Explain the meaning of discipleship for the first disciples.

Mark's Gospel Discipleship Richard Smith 5alpha a) Explain the meaning of discipleship for the first disciples. The word disciple comes from the Latin word "discipulus" meaning pupil. This already gives us some insight into what people believe the meaning of discipleship is. The implication that the disciple is a pupil has differing degrees and many meanings within itself. For example, a pupil can be anyone; they don't have to be clever or great, but are where they are to learn. A pupil also indicates a certain amount of respect for the person they are learning from (i.e. Teacher, Jesus). The dictionary definition of disciple is 'a follower of a teacher or leader'. This suggests a devotion to this "teacher" or "leader". Discipleship for the first century disciples had many different meanings, one of which was devotion. This is shown by Mark in the passage - "Jesus called Levi". Levi has no hesitation about following Jesus: he just does it. "Follow me". Levi got up and followed him. He showed unquestioning faith by leaving his work and obeying Jesus. In the very first chapter of Mark when Jesus calls the fishermen they show extreme faith in him by doing the same as Levi. James and John both just get up and leave their father in the fishing boat. The disciples show extreme faith when Jesus sends them out to preach, without even an extra shirt. Jesus tells them to go without

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Describe in detail what is meant by the ‘Middle Way’.

RS1 Describe in detail what is meant by the 'Middle Way'. Siddharta Gautama was born about 563 BCE, in a garden called Lumbini, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Siddharta was said to have been born out of the side of his mother, Queen Maya, who died seven days later. It is said that once he was born he immediately took seven steps towards each quarter of heaven, and at each step up sprung a lotus flower. He then declared that he would have no more births, and that this was his last body and that he would 'pluck out by the roots the sorrow caused by birth and death'. Siddharta was brought up into the Shakya Clan and lived a very rich lifestyle. But this did not satisfy him, so he decided to go in search of enlightenment and at the age of 19 he started to think seriously about his life. His father tried to protect him from the real world, but Siddharta still saw four things that changed his life: . An old man. This showed Siddharta that everyone will get old someday. 2. A sick man. This showed Siddharta that you cannot be protected from disease. 3. A corpse. This showed Siddharta that everyone dies. 4. A Holy man. This showed Siddharta that one has devoted himself to the spiritual life. When he saw the Holy man, he decided to leave and live a life of poverty. For six years, Siddharta followed a Sadha's way of life, he nearly starved himself

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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The Shabbat is a festival, which is celebrated from sunset on Friday night until the stars appear on Saturday night. This is celebrated every week and is a big part of a Jew's life.

R.E. Coursework The Shabbat is a festival, which is celebrated from sunset on Friday night until the stars appear on Saturday night. This is celebrated every week and is a big part of a Jew's life. The Shabbat is celebrated in many different ways in different Jewish home's and synagogues. Here are some of the most popular things Jewish families do throughout the Shabbat. The Jews are forbidden to work because it is supposed to be a holy day and they should devote themselves to prayer and studying the Torah. Rabbi Saadi Gaon said, " to achieve rest from the abundance of ones toil..." which shows his commitment to resting on the Sabbath. Preparation, cleaning and cooking are done differently on the Sabbath because they have to prepare the meal and house before the Sabbath starts because cleaning and cooking is forbidden once Sabbath has started. " God made the 7th holy day by resting after making the world" (Exodus 20:8-11) backs up this command from the Torah. The mother lights candles before sunset because the home is central to Judaism and the mother looks after the house beginning on the Sabbath. "When I light the Shabbat candles I feel like God is blessing me" Berachan of God quoted. This shows the mother feels she has done her duties to God once the candles have been lit. The Father blesses the children during Sabbath. This shows the father's prayerful wishing that

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Jesus' Teaching on Satan and the Demons

