Connecting with the divine

By Marilyn Adamson     PDF

We all want to make it through life with success, some sense that we did it right. So what about the major world religions? Is there anything in them that might give our lives greater depth and direction?

The following looks at the major world religions… Hinduism, New Age, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity.* There is a brief description of each, their view of God, and what a person can gain from that religion. The ending explains how Jesus’ teaching differs from the major religions.

 

Christianity and its beliefs

major religions - religious beliefsChristians believe in a loving God who has revealed himself and can be known in a personal way, in this life. With Jesus Christ, the person’s focus is not on religious rituals or performing good works, but on enjoying a relationship with God and growing to know him better.

Faith in Jesus Christ himself, not just in his teachings, is how the Christian experiences joy and a meaningful life. In his life on Earth, Jesus did not identify himself as a prophet pointing to God or as a teacher of enlightenment. Rather, Jesus claimed to be God in human form. He performed miracles, forgave people of their sin and said that anyone who believed in him would have eternal life. He made statements like, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”1

Christians regard the Bible as God’s written message to humankind. In addition to being an historical record of Jesus’ life and miracles, the Bible reveals God’s personality, his love and truth, and how one can have a relationship with him.

Whatever circumstances a Christian is dealing with in their life, the Bible teaches that they can confidently turn to a wise and powerful God who genuinely loves them. They believe that God answers prayer and that life takes on meaning as they live to honor him.

English as a Universal Language

by Carlos Carrion Torres – Vitoria ES – Brazil

English is without a doubt the actual universal language. It is the world’s second largest native language, the official language in 70 countries, and English-speaking countries are responsible for about 40% of world’s total GNP.

English can be at least understood almost everywhere among scholars and educated people, as it is the world media language, and the language of cinema, TV, pop music and the computer world. All over the planet people know many English words, their pronunciation and meaning.

The causes for this universality are very well known and understandable. English first began to spread during the 16th century with British Empire and was strongly reinforced in 20th by USA world domination in economic, political and military aspects and by the huge influence of American movies.

The concept of a Universal Language is more significant only now, in the era of world mass communication. Before this era Greek, Latin, French were to some extent universal languages, though mainly in Europe.

By a lucky coincidence due to factors above, English, the Universal language, is one of the simplest and easiest natural languages in the world. The only other simple and easy languages are constructed ones.

Of course the concept of easiness is relative, and it depends on which language you know already. However the concept of simplicity is undeniable: English in an easy language to learn, understand and speak. A complex language such as Hungarian would be a very unlikely candidate for a universal language.

First of all, English Language uses Latin alphabet, the most universal, simple and short one (only the Greek alphabet is shorter and simpler). In addition, in English, the Latin Alphabet presents its most “clean” form as a true alphabet with only 26 basic letters and no diacritics;

Verb conjugation is very simple and easy. Even for irregular verbs, there is almost no variation in person (except 3rd singular in present tense).

Regular verbs have only four forms: Infinitive + Present, Past Tense + Past Participle, 3rd person singular Present Indicative, Present Participle.

There are almost no Inflections. No number or gender inflection for adjectives, articles, adverbs. For adjectives there is only comparative and superlative, almost only number for nouns. In pronouns there are gender and number inflections and only three declension cases (Acc/Dat, Nom, Gen).

English is one of the most analytical languages, with no significant synthetic, fusional or agglutinative characteristics.

Philippine Politics

Abp. Oscar. V. Cruz, DD

Views and Points

PHILIPPINE Politics is curious and intriguing, interesting and entertaining—and particularly detestable as well as disgusting. Philippine politics is not simply for the vicious but also for the avaricious, not merely for those wanting to serve but the more so, for those wanting to be served much and well. Philippine politics is the origin of wonderful promises and as well as the cause of big disappointments productive of misery and poverty.

Philippine Politics is not simply the purveyor of hope but likewise the cause of despair. It is the jumping board of gross graft and corrupt practices instead of a response to the call of what is right, proper, and just. Philippine politics is anything but admirable even for those harboring optimism—if not hallucination. Would that it were otherwise. And would that following thoughts and impressions were but in the realm of fallacy:

It is a great business. While there are exceptions, most, however, enter the sphere of Philippine politics not really to render public service but to ascertain fast and fruitful self-service. This is precisely why it is very much worth making all the required capital investments in seeking elective public office whereas politics in the Philippine is a very profitable investment. Poor Filipino politicians are a rare breed. They are the picture of few small needles in a huge haystack.

It is a distinctly advantageous way of life. Philippine politics is not only a convenient and advantageous way of making a living. It is also a highly profitable means of livelihood. This is why it is primarily the wealthy who aspire for, who hold on and cling to political positions. They have many family interests to protect, a good number of clan concerns to promote. Politicians need only talk much and act well—and the beneficial returns are many and spectacular.

It is an addictive adventure. It is not true that the maxim “Once a boy scout, always a boy scout,” is an exclusive claim and principle of scouting. There is the living and vibrant reality that once a politician, always a politician. Otherwise, it would be hard to explain the so-called “political dynasties.” How true it is that Philippine politics is very addictive indeed. Husband and wife and kid, father and son and daughter etc. etc. all in politics—these are but few examples of the living proofs that politics is addictive.

Would that Filipino politicians think of and work for the country—not for themselves! Would that they dedicate themselves to the socio-economic development of the Philippines—not that of their family and clan! Would that Philippine politics be for the public welfare and the common good—not for dynastic well-being and progress!

The People of the Philippines can dream, can’t they?

An intimate introduction to the people behind the religion

 

Author: Christopher Partridge

Title of the journal: Introduction to world religion

Url or web address: http://www.fortresspress.com/partridge

Main Idea :

A leading textbook for world religion, this new edition is designed to help students in their study and research of the world’s religious traditions. Known and valued for its balanced approach and its respected board of consulting editors, this text addresses ways to study religion, provides broad coverage of diverse religions, and offers an arresting layout with rich illustrations. The second edition has new and extended primary source readings, a stronger section on the religions of South Asia, additional maps, a new full-color, student-friendly format, and more. It can be purchased individually or as part of a Course Pack which includes the Study Companion. Authoritative content, comprehensive scope, arresting four-color illustration, and innovative learning aids, now in multiple formats for complete versatility.

 

Evidence that support the main idea:

Introduction to World Religions provides an overview of the key religions of the world and the way they have come to be studied and understood today. The course is designed to give you the tools to embark on a study of world religions through contemporary cases studies. It challenges you to look at both the insider’ and outsider’s perspectives and why even the title world religions’ might be controversial. It looks at the way religions adapt and change from their historical roots into the dynamic and fascinating forms we see today and how they interact with each other and the modern, secular world. It takes into account the views of leading academics and practitioners in the field who themselves had attempted to provide an overview that helps to make sense of diverse sets of beliefs and practices moldings the lives of millions of people in the world.

This course aims to help to develop a clearer framework for understanding different approaches to the study of religion and to consider in particular what the term world religion might mean. It does not assume prior knowledge of religion, the study of religion or world religions. It will allow examination of what each religion teaches as well as how each religion developed historically and functions in the world today. It does not aim to provide an in-depth study of each religion, but rather to help to make the first steps in such a study. Nor does it aim to make judgement about the validity or otherwise of truth statements made by religions, but rather to allow the religions to speak for themselves and approach their study with an open mind and an awareness that no perspective will be unbiased. In particular it will examine how religions can be studied from within (the insider perspective) as well from outside it (the outsider perspective) and how the interplay between these two is often what is involved in the study of religion.