Written by: Kelly L. Hunter
The majority of the world believes that Christianity is the only true religion and that Jesus is the single incarnate of the almighty God. Christianity was founded in Israel around 30 CE and is said to have an estimated 2,039,000,000 followers, making it the world’s largest organized religion (Robinson, 2007). It has also been said that there are approximately 34,000 different versions of the Christian religion throughout the world today (Robinson, 2007). As stated by Fisher (2005), “Christianity is a faith based on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus” (p. 258).
According to Christian studies, Jesus was born approximately 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem to a virgin named Mary and her husband Joseph (Fisher, 2005). This birth is known to many as the “Immaculate Conception” greatly because Mary was said to be a virgin and according to believers, she was picked by God to give birth to his son who they named Jesus. At the time of Jesus’ birth, Palestine was under the leadership of the Roman Empire. As stated by Fisher (2005) “He taught for fewer than three years and was executed by the Roman government on charges of sedition” (p. 258).
Followers of Christianity believe that Jesus was nailed to a cross by the Romans where he later died for all of mankind’s sins. Jesus’ life has been said to have taken place between 4-30 CE. Christmas day, the day that Jesus was born, is known around the world and is a celebrated holiday even by many non-believers. Christianity also teaches that Jesus was resurrected from his grave after a period of three days; this day has also become a celebrated holiday for Christians and many non-believers and is commonly known as Easter Sunday.
Little is known about the life of Jesus and most of the information available to the Christian people can only be found in the various versions of the Bible, particularly the first four books of the New Testament (Fisher, 2005). These books are known as the “Gospels”, which means “good news”. According to some studies, the Gospels were not written until forty to sixty years after the death of Jesus. The original books were written in two different languages: Greek and Aramaic, the two languages said to have been spoken by Jesus himself (Fisher, 2005). Like most things, these books were rewritten many times over the past few centuries in order to rightly serve societal change and the evolution of this widely practiced religion.
The Christian religion relies particularly on that of faith and believing that there is only one God in which you should worship. Christians also believe that the Ten Commandments are God’s laws or rules for how one should live their life. Christianity teaches its followers that they should live their lives as Jesus would have lived his. As stated by Fisher (2005) “Jesus preached that God is forgiving to those who repent” (p. 295). Fisher (2005) also states that “Those who sincerely repent—even if they are the hated toll-collectors, prostitutes, or ignorant common people—are more likely to receive God’s forgiveness than are the learned and self-righteous” (p. 295).
As stated before, there are many various denominations of Christianity. Research has indicated that there are possibly over 1,200 different individual denominations in North America alone (Robinson, 2007). Some of the more commonly known denominations are the Jewish-Christians, the Gnostics, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, Quakers, and the Amish just to name a few (Robinson, 2007).
Each denomination shares similar core beliefs but have adopted their own individual beliefs and teachings as well.
I recently decided to visit a local church, the Edgewater United Methodist Church (EUMC), for a Christmas Eve sermon, and found the service to be quite fascinating. As a non-believer in the Christian faith but a believer in God or a superior entity, I thought that I would feel slightly uncomfortable. Much to my surprise, everyone was very warm and welcoming. This particular church was nothing like the churches I had attended as a child. The service was very upbeat and contemporary while still focusing on the traditions of the Christian faith.
After attending the Christmas Eve service, I decided to contact church officials from the EUMC to see if any of their members would be interested in conducting an interview to discuss his or her particular beliefs and faith. Sarah Neiman, a lady who runs the food pantry for the church said that she would be willing to sit down to talk with me and answer any questions that I may have. I met with Mrs. Neiman on a chilly Monday morning in January (the food pantry that she heads was receiving about 4,000 lbs. of food this particular day). As we discussed how she interprets the Christian faith, we began unloading all of the food into the “pantry”. EUMC members put together bags of food for local families and homeless people twice a week year-round. Last year, they fed over 500 people in our community.
When I asked her to explain to me exactly what her faith or beliefs consisted of, Mrs. Neiman responded by saying that she believes “The only way to Heaven is by faith, you cannot simply work your way into Heaven, and you must have faith in God and truly believe that he is the only God”. I asked her if she believed that all homosexuals would be cast down to Hell where they would spend eternity, she responded by saying “I personally have nothing against anyone who is homosexual, however, I do believe that he or she can change their way of living and ask God for forgiveness and then they can go onto Heaven; if they do not ask for forgiveness then they will go to Hell.
I asked Mrs. Neiman how long Christianity had been in her family. She said that she could not recall a time when it wasn’t in her life. She went on to explain that her ancestors had come over from Ireland in the late 1800s. Her grandparents were Catholic, however, when her mother married her father, they became more Christian than Catholic. She recalled going to church every Sunday at a tiny white church in Southern Indiana with her mother, father, five brothers and younger sister. “We took turns reading the Bible around the table after we finished our dinner each night, that’s just how it was”.
I asked Mrs. Neiman how she could be certain that her religion was in fact the only “true” religion that should be worshiped when there are so many to choose from today. She responded by saying that “All you can do is have faith in God and believe in the words of the Bible; I am not sure if anyone is truly certain, but it is comforting to have faith that there is something more beautiful out there watching over us”. I also asked Mrs. Neiman to explain to me her viewpoints on Jesus’ resurrection. She states that “If you believe the words in your Bible then you know on the third day after Jesus was crucified, when the women went to prepare his body for burial they discovered that his tomb was empty”.