Jesus' Teaching on Satan and the Demons The modern world has many misconstrued ideas about Satan and his demons that are not in line with Jesus' teachings in Scripture. Today the world sees Satan in an almost comical way, if they believe in him at all. There is such a lack of belief in anything spiritually supernatural that the idea of demons is less acceptable to today's society than the idea of ghosts. In Jesus' time, this was not the case; people were well aware of Satan and his activities. Jesus often had to deal with things of this nature, and addressed the matter several times in Scripture. The difference between what Jesus had to say on the matter and what the world says today is monumental. Satan plays a major role in many religions, either as an angel, demon or minor god. In Hebrew tradition, God uses the angel Satan to test the piety levels of man. In the Apocrypha and New Testament, Satan is a fallen angel turned evil demon, who is the enemy of both God and mankind. These two portraits of Satan are not mutually exclusive. In all modern Abrahamic religions (and various other mythology), Satan is a supernatural being who is the fundamental personification of evil. In Islamic tradition, the primary demon that tempts Adam and Eve is called Iblis. It was because Iblis refused to prostrate himself before Adam that he was cast from Allah to live on earth among the

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain why the Early Christians were Persecuted

Christians and Persecution Explain why the Early Christians were Persecuted Most of the time, Christians were tolerated because they were a small group, a minority. They were viewed as anti-social by most of the Roman people. They were also viewed as strange because Romans thought that they actually drank blood and ate the flesh of Jesus. So Romans might of thought that Christians were cannibals. Romans believed in order to live well and win war that they had to sacrifice regularly to the Roman Gods. As this was so important to the Romans in was made state religion and it was their patriotic duty to worship the Roman Gods. They kept the Gods on their side so that they would be good to them. They made sacrifices of animals and offerings of wine and food. The Romans believed in many Gods: Jupiter, Mars, Juno, Vesta, Lares and Penates. Lares was a household God and was the God of the family's ancestors who protected the entire household. Every house had a shrine, called an Iararium, which stood in the atrium. It was like a small cupboard and statues of the Lares were kept in it. Penates were another household Gods who protected the larder or storehouse. It was important to worship them so that the family always had enough to eat. When the Romans ate the main meal each day the head of the house would pray to Vesta who was the goddess of the flame of the hearth. He

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Christian Churches

Christian Churches A01 St. Barnabas Cathedral Nottingham - Roman Catholic St Barnabas Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Nottinghamshire. It was finished on the 27th August 1844 and was built by Pugin who equated the Gothic style of the building with Christianity. The building is in the shape of a cross and this was done to show the remembrance of Christ's suffering. Another main feature of the church is the spire in the centre of the church to draw attention to the heavens and to represent that in the cathedral we are close to God. The building is decorated with stain glass windows. These depict the saints or a part of Jesus' life, for example one of the Stations of the Cross. In the picture to the left you can see two saints looking at Jesus in the centre he is standing on a globe. This window can be known as a 'sacramental' - these are icons that are designed to help the relationship with God, they are not simply decoration. The Sanctuary is probably the most important area in the Cathedral, the sanctuary at St Barnabas is in the centre from where the spire is above. From here the priest celebrates the mass and leads services. It is slightly raised which separates it from the rest of the cathedral, but is clearly still at the heart of the church. The sanctuary at St. Barnabas contains the altar and the lectern and the bishop's chair. The tabernacle at St.

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Religion, wealth + Poverty

Religion, wealth + Poverty Introduction In this essay I will be looking at issues around religion wealth and poverty and basis needs of the third world. I will examine religious responses on poverty + analyse the work of religious charities. Poverty mean poor, Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not being able to go to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time. Poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom. Poverty is a call to action -- for the poor and the wealthy alike -- a call to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat, adequate shelter, access to education and health, protection from violence, and a voice in what happens in their communities. Absolute poverty- no access to basic needs. Relative poverty- can't afford the same things as most other people in society. Basic needs: Food- Food helps us to grow and develop. This is the most important in poverty because if people don't have enough food they will be die. At least one in eight of the world's population does not have enough to eat. Clean water- those people living in developed countries they can't have clean water. Clean, safe drinking water is

