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| Topic: The Future of Religion | |
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Edited by
smiless
on
Tue 03/31/09 10:09 PM
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And so we continue down the list. Again I want to mention these are all just introductions. I am sure each religion has pages upon pages of things to read about them. Just go to google.com and type in the religion and before you know it, you will have 1000 documents or websites to read about it.
 So we have Christianity on the 1st page, Catholicism, Amish, and Anglican on the 2nd page, and Baptisim on the 3rd page. Slowly but surely we are going through this. It is funny I just saw a image of a old man of a 102 with quill and parchment writing his book on all the religions that existed in the world. He struggles to lift his quill to write about a religion that starts with a Z. Shaking my head here. lol Weird fantasy I have don't I! okay let us continue CHRISTIAN SCIENCE Mary Baker Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist in nineteenth century America. She had a stern Calvinist upbringing, which she rebelled against. In her search for health, she experimented with alternative healing methods: homeopathy and suggestive, charismatic therapeutics as practiced by Phineas Parkhurst Quimby. Following Quimby's death, she increased her studies toward finding a universal spiritual principle of healing in the New Testament. It was during that perioid that she reportedly experienced a sudden recovery from what was thought to have been a severe accident. more to come.... |
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In 1875, Eddy published Science and Health, which was repeatedly revised over the following thirty five year. It was meant as a textbookf r the study and practice of Christian Science. In 1879, Eddy and a group of followers founded the Church of Christ, Scientist based on the belief that the spiritual world is the true reality.
A Christian Scientist does not have ot employ spiritual means for healing. The church encourages its members to be scrupulous in obeying public health laws, quarantine regulations, the reporting of contagious diseases, and immunization requirements where religious exemptions are not provided by law. The services ofdentists and optometrists, and physicians for the setting of bones, and doctors or midwives for delivery of a child are also sanctioned. Study and prayer are basic requirements of the denomination, as is the readiness of members to meet the challenges of Christian healings. All Christian Science churches maintain Reading Rooms for this purpose. For Christian Scientists, spiritual healing does not depend on age or experience. Children are said to respond naturally to God's love and to the mental environment surrounding them. Infants, it is claimed, often heal more readily than adults. Christian Scientists say that healing comes through scientific prayer or spiritual communion with God. It is specific treatment. Prayer recongnizes a patient's direct access to God's love and discovers more of the consistent operatio of God's law of health and wholeness on his behalf. They know God, or Divine Mind, as the only healer. A transfomration or spiritualization of a patient's thought changes his or her condition. Those members who indluge in a full time healing ministry are called Christian Science practitioners and are listed in the monthly directory. They usually charge their patients a nominal amount. The spiritual aspect of healing has come under direct criticsim by the medical professions. There have been cases in which the law has stepped in to force conventional medical treatement,, particularly when a child is involved. However, Christian Scientists point out that what they do has been practiced effectively for more than 100 years and that during the past 112 years, more then 50,000 testimoinies of healing have been authenticated. Many of these, it is said, have medical verification. In addition , thousands of accounts of healing are given each week at Wednesday testimony meetings in Christian Science churches aroundt he world. Three books - Healing Spirituality and A Century of Christian Science Healing, both published by the Christian Science Publishing Society and Spiritual Healing in a Scientific Age by Robert Peel give detailed accounts of verified healings. more to come... |
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Can Christian Scientists go to their own doctor or a hospital for medical care?
Christian Scientists (say) that they always have freedom of choice in caring for themselves and their families. If an individual departs from the use of Christian Science by choosing some other kind of treatment, he or she is neither condemned by the church nor dropped from membership. |
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Okay that is all I have for Christian Science. The introductory suffices, yet if you have more then don't hesitate to add it in here.