Mrs. Neiman asked what kind of religious beliefs I had since I do not consider myself to be of the Christian faith. I explained to her that I believe more in evolution than creation, but that we had to be created somehow (by something greater than ourselves). I explained to her that as a teenager I began searching for answers via local Christian churches. “I didn’t find what I was looking for in those churches because it seemed that each preacher or minister was saying the opposite of what the last one had said and that confused me”.
I later explained that after years of reading about the many religions that make up our world, I most enjoyed the teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism. “I find these religions to be calming and closer to my own beliefs”. I asked Mrs. Neiman if she would be open to learning about other religions. She responded by saying “Yes, only if the teachings are not geared toward the worshiping of an idol or false God”. I also asked her if she believes in reincarnation and the possibility that we are reborn throughout several lifetimes. She said “No, I believe that when I die and my soul goes to Heaven, I believe that is my final home and there will be no more of the life I once knew. I do believe however, that when I do reach Heaven’s gates, my family who has passed before me will be there waiting for me”.
My interview with Mrs. Neiman was very insightful and surprisingly open-minded on both ends. She explained to me how Christianity had shaped her life by telling me that it had made her a better person in several ways and helped her to be more understanding to those around her. She discussed with me some of the important holiday traditions that are celebrated within the Christian community such as Christmas and Easter. She also discussed with me the challenges of being a Christian by saying “One challenge is reaching the non-believers and helping them to see and understand the wonderful love that you can find in your fellow believers”.
I asked Mrs. Neiman if she would be open to the idea of going to a church of a different faith if someone that she knew asked her to attend. She responded by saying “Yes I would go if they are worshiping my God only in a different way; I think it would be interesting to see how their teachings would differ from my own beliefs”. I also asked Mrs. Neiman what her favorite part of the Bible is; in which she said “Any of the New Testament because it is much easier to read and understand for us average people”. I was very moved by how open Mrs. Neiman and the people at the EUMC were, that I have since begun volunteering a couple days a month at their food pantry. It is important for people to remember that even though we do not all share the same beliefs we can still come together for a greater cause that will be beneficial to us all.
Traditional Christianity is fairly simple to understand and actually has a lot in common with other religions. Research indicates that Christianity was derived from Judaism. Although these two religions share similar beliefs, they are quite diverse in their teachings and faiths as well. Some studies suggest that the date in which Judaism was founded is unknown. According to Robinson (2007) “Some claim that Adam and Eve were the first Jews, and lived circa 4,000 BCE; others suggest that they never existed” (¶ 3).
Personally, I believe that there is a God, Creator, Entity, or Being that has created the life cycle that we as humans evolved from. I do not believe that we will be cast down to the pits of Hell where we will spend an eternity paying for our worldly sins. I believe that the life we are living now is probably “Hell” and hope that there is something better and more peaceful after we pass on. I believe that our souls are energy that can be reborn over numerous lifetimes and that the way we live our current life (Karma) will determine the destiny of our next lifetime. I also believe that the 10 Commandments are wonderful guidelines that people should try to live by during their life cycle in order to attempt to achieve a state of goodness and purity.
All-in-all I would have to agree with Mrs. Neiman that no one can be completely certain as to what will really happen when we pass on from this life. I believe that all you can do is lead the best life that you possibly can while helping others to achieve goodness as well. Although this life has not been easy for anyone and some have experienced greater hardship than others; I truly believe that this lifetime and possibly others are granted to us in order to achieve knowledge and ultimate enlightenment. Once this process is complete then we will no longer have the need to be re-born or reincarnated because we will have achieved “oneness” with our soul and obtained spiritual wisdom beyond the human mind’s comprehension.
Reference(s)
Fisher, M. P. Living Religions Sixth Edition. (2005). Prentice-Hall. (p. 258-362).
Robinson, B.A. Religions of the World. (2007). Ontario Consultants on Religions Tolerance.
www.religioustolerance.org
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Hinduism: Understanding the Religion
Written by: Kelly L. Hunter
Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world with approximately 837 million followers. Hinduism is the dominant religion in the regions of India, Nepal, and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka. (Robinson, B.A. 2007). Researchers have said that Hinduism is the oldest organized religion in the world still being practiced today. “Hinduism differs from Christianity and other Western religions in that it does not have a single founder, a specific theological system, a single system of morality, or a central religious organization. It consists of “thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500 BCE.” (Robinson, B.A., 2007).
Hinduism is most commonly viewed in the western world as a polytheistic religion, which means that an individual worships many deities or gods and goddesses. It has been said that this is not completely accurate in it’s conclusion. Others say that Hinduism is a monotheistic religion because it is said that Hindu’s worship only one superior God or being. This is considered to be the pantheistic principle of Brahman which means that “all reality is a unity”. This also means that the entire universe is seen as one divine entity who is simultaneously at one with the universe and who transcends it as well. (Robinson, B.A., 2007). Then there are those who view Hinduism as a trinitarian religion; which simply means that Brahman is simultaneously viewed as a triad who is one God made up of three people. “Brahman is the Creator who continues to create new realities. Vishnu, (Krishna) is the Preserver, who preserves all creations. Whenever dharma, (eternal order, righteousness, religion, law, and duty) is threatened, Vishnu travels from heaven to earth in one of ten incarnations. Shiva is the Destroyer, who is said to be erotic, compassionate, and destructive.” (Robinson, B.A., 2007).
