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Saturday, March 26, 2016

Religions Around the World


 Image result for 2016 world religions
According to BBC, religion can be defined as:   
"Religion can be explained as a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."   

There are twelve (12) classical world religions—those religions most often included in history of world religion surveys and studied in world religions classes are: Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism.

While these twelve (12) religions are depicted worldwide, the top five (5) religions most commonly known are: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. Although Hinduism is touted the world's oldest religion, there are others that have been around a long time as well, such as: Judaism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Jainism. A few older style religions are Zorastrianism, Confucianism, and Pantheism.

The following video shows the spread of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism over time: 


The Monotheistic Religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism)
(from Wikipedia.com)

Monotheism has been defined as the belief in the existence of one god or in the oneness of God. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church gives a more restricted definition: "belief in one personal and transcendent God", as opposed to polytheism and pantheism. Also known as the Abrahamic religions, which traces its origins to Abraham, are monotheistic faiths of Middle Eastern origin. The chronological order of founding are Judaism (late 2nd millennium B.C.), Christianity (1st century A.D.) and Islam (7th century A.D.). While all adherents of the Abrahamic religions consider themselves to be monotheists, Judaism considers Christianity to be polytheistic, recognizing only Islam as monotheistic. Islam likewise does not recognize Christianity as monotheistic.

The Polytheistic Religions (Buddhism, Hinduism)
(from Wikipedia.com)

Polytheism is the worship of or belief in multiple deities usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religions and rituals. In most religions which accept polytheism, the different gods and goddesses are representations of forces of nature or ancestral principles, and can be viewed either as autonomous or as aspects or emanations of a creator (God). Polytheism was the typical form of religion during the Bronze Age and Iron Age, up to the Axial Age and the development of Abrahamic religions which enforced strict monotheism. Important polytheistic religions practiced today include Chinese traditional religion, Buddhism, Hinduism, Japanese Shinto, and the neopagan context.


Various Religious Programs Around the World

A BBC (British Broadcasting Corp.) TV religious series called "Around the World in 80 Faiths" can be viewed on You Tube. Peter Owen-Jones, an Anglican priest from Suffolk in the UK, travels to six continents and experiences the widest possible range of religious beliefs and practices. See: http://www.youtube.com/

The Shalom Show on TV is a public affairs television program that focuses on Israel and Jewish life subject matter with cultural, educational, and entertainment programming of interest to the American Jewish community. The show features magazine-style specials and in-depth interviews with Israeli and American leaders in politics, business, technology, medicine, education, culture, and entertainment.

Understanding Islam is a weekly educational show that broadcasts on Dubai One TV, a channel of Dubai Media Incorporated, and the broadcast covers the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Each Friday, the show highlights some of the tenets of Islam, and it aims at explaining the foundations of the Muslims faith by exploring it from different angles, from the simplest fundamentals to the most complex questions of how faith applies to everyday lives. Understanding Islam is prepared and presented by Dr. Mohammed Alkobaisi

Currents is a daily Catholic news magazine television show on New Evangelization Television (NET), broadcast five (5) days a week from its studios in Brooklyn (USA). The program examines current events through the perspective of Catholicism.

The Buddhist Channel (BC) is a global news platform that provides current events, featured articles and reviews pertaining to Buddhism.

Hinduismtoday.com is an educational website that includes magazine articles, editorials, and Hindu news.

Beliefnet.com discusses topics from all religions re: inspiration, spirituality, faith, news etc.

BBC-Religion: Islam is a guide to Islam, including history, beliefs, holy days around the world and various messages of faith.

Being Hindu is basically a guide to the Hindu beliefs and was produced by Summerhill Television for Vision TV. The show is based in Canada.

Christian.com is a free social network dedicated to the entire Christian world. 

Patheos.com provides balanced views of religion and spirituality.

Islamreligion.com is a network that provides the beliefs, practices and current events of Islam.

For further TV listings, please visit: http://wwitv.com/religious_tv/

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For further information regarding "religion", please visit:

Religions of the World
The Definition of Religion
Comparison of World Religions
Timeline of Major & Other Religions




Friday, March 18, 2016

The Biography of Jesus Christ

The following article was written by the Biography.com Editors and depicts a wonderful story of the man called Jesus Christ.

"Jesus" by Leonardo da Vinci
Biblical Figure (c. 6–c. 30)

Jesus is a religious leader whose life and teachings are recorded in the Bible’s New Testament. He is a central figure in Christianity and is emulated as the incarnation of God by many Christians all over the world.

