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Comparative Religions and Denominations
Comparative religion refers to the study that analyzes the differences and similarities of concepts, myths, themes and rituals among the religions in the world. It also refers to man’s ideas about the spiritual, the sacred and the divine.
1,699 Questions
Who are the believers in pantheism?
Pantheism is no longer an active religion but has become a theology which can become incorporated into current religions. It is not simply believing in more than one god/goddess. Pantheism identifies two ideals; 1. The world/universe/nature is "god" in a sense that it is the presiding force which governs all things. 2. The "god" is omnipresently incorporated in every aspect of the universe.
These two ideals can be seen in many current religions. Bhuddism incorporates the need to connect with nature and find enlightement while maintaining balance. Hinduism and the chakras are an effort to release one's own inhibitions to become one with the "life force" or universe around us.
More recently pantheism has been incorporated into state religions such as Fascism or Communism. Where the governing "god" instead of nature or the universe is the "mother" government.
- Quakers were named because they quaked in the presence of God.
- It was started by a man named George Fox in the 1600's.
- Women have always had preaching/pastoral privileges under the Quaker system.
- Initially, they waited in silence for the Lord to speak a message to someone, then that person would be responsible to relate it tot the others.
- Quakers wore gray to live without drawing attention to themselves...although eventually, it became a recognized oddity that drew attention to them.
- A Quaker developed root beer in response to the need for an adult beverage meeting the requirements of temperance.
- As they were often thrown into prison, they became instrumental in prison reform.
- The first Quaker to America was hanged in Boston Commons, Mary Dyer.
- Quaker men, conscripted as "conscientious objectors" in military service, were used as nutrition/starvation experiments.
Well, they invented Root beer and the chocolate bar!
What does devoted to a religion mean?
To be dedicated to Religion does not signify that one is dedicated to God. One must be dedicated to a religion that has Christ as its head, and a Heavenly Farther who is master of all. There are religions that are apposed to God and Christ, but none the less are still classed as religions.
What is the difference between salvation and baptism?
Jesus spoke to his disciples on the day of his resurrection:
He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that does not believe shall be damned. Mk 16,16
Salvation is a great miracle of God. In this miracle we are born anew through the Holy Spirit as sons of God and receive eternal life.
Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Joh 3,3
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Joh 3,5
The word 'Salvation' is based on the purpose of why Jesus was sent to this earth, that he might save those who believe on him from their sins.
And she shall bear a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matt 1,21
Nothing unclean, no sinner, will enter heaven.
And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's
book of life. Rev 21,27
As we preach the gospel, this miracle happens to those who receive our words and are baptized.
Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit... Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized Act 2,38,41
The unfathomable power released through the death and resurrection of Jesus raises us up together with Jesus, that we no longer are sinners, but saints.
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life... Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Rom 6,4-7
Salvation is the miracle by which a sinner is freed from his sins and transformed as he is united in the death and resurrection of Jesus in baptism. Salvation is dependant on the preaching of the gospel, the believing of those who receive it, their sincere repentance and acceptance of Jesus as their Lord. The Holy Spirit does a great miracle in the lives who sincerly are baptized, and in their baptism they receive all this, based on the forgiveness of their sins.
Provided baptism happens as Jesus commanded (not on babies, not for any other motive than to become disciples of Jesus, and with full immersion) God performs this great miracle on those who respond in this way to the gospel message.
They that believe AND are baptized shall be saved.
Baptism alone, without the faith, repentance and the receiving of Jesus has a negative work. We become unclean in God's sight because of perverting the gospel. Baptism was never meant to be applied to those who can't believe, don't believe, are not ready or who have another motive for being baptized other than being a whole hearted follower of Jesus.
Salvation alone, without baptism, is just as impossible. For it is in baptism that the LORD does this great miracle. Just as marriage is a sacrament and those who marry become one flesh through the working of God, so it is in baptism. In this covenant we are united with Jesus and become members of his body. To refuse baptism is similar to people wishing to live with one another, but refusing to mary.
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Heb 13,4
But the man that is unclean, and does not purify himself (referring to the ritual of baptism/immersion), that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water for impurity has not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean. Num 19,20
What is the difference between a church and a church building?