Most forms of Hinduism are considered to be henotheistic religions; which means that they recognize a single deity, and view other Gods and Goddesses as manifestations or aspects of that supreme God. (Robinson, B.A., 2007). According to Robinson, “Henotheistic and polytheistic religions have traditionally been among the world’s most religiously tolerant faiths.” Robinson goes on to say that “until recently, a Hindu nationalistic political party controlled the government of India. Robinson also states that “The linkage of religion, the national government, and nationalism led to a degeneration of the separation of church and state in India.” (Robinson, B.A., 2007). According to Robinson, this has led to the decrease of religious tolerance throughout India.
The Hindu religion is vital to the region of India for many reasons. One reason being the level of poverty and malnutrition of the people in India. Hinduism is a religion that believes in self-sufficiency and the protection of cows. The people who practice the Hindu religion are vegetarians, partly because they needed a way to feed their families without using up their limited resources to breed cattle for food purposes. According to the book of Divine Nature: A Spiritual Perspective on the Environmental Crisis, “Killing animals for food, fur, leather, and cosmetics is one of the most environmentally destructive practices taking place on the earth today.” (Cremo, M. 1995). In this book the author goes on to say that “The Krsna consciousness movement’s policies of protecting animals, especially cows, and broadly promoting a spiritual vegetarian diet could--if widely adopted—relieve many environmental problems. (Cremo, M. 1995). “”Our farm projects are an extremely important part of our movement. We must become self-sufficient by growing our own grains and producing our own milk. There will be no question of poverty. They should be developed as an ideal society dependent on natural products, not industry.” (Cremo, M. 1995).
“The main goal for the nivritti, (those who renounce the world), is moska
(liberation from samsara). This is considered to be the main goal for mankind.” (Robinson, B.A. 2007). I suppose that people who practice any religion seek some form of liberation in their lives. Those of Hindu faith seek liberation for the purpose of superior enlightenment. In to become liberated from cycles of rebirth and to merge with the Universal Spirit, Brahman, one must worship God or gods, do good works, and live correctly according to the dharma (based on one’s caste or phase of life), go on pilgrimages to the holy places in India, and learn through meditation (yoga), and, with the help of a master (guru), the truth of one’s true nature with the Universal Spirit. (Smith, H. 1991). Liberation is the opportunity to leave physical life behind and enter into a state of blissfulness and spiritual enlightenment.
Reference(s)
Cremo, M. A. & Goswami, M. Divine Nature: A Spiritual Perspective on the Environmental Crisis. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, International. (1995).
Robinson, B.A. Hinduism: The World’s Third Largest Religion. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. (2007). http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm
Smith, H. The World’s Religions: A Completely Revised and Updated Edition of The Religions of Man. Harper-Collins Publishers. (1991).
Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world with approximately 837 million followers. Hinduism is the dominant religion in the regions of India, Nepal, and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka. (Robinson, B.A. 2007). Researchers have said that Hinduism is the oldest organized religion in the world still being practiced today. “Hinduism differs from Christianity and other Western religions in that it does not have a single founder, a specific theological system, a single system of morality, or a central religious organization. It consists of “thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500 BCE.” (Robinson, B.A., 2007).
Hinduism is most commonly viewed in the western world as a polytheistic religion, which means that an individual worships many deities or gods and goddesses. It has been said that this is not completely accurate in it’s conclusion. Others say that Hinduism is a monotheistic religion because it is said that Hindu’s worship only one superior God or being. This is considered to be the pantheistic principle of Brahman which means that “all reality is a unity”. This also means that the entire universe is seen as one divine entity who is simultaneously at one with the universe and who transcends it as well. (Robinson, B.A., 2007). Then there are those who view Hinduism as a trinitarian religion; which simply means that Brahman is simultaneously viewed as a triad who is one God made up of three people. “Brahman is the Creator who continues to create new realities. Vishnu, (Krishna) is the Preserver, who preserves all creations. Whenever dharma, (eternal order, righteousness, religion, law, and duty) is threatened, Vishnu travels from heaven to earth in one of ten incarnations. Shiva is the Destroyer, who is said to be erotic, compassionate, and destructive.” (Robinson, B.A., 2007).
Most forms of Hinduism are considered to be henotheistic religions; which means that they recognize a single deity, and view other Gods and Goddesses as manifestations or aspects of that supreme God. (Robinson, B.A., 2007). According to Robinson, “Henotheistic and polytheistic religions have traditionally been among the world’s most religiously tolerant faiths.” Robinson goes on to say that “until recently, a Hindu nationalistic political party controlled the government of India. Robinson also states that “The linkage of religion, the national government, and nationalism led to a degeneration of the separation of church and state in India.” (Robinson, B.A., 2007). According to Robinson, this has led to the decrease of religious tolerance throughout India.
The Hindu religion is vital to the region of India for many reasons. One reason being the level of poverty and malnutrition of the people in India. Hinduism is a religion that believes in self-sufficiency and the protection of cows. The people who practice the Hindu religion are vegetarians, partly because they needed a way to feed their families without using up their limited resources to breed cattle for food purposes. According to the book of Divine Nature: A Spiritual Perspective on the Environmental Crisis, “Killing animals for food, fur, leather, and cosmetics is one of the most environmentally destructive practices taking place on the earth today.” (Cremo, M. 1995). In this book the author goes on to say that “The Krsna consciousness movement’s policies of protecting animals, especially cows, and broadly promoting a spiritual vegetarian diet could--if widely adopted—relieve many environmental problems. (Cremo, M. 1995). “”Our farm projects are an extremely important part of our movement. We must become self-sufficient by growing our own grains and producing our own milk. There will be no question of poverty. They should be developed as an ideal society dependent on natural products, not industry.” (Cremo, M. 1995).