Synopsis

Jesus Christ was born circa 6 B.C. in Bethlehem. Little is known about his early life, but his life and his ministry are recorded in the New Testament, more a theological document than a biography. According to Christians, Jesus is considered the incarnation of God and his teachings are followed as an example for living a more spiritual life. Christians believe he died for the sins of all people and rose from the dead.

Background and Early Life

Most of Jesus's life is told through the four Gospels of the New Testament Bible, known as the Canonical gospels, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These are not biographies in the modern sense but accounts with allegorical intent. They are written to engender faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the incarnation of God, who came to teach, suffer and die for people’s sins.

Jesus was born circa 6 B.C. in Bethlehem. His mother, Mary, was a virgin who was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. Christians believe Jesus was born through Immaculate Conception. His lineage can be traced back to the house of David. According to the Gospel of Matthew (2:1), Jesus was born during the reign of Herod the Great, who upon hearing of his birth felt threatened and tried to kill Jesus by ordering all of Bethlehem’s male children under age two to be killed. But Joseph was warned by an angel and took Mary and the child to Egypt until Herod’s death, where upon he brought the family back and settled in the town of Nazareth, in Galilee.

Image result for jesus 12 years old temple
 “Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem”
by Heinrich Hofmann (painted c/1901-14)
There is very little written about Jesus's early life. The Gospel of Luke (2:41-52) recounts that a 12-year-old Jesus had accompanied his parents on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and became separated. He was found several days later in a temple, discussing affairs with some of Jerusalem’s elders. Throughout the New Testament, there are trace references of Jesus working as a carpenter while a young adult. It is believed that he began his ministry at age 30 when he was baptized by John the Baptist, who upon seeing Jesus, declared him the Son of God.

After baptism, Jesus went into the Judean desert to fast and meditate for 40 days and nights. The Temptation of Christ is chronicled in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke (known as the Synoptic Gospels). The Devil appeared and tempted Jesus three times, once to turn stone to bread, once to cast himself off a mountain where angels would save him, and once to offer him all the kingdoms of the world. All three times, Jesus rejected the Devil's temptation and sent him off.

Jesus's Ministry

Jesus returned to Galilee and made trips to neighboring villages. During this time, several people became his disciples. One of these was Mary Magdalene, who is first mentioned the Gospel of Luke (16:9) and later in all four gospels at the crucifixion. Though not mentioned in the context of the "12 disciples," she is considered to have been involved in Jesus's ministry from the beginning to his death and after. According to the gospels of Mark and John, Jesus appeared to Magdalene first after his resurrection.

‘My Soul Is Joyful...’
The Crosiers photo
According to the Gospel of John (2:1-11), as Jesus was beginning his ministry, he and his disciples traveled with his mother, Mary, to a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The wedding host had run out of wine and Jesus's mother came to him for help. At first, Jesus refused to intervene, but then he relented and asked a servant to bring him large jars filled with water. He turned the water into a wine of higher quality than any served during the wedding. John's gospel depicts the event as the first sign of Jesus's glory and his disciples' belief in him.

After the wedding, Jesus, his mother Mary and his disciples traveled to Jerusalem for Passover. At the temple, they saw moneychangers and merchants selling wares. In a rare display of anger, Jesus overturned the tables and, with a whip made of cords, drove them out, declaring that his Father’s house is not a house for merchants.

The Synoptic Gospels chronicle Jesus as he traveled through Judea and Galilee, using parables and miracles to explain how the prophecies were being fulfilled and that the kingdom of God was near. As word spread of Jesus's teaching and healing the sick and diseased, more people began to follow him. At one point, Jesus came to a level area and was joined by a great number of people. There, at the Sermon on the Mount, he presented several discourses, known as the Beatitudes, which encapsulate many of the spiritual teachings of love, humility and compassion.

As Jesus continued preaching about the kingdom of God, the crowds grew larger and began to proclaim him as the son of David and as the Messiah. The Pharisees heard of this and publicly challenged Jesus, accusing him of having the power of Satan. He defended his actions with a parable, then questioned their logic and told them such thinking denied the power of God, which only further hardened their resolve to work against him.

Near the city of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus talked with his disciples. According to the gospels of Matthew (16:13), Mark (8:27) and Luke (9:18), he asked, "Who do you say that I am?" The question confused them, and only Peter responded, saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus blessed Peter, accepting the titles of "Christ" and the "Son of God," and declared the proclamation was a divine revelation from God. Jesus then proclaimed Peter to be the leader of the church. Jesus then warned his disciples of the Pharisees’ conspiracy against him and of his fate to suffer and be killed, only to rise from the dead on the third day.

