Ultima, Anaya presents aspects of mythology, folklore, and Catholicism in order to form a syncretic religion in Ultima which influences Antonio’s God and religion itself. Ultima’s influence on Antonio is common to Chicano culture. According to Luiz Leon, “…religion, particularly community-based or "folk" Catholicism in the Mexican Americas, is constituted largely through uninstitutionalized practices that are narrated by women” (208).…
On 03/12/16 I went together with Jaid to Sunday church. Jaid’s family is Christian oriented and the child has been taught the same. I observed that Jaid has an open a mutual understand on his religious beliefs for his short age. Jaid also likes to observe the dancing and worship along all the live music during the cult. However, he does get easily entertain with other children time to time, especially when the Pastor starts to talk.…
Teachers have a vast amount of control over the young formative years of installing certain ideas and beliefs in children. That being we must have a deep concern over what is being portrayed to children involving religion. We must address the importance in not just understanding of different religions, but the concept of tolerating them, not because you are forced, but because you understand the role religion plays in each person’s life. Religion connects to vast amounts of situations and is deeply rooted in our history. We must not confuse our own ideas, with the illusion that one religion is better than the other.…
From the time we are born, we are impacted by our family’s thoughts, beliefs and behaviors. However, I believe that there comes a time in every individual’s life when they are faced with the obligation to decide whether or not they wish to continue living under the belief system they were so casually brought up with.…
Social structure is the overview structure of society. It’s the macro level in which social institution defines belief, education, media, law and income. Social institution is the behavioral aspect and affiliation of an individual by the means of “normal” patterns in society. Society structure and institution in the United States defines my everyday choices such as family, religion, education and income.…
In some cases, children tend to adopt their parent’s religious or nonreligious beliefs. If mommy and daddy or even the grandparents are Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc. then the children will normally follow the family religion or belief, or they will not practice religion at all. There was a court case involving Amish parents who removed their children from school because they believe that school was bad for their child’s salvation. The state questioned whether parents had the right to impose their religious beliefs on their children.…
Uncharted Journey of Faith: Past, Present and Future “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11 Introduction I titled this essay “Uncharted Journey of Faith” reflecting on the past, present and future growth of my faith experience. When I think of faith in general, the word mystery comes to my mind.…
It is often confused what faith is and what it is not. Indeed it is an abstract term which its definition will change depending on who you ask. Throughout the works of two authors, Faith by Terrence W. Tilley and The Essential Tillich by Paul Tillich, the term faith gets evaluated and explained in a more in depth fashion. Everyone has faith; it does not have to be a religious belief, but in fact it can be a relationship with something, a center of value, or a motive. Faith, to me, is an abstruse concept where the components of belief, hope and morality unite to form a synonymous definition.…