“The main goal for the nivritti, (those who renounce the world), is moska
(liberation from samsara). This is considered to be the main goal for mankind.” (Robinson, B.A. 2007). I suppose that people who practice any religion seek some form of liberation in their lives. Those of Hindu faith seek liberation for the purpose of superior enlightenment. In to become liberated from cycles of rebirth and to merge with the Universal Spirit, Brahman, one must worship God or gods, do good works, and live correctly according to the dharma (based on one’s caste or phase of life), go on pilgrimages to the holy places in India, and learn through meditation (yoga), and, with the help of a master (guru), the truth of one’s true nature with the Universal Spirit. (Smith, H. 1991). Liberation is the opportunity to leave physical life behind and enter into a state of blissfulness and spiritual enlightenment.
Reference(s)
Cremo, M. A. & Goswami, M. Divine Nature: A Spiritual Perspective on the Environmental Crisis. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, International. (1995).
Robinson, B.A. Hinduism: The World’s Third Largest Religion. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. (2007). http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm
Smith, H. The World’s Religions: A Completely Revised and Updated Edition of The Religions of Man. Harper-Collins Publishers. (1991).
Jesus and Muhammad: Two of Religions Most Recognized Men
Written by: Kelly L. Hunter
The religions of our world seem to be connected in many ways; whether it is through similar belief systems or through similar rituals and practices. So why does religion seem to be what divides us all instead of uniting us as people? Take for instance the Christian and Islamic faiths; these two religions share similar beliefs and yet for centuries these religions have been battling over who is right and who is wrong through war and other various forms of genocide.
Islam originated in Saudi Arabia while Christianity originated in Israel. It has been said that Christianity as well as Judaism was derived from that of the Islamic faith (Fisher, 2005). While Islam acknowledges the life of Jesus, Muslims believe that Muhammad was God’s messenger. Muhammad was born in 570 CE and was considered to be the last prophet sent by Allah (God) to restore the true meaning of Islam as a religion (Fisher, 2005). The one factor or belief that these two religions do seem to share for certain is the belief that we are all ancestors of Abraham.
Although Allah is the center focusing point in Islam, the life and journeys of the Prophet Muhammad are also very important to the faith (Fisher, 2005). According to Fisher, “Muhammad’s life story is important to Muslims, for his character is considered a model of the teachings in the Qur’an” (Fisher, 2005). These stories of his life can be found in the Hadith; a book that was created to spread the word of his teachings (Fisher, 2005). Sadly, Muhammad lost both of his parents at an early age and was later raised by his uncle (Fisher, 2005).
At the age of twenty-five, Muhammad married a much older woman in which he was employed, her name was Khadijah; she was fifteen years his senior. It has been said that Khadijah was Muhammad’s biggest supporter in his faith and teachings during the earliest times of his mission (Fisher, 2005). These were very difficult times for Muhammad and with his wife’s supportive nature and understanding of his spiritual conquest; Muhammad would spend long periods of time alone. This time alone gave Muhammad the chance to open his mind and think clearly about his mission and spirituality (Fisher, 2005).
According to Fisher, at the age of forty, Muhammad was visited by an angle named Gabriel while on a spiritual retreat during Ramadan (Fisher, 2005). It has been said that Gabriel forcibly requested that Muhammad recite what later became known as the first words of the Qur’an (Fisher, 2005). Muhammad was quite disturbed by these events and went home to seek comfort from his wife. The revelations continued over a period of time and he would discuss them with only his wife and closest friends who believed in him. A period of three years past and Muhammad was instructed by these revelations to spread these messages to the public (Fisher, 2005).
Muhammad did as he was instructed and found that not everyone believed in his message as his wife and friends did. He experienced tremendous amounts of ridicule and was even stoned by the people of his tribe; and although he was somewhat protected by his uncle, his followers were not (Fisher, 2005).
Many people were imprisoned and forced to discredit Muhammad’s teachings. It has also been said that Muhammad and his followers were cast out of their tribe and forced to live in the wilderness where they struggled to survive, eating whatever they could find and even eating things like tree leaves (Fisher, 2005). Muhammad and his followers were later permitted to return to their homeland; however, with the death of his wife and influential and protective uncle, Muhammad experienced even more hatred. This time period was known as the “Year of Sorrows” (Fisher, 2005).
There were later accounts that Muhammad experienced what is called the “Night of Ascension”. According to Fisher, Muhammad transcended through the seven heavens and far into the cosmos where he encountered all the prophets including Jesus (Fisher, 2005). Jesus is said to be the son of God or the only incarnate of God by the followers of Christianity. Jesus was born approximately two-thousand years ago in Palestine (Fisher, 2005). His life has been said to have taken place during 4-30 CE. According to Fisher, “There is very little historical proof of the life of Jesus outside of the Bible, but extensive scholarly research has turned up some shreds of evidence” (Fisher, 2005). Fisher goes on to discuss the writings of Jewish historian, Josephus, who was born in approximately 37 CE. Apparently Josephus wrote about two different instances involving Jesus, thus giving proof that Jesus did in fact exist (Fisher, 2005).