 Festival Held In Commemoration Of The Transfiguration Jesus
"Transfiguration"
by Carl Bloch
Less than a week later, Jesus took three of his disciples to a high mountain where they could pray alone. According to the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus's face began shining like the sun and his entire body glowed with a white light. Then, the prophets Elijah and Moses appeared, and Jesus talked to them. A bright cloud emerged around them, and a voice said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." This event, known as the Transfiguration, is a pivotal moment in Christian theology. It supports the identity of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, the week before the holiday of Passover, riding on a donkey. Great numbers of people took palm branches and greeted him at the city's entry. They praised him as the Son of David and as the Son of God. The priests and Pharisees, fearful of the growing public adulation, felt he must be stopped.

All four Gospels describe Jesus's final week in Jerusalem. During this time, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, confronted moneychangers and merchants in the temple, and debated with the high priests who questioned Jesus's authority. He told his disciples about the coming days and that Jerusalem's temple would be destroyed. Meanwhile, the chief priests and elders met with high priest Caiaphas, and set plans in motion to arrest Jesus. One of the disciples, Judas, met with the chief priests and told them how he would deliver Jesus to them. They agreed to pay him 30 pieces of silver.

The Last Supper

"The Last Supper" by Andrea Solari (ca. 1520)
Jesus and his 12 disciples met for the Passover meal, and he gave them his final words of faith. He also foretold of his betrayal by one of the disciples and privately let Judas know it was he. Jesus told Peter that before a rooster crowed the next morning, he would have denied knowing Jesus three times. At the end of the meal, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, which in the Christian religion, signifies the covenant between God and humans.
After the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Jesus asked God if this cup (his suffering and death) might pass by him. He implored a group of his disciples to pray with him, but they kept falling asleep. Then the time had come. Soldiers and officials appeared, and Judas was with them. He gave Jesus a kiss on the cheek to identify him and the soldiers arrested Jesus. One disciple tried to resist the arrest, brandished his sword and cut the ear off one of the soldiers. But Jesus admonished him and healed the soldier's wound.

After his arrest, many of the disciples went into hiding. Jesus was taken to the high priest and interrogated. He was hit and spat upon for not responding. Meanwhile, Peter had followed Jesus to the high priests' court. As he hid in the shadows, three house servants asked if he was one of Jesus' disciples and each time he denied it. After each denial, a rooster crowed. Then Jesus was led out of the house and looked directly at Peter. Peter remembered how Jesus had told him he would deny him and he wept bitterly. Judas, who was watching from a distance, became distraught by his betrayal of Jesus and attempted to return the 30 pieces of silver. The priests told him his guilt was his own. He threw the coins into the temple and later hanged himself.

The Crucifixion

Unknown Artist
The next day, Jesus was taken to the high court where he was mocked, beaten and condemned for claiming to be the Son of God. He was brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. The priests accused Jesus of claiming to be the king of the Jews and asked that he be condemned to death. At first Pilate tried to pass Jesus off to King Herod, but he was brought back, and Pilate told the Jewish priests he could find no fault with Jesus. The priests reminded him that anyone who claimed to be a king speaks against Caesar. Pilate publicly washed his hands of responsibility, yet ordered the crucifixion in response to the demands of the crowd. The Roman soldiers whipped and beat Jesus, placed a crown of thorns on his head and then led him off to Mount Calvary.

Jesus was crucified with two thieves, one at his left and the other at his right. Above his head was the charge against him, "King of the Jews." At his feet were his mother, Mary, and Mary Magdalene. The Gospels describe various events that occurred during the last three hours of his life, including the taunting by the soldiers and the crowd, Jesus's agony and outbursts, and his final words. While Jesus was on the cross, the sky darkened, and immediately upon his death, an earthquake erupted, tearing the temple's curtain from top to bottom. A soldier confirmed his death by sticking a spear into his side, which produced only water. He was taken down from the cross and buried in a nearby tomb.

Risen from the Dead

"He is Risen" by Del Parson
Three days after his death, Jesus's tomb was found empty. He had risen from the dead and appeared first to Mary Magdalene and then to his mother Mary. They both informed the disciples, who were in hiding, and later, Jesus appeared to them and told them not to be afraid. During this brief time, he beseeched his disciples to go into the world and preach the gospel to all humanity.