The next religion or Christian denomination is "Congregationalism" in which I will write tommorow sometime. Thanks for reading all this stuff 
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This is a thread to discuss every religion possible. There are at least more then 4000 religions that exist on this planet. I am sure I cannot talk about all of them in my lifetime, yet will introduce many to you each day, so don't hesitate to leave a comment, add more information, or even discuss or debate about them. I personally believe it is good to learn the great many idealogies allowing us to broaden our knowledge and accept different cultures and belief system to ensure a better understanding of our neighbors and what I would like to say friends. Please if you have a disagreement on a debate use the words "respectfully disagree with your idealogy because (your reason)" to ensure that this thread will last a very long time even after I have stopped posting in here. So now to the title I wish to begin this thread with THE FUTURE OF RELIGION There is a universality contained in the answers, from whichever source one goes to, to the question: "What is the future of religion?" In essence, the respondents advised that a considerable increase of mutual understanding around the world needs to come about - an understanding that the earth is occupied by a vast number of people with an equally vast number of beliefs, and respect should be paid to all. It might seem a tall order to ask a Roman Catholic, for instance, to get an understanding of Buddhism or Deism, or the other way around. It is less in my hopes that you as a person would try to become a "student" like I am and study to understand the world's religions, yet I can understand that it is not everyone's cup of tea; neverthelesss, the philosophy of the Golden Rule is implicit in virtually every religion in which Confucius (551 - 479 BC) in my studies it accord to be found first written. If you find the Golden Rules in a earlier religion then please post it here in the forum for us to learn. In the many history books that I enjoy to read under a candlelight with a cup of cocoa, I come to discover that in times of trouble - either personal, national, or international - that the number of people who embrace a religion increases. Therefore, I can almost safely say that trouble doesn't seem to ever go away as long as humans will exist and therefore can also say that religion will also never go away. Both are to stay. If you have comments on this please mention them. Also here is but a small list of religions we can discuss if you like. If you are interested and have the time then please begin it with a introductory. Maybe describe its founding or its history ever since. What do you enjoy about it? Why did you choose it? What makes you most happy when practicing your belief system? I am also interested in Atheists or Agnostic views. Here is the list: Christianity Catholicism Amish Angilican Baptist Christian Science Congegationalism Jehovah's Witness Mennonite Mormonism Presbyterianism Adventist Deism Lutheranism Methodist Orthodoxy Protestantism Quakerism Unitarian Universalist Association Islam Hinduism Buddhiism Judaism Jeedism Confucianism Taoism Jainism and Baha'i Sikhism Shinto Hare Krishna Pentecostalism Rastafarianism Scientology Shamanism Yoruba Zoroastrianism The Druids Native American Religions * African Religions Australian/Aboriginal Faiths The Maori Faith Polynesian Religions New Age Spirituality Spiritism Wicca and Witchcraft ** I will throughout the days while I am still online offer a small introductory of each religion for you to discover and understand. By learning different faith systems in a world that seems to get smaller and smaller (meaning in transportation and technology allowing us to communicate with whomever in a blink of a second around the world) the education in understanding different faith systems will allow us to find peace or at least a better understanding of other cultures uncommon to our own. With this I look forward to your wisdom, studies, discussions, debates, and even disagreements. Your friendly neighbor with a great big smile  smiless What about this one: http://www.gnosticchristianity.com/ Are we free enough for this yet? |
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Edited by
smiless
on
Wed 04/01/09 05:11 AM
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Welcome on board Monier. I encourage you to put in other religions that are not on the list. Gnostic Christianity looks very interesting and since you have shown the link, I will paste the first two paragraphs for others to read.
