Rebecca St. James

with God through actions. It is not to receive salvation through works, but to show our faith is alive throughout our Christian journeys (James 2:14-17 NIV). For example, simplicity teaches us to avoid materialism. As society changes, people want the latest fashion in clothes, technology, and status. They want enormous houses, stylish clothes, newest electronics, and fancy businesses; this could result in jealousy and vanity. In modern culture, people refuse to give to people; instead, they buy and buy for themselves. It is similar to Ebenezer Scrooge or the Grinch on Christmas; they value their own personal desires either to have abundance of wealth or to take away the joy of Christmas from people in Whoville. What outward disciplines do is to surrender our services for all. Through service, we do not only show compassion and love to others, but we let our light shine for them to see God and praise Him for his works (Matthew 5:16). We let God use us for His plan, displaying our gifts and representing Christ. In order for us to live in community, we must take care of people, animals, nature, plants, and land as God ordained in the Garden (Genesis…

Scriptural Response Two In this paper, I will write a scriptural response to the assigned reading of the NIV Study Bible and the Wiersbe Bible Commentary. I will write my response to chapters twelve through fifty of Genesis and chapters fourteen through thirty-eight of the Wiersbe Bible Commentary. Main Characters Abram and his wife Sarai (later God renames them Abraham and Sarah) Sarai is also Abrams half-sister, daughter of Abram father, are two of the main characters. They could be describe…

presentation of women The presentation of women is a prominent theme in both Rebecca and Birthday letters. In Rebecca the narrator is shown as chained by the gender roles of her society. Written in 1938 Daphne Du Maurier breaks the conventions of society by creating a character and a story line that was deemed socially unacceptable at the time. In contrast Birthday Letters shows the biased interpretation of Ted Hugh’s and Sylvia Plath’s relationship which led to Sylvia becoming a feminist icon…

As life ventures, we adapt to the circumstances that surround us. The relationships we make with each other and the adversity we face influence our lives and mold us into better people. Throughout “The Fifth Mountain” by Paulo Coelho, the events the protagonist, Elijah, goes through as well as his unique relationships and friendships that he formed gives us a better sense for the appreciation of life and the people around us. The lessons instilled in “The Fifth Mountain” were the backbone of…

The saying is “Behind every great man is a great woman”, for Augustine and his mother Monica that became a definite conclusion. Without the affections of his mother Monica where would Augustine have ended up? Studies of women of noble virtues are revered and upheld by the Catholic Church as Saints. A very prime example of a woman of such virtue would be Monica or known in the Catholic sector as St. Monica. Monica is regarded as a woman of worth, a woman of prayer and tears. With grand virtues…

Pardon His Hypocrisy: The Pardoner and the Nature of Evil The Pardoner is certainly a character who requires extensive interpretation in order to understand his actions and justify his tale. He serves as a complete antithesis to what the holy road of the pilgrimage symbolizes, selling fake religious relics for personal profit while still preaching “Radix malorum est Cupiditas” (Pardoner’s Prologue 334). Blatant hypocrisy combined with despicable character makes the Pardoner seem like the lowest…

At one point in history most parts of Spain were controlled by Muslims, so when pilgrims decide to take on the journey to Santiago they consider it as the” Holy Land”. Santiago de Compostela cathedral began its construction in 1075 but wasn’t officially consecrated until 1211. Today one of the most visited points of all western Europe is Santiago, Spain for many reasons. From St. James the Greater, to the richness of the architecture of the cathedral, to the significance of the journey…

Religion and pilgrimage to holy sites was developed into an integral part of the society during the 12th century. The Christian believed in the resurrection of Christ and the afterlife that depended on the actions of an individual over the course of their lifetime. In order to gain salvation Christians at the time made pilgrimages to holy sites in order to please their God and attain salvation from hell and find a place in the abode of God; the heavens. As the favored place of pilgrimage was…

James (or Camino de Santiago) is perhaps one of the most famous pilgrimage routes in Europe. More than 100,000 people take the way to Santiago de Compostela, the resting place of St James, every year. The prevalent route is the ‘French Way’. Beginning in the southern French town of Saint-Jean-Pied-De-Port, pilgrims cross the Pyrenees through Lower Navarre and proceed through northern Spain to the cathedral. Accommodations are simple, and one can expect the form of basic, family-run hostels…

In the seventh century, a Carolingian church had been constructed and stood for many years. Prior to that, it was considered a holy land by people living in the surrounding forests.3 Around the same time that the Benedictine monks had founded the abbey, the relics of Saint James had been discovered in Spain. This discovery sparked a movement and many pilgrims began to make their way to the shrine at Santiago de Compostela in hopes of seeking forgiveness for their sins or cures for their…