The main source of information provided to Christians regarding the life of Jesus has been the Bible; particularly the first four books of the New Testament (Fisher, 2005). These books are referred to as the “Gospels”, which means good news. According to some studies, these books were not written until approximately forty to sixty years after the death of Jesus. The original books were said to be written in two different languages; Greek, and Aramaic, which were the two languages said to have been spoken by Jesus himself. These books were later translated and rewritten many times over for centuries (Fisher, 2005).
As stated by Fisher, “Three of the gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are so similar that they are called the synoptic gospels” (Fisher, 2005). Fisher goes on to say that “It is now thought that the author of Mark put together many fragments of oral tradition in order to develop a connective narrative about Jesus’ life and ministry, for the sake of propagating the faith” (Fisher, 2005). Much like the Bible and biblical texts, the Christian religion itself has been revised over the centuries and has even divided itself into many different branches of the religion.
There are various versions of the Bible that are used in the many different Christian churches today. You have the Hebrew Bible which is also called the Old Testament by some, the Apocrypha (a non-canonical Jewish text) also known as the Deuterocanonical books by Orthodox Christians, and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament which were said to have been written after the early missions of Jesus (Fisher, 2005).
It has been said that Jesus went with his parents Mary and Joseph on a trip to Jerusalem during Passover when he was only twelve years old. His parents left him behind by mistake and later found him in a temple. It has also been said that Jesus was discussing the teachings of the Torah with the temple’s rabbi. People were so impressed by his knowledge and understanding at such a young age. He has been reported as saying that he was in his father’s house (Fisher, 2005).
More is known about the life of Muhammad than the life of Jesus. What we do know is that both Jesus and Muhammad are held very sacred in their religions and close to the hearts of their followers. Both Christianity and Islam project themselves as loving and peaceful religions. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross for all of mankind’s sins; while Muslims believe that Muhammad was chosen by God and dedicated his life to restore the faith and teachings of Islam.
In today’s society, both religions while trying to maintain the original beliefs and teachings of each religion have also contorted the religions to better serve societal change. Most of our world’s religions have been altered in this way in order to rightly serve contemporary lifestyles. It is important to remember that even though most of us believe in God; God means many different things to the people that inhabit this Earth. It is also important to remember that even though we may call our God by different names; the message that we believe in is a message of love and acceptance of diversity. Unfortunately religion is like everything else in a world were domination means power. There will always be someone or group of people who want to rule the land and who feel that their beliefs are more superior to others.
References
Fisher, M. Living Religions Sixth Edition. Pretence-Hall. (2005). P285-361.
The religions of our world seem to be connected in many ways; whether it is through similar belief systems or through similar rituals and practices. So why does religion seem to be what divides us all instead of uniting us as people? Take for instance the Christian and Islamic faiths; these two religions share similar beliefs and yet for centuries these religions have been battling over who is right and who is wrong through war and other various forms of genocide.
Islam originated in Saudi Arabia while Christianity originated in Israel. It has been said that Christianity as well as Judaism was derived from that of the Islamic faith (Fisher, 2005). While Islam acknowledges the life of Jesus, Muslims believe that Muhammad was God’s messenger. Muhammad was born in 570 CE and was considered to be the last prophet sent by Allah (God) to restore the true meaning of Islam as a religion (Fisher, 2005). The one factor or belief that these two religions do seem to share for certain is the belief that we are all ancestors of Abraham.
Although Allah is the center focusing point in Islam, the life and journeys of the Prophet Muhammad are also very important to the faith (Fisher, 2005). According to Fisher, “Muhammad’s life story is important to Muslims, for his character is considered a model of the teachings in the Qur’an” (Fisher, 2005). These stories of his life can be found in the Hadith; a book that was created to spread the word of his teachings (Fisher, 2005). Sadly, Muhammad lost both of his parents at an early age and was later raised by his uncle (Fisher, 2005).
At the age of twenty-five, Muhammad married a much older woman in which he was employed, her name was Khadijah; she was fifteen years his senior. It has been said that Khadijah was Muhammad’s biggest supporter in his faith and teachings during the earliest times of his mission (Fisher, 2005). These were very difficult times for Muhammad and with his wife’s supportive nature and understanding of his spiritual conquest; Muhammad would spend long periods of time alone. This time alone gave Muhammad the chance to open his mind and think clearly about his mission and spirituality (Fisher, 2005).
According to Fisher, at the age of forty, Muhammad was visited by an angle named Gabriel while on a spiritual retreat during Ramadan (Fisher, 2005). It has been said that Gabriel forcibly requested that Muhammad recite what later became known as the first words of the Qur’an (Fisher, 2005). Muhammad was quite disturbed by these events and went home to seek comfort from his wife. The revelations continued over a period of time and he would discuss them with only his wife and closest friends who believed in him. A period of three years past and Muhammad was instructed by these revelations to spread these messages to the public (Fisher, 2005).
Muhammad did as he was instructed and found that not everyone believed in his message as his wife and friends did. He experienced tremendous amounts of ridicule and was even stoned by the people of his tribe; and although he was somewhat protected by his uncle, his followers were not (Fisher, 2005).
Many people were imprisoned and forced to discredit Muhammad’s teachings. It has also been said that Muhammad and his followers were cast out of their tribe and forced to live in the wilderness where they struggled to survive, eating whatever they could find and even eating things like tree leaves (Fisher, 2005). Muhammad and his followers were later permitted to return to their homeland; however, with the death of his wife and influential and protective uncle, Muhammad experienced even more hatred. This time period was known as the “Year of Sorrows” (Fisher, 2005).