A church and a church building can be the same thing. However, a church may mean the whole body of Christians, or congregation, or the branch of Christianity that it comes from, (ex. the Episcopal church). Church grounds may include many buildings, including the office, Sunday school or day school hallways, etc. Or they may only include one building. Both of these have a "church building." A church building is the actual building that may include the nave, (pews), the narthex, the sanctuary, (where the altar is) and the choir. It is where the actual public Christian worship takes place.
A person who follows the bible teachings is a spiritual being.
A spiritual being is any one who lives in harmony with spiritual laws in terms of divine reality.
From Reverend Irma Carew:
A human being who is also a spiritual being, possess higher consciousness and self awareness, is sensitive to the energies around her, is most often prophetic, intuitive, empathic, and feels connected and inspired by nature and animals. She is also other centered and thinks globally. She may or may not be religious. Other qualities of a spiritual person include: compassionate, peaceful, reflective, insightful, gentle and often posessess strong moral values.
A spiritual being may also appear in ethereal form.
The human energy feild is imprinted with the thoughts, emotions and experiences of its host.
Some times, when the host body dies suddenly, before the brain has made peace with his life, the energy feild becomes trapped in the physical world, as the residual energy of the host repetitiously living the moment of death or engaged in the endless pursuit of any unfinished business.
Everything is made of energy but what constitutes a spiritual being is the ability of that energy to posess awareness; awareness of duality and of opposites.
Plants exhibit spirituality due to their quiet beauty and their awareness to the conditions of their environment, day/night, hot/cold, dry/wet.
Animals are also spiritual beings with higher conscious awareness than plants as exhibited in their ability to work together in herds, packs, prides etc and in the nurturing abilities that are revealed in both male and female species toward their off spring.
The term animism is derived from the Latin word anima,which means breath or soul. It more than likely originated in the Paleolithic age, although no written records exist so we can only theorise. It seems to have developed simultaneously across the world, with no specific place of origin. It is currently Practiced worldwide, but most commonly in areas of Africa and the Americas where tribal communities still exist.
Comparing and contrasting Shia and Sunni Islam?
the friends and followers of Ali believed that after the death of prophet, the caliphate and religious authority belonged to ALI. this belief came from consideration of Ali's position and station in relation to the prophet , his relation to the chosen among the companions , as well as his relation to muslim as general.
it was only the events that occurred during the few days of the prophet final illness that indicated that there was opposition to their view, contrary expectation, at the very moment when the prophet died and his body lay still unburied while his household and a few companion occupied with for his burial and funeral services , the friend and followers of Ali received news of the activity of another group who had gone to the mosque where community where gathered faced with this sudden loss of its leader.
this group ,Which was later ti form the majority , set forth in great haste to select a caliph for the muslim with the aims of the ensuring the welfare of the community and solving its immediate problems. they did this without consulting the household of the prophet , his relatives or many of his friends who were busy with funeral and without providing them with the least information. thus Ali and his companions were presented with a fait accompli .
Ali and his friends such as Abbas , Zubayr , Salman . Abu Dharr , Meghdad and Ammar, after finishing with the burial of the body of the prophet became aware of the proceedings by which the caliph had been selected . they proteted against the act of choosing the caliph by consultation or election , and also against those who were responsible for carrying it out.
they even presented their own proofs and arguments but the answer they received was that the welare of the muslims was at sake and the solution lay in what had been done.it was this protest and criticism which separated from the majority the minority that were following Ali and made his followers known to society as the partisans or shiah of Ali . the caliphate of the time was anxious to guard against this appellation being given to the Shiite minority and thus to have muslim society divided into sections comprised of a majority and a minority .
THE supporters of the caliph considered the caliphate to be a matter of the consensus of the community , and called those who objected the opponents of allegiance . they claimed that the shiiah stood, therefore opposed to muslim society .sometimes the shiiah were given other pejorative and degrading names.
shiism was condemn from the first moment because of the political situation of the time and thus it couild not accomplish anything through mere political protest.
Ali in order to safeguard the well-being of islam and the muslims and also because of lack of sufficient political and military power did not endeavor to begin an uprising aganst the existing political order which would have been of a bloody nature . yet those who proteted against the established caliphate refused to surrender to the majority in certain questions of faith and continued to hold that the succession to the prophet and the religious authority belonged by right to Ali. they believed all spiritual and religious matters should be refered to him and invited people to becime his followers.
What are Muslims taught about Christianity?
