Discuss the historicity of the bodily resurrection of Jesus
Discuss the historicity of the bodily resurrection of Jesus The utmost significance of the bodily resurrection of Jesus to the Christian faith has made the careful analysis of the texts and events surrounding the event extremely important. 1 Corinthians 15:14, a passage so often cited in connection with the resurrection, reads, "...and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain," and therefore Christians and historians alike have been searching for proof of Christ's resurrection. The discussion about the historicity of the resurrection centers mainly on the Gospel accounts, and the records of Paul. Some would argue that discrepancies and internal contradictions within these Biblical texts, question the validity of the resurrection record; records upon which the Christian faith so heavily relies on. Therefore this discussion must both assess the historicity of interrelation of these texts, but also must show that these texts are central to Christianity. Furthermore, Willi Marxsen writes that, "Each Gospel depicts a unity, and must not be arbitrarily chopped up into pieces..."1 Therefore it is of fundamental importance to realize that the accounts of the resurrection are tied to the style, thematic signposts and traditions from which the authors wrote their Gospels. However, a 'proof' of the resurrection is impossible
Jesus of Nazareth.
The world has never been the same since the birth of one man, Jesus of Nazareth. Very little is known of Jesus' earlier family existence, particularly of his parents, Mary and Joseph. Interestingly, only two of the four canonical Gospels recount Jesus' family origins before he began his teachings. The Gospel of Mark, believed by scholars to be the first Gospel to be written, commences at Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, when Jesus was an adult. Although John begins his Gospel by describing how the eternal Word transforms itself into flesh on earth, he does not delve into Jesus' childhood or infancy. Therefore, if one wishes to read narratives regarding Jesus' birth from the New Testament, the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are the only places one can turn to. When asked about the birth of Jesus, most people recall the coming of the magi who are guided by a star and bear gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus. Others remember shepherds inspired by angels to go and pay homage to their newborn king. While both replications are correct, one may be surprised to learn that they are not contained in both Gospels. Luke's account does mention any magi following a star; likewise, Matthew makes no reference to shepherds. Although these are only minor differences, many more do exist and create major problems for scholars trying to reconcile these contrasts.
This paper will examine the perspectives of both sides; outsider and insider, and will critically analyze their material on the subject of Scientology. By utilizing both perspectives there is a hope to achieve a broad understanding
Scientology: Insider versus Outsider Perspective Religion 265: Cults, Sects and New Religious Movements For: Dr. Grant Martin By: Julie Brown November 5th, 2005 In the latter half of the twentieth century the Church of Scientology has emerged as one of the largest and most extensive new religious movements of modern time. The Church has also been subject to ongoing controversy in terms of new religions and their cult-like practices. The teachings of founder L. Ron Hubbard were initially successful in the 1950's with the emergence of Dianetics, but have since been subject to heavy international criticism. Many countries have banned not only Dianetics and the auditing process but the teachings of the Church and its founder. Despite media and public criticism, however, Scientology has grown into a large international, ecclesiastical body with centers in almost half the countries of the world1. It has developed a mature theology and thousands of people report that the Church has given them a spiritual and optimistic perspective on life. If one wishes to truly understand Scientology as a new religious movement the question emerges as to whether you should examine the critical research conducted by the professional "outsider", or turn to the "insider"; members of the religion who are familiar with its teachings. This paper will examine the perspectives of both sides; outsider
In support Of Gun Ownership
In support Of Gun Ownership Specific Goals: I want to encourage gun ownership. Introduction I. What is the foundation of modern technology? It's the history of the gun. Thesis Statement: I will persuade you in that, (1) federal gun control laws are unconstitutional, and (2) I will prove the 2nd Amendment is both a "State" and "Individual Right." Body I.The foundation of our country is based in English Bill of Rights and the American Revolution. A. What is the difference between the Declaration of Independence, the U. S. Constitution and the "Bill of Rights?" . The Declaration of Independence gives the reasons, as to why America wanted seperation. 2. The Constitution gives the federal government certain powers. 3. The "Bill of Rights" limited the power of the federal government. B. The views of gun control advocates. . Gun control saves lives. 2. When America was founded guns only shot one bullet at a time. 3. Gun control will keep guns out of the hands of criminals. 4. Children should not have guns. 5. Gun control will reduce the hazards to law enforcement. 6. If citizens carry guns, there will be daily shoot-outs in the streets. 7. We don't want to ban deer rifles, just assault rifles. 8. Why do you need an assault rifle? 9. The entertainment industry is not at fault, it's the gun's fault! 0. The 2nd is a collective right and not an "Individual Right."
The Theme of Suffering in the Gospel of Mark.
