Gnostic writings of Jesus portray him as a heavenly redeemer made less of flesh than of spirit. The emphasis of Jesus' importance is not on his physical humanness but rather, on his ability to show people the way to the kingdom. Jesus put on flesh in order to give people gnosis and reveal to the...

Jesus Christ, A Critical View of His "Conquering" of the Cross By taking an in depth view of the exact points of the story concerning Jesus Christ's crucifixion, by examining the physical evidence before and after his crucifixion, and by exploring the differences between the...

"The Shroud of Turin is either the most awesome and instructive relic of Jesus Christ in existence.... or it is one of the most ingenious, most unbelievably clever, products of the human mind and hand on record; there is no middle ground." (John Walsh, The Shroud, 1963) The Shro...

I am attempting to write one coherent essay discussing questions three and two. I propose to first characterize the opposing views of the savior in Gnosticism and in Orthodoxy. Secondly, I will compare the Valentinian and classic Gnostics in how they differ and how the Gospel of Truth exemplifi...

Since prehistoric times, human beings have believed in the existence of a reality greater than themselves that serves as a definer and creator of cultures, and as an antidote to the fragility and apparent finality of human existence (Coogan 1998). Each major religion generally recognizes an individ...

Matthew Jay Krachunis May 2000 Hell The idea of heaven entices and encourages believers and non-believers alike. It is enjoyable to envision a place of eternal rest and relaxation, in the presence of God and loved ones. Heaven does exist according to the Bible, and is the destination of th...

There are no absolutes, no clear-cut black and white answers, no accurate gauge for justice - right and wrong - no real way to a world beyond physical death. This is the thinking of our age, an age of confusion. People hunger for answers but find only more questions. Christians are unsure of their...

"Cane" by Jean Toomer As I began to read "Cane," I quickly realized this was going to be a difficult read. I kept thinking about the title because it brought back memories of my grandfather's story of the origin of the black man. My grandfather believed Cain's curse f...

Introduction My great aunt was a fascinating woman. She was raised in Canadian by English parents, married and immigrated to the United States. She understood French and English and was fluent in several different languages. She attended services, in places of worship, all over. She chose to p...

John Calvin created the patterns and thought that would dominate Western culture throughout the modern period. North American culture, in particular, is thoroughly Calvinist in some form or another; at the heart of the way North Americans think and act, you'll find this fierce and imposing reformer...

"The truth about man is not merely that he is, by nature, savage and afraid, but that he refuses deliverance, and murders the messenger of light"(Dick, "Criticism" 197). This view of our nature as human beings is based on the teachings of the Christian doctrine of original sin, ...

THE SERVANT OF CHRIST "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10). Does The Preacher Please Men Or God? With sarcasm Paul asks in Galatians 1:10: "Am I trying to persuade God to fall in li...

Hind site is always 20/20. Looking back on history, especially the history of painting, one can decipher a great deal about the time it was painted in and the changes in those times. One can understand the value systems, the ethics, government, morality, economics and personal lives of the times r...

The Sermon on the Mount The Sermon on the Mount is one of Jesus' most quoted, and most referenced teachings. The Sermon, a guideline to Christian behavior, worship, and spirituality, is found in the Gospel According to Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7. The sermon is broken into a vast array of ideol...

Many people in history have made a very big impact on their culture, times, and/or religion. One that stands out is John Calvin. He had a really huge influence during his time-the early-to-middle sixteenth century. Calvin devoted almost his whole life to promoting Protestantism, and he made a b...

Knowing God In the scriptures we read of relationships that people like the apostles had with Jesus. The friendships that they had were deep and personal. They were also challenging. Jesus challenged the disciples regualarly as well as encouraged them. He warned them of the evil they were to ...

Bible 301 Our English word Bible comes from the Greek word Biblos, which means "book." In theology a study of the Bible is called bibliology. While the word Bible simply means "book" the words "The Bible" distinguish it as the supreme, unique and incomparable Holy Bib...

Kim Gnagey APE per. 4 Levels of Meaning in Cool Hand Luke and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey is a story of a mental hospital, the patients within it and the changes both undergo. The film Cool Hand Luke is a story that is somewhat sim...

Jesus More than 2000 years ago there was a man known to be the greatest leader to ever live. His name was Jesus. Even to today people follow Him because of His great teachings. His teachings were His life, His faith, and his extravagant miracles He performed. This man lived in poverty and was...

The altar panel of St. Clare in Assisi One painting is often reproduced in practically all guidebooks of any language on Assisi – one that little attention has been paid, and is usually outshadowed by the San Damiano Cross. It is the altar panel on the right transept of the Basilica of St...

There was a movement in mainstream churches that still exists today, often called the Charismatic Renewal. It was given this name because the movement itself is that of the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Trinity. The word "Charismatic" refers to the charisms of the Holy Spirit, his personality...

Christianity was traditionally understood to be founded by Jesus of Nazareth. Paul of Tarsus, after his conversion on the road to Damascus, worked tirelessly to establish Christianity among both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles of the Diaspora. Clues in the New Testament indicate that there was ...

Introduction Mark 16:16 says, "And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned."1 This is the basis for which Christian's all around the world shares the gosp...

Prophecy formed a critical part of the Bible, especially in the Old Testament. In fact, the Old Testament prophets played an extremely critical role in the transmission of God's message. The role of prophets changed in the New Testament, because Christ was the fulfillment of most of the proph...

Introduction: The General Concept of Angels in Catholic Doctrine Angels are integral to the Catholic experience, doctrine, and cosmology. Defined most simply as a "pure spirit created by God," Angels were mentioned in the Old Testament as well as the New ("Angel Pages"). However...