GNOSTIC CHRISTIANITY "True" Gnostic Christianity is an objective body of knowledge that Jesus taught. It is not a mystery religion or heretical cult. Gnostic Christianity teaches a non-judgemental "process" of reasoning. This new process, is justified by a natural principle that Jesus revealed and contemporary physics demonstrates is a scientific fact. Combining non- judgemental reasoning with the current judgemental process, expands our consciousness of reality. In this enlightened consciousness we are personally empowered to resolve all problems and as Paul said "live the good life as from the beginning He [God] had meant us to live it." (Eph 2:10) Evidence that Jesus taught a process of reasoning that could expand consciousness surfaces in Jn 8:31-32 jbv, where he says, "If you make my word your home… you will learn the truth and the truth will set you free [word or will of God is the English translation of the Greek term logos, which refers to the logic or reasoning of God]." And in Rm 12:2 (rsv) Paul said "do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." The Gnosis, or reasoning process, that Gnostic Christianity introduces, does not contradict Jesus' spiritually-centered public teachings. It documents what scholars refer to as Jesus' oral or logos/logic tradition, which he taught in private (Mk 4:33-34). These teachings elevate our reasoning mind to that of the will/reasoning of God. In this renewed mind, our reasoning supports spiritual values. This is the truth that can set us free. For when mind and spirit seek the same ends (syzygy) doing "on earth as it is in heaven" will no longer be an idealistic goal, it will be a practical reality. (Matt 6:10) I am sure there are many who follow this belief system. Thank you for sharing this and hopefully you can help me with introductions of religions to allow others to have a better understanding of the diversities there are around the world. I am sure I will not be able to place the over 4000 religions available on here, but I wouldn't mind the help. |
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Edited by
smiless
on
Wed 04/01/09 05:24 AM
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Good Morning folks. I hope you had a good sleep and the job isn't giving you too much stress. That life is grand and that you have enough food and drink to be energetic throughout the day.
Today we start with Congregationalism. Congregationalism came to America with the Pilgrims in 1620 and blossomed in New England. As the country grew, Congregational churches were established in newly opened frontier regions. The movement originated in England in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Theologically, Congregationalists fall somewhere between Presbyterians and the more radical Protestants. The denomination maintains the right of each individual church to self government and to its own statement of doctrine. In its home country, England, Congregationalism has declined, but not as markedly in the United States. Even so, the faith has not expanded at the same rate as other religions. In 1931, Congregational churches were united with the Christian Church under the name General Council of the Congregational and Christian Churches of the United States. In 1957, many Congregational churches united with the Evangelical and Reformed Church to form the United Church of Christ. Congregational philosophy, its ideas, and practices have influenced many other churches and habe been a major factor in shaping the institutions and general culture of the United States. There has always been a strong bent to preaching in the faith because the word of God as declared in the scriptures, has great importance to Congregationalists. Baptism and communion are considered to be the only sacraments instituted by Christ. Infants are baptized genderally by sprinkling, not immersion. Communion is usually celebrated once or twice a month. Interestingly, and a clue perhaps to the continued independence of the faith is that if the sermon is preached after the interval that generally follows the celebration, many of the congregation have the option to leave. (Well there you go. I had a thread where I asked a question if religions that don't do well will ever merge with other ones. Most said no on the thread, in which they could be right, but in this case it looks like the Congregational belief system did merge with others or at least integrated with them to survive its dying members) more to come... |
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Edited by
smiless
on
Wed 04/01/09 05:36 AM
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Interesting note:
The works of the great Congregationalist hymn writer Isaac Watts are featured prominently in Congregational worship. The English compliation, Congregations Praise (1951), maintains its tradition. also Publishing activities have formed a major part of the belief's work, including books, tracts, recordings, and the successful semimonthly magazines Watchtower and its companion publication Awake, which are said to have a circulation of more than 10 million distributed in eighty languages. This is all I have for "Congregationalism". If you have more to share or are of this belief system and wish to share your thoughts then don't hesitate to do so. Next up is "Jehovah's Witness". |
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Edited by
smiless
on
Wed 04/01/09 06:04 AM
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Wow this is a very interesting religion, I must add. I always heard of the Jehovah Witness and I think I even had a few knocks on my door once before, yet I never really showed any interest in their advertising.