Muslims and Christians are all the subjects of the same God. in Islam the God is only and unique and has a name called Allah and there is no son or daughter of him. Hz. Mohammad is the last prophet according to the Islam and Hz. Mose and Hz. Jesus Christ are the former prophets of the Jews and Christians. In Islam Christians and Jews are different from for example Buddhist because Christianity and Judaism originates from the God and Hz. Abraham is the ancestor of All three big prophets. Therefore; there is no big difference between Islam and Christianity the major difference is that the Allah c.c. is unique and single in Islam and all prophets are very good peoples and subjects of Allah c.c.
Ethnicity refers to a large group of people sharing many common traits. The Japanese are an ethnic group that is very similar to the Chinese ethnic group and to the untrained eye are often confused for one another.
What happens in Mina on the hajj?
the main events are:
- journey to mina for midday prayers
- Remain in mina until after the night (isha) prayers
- return to mina collecting stones on the way
- stoning the devil
- the sacrifice of id-ul-adha
- shaving or cutting of hair
ChristianityJudaism and Islam are similar in that each?
Judaism, Christianity and Islam each speak of the religion of Abraham and the Prophets. They refer to the very same God - in Hebrew Elohim, in Aramaic (the language Jesus spoke) Allah, and in Arabic also Allah. But the three religions differ in some basic points: 1) Judaism officially says that the religion of Abraham is for Jews, only. 2)Christianity says that the religion of Abraham is for all people - but official Christian teachings say that God had a son who spilled his blood for the redemption of believers. This is very very different than both Judaism and Islam. 3)Islam says that the religion of Abraham is for all people - but that the real Jesus NEVER said that he is any kind of god. Redemption is for those who : believe in God's Oneness and do good deeds. Muhammad is the last Prophet - who was foretold by Moses and Jesus, as well as many other Prophets. ( Google the words: "Muhammad in the Bible" for articles on this subject ). In Islam, Muhammad did not bring a 'new' religion. He brought the TRUTH about the religion of Abraham - which Jews and Christians had changed into something incorrect. www.freequran.org
What are the five books of Moses called?
The "Torah" consisting of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, are believed to have been written by Moses, and are commonly referred to as the 'Books of Moses', "The Law", or the "Pentateuch".
What is description of the hajj?
"Hajj" is the Arabic word for "pilgrimage." The annual hajj to Mecca in Saudi Arabia is an Islamic tradition.
What is the difference between Assemblies of God and Church of God in Christ?
The structural set up and the bylaws of the Church of God and the Church of God in Christ are different, on some key terms, i.e. such as the evidence of the Holy Ghost, Church of God and COGIC differ.
I have posted this question because I am interested to see how many different forms of Spirit Guide there are out there (Totem animal, Guardian Angel, Daemon etc.), and what beliefs are associated with them.
Feel free to post anything interesting- name, form, purpose, things they've said, how you found them, how they relate to the rest of your beliefs, your opinions on them etc.
If you think that they are stupid imaginary friends, tell me too. I'd like a varied response.
Thank you!
Can Muslims Christians and Jews ever learn to get along together?
I don't think so because we believe in different things and none can take that away from us. We think differently and that's ok because we can believe we are right. I wish we could but we won't. Remember the fight over the Holy City, Jerusalem? Arabs and Jews lived there and Jews left so they fought over it. We should but we won't. Believe in your God and we'll be fine.
Another view:
Yes. Christians, Muslims and Jews (and all religions) can, and often do, get along quite well. It's a matter of respecting everyone's rights to their own beliefs, no matter what their religion is, even if they are atheists. Everyone has the right to believe (or not believe) what they choose, and no one has the right to tell them what they 'should' believe.
Who were the authors of the Book of Genesis?
Moses is credited with being the person who gave Genesis the form we have had passed down to us. However it also appears likely that he got his material from earlier sources. Writing was known to exist well before the time of Abraham, and so it is possible he is one of Moses' sources.
Is the Muslim religion violent?
The beliefs of Judaism helped to shape What are the two religions that came from Judaism?
Christianity and Islam both trace their roots to Judaism.
What was the movement within Islam that emphasized mysticism and charismatic worship?
I would imagine you're referring to Sufism.
Does Islam recognize Christianity?
Yes, Islam religion recognizes Christianity. Muslims believe in the Bible holy book as God revelation to Jesus (peace be upon him) but they do not accept the Bible as authoritative. Refer to the related question below for more information.