There were later accounts that Muhammad experienced what is called the “Night of Ascension”. According to Fisher, Muhammad transcended through the seven heavens and far into the cosmos where he encountered all the prophets including Jesus (Fisher, 2005). Jesus is said to be the son of God or the only incarnate of God by the followers of Christianity. Jesus was born approximately two-thousand years ago in Palestine (Fisher, 2005). His life has been said to have taken place during 4-30 CE. According to Fisher, “There is very little historical proof of the life of Jesus outside of the Bible, but extensive scholarly research has turned up some shreds of evidence” (Fisher, 2005). Fisher goes on to discuss the writings of Jewish historian, Josephus, who was born in approximately 37 CE. Apparently Josephus wrote about two different instances involving Jesus, thus giving proof that Jesus did in fact exist (Fisher, 2005).
The main source of information provided to Christians regarding the life of Jesus has been the Bible; particularly the first four books of the New Testament (Fisher, 2005). These books are referred to as the “Gospels”, which means good news. According to some studies, these books were not written until approximately forty to sixty years after the death of Jesus. The original books were said to be written in two different languages; Greek, and Aramaic, which were the two languages said to have been spoken by Jesus himself. These books were later translated and rewritten many times over for centuries (Fisher, 2005).
As stated by Fisher, “Three of the gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are so similar that they are called the synoptic gospels” (Fisher, 2005). Fisher goes on to say that “It is now thought that the author of Mark put together many fragments of oral tradition in order to develop a connective narrative about Jesus’ life and ministry, for the sake of propagating the faith” (Fisher, 2005). Much like the Bible and biblical texts, the Christian religion itself has been revised over the centuries and has even divided itself into many different branches of the religion.
There are various versions of the Bible that are used in the many different Christian churches today. You have the Hebrew Bible which is also called the Old Testament by some, the Apocrypha (a non-canonical Jewish text) also known as the Deuterocanonical books by Orthodox Christians, and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament which were said to have been written after the early missions of Jesus (Fisher, 2005).
It has been said that Jesus went with his parents Mary and Joseph on a trip to Jerusalem during Passover when he was only twelve years old. His parents left him behind by mistake and later found him in a temple. It has also been said that Jesus was discussing the teachings of the Torah with the temple’s rabbi. People were so impressed by his knowledge and understanding at such a young age. He has been reported as saying that he was in his father’s house (Fisher, 2005).
More is known about the life of Muhammad than the life of Jesus. What we do know is that both Jesus and Muhammad are held very sacred in their religions and close to the hearts of their followers. Both Christianity and Islam project themselves as loving and peaceful religions. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross for all of mankind’s sins; while Muslims believe that Muhammad was chosen by God and dedicated his life to restore the faith and teachings of Islam.
In today’s society, both religions while trying to maintain the original beliefs and teachings of each religion have also contorted the religions to better serve societal change. Most of our world’s religions have been altered in this way in order to rightly serve contemporary lifestyles. It is important to remember that even though most of us believe in God; God means many different things to the people that inhabit this Earth. It is also important to remember that even though we may call our God by different names; the message that we believe in is a message of love and acceptance of diversity. Unfortunately religion is like everything else in a world were domination means power. There will always be someone or group of people who want to rule the land and who feel that their beliefs are more superior to others.
References
Fisher, M. Living Religions Sixth Edition. Pretence-Hall. (2005). P285-361.
The Gothic Era: The Evolution of Tools and Technology
Written by: Kelly L. Hunter
The “Gothic” era began in France during the early 1100’s and flourished for many centuries. The term “Gothic” refers to the French style of visual art as well as a time period of amazing architecture which was itself inspired and developed from Romanesque styles of art. Although the Gothic era reached its end in France during the sixteenth century, this art form continued to influence other countries such as Germany and England (Benton and DiYanni, 2005). Thought to be barbaric in fashion by the Italians who preferred the more classical style of art and architecture, Gothic art lasted for many centuries and in my opinion, was the most inspiring of all eras.
Romanesque architecture was comprised of broad, massive buildings with thick walls and unique arches which provided a sense of safety and security to all who entered into them (Benton and DiYanni, 2005). At the dawn of the Gothic era, small windows were replaced with enormously beautiful stained glass and the thick walls developed during the Romanesque era were replaced by walls that were much thinner in nature.
Gothic architecture, like cathedrals, was very tall in height and centered on the religious beliefs and values of this time period. These structures were designed to reach the heavens and bring the people closer to God. Naves were created to echo the chants sung by the members of the church representing great spirituality. The pointed arches and vaults were said to exert less lateral thrust than the semicircular Romanesque arches and vaults (Benton and DiYanni, 2005). It has also been said that the pointed ribbed vault could be constructed and built to any height.
Benton (2005) states that “The first large and truly Gothic building, Saint-Denis served as the prototype for other Gothic structures” (p. 398). This particular structure was also the first to incorporate both architecture and sculpture into one art form. Each cathedral created seemed to be bigger than the last. When the structure of the Cathedral of Notre Dame collapsed and was then rebuilt, architects began questioning the design, structure, and height of these vast buildings, and ultimately began creating small buildings focusing more on the intricate detail on the inside and outside of the structures.