After 40 days, Jesus led his disciples to Mount Olivet, east of Jerusalem. Jesus spoke his final words to them, saying that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit, before he was taken upward on a cloud and ascended into heaven.


Quote

“Put your sword back into its place; for those who live by the sword, die by the sword." [Matthew 26:52] - Jesus Christ


Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Countdown to Armageddon

The majority of Holy Books around the world describe an "End of the World" scenario that will result in the an apocalyptic war between good and evil. The Christians, Jews and Muslims all have various theories on the subject, yet most religious denominations agree upon the following signs that will herald in the Christian's "End Times", the Jews "End of an Age" and the Muslim's "Last Days".

Signs of Armageddon

Disease - increase in diseases has more than tripled in the last 100 years. In the last 50 years alone the following inflictions have came upon mankind - HIV/AIDS, Ebola and Marburg Viruses, Monkeypox, Mad Cow (BSE), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Zika Virus, West Nile Virus, Avian Influenza, Whooping Cough, just to name a few. The following are considered the worst diseases in the history of mankind:
  1. Smallpox (c/430 B.C.-1979) - killed more than 300 million people worldwide in the 20th century alone.
  2. Typhus (c/430 B.C. - present) - killed 3 million people between 1918 and 1922, and noted for killing the majority of Napoleon's soldiers in the early 1800s.
  3. Black Death (1340 A.D. - 1771 A.D.) - worse disease in human history; killed between 75-200 million people worldwide during this era in history.
  4. Malaria (1600 A.D. - present) - this disease, that appeared in the 17th Century, has been an ongoing problem and kills about an estimated 2 million people per year.
  5. Cholera (1817 A.D. - present) - since the early 19th Century there have been eight (8) different pandemics to hit the planet, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide.
  6. Spanish Flu (1918 A.D. - 1920 A.D.) - one of the worst influenza outbreaks in history, this disease killed 50 to 100 million people worldwide in less than 2 years during the early 20th Century.
  7. HIV/AIDS (1981 A.D. - present) - this disease came onto the scene in the latter part of the 20th Century and to date has killed over 25 million people worldwide.

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Famine & Drought - since antediluvian times droughts have had far-reaching effects on humankind by causing the failure of crops, decreasing natural vegetation, and depleting water supplies. Livestock and wildlife, as well as humans, have died of thirst and famine; large land areas often suffer damage from dust storms or fire. 

> Droughts are unusually long periods of insufficient rainfall.
> Famines are extreme shortages of food that cause people to die of starvation.

Over many milennia, famine and drought have been a part of mankind's history, but in the last 100 years this epidemic has become worse than ever before in the annals of history. The following are considered the worse famines/droughts in the history of mankind:

Famine
+ Egypt (1200-1202) - final death toll was 110,000
+ Ireland (1845-1849) - final death toll was 1.5 million
+ Northern China (1959-1961) - final death toll was estimated 30 million
+ Africa (1967-1969) - final death toll 1 million; 3.5 million malnutritioned.

Drought
+ The Great Plains of the U.S. (1930-1940) - worst drought of 20th century.
+ Europe (2003) - currently the worst drought of the 21st century 
   (Tens of thousands of people died during these droughts.)


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Earthquakes - the increase in earthquake activity around the world is just staggering in comparison to the ancient B.C. era when few earthquakes were noted or recorded during ancient history. In the past 500 years, earthquakes around the globe have claimed millions of lives and with each passing year the seismic activity greatly increases and becomes more frequent

The Pacific Rim (aka: Ring of Fire) has long been the most volatile region. It accounts for 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes. Several thousand small to moderate quakes occur annually around the west coasts of North and South America to the eastern Pacific Rim. Southeastern Asian countries and many island nations are also experiencing heightened activity. Each year, Japan alone is shaken by more than 1,500 tremors—over four every day (The World Factbook).