Today as I read about this religion, I see that it is a bit different then the other Christian denominations. Actually I wonder if it even belongs to the Christian denomination or not. Perhaps you can educate me on this or find out to add to the introductory I present. It looks like they do use the Bible, but only certain parts or interpret it differently then the other denominations. JEHOVAH'S WITNESS The Witnesses have little or no association with other denominations, nor with secular governments. They hold that world powers and political parties are the unwitting allies of Satan. They refuse to salute the flags of nations and to perform military service: they almost never vote. The belief grew from the INternational Bible Students Association founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1872 by Chalres Taze Russell. A successor to Russell, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, aimed to have Jehovah (Yahweh) reaffirmed as the true God and to identify thosw who witness in this name as God's specially accredited followers. It was Rutherford's successor, NathanHomer Knorr, who directed a group of Witnesses to produce a new translation of the Bible. Jehovah's Witnesses, currently represented in more than 200 countries, are a high intensity faith groups that expercts a dedicated commitment from its members. more to come... |
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Beliefs of Jehovah Witness
The fundamental principle of the Jehovah's witness belief is the establishment of God's Kingdom, the Theocracy ( a form of governmment by God). They believe that this will come about after Armageddon, the ultimate and final conflict between good and evil. This is based on their interpretation of the Biblical books of Daniel and Revelation, which they used to make apocalyptic calculations. Pastor Russel determined that 1874 would be the year of Christ's invisible return. He also figured that 1914 would be th eyear of Christ's Second Coming and the end of the Gentiles. Apparently, making prophecies is not done in this way anymore, which isn't surprising considering the track record. Nowadays, analysis is based on modernn life and current events. Jehovah's Witnesses insist that Jesus Christs is God's agent and that through him man will be reconciled to Jehovah God. The Bible is considered to be infallible and the revealed word of God. Their own version of the Bible is called "New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures." It is avaible in many languages. Traditional biblical scholars have disagreed sharply with what they claim are distortions in the translations. As far as hell and the inevitablity of eternal life are concered, Jehovah's Witness dismiss both. Many of them believe that death is the end; total extinction. Witnesses meet in churches called Kingdom Halls, the organization of which involves a complicated administrative structure of appointed members called Overseers or Elders. Members are baptized by immersion and must adhere to a strong moral code. Divorce is not approved of except on the grounds of adultery. A major amd much criticized condition of membership is the prohibition against blood transfusions. Even the storing of one's own blood for auto transfusion, generally done prior as major elective surgery, is not permitted. Witnesses believe that any blood that leaves the body must be destroyed. In 1967, the church stated that organ transplants are a form of cannibalism and are to be shunned. This directive was reversed in 1980 and left up to personal conscience, which wasn't of much value to those members who needed transplants to save their lives during the thirteen years of prohibition. Not too surprisingly, there have been many court cases over the claims of the needless deaths of children, mothers, and other adults who might possibly still be alive had a transfusion been given. more to come.... |
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Edited by
smiless
on
Wed 04/01/09 06:05 AM
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Rituals and Customs of Jehovah Witness
Only one day of celebration is acknowledged: Memorial of Christ's Death, which takes place in the Spring at the same time as the Jewish celeberation of Passover. Witnesses believe that Jesus was born on October 2. Neither that date nor any so called pagan holidays - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, Halloween, birthdays are celeberated. There is no Sabbath; all days are regarded as holy. All positions of authority are reserved for men. As most people know, doorstep preaching is a very visual part of Jehovah's Witness practices. In addition to those activities, members are expected to spend five hours a week at meetings in Kingdom Hall. If members decide to leave the Witnesses or are "disfellowshipped," life may become very difficult for them. In many cases they are shunned completely, even by their own family members. If a person has been a devout member, the effect of being excommunicated, as it were, can be devastating. Some former members have set up groups to help other former members deal with the psychological fallout. Three groups direct Jehovah's Witnesses: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania; The Watch Tower Bible and Tracts, Inc., of New York; and the International Bible Students Association. This is all I have for the introduction of this religion. If you practice such a faith and wish to share your insights on your religion then please don't hesitate to do so. Next up "Mennonite" in which I will do a little later on today. |