As the Gothic era ended in France and moved onto other European countries, the style began to change to serve the current times and tastes of these other countries. Gothic style architecture took on a new and different look. Benton (2005) states that “In England, the Early Gothic was relatively understated, but the Late Gothic reached extremes of eccentricity beyond anything found in France” (p. 404). Once architects were able to work out the problems associated with structural design, they became more adventurous with their designs and architecture took on an entirely new face.
The Gothic era is fascinating not only because of the extreme heights and intricate detail of these structures but because it was all done by hand and made of stone. “In modern times, rather than flying buttresses of hand-hewn stone, architecture employs modern materials and techniques, such as skeletal steel supports, reinforced concrete, and cantilevered construction” (Benton and DiYanni, 2005, p. 425). Stained glass windows have been replaced with mass-produced plain glass windows and what once represented religious beliefs through art has been replaced with societal and political issues representing art.
Reference(s)
Benton, J. and DiYanni, R. Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities. Pearson Prentice Hall. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.) (2005).
The “Gothic” era began in France during the early 1100’s and flourished for many centuries. The term “Gothic” refers to the French style of visual art as well as a time period of amazing architecture which was itself inspired and developed from Romanesque styles of art. Although the Gothic era reached its end in France during the sixteenth century, this art form continued to influence other countries such as Germany and England (Benton and DiYanni, 2005). Thought to be barbaric in fashion by the Italians who preferred the more classical style of art and architecture, Gothic art lasted for many centuries and in my opinion, was the most inspiring of all eras.
Romanesque architecture was comprised of broad, massive buildings with thick walls and unique arches which provided a sense of safety and security to all who entered into them (Benton and DiYanni, 2005). At the dawn of the Gothic era, small windows were replaced with enormously beautiful stained glass and the thick walls developed during the Romanesque era were replaced by walls that were much thinner in nature.
Gothic architecture, like cathedrals, was very tall in height and centered on the religious beliefs and values of this time period. These structures were designed to reach the heavens and bring the people closer to God. Naves were created to echo the chants sung by the members of the church representing great spirituality. The pointed arches and vaults were said to exert less lateral thrust than the semicircular Romanesque arches and vaults (Benton and DiYanni, 2005). It has also been said that the pointed ribbed vault could be constructed and built to any height.
Benton (2005) states that “The first large and truly Gothic building, Saint-Denis served as the prototype for other Gothic structures” (p. 398). This particular structure was also the first to incorporate both architecture and sculpture into one art form. Each cathedral created seemed to be bigger than the last. When the structure of the Cathedral of Notre Dame collapsed and was then rebuilt, architects began questioning the design, structure, and height of these vast buildings, and ultimately began creating small buildings focusing more on the intricate detail on the inside and outside of the structures.
As the Gothic era ended in France and moved onto other European countries, the style began to change to serve the current times and tastes of these other countries. Gothic style architecture took on a new and different look. Benton (2005) states that “In England, the Early Gothic was relatively understated, but the Late Gothic reached extremes of eccentricity beyond anything found in France” (p. 404). Once architects were able to work out the problems associated with structural design, they became more adventurous with their designs and architecture took on an entirely new face.
The Gothic era is fascinating not only because of the extreme heights and intricate detail of these structures but because it was all done by hand and made of stone. “In modern times, rather than flying buttresses of hand-hewn stone, architecture employs modern materials and techniques, such as skeletal steel supports, reinforced concrete, and cantilevered construction” (Benton and DiYanni, 2005, p. 425). Stained glass windows have been replaced with mass-produced plain glass windows and what once represented religious beliefs through art has been replaced with societal and political issues representing art.
Reference(s)
Benton, J. and DiYanni, R. Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities. Pearson Prentice Hall. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.) (2005).
Tenets of Faith: Islamic Art and Culture
Written by: Kelly L. Hunter
It has been stated by Benton and DiYanni (2005) that, “Islamic art is not the art of one particular group of people, nor that of one country” (p. 259). Islamic art is focused around the life and the teachings of the prophet Muhammad and the Quran (Benton and DiYanni, 2005). Islamic art was heavily influenced by many diverse cultures like that of the Arabic, Persian, and Turkish cultures (Benton and DiYanni, 2005).
Benton and DiYanni (2005) also state that “There is little evidence of art in Arabia before Islam, and, at first, Islam did not encourage art” (p. 259). It was believed that people of the Islamic faith did not have the need for any form of religious architecture because they were able to pray to Allah from anywhere. It was not until the later part of the seventh century that mosques were built by Muslim rulers for the purpose of prayer and worship. These mosques were designed and built to rival that of the Christian churches that were already in existence (Benton and DiYanni, 2005).
“Minarets are towers beside mosques from which the faithful are called to prayer by the muezzin, the person who ascends a spiral staircase to a platform at the top” (Benton and DiYanni, 2005, p. 259). All mosques are designed with Allah in mind and bare a small marking known as a niche that allows Muslim people to know that they are facing Mecca, the birth place of Muhammad. In the Islamic faith, facing Mecca during prayer is a must and is done so by all Muslim people.
Literature, particularly poetry, originated in the Arab region sometime around 700 C.E.; when it appeared in written form for the first time. These poems represented different oral presentations of various tribal traditions that have taken place over the centuries. It has been said that the qasidah , one of Arab’s oldest forms of poetry, consisted of three parts that represent a man searching for his beloved, a detailed description of his search for her, and a tribute to his ancestry (Benton and DiYanni, 2005).