***THIS RESEARCH AND WORK WAS SOMEONE ELSE'S. I SIMPLY RAN ACROSS IT IN ANOTHER QUESTION AND I THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT ANSWER.
First and foremost, the church of Christ believes that the Bible (both the Old and New Testaments) is God's inspired word. As such, it should be studied and followed - pardon the pun - religiously.
Worship in the church of Christ is patterned after that of the New Testament church. ANY teachings that cannot be found in scripture, alterations to New Testament doctrine (whether by addition or subtraction), or variations on scriptural examples are rejected as coming from the mind of man rather than the will of God (Galatians 1:8, 9). The church of Christ doesn't strive to "fill in the blanks" on doctrinal matters, and is content to be silent where the Bible is silent.
Some of the highlights that separate the church of Christ from other groups:
1. Communion, or the "Lord's Supper," is observed every first day of the week (Acts 20:7). All those who have been baptized partake. "Transubstantiation" is not taught; the unleavened (yeast-free) bread represents the body of Christ and the fruit of the vine (usually grape juice; more rarely wine, though this is NOT a sticking point) represents His blood (1 Corinthians 10:16, 17).
2. Only adult believers who confess their faith in Christ as the Son of God, our Savior, are baptized (by full immersion) for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:26-39; Acts 22:16) and the promise of eternal life. The church of Christ does not teach "once saved, always saved," as the NT warns of the danger of being "estranged from Christ" (Galatians 5:4) and admonishes Christians to be "faithful unto death" (Revelation 2:10). One does not "join" the church of Christ; one is "added" to the church (by the Lord, not by vote or proclamation) when they are baptized (Acts 2:47; Acts 5:14). Infant baptism or alternate modes (pouring, sprinkling) are not practiced.
3. There is no "clergy" and "laity." Church leaders do not take titles. (Matthew 23:8-10). Members simply refer to one another as "brother" and "sister" (1 Timothy 5:1, 2).
4. Scripture is seen as all-sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). Therefore the church of Christ has no "creed," nor does it use "prayer books" (Matthew 6:7).
5. Congregations are autonymous. There is no council, synod, or governing body overseeing multiple congregations. Each congregation is to have "elders" (which in the New Testament is synonymous with the terms "pastor," "bishop," and "presbyter") and "deacons." Put simply, elders are responsible for the congregation's spiritual well-being while deacons see to its physical well-being (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). Again, these men hold no honorific titles, nor do preachers. Calling a preacher "Pastor Smith," for example, is both a misuse of the term "pastor" and a violation of Jesus' prohibition against titles.
6. Music in the church of Christ is a capellacongregational singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). There are no mechanical instruments, choirs or "praise groups."
7. Women do not aspire to leadership roles over men (1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:12), nor do they preach, teach or lead public prayer (except in women's and children's groups). (1 Timothy 2:11).
8. "Saints" are not venerated. In New Testament usage, a saint (Greek hagios - "most holy thing") is anyone who has obeyed the gospel and been sanctified (made holy) by faith in Christ (Hebrews 2:11). It is a descriptive word, not a title (Romans 1:7).
9. Worship services are not "charismatic" in nature; no speaking in tongues, no latter day prophecy, no "being slain in the Spirit." It has been said that members of the church of Christ do not believe in spiritual gifts. This is incorrect. They believe that the necessity for spiritual gifts of miraculous nature (which were to help spread and confirm the gospel message) was supplanted by the completion of God's revealed word, the Bible (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). The "gift of the Holy Spirit" is given to all who obey (Acts 2:38), and the Spirit is continuously at work within the heart of the believer (Romans 8:14; Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 John 3:24).
10. The church of Christ is grieved by the divisions among those who profess to follow Jesus, and will forevermore appeal for unity among believers (Ephesians 4:3). This may be her single most telling mark of distinction. There is no "church of your choice" in the New Testament, there is only the church that Christ built through the Spirit-led efforts of His first-century followers.
There are other distinctions, but these are some major fundamentals that set the church of Christ apart from others. In short, the church strives to worship and serve ONLY by scriptural precept and example in order to resemble, as closely as possible, the church of the first century.
As individuals, members of the church of Christ should be (one cannot say "will be," as we all fall short of the ideal) models of decency (Matthew 5:16), humble in word and deed (2 Timothy 2:25), caring and concerned about others (Galatians 5:22, 23; Titus 3:2).
