Chapter 12: Islam - People of the Book

This chapter deals with the complicated history of a people, the brief history of a religion called Islam, which is further complicated by different factions (much like Christianity) within the groups of Moslems that is the second largest religion in the world. It is a religion founded by a prophet, deemed the Messenger of God, which was carried on by its followers who separated into factions due to philosophical disagreements, whose partial doctrine of conversion is violence (depending upon the faction), misunderstood and misrepresented by Moslem and non-Moslem alike; and whose doctrine under certain leadership within factions have led to fascism, religious fanaticism, death and destruction in the name of Allah, the Arabic word of God – despite the fact that they worship that same God as the Christians and Jews, to whom they often war with or persecute. It is because of doctrine differences that they do so, as well as believing that no person (not even their beloved prophet/founder Muhammad) or perceived deity should be worshiped instead of the one and true God; which pits them against the Christians who have deified their prophet, teacher, and reformer of the Hebrew faith, Jesus of Nazareth (Galilee) – the Christ. Other differences or similarities between the other two monotheistic religions of Christianity and Hebrew are in the rites performed, as in the Five Pillars of Islam prescribed by the founder, Mohammed.

Chapter 18: Wicca - Old Pagan Religion Renewed

Wicca is a modern neo-pagan religion that is based upon an ancient pagan religion that was common among the Celts of northern Europe, and in Britannia (so named by Julius Caesar who conquered and made it part of the Roman Empire) where the mystic cult of Druidism originated based upon the “Mother” fertility goddess whose consort was a horned god. It is a mystery religion that has different theological concepts or denominations, some monotheist, original goddess worship, such as the Dianic Wicca, Cochrane's Craft, and polytheism. Denominations are considered traditions within the Wiccans: Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca follow the concepts of Gerald Gardner.

Through the Looking Glass: Religious Perspective

The classic literature of Lewis Carroll (birth name: Charles Dodgson) has gone down through the ages reprinted into books, plays, and films. It began with the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in 1865, which was followed by Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There in 1871. Through the Looking Glass was about a world beyond a mirror (looking glass). If one looks into a mirror one sees a reflection that appears reversed; however, if one was looking from within or the other side of the “looking glass” it would be a natural view. As with the mirror, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is filled with symbolism – a world remarkably different than reality, and a world where nothing is as it seems. 

 

So it is for the so-called Religion of Peace ...

Easter Message: April 8th 2012

Today is Easter Sunday.

I want to put out something brief and get back to family activities.

It is disturbing to know that some people believe Jesus was a “Commie”. Apparently they have not learned in school just what Marxism is. 

But after examining today's textbooks, I can see why.

To fellow Christians and anyone: I wish you blessings and peace as you spend time with your families this weekend.

From Gospel of Matthew 28:1-9 …

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold , there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake , and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified . 6 He is not here: for he is risen , as he said . Come , see the place where the Lord lay . 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold , he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo , I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word . 9 And as they went to tell his disciples , behold , Jesus met them, saying , All hail . And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

Religious Tolerance: Policy of Obama and Progressives

Rarely will you see anything written concerning politics here at Veritas et Theologium; however, when government intervenes upon religious rights and the First Amendment – it is another matter.

In January of 2012, Barack Obama's Department of Health and Human Services announcement requirement of all employers to offer insurance coverage of sterilization, abortifacients and contraceptives without deductible or co-pays in their employee plans by August 1^st, 2012.

Churches are exempt; however, Catholic-funded hospitals, schools or other charity organizations are not exempt.

Archbishop, soon Cardinal Timothy Dolan, New York, leader of the US Council of Catholic Bishops stated:

The government should not force Americans to act as if pregnancy is a disease to be prevented at all costs. Historically, this represents a challenge and a compromise of our religious liberty.

Chapter 20: Christology: Unitarianism

 

Phenomenology of World Religion

Chapter 20 ©
[Christology: Unitarianism]

The Christian religion has gone through many changes since the death of Jesus the Christ, Galilean of Nazareth. Indeed, after the Christian Church was organized, becoming the Holy Roman Catholic Church and the Great Schism that separated Christianity between East and West, Byzantine (Eastern Orthodox Church) ⁱ and Roman, ⁱⁱ different sects based upon certain theological concepts like the Gnostics as discussed in Chapters 9 & 10. The early forming Church that held councils periodically to decide just what universal doctrine would be approved, as well as make decisions in regards to splinter groups (sects) like Arianism.

Unitarianism is a proper noun in English that is a religious “ism” movement like Calvinism, Anabaptism, Adventism, Wesleyanism, Protestantism, Catholicism, and so on. It is a sect of Protestantism (that is a sect of Catholicism). One can readily see that Christianity, for all its similarities between sects and theological diversity is one of the most complex to understand the differences, despite being based upon the identity of Jesus (the Galilean) from Nazareth, known as Christ.

In the case of Unitarianism, it is a actually a description of several forms of Christianity; and can be described as the belief that God is one personality. That is the main difference between the major sects theological thought in what is called Trinitarianism.

"Christophobia" Rhetoric: Politics as a Religion

  Suzanne Fields writes in Turning Swords in Bombs …

What is Islam? Is the barbarity of September 11 rooted in the preaching of Muhammad? Or are the Islamists, the Islamic fascists, bent on the destruction of all who disagree with them, merely an aberration, mixing politics, religion and violence in an appeal to the lowest psychological denominators of suicide bombers? Historians, political scientists and psychologists are all over the place in supplying answers to these questions. … The historical forces at play are obvious. Bernard Lewis, a leading scholar of Islamist rage, places the fault line at the failure of the Muslim world to keep up with the West in the modern world. Diminishing Muslim power is both a humiliation and in Muslim minds a reversal of divine law, driving the losers to pick through the verses of the Koran to find justification for violence against winners. … Other scholars blame Western colonialism and imperialism, along with Judeo-Christian traditions, as contributing to the violent mentality of the extremists. These aberrations, they say, cannot be found in the teachings of Muhammad. … Islamists distorted this phenomenon for their own malevolent ends, fusing politics and religion into an all-purpose aggression for the “long-suffering victims” of Western imperial expansion. But there’s another view. “The Middle East’s experience is the culmination of long-existing indigenous trends, passions, and patterns of behavior, first and foremost the region’s millenarian imperial tradition,” writes Efraim Karsh, a British scholar, in “Islamic Imperialism,” a provocative and persuasive book. … He looks directly to the words of Muhammad, who in his farewell address to his followers ordered them to fight all men until they submit with the assertion that “There is no god but Allah.” … Muhammad proselytized with violence and used violence to consolidate conquest. Occupying territory was as important as converting or killing unbelievers. When the Jews of Medina resisted Muhammad in the 7^th century, he beheaded the men and sold their women and children into slavery. The prophet, who claimed to derive his power and authority from Allah, was not only head of the captured states but was the single religious authority. “This allowed the prophet to cloak political ambitions with a religious aura,” writes Mr. Karsh, a professor at the University of London, “and to channel Islam’s energies into its instrument of aggressive expansion.” The ultimate goal would be for the world either to embrace Islam or live under its domination. This goal was realized in part with the establishment of the Ottoman Empire, which allowed certain other religions to exist but not prosper. Christians who sought domination, on the other hand, never invoked the teachings of Christ to justify violence. … The interpretation of the Islamist mentality as rooted in Muhammad’s appeal to violence, and the Islamist determination for religious domination of the world, may not tell the whole story today, but it explains why, for millions of Muslims, the image of the warrior trumps the image of a prophet of peace – if, indeed, there ever was one.