IT is not difficult to label the agent of evil in Flannery O'Connor's signature story, "A Good Man is Hard to Find." An escaped convict, self-named the Misfit, dispassionately orders the murder of a Georgia family - everyone from grandmother to baby - after coming upon them when their car ov...

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...

In the Confessions, by Saint Augustine, Augustine addressed himself articulately and passionately to the persistent questions that stirred the minds and hearts of men since time began. The Confessions tells a story in the form of a long conversion with God. Through this conversion to Catholic Christ...

Jesus of Nazareth shares meaning and value with other great historical influences of time such as Buddha. They are both categorized as great moral teachers who continue to influence even after death. They share similarities and differences at birth, during the time of their lives, and at death. T...

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...

Culture is a catch-all term that is used to describe the various rites, traditions, and rituals attached to a specific group of people. A people's culture encompasses more than his or her religion; it encompasses everything from political beliefs to family traditions. While culture certainly...

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...

Human beings are inveterate seekers, people on a quest. Centuries ago, a North African by the name of Augustine wrote that "Our hearts are restless til they find their rest in Thee," speaking of mankind's desire for God. More recently, the American novelist Frederick Buechner, has referred to that i...

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...

Faith involves God's revelation – God's action (self-communication) in the dynamic of faith.1 There is both an experience of faith, as well as a content of faith. Kelly refers to the experience of faith as fides qua (the [subjective] faith by which we believe) and the content of fait...

How can Scripture be of value for contemporary Christian ethics? "Christians are often described as 'people of the Book'... we acknowledge the Bible as embodying divine revelation and for this reason continually look to Scripture for instruction as to what we should believe and wh...

The fundamentals of Christian spirituality lie in the triune God that is the center of Christian faith. In Ronald Rolheiser's book, The Holy Longing, he strives to give the reader a deeper understanding of and ability to practice this Christian spirituality and its different dimensions within the ...

THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE Introduction "Thou shalt not commit adultery." – Exodus 20:14 "He said unto him, which Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness..." – Matthew 19:18...

In Faust, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe builds a dramatic poem around the basis of human strengths and weaknesses, two traits exemplified by Goethe through his main character, Johann Faust. Throughout his life, Faust becomes knowledgeable in math, science, and the Holy Scripture, yet desires to find...

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...

William Carey was born on August 17, 1761 in the village of Northamptonshire in the midland region of England. Carey’s interest in education would form a major part of his life’s work, as the eldest son of a village school master and weaver, Edmund Carey. At the age of seven, Car...

William Carey William Carey was born on August 17, 1761 in the village of Northamptonshire in the midland region of England. Carey's interest in education would form a major part of his life's work, as the eldest son of a village school master and weaver, Edmund Carey. At the age o...

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 ...

Scarecrow The Christian music industry is renowned for its many deep, thought provoking songs, but there is none whose lyrics capture my mind like the song "Scarecrow", written and composed by the band Skillet. This song is a reflection of the writer's perspective of his life as a s...

The Christian music industry is renowned for its many deep, thought provoking songs, but there is none whose lyrics capture my mind like the song "Scarecrow", written and composed by the band Skillet. This song is a reflection of the writer's perspective of his life as a scarecrow. ...

John Wesley: Chrisitan Perfection Perfection is what some people, and not necessarily just Christian people, strive for all their lives. I believe, along with Wesley, that a Christian can live a perfect life, but it does not happen right at salvation but that it is a continual work. I believe ...

Biblical Allusions in Song of Solomon Upon first glance at the title of Toni Morrison's novel, Song of Solomon, one might typically be reminded of its readily apparent biblical connection. The Song of Songs, one of the seven Wisdom Books of the Bible, is commonly referred to as the '...

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...

Discussion of end of life issues can be quite complex. Arguments on both sides of the issue can be extremely passionate due to the presence of deeply held emotional beliefs among opponents. This characteristic of the debate is fully inescapable in instances such as these. Despite the natural ...

"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, ...