Persia was said to be invaded by the Arabs around 637 C.E. and during that time, the Persians adopted the Arabic script and the Islamic faith as their own. Benton and DiYanni discuss in Chapter 7 of the Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities Volume 1 (2005) that “Many Arabic words passed into Persian and some literary forms underwent modification. With the adoption of the Arabic script came an explosion of Persian poetry…” (p. 266).
It has also been said that Persian poetry was a lyrical expression of the author’s experience with love, heartache, and in many cases confusion on the part of the person being sought after. These types of poems have been tied to one’s love and devotion of God and the worship of his word as well. Another form of Persian poetry discusses the beauty, love, and celebration of spring. Spring represents the idea of renewal and hope to the Persian and Arabic culture and is celebrated lavishly during the month of March.
The art of music and dance was not always commonly acknowledged and celebrated within these two cultures dating back centuries to the time of Muhammad’s death. Music was considered to be something that was a sin or forbidden pleasure (Benton and DiYanni, 2005). Music was something that did not fit into the Islamic idea of a life filled with God. However,
music was later introduced during the Umayyad dynasty said to have taken place during the years of 661-750 C.E.
Benton and DiYanni (2005) state that “Persian music had an influence on Arabic music, and vise versa” (p. 268). They go on to say that “Arabic music, flourished most, however, during the Abbasid dynasty (750-1258), the period immediately following the reign of the Umayyads” (p.268). Although music had finally become part of the Islamic culture, there was a later era that was described as stagnant in the areas of culture and intellect.
The Islamic religious faith and culture are one that has been said to be pure and solely centered on the worship of Allah, the teachings of the prophet Muhammad, and the search for religious freedom and awareness. The many diverse works of art in their various forms represent and depict the Islamic way of life as well as the history of their great ancestry. Each piece of art, lyric of music, or written word of wisdom, represent this beautiful and unique culture to the fullest.
It has been stated by Benton and DiYanni (2005) that, “Islamic art is not the art of one particular group of people, nor that of one country” (p. 259). Islamic art is focused around the life and the teachings of the prophet Muhammad and the Quran (Benton and DiYanni, 2005). Islamic art was heavily influenced by many diverse cultures like that of the Arabic, Persian, and Turkish cultures (Benton and DiYanni, 2005).
Benton and DiYanni (2005) also state that “There is little evidence of art in Arabia before Islam, and, at first, Islam did not encourage art” (p. 259). It was believed that people of the Islamic faith did not have the need for any form of religious architecture because they were able to pray to Allah from anywhere. It was not until the later part of the seventh century that mosques were built by Muslim rulers for the purpose of prayer and worship. These mosques were designed and built to rival that of the Christian churches that were already in existence (Benton and DiYanni, 2005).
“Minarets are towers beside mosques from which the faithful are called to prayer by the muezzin, the person who ascends a spiral staircase to a platform at the top” (Benton and DiYanni, 2005, p. 259). All mosques are designed with Allah in mind and bare a small marking known as a niche that allows Muslim people to know that they are facing Mecca, the birth place of Muhammad. In the Islamic faith, facing Mecca during prayer is a must and is done so by all Muslim people.
Literature, particularly poetry, originated in the Arab region sometime around 700 C.E.; when it appeared in written form for the first time. These poems represented different oral presentations of various tribal traditions that have taken place over the centuries. It has been said that the qasidah , one of Arab’s oldest forms of poetry, consisted of three parts that represent a man searching for his beloved, a detailed description of his search for her, and a tribute to his ancestry (Benton and DiYanni, 2005).
Persia was said to be invaded by the Arabs around 637 C.E. and during that time, the Persians adopted the Arabic script and the Islamic faith as their own. Benton and DiYanni discuss in Chapter 7 of the Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities Volume 1 (2005) that “Many Arabic words passed into Persian and some literary forms underwent modification. With the adoption of the Arabic script came an explosion of Persian poetry…” (p. 266).
It has also been said that Persian poetry was a lyrical expression of the author’s experience with love, heartache, and in many cases confusion on the part of the person being sought after. These types of poems have been tied to one’s love and devotion of God and the worship of his word as well. Another form of Persian poetry discusses the beauty, love, and celebration of spring. Spring represents the idea of renewal and hope to the Persian and Arabic culture and is celebrated lavishly during the month of March.
The art of music and dance was not always commonly acknowledged and celebrated within these two cultures dating back centuries to the time of Muhammad’s death. Music was considered to be something that was a sin or forbidden pleasure (Benton and DiYanni, 2005). Music was something that did not fit into the Islamic idea of a life filled with God. However,
music was later introduced during the Umayyad dynasty said to have taken place during the years of 661-750 C.E.
Benton and DiYanni (2005) state that “Persian music had an influence on Arabic music, and vise versa” (p. 268). They go on to say that “Arabic music, flourished most, however, during the Abbasid dynasty (750-1258), the period immediately following the reign of the Umayyads” (p.268). Although music had finally become part of the Islamic culture, there was a later era that was described as stagnant in the areas of culture and intellect.
The Islamic religious faith and culture are one that has been said to be pure and solely centered on the worship of Allah, the teachings of the prophet Muhammad, and the search for religious freedom and awareness. The many diverse works of art in their various forms represent and depict the Islamic way of life as well as the history of their great ancestry. Each piece of art, lyric of music, or written word of wisdom, represent this beautiful and unique culture to the fullest.
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