Cults&Sects Boston Church of Christ or CrossroadismThere is a group growing rapidly across the United States and the world called the Boston Church of Christ or the Crossroads. This cult is a highly aggressive movement that bases its doctrine on the Bible but many say is way off. Looking deeper into...

Lumen Gentium, arguably the most significant document to emerge from Vatican II in 1964, symbolizes a new turn in Catholicism, changing the way the Catholic Church views itself and its relationship to its world. Throughout Lumen Gentium, phrases such as "proclaiming... to every creature," ...

When you think of persecution, what comes to the forefront of your mind? Are you reminded of those who have been murdered mercilessly for the name of Christ? I think any of us, once we knew what the early church experienced--and, indeed, what Christians in other parts of the world are experiencing n...

Field Observation Paper For my field observation, I attended a Catholic mass and Pentecostal service, both in my hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The first service I attended was the Catholic mass. The mass started at 10:30 a.m. with a Christmas hymn, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. The priest w...

The bible states many different opinions and "facts" on predestination. I say "facts" because that is what one is led to believe that the bible teaches. In one area the bible says that a certain number was chosen at the start and that the number will neither increase nor decre...

When you take a class or when you are trying to make new friends it is important to be open-minded. Not always are you going to have all the right answers or know how to do everything. In my case, I had to be open-minded to the ideas of religion. My mom found this new church. I went there ever...

According to the Catholic Church, every Catholic, through thesacrament of Baptism, "is freed from sin and reborn." Through the firstsacrament of baptism and immersion, all individual members of the CatholicChurch engage in the act of becoming members of Christ. Baptism enables anadherent of ...

Biblical Foundations for Small Group Ministry in the Church We live and move and function in the midst of a fallen world, but there is hope for a little slice of heaven right in our midst if we will pursue the model for community that God has given us in His word. The Bible portrays numerous ins...

The world is going to be filled with prejudice no matter what. People are going to have their own opinions about some issues, new or old. If there weren't any disagreements, the world would be at peace. That seems impossible with today's world. Religion has been the topic since ancient tim...

The State of DisillusionIn most of our lives, there comes a point when the way we perceive things changes unexpectedly, a point when we come to a sudden realization that things aren't always the way we perceive them. Langston Hughes "Salvation" is a story of a young boy who comes to a sudden reali...

In the year 324 CE Constantine became the ruler of the entire Roman Empire. For the first time a Christian emperor had ascended the throne, although there is some dispute about the depth of his faith. Some see him as a statesman who exploited Christianity for political purposes, while others mainta...

What is Marriage Marriage is a socially recognized and approved union between two individuals of the opposite sex making them man and wife. It is a serious decision taken by a couple who feel that they love trust and have a mutual respect for each other to the extent that they promise to live tog...

Christianity is a fascinating world religion that grows in importance everyday. There are many things about this faith that interests people around the world. For example, the history, philosophy and its relevance in today's society makes the religion fascinating. When did this interesting beli...

Gorgias Essay Imagine walking into the classroom just as your instructor is handing back grades on a major test you recently took. She hands you yours and you see you have a grade much higher than you expected, in fact, it is one of the highest grades in the class. You suddenly exclaim,Thank you...

I live... For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance And the good that I can do. -Elizabeth Cady Stanton Many philosophers interpret and approach religion in various ways. Some arrive at their theories by logic, others experim...

On October 8, 2004, writer and homosexual, Brian O'Leary Bennett wrote an article titled 'Forging a pro-gay, pro-life alliance,' in which he argues the point that, (as he believes,) those who are pro-life, should also be pro-gay. His main point is that he believes that someone is bor...

I am going to talk about the purposes of the Old and New Testament and how the Bible is not a good source for anti abortionist. First off, a great deal of confusion in the world today is caused by the general lack of knowledge about the purpose and the intent of the two major divisions of the Bible...

Marriage is a three-ring circus: engagement ring, wedding ring, and suffering. -- Anonymous It is important that we realize that religion is just like people, they are different, in that we must realize that it is not "normal" for us however it is life to others. In this paper I will discu...

In the Greek language of Jesus' day, the word baptizo meant to dip or immerse an object in water. In its Christian use baptizo came to mean the act of Baptism, or the washing and cleansing of something to renew it. Jesus' Baptism took place in the Jordan River. (Gospel According to Mark)...

In his article "Beware the Easter Bunny," Charles Colson asserts that the idea of the Easter Bunny is a catalyst for the demise of Christianity. Colson explains, in brief, the pagan origins of the Easter holiday, including the etiology of the word Easter itself, and then moves into how ...

Gnostics & Orthodox Christians "It is not permitted for a woman to speak in the church, nor is it permitted for her to teach, nor baptize, nor to offer the eucharist, nor to claim for herself a share in any masculine function-least of all, in priestly office" (p.155). In the beginning of Ch...

Redefining Old Puritan Roots Puritanism is a pure way of living under the Word of God. Puritanism has gradually evolved from the original roots it encompassed more than 400 years ago. The process of this evolution can be seen by studying the history of change in societies through works by Americ...

Religion has not only been a positive aspect to the world, but a negative one as well. Religion has brought together people that are completely different as well as torn them apart. People are united within a church because of religion. Other people are out on the battlefield fighting because of the...

Believe in Nothing The depiction of Jesus we see all around us. We see him in books, we see him in churches. We see him on the internet, we see him on television. We see what is an assumption of Jesus' appearance. One man made a guess of what Jesus looks like based on the appearance of an averag...

The rise of Christianity was one of the major influences of western society. At the height of the stable and secure Empire of Rome came the emergence of the greatest philosophical development of western history. But like all other transcending moments in history, some obstacles and developments work...