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Being Jewish in Britain today

Do you think it is easy being Jewish in Britain Today? Whether it is easy being Jewish in Britain today very much depends on what kind of Jewish you are, your personality and your value towards other people's opinion on you. With in the Jewish community, some Jews are stricter than others, and they have conflicts within them on the matter of this. Ultra-Orthodox keep all 613 mitzvot in the exact way as their accentor had; Orthodox Jews do the same but try to keep up to modern day lives at the same time without breaking any of the mitzvot, which is incredibly hard in Britain today. It is very hard for Orthodox Jews to adopt modern day lives with out breaking the mitzvot because the mitzvot is nevertheless set in the BC for people who wonder around in the wilderness where their ascenders and people around them had different lifestyles form today's Britain. For an example, one of the 613 mitzvot states 'Whoever strikes a person mortally shall be put to death.'(Exodus 21verse 12) In Britain today, if a person had 'strikes a person mortally' on purpose, he/ she would have to be arrested and would more than likely to be put in prison for committed murdered. No-one would have the right of taking the criminal's life in Britain Today; so who in the Jewish community should execute the person who strikes the other person? And how should he do it? Would he not have committed murdered

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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The word 'disciple' is used to describe the very first followers of Jesus. This term is also applied to anyone who calls him or herself a Christian.

The word 'disciple' is used to describe the very first followers of Jesus. This term is also applied to anyone who calls him or herself a Christian. The word disciple is derived from the Latin-discipulus, meaning pupil or learner. Jesus was not the only person to have disciples there are also references to the disciples of the Pharisees and also John the Baptists' disciples. The word is also used to describe the twelve apostles of Jesus. They were chosen to help Jesus on his mission of spreading the word of God and founding a new Christian people. They were also chosen to continue in Jesus' work after his death. The story of the Calling of the First Disciples tells us about when Jesus chose the apostles. I find it peculiar that Jesus should choose perfect strangers to carry out such important tasks such as healing the sick and spreading the word of God. The men he chose were fishermen I think Jesus had a motive for this. He wanted to choose the right people. Fishermen are generally patient, and determined, qualities needed for discipleship. Jesus wanted to communicate with the people. He knew that they would listen to the disciples, who were ordinary people. He needed someone to communicate with outcasts, to make them believe that they can change. Perhaps this is the reason he chose Levi. The disciples Jesus chose were to be his most loyal companions. They had to be willing

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Islamiyat Notes. Surah al Anaam (Ch. 6 : Vs. 101-103)These verses of Surah al Anaam discuss the fundamental Quranic theme of Allah in Himself.

Surah al Anaam (Ch. 6 : Vs. 101-103): Main Theme: These verses of Surah al Anaam discuss the fundamental Quranic theme of Allah in Himself. We come to know about the absolute authority and unity of Allah. He does not have partners and the entire universe is the creation of His will and design. It further describes that God is beyond human comprehension. This is because of the great difference between the creator and the creatures. It tells us that God is the most powerful and He can decide the outcome of events even before they occur. Distinctive Theme: These verses distinctively highlight God's attributes and His sovereignty. Ayat al Kursi (the Verse of Throne) (Ch 2: Vs 255) also presents the same theme but this passage refers to God as the originator and the fashioner of the whole Universe with its vast and flawless system. It rejects polytheism and makes us realize that God is free from all physical relations. The Quran refers to it in Surah al Ikhlas, "He begets not nor is He begotten." (Ch 112: Vs 3) 'Latif' means as fine and subtle as to be invisible and imperceptible to the senses. It also means that God understands the finest mysteries. Surah Shura: Main Theme: This Quranic passage discusses the Main Theme: of God's power, majesty and His ultimate authority over all that exists in this Universe. It informs us that everything in the Universe acknowledges

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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