The Theme of Suffering in the Gospel of Mark Christians today often face times in their lives where they may experience a major crisis, the sudden death of a loved one or news of a terminal illness. While human nature dictates human efforts toward desperately finding relief, reason and understanding in times of agony and confusion, the Gospel of Mark shows us through the person of Jesus Christ that suffering is a part of the Christian's life journey. If the whole world suffers and groans, the Christian does so even more. Ultimately, Christians know that Salvation in Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit do not keep the Christian from suffering; rather Salvation and the Holy Spirit sustain them through the suffering. For this reason, the Gospel of Mark is truly a gospel for those who are suffering and need to find consolation. Mark's gospel is clearly a gospel of the suffering Messiah and of suffering discipleship, concepts that Christians can perhaps relate to. In fact, the theme of Jesus suffering is illustrated not only in the New Testament but so too in the Old Testament particularly in Isaiah 53 and in a Psalm of David, Psalm 22 where the suffering of the future Messiah is foretold: "He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one form whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did esteem Him. Surely our
Although there is no passage in the Bible which explicitly states the absolute dominance of male over female, one is indisputably left with the feeling that men have a stronger connection with the Christian God
Ekaterina Anguelova If God Is Male, then the Male Is God Religion, since the beginning of human civilization, has always been one of the most influential factors for the shaping of society. Its impact has gone far beyond the mere intrusion of culture and lifestyle, for it has been and still remains a strictly formulated mindset which governs the everyday behavior of the majority of the planet’s population. In fact, religion has had a more influential role in determining the social roles and stereotypes of genders than any other field of cultural studies. Nearly two millennia after the supposed death of Christ, we still haven’t resolved the conflict between the seemingly egalitarian teachings of Jesus and the history of sexist bans and prosecutions of women which were to follow in later centuries. It seems that Christianity, although its promotion of equality and love for all human beings alike, has actually failed these virtues by endorsing symbolic and ritual practices which denigrate femininity by denying women an unmediated relationship with the various aspects of the divine. But is it truly so? In order to examine the question of the misbalance in gender egalitarianism, we first must consider the societal structures which are connected to Christianity and whether or not they might favor an inequality between the genders. The first religions
Source and Form Criticism of the Bible. Both types of criticisms are helpful by trying to understand the biblical content of the Bible and where it originated. By raising questions such as, are the stories that are told in the bible just parables or did
Words: 2431 Methodology: Source and Form Criticism The bible is perceived as a historical text; however there is no historical evidence that proves biblical events ever occurred. This is why critical analysis of the bible is essential in the understanding of the events that occurred in the bible. As form criticism plans out the "life setting" of the text, it helps to develop an understanding of where the text came from. Whereas source criticism helps to decipher fact from fiction in the events that occurred, by viewing two different sources of the same text and deciding which one is true and which isn't. Both types of criticisms are helpful by trying to understand the biblical content of the Bible and where it originated. By raising questions such as, are the stories that are told in the bible just parables or did they actually happen? Come the understanding of biblical studies. Form criticism is a translation of the word Formgeschichte, which literally means "history of form." Gunkel noticed that many stories in the bible were often causation and why things are the way they are. For example, in there Genesis 35 Jacob meets God at Bethel in a dream, and this story explained why the later Israelites made there pilgrimage to the cult centre at there site of Bethel. Gunkel recognised that each type of genre had its introductory formula. This is where the Sitz im Leben or
Women in Islam
Women in Islam Islam has often been stereotyped as a "sexist" religion, that it is "oppressive to women, that the veil and segregation epitomised that oppression, and that these customs were fundamental reasons for the general backwardness of many Muslim nations". Provide a critique of these assumptions, using relevant examples. This essay will discuss the notion that Islam is a sexist and oppressive religion. It will include a brief explanation of the Qur'an and Hadith's and how interpretations of these writing's have led to varied practices of the faith among the vast Muslim populations. The essay will touch on the many inconsistencies in the equality of men and women. Particular attention will be given to the traditions of marriage, the veil and segregation as well as the varying views on theses practices. Ultimately, this essay will attempt to offer differing attitudes on the oppressiveness of women in the Islamic faith. The Islamic faith is based on the Qur'an which is the sum total of God's revelations to the Prophet Muhammad. According to Muslim belief, the Qur'an is the primary source of Islamic jurisprudence and theological interpretation (El Saadawi, N., 1982, pg 198). The hadith (or traditions) are narratives collected into written form in the three or four centuries after Muhammad died, which encompassed the revered precedent of the Prophet and his Companions
Do stricter gun control laws correlate with less violence in society?
Guns kill 34,000 Americans a year, including almost 5,000 young people under the age of 20. At the current rate, guns will be the leading cause of injury-related fatalities in the U.S. by 2003.For many years there has been an ongoing debate over what to do about gun control. Handguns kill between 20 and 25 thousand people every year, and that includes the 15,000 annual suicides as a result of these weapons. The reason so many of these suicides are successful is because of the presence of a gun. (Cochran, 189) Bad things can happen with guns, but guns can also make it easier for people to defend themselves and prevent bad things from happening. Potential victims use guns more than 2 million times a year to stop violent crimes. Crimes are stopped by defensive gun uses about five times as frequently as crimes are committed with guns. In this paper I will give an overview of the present gun control issues and try to answer the question do stricter gun control laws correlate with less violence in society. According to the Violence Policy Center (VPC), "the United States has not so much a firearm problem as a handgun problem." Clarke Cochran, et al, says in his book, American Policymaking: An Introduction, that the FBI data shows that "a handgun used in self-defense is 100 times more likely to kill or injure its owner than it is to stop a potential criminal." (193). What are the
Canada Fur Trade
The Fur Trade in Canada: The Ecological Impact of the Fur Trade on the Indians of North America by LeFei Xie SIE Level 5 Professor Kevin 5 May 2008 Outline I. Thesis statement: The ecological impact of the fur trade on the Indians of North America demonstrates that the Indians were not the beneficiaries, but the victims in the Canadian fur trade. II. The initiation of a new cooperation between the White and the Indians. A. The initial commercial intercourse. B. The new approach to cooperation. III. The fur trade changed the Indian living environment and their ecological ethics. A. The fur trade accelerated the extinction of many precious animals, and then changed the Indian living environment. B. While the animals were gradually extinct, the fur trade was changing the Indian ecological ethics step by step. IV. "Gifts" from the White: guns, liquor and epidemic. V. Conclusion: The Canadian economic development has benefited a lot from the fur trade at the expense of the Indian living environment and ecological ethics in North America. Xie 1 LeFei Xie Professor Kevin SIE Level 5 5 May 2008 The Fur Trade in Canada: The Ecological Impact of the Fur Trade on the Indians of North America The fur frontier had been the most fantastic frontier in the history of North America. It not only lasted more than 300 years, and covered almost the whole North America, but