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Edited by
smiless
on
Wed 04/01/09 06:53 AM
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Content thus far:
Page 1 - Brief introduction of Christianity - http://mingle2.com/topic/show/215176 Page 2 - Brief introduction of Catholicism, Amish, Anglican - http://mingle2.com/topic/show/215176?page=2 Page 3 - Brief introduction of Baptists - http://mingle2.com/topic/show/215176?page=3 Page 4 - Brief introduction of Christian Science, Gnostic Christianity*, Congregationalism, Jehovah's Witness * was not on the list |
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Edited by
ThomasJB
on
Wed 04/01/09 08:35 AM
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An fascinating bit of history about the Jehova's Witness' from Wikipedia:
On July 17, 1917, Rutherford dismissed four of the directors, claiming they had not been legally elected. He then announced the release of The Finished Mystery as the seventh volume of Studies in the Scriptures; the book was described as "a posthumous publication ... of Charles Taze Russell", but was actually written by two other Bible Students. The Finished Mystery strongly criticised Catholic and Protestant clergy and Christian involvement in war. Citing this book, the United States federal government indicted Rutherford and the new board of directors for violation of the Espionage Act on May 7, 1918. They were found guilty and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. In March 1919, the judgment against them was reversed and they were released from prison; the charges were later dropped. [one thing you failed to mention was their rejection of military service] Patriotic fervor during World War I fueled persecution of the Bible Students in both America and Europe, including mob violence and tarring and feathering. |
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Edited by
smiless
on
Wed 04/01/09 10:19 AM
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An fascinating bit of history about the Jehova's Witness' from Wikipedia: On July 17, 1917, Rutherford dismissed four of the directors, claiming they had not been legally elected. He then announced the release of The Finished Mystery as the seventh volume of Studies in the Scriptures; the book was described as "a posthumous publication ... of Charles Taze Russell", but was actually written by two other Bible Students. The Finished Mystery strongly criticised Catholic and Protestant clergy and Christian involvement in war. Citing this book, the United States federal government indicted Rutherford and the new board of directors for violation of the Espionage Act on May 7, 1918. They were found guilty and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. In March 1919, the judgment against them was reversed and they were released from prison; the charges were later dropped. [one thing you failed to mention was their rejection of military service] Patriotic fervor during World War I fueled persecution of the Bible Students in both America and Europe, including mob violence and tarring and feathering. Thank you for the information. I did however mention in the first paragraph that they reject joining military service. Here it is: JEHOVAH'S WITNESS The Witnesses have little or no association with other denominations, nor with secular governments. They hold that world powers and political parties are the unwitting allies of Satan. They refuse to salute the flags of nations and ((to perform military service)): they almost never vote. Although with what you write it shows a further elaboration why they don't join. Of course they believe all governments are of Satan. This will be their primary reason I suppose. |
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Edited by
smiless
on
Wed 04/01/09 10:29 AM
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MENNONITE
The Mennonite sect took their name from Menno Simonz, a sixteenth century dutch religious leader. They have been categorized as a group that withdrew from society. However, they became deeply involved in sectarian virtues - frugality, hard work, and piety. Around 1663, Mennonites moved virtually en masse to America. Interesting, some Mennonites also settled in Russia, arrivng in the Volga region at the end of the eighteenth century. All Mennonite communities in Russia were either destroyed during World War II or dissolved by the Soviets after 1945, and Mennonites now live scattered among the Russian population. Today, Mennonites worship in over sixty countries with an estimated membership of more than a million. Twenty formally organized Mennonite groups are in America, all of which have thir origins in the Anabaptist movement. Mennonites retained much of their Anabaptist philosophy, particularly the rejection of infant baptism. Adult baptism is carried out when an adult declares faith in the church. While there is no single defining set of beliefs, Mennonites affirm both the Trinity and the scriptures The New Testament and the teachings of Jesus are the bedrock of their faith. their services tend to be plain. Sermons are common and frequently address problems in the community and elsewhere. Independence has always been the thrust of their faith. more to come.... |
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Mennonites became known for wanting to be left alone to worship God in their own way. Similarities can be seen in the Amish, who also hasd Anabaptist roots. Until the ninteenth century, Mennonites, most of whom descend from German and Swiss ancestors spoke and worshipped in German, which tended to ensure their isolation in the community.
