Idolatry

In this day and age, it’s difficult for sex to not be a main topic of focus, because it is everywhere. It’s on the cover of magazines, in movies and television, on billboards, the internet (especially the internet). It’s commonplace to the point most of us don’t even bat an eyelid, and within this (relatively) recently sexualized society, non traditional sex is becoming increasingly popular. Threesomes and group sex, anonymous hookups, BDSM, none of it has really been popular, or openly…

Christianity and the church, as a separate entity from the state, was a progressive concept forming the basis of the ecumenical movement and a source of conflict with the Third Reich’s development of the state-unified German Church of paganism and idolatry. Bonhoeffer took multiple steps to draw a proverbial “line in the sand” to create a shared vision throughout his life. He called for a clergy strike in response to the Aryan Paragraph, developed the succession Barmen Declaration, and…

Paul Tillich was considered an intellectual German American Christian existentialist theologian, who impacted theology in the 20th century. Given his background, Paul grew under a Lutheran Pastor, Johannes his father. He studied theology and attended seminary and earned two Doctorates at the age of 21. He enlisted in the German army as a Chaplain and was placed on the deadliest post in this war. Here he wrote his father stating, “Hell is all around us. It’s unimaginable” (Taylor 2017). This…

This book is made up of a collection of fictional letters that was affiliated with Antipas. Antipas was the martyr that was cited in Revelation 2:13, “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” In the beginning, Antipas was an elite Roman citizen who fought to maintain and continue to enhance his position in his…

Decalogue Paper The fifth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” is believed to make a direct reference to unprovoked, pre-meditated killing of a human by a human, or murder. The word “kill” is translated from the Hebrew word Ratsach, to murder, slay or kill.1 This is not to be confused with manslaughter, acts of war, or self defense. Not only is murder considered an offense towards God but anything that may lead to murder is forbidden as well. Martin Luther explains in the large catechism that…

According to “Yom Kippur” (1996-2011) website after entering the temple the high priest would perform a series of rituals to include the sprinkling of blood from sacrificial animals on the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the Ten Commandment tablets. By accomplishing this ceremony the priest made amends and additionally asked for God’s forgiveness on behalf the people of Israel. The destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. drew to an end this tradition and an adaptation of this ritual…

In the classical poem Beowulf scholars like to argue that the characters and society are from a pre-Christian era, but the narrator regularly makes Christian statements. Throughout the poem characters display and reflect contradicting paganism idolatry with the then emerging Christian religion. The mix of ideas within the text is not a struggle for religious power but the understanding of ideas of the Pagans heroic code and Christianity’s self-sacrificing virtues and how they are blended with…

Lionel Rose was an Aboriginal Boxing champion, he was a role model for Aboriginals aswell as all Australians, A national hero to all. Born on the 21st of June 1948 he was raised in a society that was divided by racism, doubt and economic disparity or difference. For Aboriginals their struggle to gain social justice had been ongoing since 1770. Lionel lived in a poor aboriginal settlement South of Melbourne in Jacksons Track, Near Warragul he had the ambition to get away and make something of…

The religions of East Asia are not that well known in our world today, despite having a very rich history and unique, contrasting qualities compared to the Abrahamic and Indian religions. The difference with these religions is that it is not just a religion to be followed, but it can also be a way of living and a philosophy to its followers (Weiming). Many similarities are drawn from these religions, but their teachings are vastly different. For example, Shintoism teaches its followers about the…

The symbolism of Mecca for Helen In the play (The road to Mecca by Athol Furgard faber and faber edition) In the play “The road to Mecca” by Athol Furgard is a character named Helen, also known as Miss Helen. In the play she creates her own Mecca in her yard. Mecca is a city in Saudi Arabia and it is a holy city to followers of Islam. People take this religious journey to deepen their experience with God. In this case Helen takes a spiritual journey and she does not physically go to Saudi…