There are thousands of religions on this planet named Earth, and many of those religions worship countless false gods and/or idols. However, Catholics are a monotheistic people; they believe in and worship the one and only, all-powerful being. This being is comprised of three distinct natures: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three, although distinct from one another, come together collectively in one Divine Person known as the Trinity, or God. God is the ultimate creator of all things. When these things, namely the human race, began their sinning ways, they were in dire need of a Savior. These wretched ways are expressed in St. Athanasius’ book On the Incarnation. Because of His loving nature, though, God came down in a human configuration through His Son, Jesus Christ, so that all might be spared from death and share in His salvation and eternal life.
When God constructed the human race, He had in mind wondrous intentions for them. However, when Adam and Eve, symbolizing humanity, turned away from God, He was forced to punish them; that punishment is Original Sin. Original Sin made humans liable to death (Athanasius 7). Mankind continued their iniquitous ways, and very soon they learned of the destruction they were causing in their lives. What options did God have? Certainly, He could not just destroy the humans, for they were fashioned in the likeness of God Himself, and He could not simply decimate his creation (Athanasius 6). Repentance would not do either because through it the humans might return to their corruption, and it does not recall men from what is according to their nature (Athanasius 6).
The human race owed a debt that had to be paid, and they paid that debt through death (Athanasius...
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...eternal life with Him in Heaven.
Jesus, the Savior, was needed mainly because humanity was being led astray from the path of righteousness. The human race was created by God, and that is why He was the only one who could save the humans and bring them back to life. Through coming down in a human embodiment and dying on the cross, Jesus Christ defeated death and brought salvation to all who believe in and follow Him. If mankind continues to follow the teachings and examples of how to live set by Jesus, then the future hope of our own resurrections into the Kingdom of God look very promising.
Works Cited
Pohle, Amanda. “On the Incarnation.” Sophomore Theology. St. Mary’s Springs Academy, Fond du Lac, WI. 7, 24 February 2014.
St. Athanasius. "On the Incarnation." Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 1 Jan. 2007. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.
A time comes in everybody's life where they need to be "saved." When this happens a spiritual bond is formed with in that individual. In Langston Hughes' essay, "Salvation," that bond is broken because Langston wasn't saved. It is because Langston turned to Jesus, and in his eyes Jesus wasn't there. This creating a conflict within himself and the members of the church, with the end result being Langston's faith being destroyed.
When we think of religion, we picture distinct overview of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to certain spiritual manifests. Various religions developed certain stories, symbols, and sacred backgrounds that explain everything from the meaning of life to the overall power of the Universe. Catholics are Christians who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Catholicism shares few beliefs with other Christian practices but, essential Catholic beliefs are as followed: The Bible is the inspired word of God. Baptism, the rite of becoming a Christian, is necessary for salvation whether or not a baptism is done by water, blood, or choice. God’s Ten Commandments provides a certain direction — an ethical standard to
Layton, Bentley. "The Gnostic Scripture." The Gnostic Scripture. New York: Doubleday, 1987, 1995. 9. Paperback.
"EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 & 2." EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2014.
The Roman Catholic Church is the largest body of Christians in the world. Catholics are concentrated more heavily in North America, Europe and South America than any other place. The traces of the beginning of the Catholic Church began about A.D. 30; this is the time when Jesus Christ was mandating his apostles to spread the teachings about the Kingdom of God. (Gills Web). Catholics have the belief that Christ inaugurated the church to carry to his people the salvation that he had brought to the world. They also believe that with the aid of God they have managed to preserve his teachings. Belief in God’s revelation is religious faith. Some beliefs that the Roman Catholic’s acquire are the Trinity and creation, Sin, the Incarnation, and salvation, Life after death, Worship and Baptism, Confirmation, and Mass. (Gills Web). Trinity and creation is where Catholics presume there is only one God. This one God exists of a unit of three persons – The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three persons form the Holy Trinity. (Gills Web) Although this is true there is still only one God.
Otto, Rudolf. The Idea of the Holy. Trans. John W. Harvey. New York: Oxford UP, 1958. Print.
In Langston Hughes’ essay “Salvation,” Langston talks about the first time he is going to be saved from sin. Langston is a young boy around the age of thirteen. He is going to church to see Jesus for the first time. In which case, he truly experiences religion for the first time in his life. Throughout this essay Langston uses many narrative techniques such as, imagery, metaphors, and irony to explain his interpretation of that one night when he did not see Jesus.
...s distributed in Theology 101 at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle on 22 April 2008.
In the book One the Incarnation by Saint Athanasius it talks about why Jesus became human for our salvation. Jesus had no reason not to enter into the world as a human, because “it was right that they should be thus attributed to his as man, in order to show that his body was a real one and not merely an appearance” (Athanasius 15). Showing that it was important for Jesus to be a human and spread his knowledge among us; to help us learn and be able to teach other through oral and written tradition. It was now necessary for Jesus to come for our salvation because “had he surrendered his body to death and then raised it at once…which showed him to be not only a man, but also a God the word” (Athanasius 14). This connects back to by why Jesus wants humans to believe that he died a human death.
Rourke, Nancy. “Christianity Notes.” Religion 101 Notes Christianity. Entry posted April 14, 2011. https ://angel.canisius.edu/section/default.asp?id=43760%5FSpring2011 (accessed April 18, 2011).
Dhanpat Rai Shrivastava was born on July 31, 1880 in the small village of Lamahi, located near the city of Banaras in India. Although born into the Hindu Kaystha caste, made up of professionals including writers, doctors and lawyers, his family was poor. His father was a low paid postal employee. His mother died when he was only eight years old. His father remarried, but Dhanpat Rai did not like his stepmother. He studied Urdu and Persian, languages used in literature and administration in 19th century North India at a nearby school. He recalles his childhood fondly in one of his stories, so it is fairly safe to assume that he was a happy and well cared for child.
God provides us with everything we need; we see this in Genesis where he provided Adam everything he needed. Jesus became a man by reincarnation a verse to support this is John 1:14 “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory. The glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Is it possible to understand the gospel message, serve as an officer in a church, be sure of your salvation, and yet still not get into heaven when you die? Matthew, one of the original twelve disciples, answered this question clearly. Yes, on “that day”, many will stand before God and hear Him say, “I know you not; depart from me.” (Matthew 7:23 KJV)
Saul Bellow is known as one of the most influential and important writers in the post World War II era and has won numerous awards for his work including the Pulitzer Prize, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Nobel Prize for literature. One of Bellow's famous short stories, "A Father-to-Be" follows a single day in the life of a young scientist, Rogin, who is starting to feel pressure from his fiancee, Joan, and the stress of marriage and possibly fatherhood. "The Gonzaga Manuscripts" is another short story of Bellows that is examined by many critics. The story tracks the expedition of an American scholar, Charles Feiler, who is in search for the works of a Spanish poet, Gonzaga. To find the poems would be an act of deliverance in Feiler's mind and he believes bringing that little part of Gonzaga to the world would be an act of hope the world needs.A final example of Bellow's short stories is "Looking for Mr. Green". The tale outlines the first day on the job for a relief check delivery man, George Grebe and his struggle in finding his first receiver in a Chicago ghetto. In Saul Bellow's critically acclaimed novella, Seize the Day, which includes three short stories, Bellow explores the central theme of the protagonist's fight against the unpredictable conflicts of life and the search for transcendence and truth.
... he was sent to earth to save human beings from sin and death. The teaching's of Jesus center around love. The way to salvation is do good works. Also too have faith in G-d and the Christ's resurrection.