Worst Earthquakes of the 21st Century:

2001 Gujarat earthquake - 7.7 Magnitude (20,085 deaths)
2002 Hindu Kush earthquakes - 6.1 Magnitude (1000 deaths)
2003 Bam earthquake - 6.6 Magnitude (31,000 deaths)
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami - 9.1 Magnitude (300,000 deaths)
2005 Kashmir earthquake - 7.6 Magnitude (100,000 deaths)
2006 Yogyakarta earthquake - 6.6 Magnitude (5,700 deaths)
2007 Peru earthquake - 8.0 Magnitude (500 deaths)
2008 Sichuan earthquake - 7.9 Magnitude (80,000 deaths)
2009 Sumatra earthquakes - 7.6 Magnitude (1100 deaths)
2010 Haiti earthquake - 7.0 Magnitude (300,000 deaths)
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami - 9.0 Magnitude (20,000 deaths)
2012 East Azerbaijan earthquakes - 6.4 Magnitude (300 deaths)
2013 Balochistan earthquakes - 7.7 Magnitude (800 deaths)
2014 Ludian earthquake - 6.2 Magnitude (700 deaths)
2015 Nepal earthquake - 7.8 Magnitude (9000 deaths)
2016 Taiwan earthquake - 6.4 Magnitude (100 deaths)


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Religious Persecution - has been going on for many centuries throughout the timeline of mankind. All three major religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism) has experienced 'religious persecution' at one time or another. According to Wikipedia.com it states:
"Religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs or affiliations or lack thereof. The tendency of societies or groups within society to alienate or repress different subcultures is a recurrent theme in human history."
In some nations governments take the lead in suppressing the faithful, imposing a range of restrictions backed by the state. Examples include bans on particular faiths, prohibitions on conversion, and restrictions on religious practice. In other countries the people make their societies unfriendly to minority beliefs, imposing a wide range of less formal sanctions. Such behavior includes harassment, intimidation, and violence, including murder. The overall global environment to religious faith is hostile.

http://www.forbes.com

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False Prophets - in religion, a false prophet is one who falsely claims the gift of prophecy or divine inspiration, or who uses that gift for evil ends. Often, someone who is considered a "true prophet" by some people is simultaneously considered a "false prophet" by others, even within the same religion as the "prophet" in question. 

Christianity - Throughout the New Testament, there are warnings of both false prophets and false Messiahs, and believers are adjured to be vigilant. In Matthew 7:15–23, Jesus relays warnings about false prophets from the Sermon on the Mount. One well-known New Testament false prophet is the agent of the "Beast" mentioned in the Book of Revelation.  The Apocalypse's false prophet (Beast), will ultimately be cast into the "lake of fire and brimstone". (Revelation 19:20 ) This "Beast" is commonly known as the Antichrist.

Islam - According to the Quran, Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets, which is often understood to mean that anyone who will emerge to be a new prophet after Muhammad is a false prophet. All mainstream Muslim scholars' perspectives from both Sunni and Shia sects do not see the second coming of the Messiah as the coming of a new prophet, as the Islamic Messiah Jesus had already been an existing prophet, and will rule by the Qur'an and Sunnah of Muhammad, bring no new revelation or prophecy. The false prophet of Islam is called  Masih ad-Dajjal and likened unto the Christian Antichrist. Imam Mahdi, the redeemer according to Islam, will appear on Earth before the Day of Judgment. At the time of the Second Coming of Christ, the Prophet 'Isa (Jesus Christ son of Mary) will kill Masih ad-Dajjal (The Antichrist). Muslims believe that both Jesus and Mahdi will rid the world of wrongdoing, injustice and tyranny ensuring peace and tranquility.

Judaism - Armilus is an anti-messiah figure in medieval Jewish eschatology, comparable to medieval interpretations of the Christian Antichrist and Islamic Dajjal, who will conquer Jerusalem and persecute the Jews until his final defeat at the hands of God or the true Messiah. His inevitable destruction symbolizes the ultimate victory of good over evil in the Messianic age. The 11th Century Midrash Vayosha, which describes Armilus, was first published at Constantinople in 1519. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, Armilus is "a king who will arise at the end of time against the Messiah, and will be conquered by him after having brought much distress upon Israel." He is spoken of in the Midrash Vayosha, Apocalypse of Zerubbabel and other texts.

http://www.preteristarchive.com/StudyArchive/f/false-prophets.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_prophet

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Increased Knowledge - The primary application of "knowledge increased" is in reference to people understanding the prophecies of the Book of Daniel, however, many Bible scholars believe that this prophecy also applies to an increasing knowledge of science, medicine, travel, and technology.

We are living in "The Information Age" making this sign seem even more obvious. Even the most skeptical mind must admit that knowledge is exploding in all directions. It is said that 80% percent of the world's total knowledge has been brought forth in the last decade and that 90% percent of all the scientists who have ever lived are alive today.
"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." ~ Daniel 12:4
http://www.alphanewsdaily.com
http://www.finalevents.com/Event1/Sign10.asp?p=O

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