Their commitment to pacifism also has kept them aprt fom other Christian denominations. A Mennonite statement to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1775 said, "It is our principle to feed the hungry and give the thirsty drink; we have dedicated ourselves to serve all men in everything that can be helpful to the preservation of men's lives, but we find no freedom in giving, or doing, or assisting in anything by which men's lives are destroyed or hurt." Mennonites are well known for their stand for peace. Many choose not to participate in military service. some even object to government military spending. During the American Civil War, Mennonites hired substitutes or paid exemption fees of three or five hundred dollars to either side to avoid fighting in the war. Those who did decide to fight were excommunicated. In North America, the Mennonites support their own colleges and seminaries. Similarly, they maintain secondary and Bible Schools. New interest in their faith and history has fostered a reawakening, and they became more involved in society with an emphasis on witness, service, and evangelism. Instead of withdrawal, they found new ways of relating to the world. A deeply felt commitment to social concerns, both nationally and internationally, combined with thier nonresistance ethic, has motivated the Mennonites to create various worldwide aid relief committees. Their missionaries have established churches in Latin America, Africa, India, and in many other parts of the world. This concludes the basic introduction of Mennonites. If you have more information and wish to share it then don't hesitate to do so. Next up on the list is "Mormonism". |
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Thank you for the information. I did however mention in the first paragraph that they reject joining military service. D'oh!  Sorry I hadn't even had my first cup of coffee yet.
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Edited by
smiless
on
Wed 04/01/09 01:10 PM
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Thank you for the information. I did however mention in the first paragraph that they reject joining military service. D'oh! Sorry I hadn't even had my first cup of coffee yet.
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Edited by
smiless
on
Wed 04/01/09 05:24 PM
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MORMONISM
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the principal formal body embracing Mormonism. It has well over thirteen million members by the early twenty first century. It is headquarted in Salt Lake City, Utah. The next largest Mormon denomination is the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is headquartered in Independence, Missouri. It has membership of more than a quarter of a million. Joseph Smith founded Mormonism in upstate New York after he translated his revelation of The Book of Mormon, which recounts the history of certain tribes of Israel that Smith maintained migrated to America before Christ was born. Their experiences appear to parallel those written in the Old Testament. Mormons accept the Bible only "as far as it is translated correctly," because Joseph Smith did not finish his translation. However, he did produce another scripture called "The Pearl of Great Price." A major difference between the two Mormon sects is that the Reorganizied Church, while holding to the Book of Mormon, rejects certain parts of it, in particular the evolutionary concepts of deity and polytheism, the new convenant of celestial marriage, baptism on behalf of the dead, polygamy, and tithing. They also reject The book of Abraham because they do not believe it is of divine origin. Mormons are closely identified in America with the Western state of Utah, which is where the church members settled in the 1840s after having been driven out of earlier settlements in Independence, Missouri and Nauvoo, Illinois; the latter is where Joseph Smith was killed by a mob in 1844. Today, Mormons still make up over half the population of the state of Utah. more to come... |
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Way of Life for a Mormon
Teh Mormon way of life is distinguished by order and respect ofr authority, church activism, strong conformity with the group, and vigorous prslytizing and missionary activities. AS an example of the strictiness of the faith, the official pamphlet on Dating and Courtship calls passioate kissing prior to marriaage a sin. The church advises young people not to engage in any behavior with anyone that they would not do with a brother or sister while in the presence of their parents. Teh church also discourages interracial dating. As for military service, the church considers it a duty of its members. However, any member can opt for conscientious objection, but not by giving religious faith as a reason for it. The church discourages conscientious objection, and in fact, endorses a corps of chaplains who serve in the United States armed services. Mormons believe that faithful members of the church will inherit eternal life as gods, and even those who had rejected God's law during life would spend the afterlife in glory. more to come.... |
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