I believe Christianity is a religion of resistance because the early Christians refused to comply to the Roman authority that wished for them to disband their religion and practice commonplace pagan worship of the age. However, I think that Christianity is best described as a religion of passive resistance, rather than active resistance. Active resistance implies that the early Christians outright defied the ancient laws through physical confrontation. However, the texts that we have read express that the violence that occurred is one-sided, implying that the Christians themselves did not initiate or participating in the violence. Thus, I believe that Christianity is a religion of passive resistance, meaning that the early Christians exhibited a nonviolent refusal to cooperate with the religious standards to the Roman authority and quietly accepted the consequences of their choice. …show more content…
Cyprian outlines the reasons why the Christians refuse to comply with the Roman's social and religious practices. Cyprian's reasons include common corruption displayed in theatre, the gladiatorial games, and among the wealthy. However, Cyprian's response to corruption is not to take a physical stand and fight against the corruption that he sees, rather Cyprian composes a treatise "in order to convert pagans," and to explain why the Christian's refuse to take part in the typical Roman social activities (47). This is an example of the Christian's passive resistance because they chose to refrain from taking part in the activities they opposed, rather than taking any physical action to stop others from participating in
Social support withdrawn. Friendship cessation. A family disowns its own. A community turns its back. These are the hallmarks of religious shunning. Because many people have never dealt with a repressive religion, they may not understand the concept of ‘being cast out.’ A person who experiences religious shunning may suffer many turbulent emotions and phases. Many ex-followers may endure extreme disbelief and fear during their initial shunning. Similarly, shunned members may experience turmoil and extreme depression after being shunned. Without social and physical support, the transitional period after their disassociation is marked by extremely negative circumstances. If a member survives the initial shunning, they often feel anger and resentment, while others may eventually return to their faith. Apostolate members may become a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’ inasmuch that many openly begin to denounce their previous religion. Although shunning is said to be an act of love, ultimately, the act is a painful means of control that causes the ‘beloved’ to suffer greatly.
1.) Intro: I decided to focus my Religious Ethnography on a friend whom I recently have become close with. Adhita Sahai is my friend’s name, which she later told me her first name meant “scholar.” I choose to observe and interview Adhita, after she invited me to her home after hearing about my assignment. I was very humbled that she was open to this, because not only was it a great opportunity for this paper, but it also helped me get to know Adhita better. I took a rather general approach to the religious questions that I proposed to the Sahai family because I didn’t want to push to deep, I could tell Hinduism is extremely important to this family. Because this family does not attend a religious site where they worship, I instead listened to how they do this at home as a family instead.
This paper was written for my Writing 209 class. For the assignment ,Donna Marsh, asked us to find an article in a periodical that dealt with an issue in our American culture. We were then told to express our opinion on the topic discussed in the article and to analyze the argument presented in the article. I chose the topic of school prayer because I believe strongly in the separation of church and state that exists in our country. This is a controversial issue that is worthy of discussion, and hopefully my essay will provoke you in some manner whether you agree with my premise or feel that the views I express are totally invalid.
"EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 & 2." EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2014.
All comes to show, that Christianity took hold on the ancient world because it was easy, convenient and powerful. Christianity is a strong religion seeming as it still stands
Religions play a crucial role in impacting how adherents live their lives and their understanding of humanities enduring questions of life. Religion is an active system of faith. Christianity is a religion centred on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the bible. A living tradition is one that is active amongst followers in present society. Whereas a dynamic tradition is capable of adapting and amending in order to meet the needs of society. Christianity is formed as a living and dynamic tradition, which is defined by its distinct characteristics. Characteristics include, sacred texts and writings, rituals and ceremonies, beliefs and believers and ethics. Ultimately, Christianity is shaped as a living and dynamic tradition through the characteristics of religion’s impacts on adherents.
Christian Science is an idealistic and most radical form of transcendental religiosity. The study of Christian Science teaches a feeling of understanding of God's goodness and the differences between good and evil, life and death. The purpose of this paper is to address how the study of Christian Science helps us better understand the impact of globalization in America, as well as the impact of American on globalization. This paper is important because globalization features a dominant worldview. All throughout the world people believe, study and teach different types of religious movements that impact others. People need to better understand how certain religions modify, conflict with, and impact the world. First, it will discuss the life and work of the founder, Mary Baker Eddy. Secondly, it will examine the primary rituals and religious services of the Christian Science movement. Then, it will outline the precursors and history of the religion. In the conclusion, a response will be offered to the question of how Christian Science helps us better understand the impact of globalization on America and of America on globalization.
Religion is a symbolic representation of society. The sociological approach to religious belief looks at how society behaves on a whole, to answer the question, “Why are people religious?” We express our participation in religious events through plays, acts of confession, religious dances, etc. To begin to understand why we have such term, let’s understand the common elements of religion. There are different types in which people believe in or follow and that is: animatism, animism, ancestral spirits, god and goddesses, and minor supernatural beings. Beyond these different elements, such one is to have religious leaders to follow.
During the first half century after the crucifixion of Jesus, the Roman government including governors in the eastern provinces took no active measures against Christians. The attitude of the higher Roman authorities had always been that Christianity was merely a sect of Judaism, and as such, were entitled to share in its privileges as a recognized religion. In 64 A.D. this attitude suffered a severe alteration. On July 19, 64 A.D. occurred the great fire of Rome. Half a million people were left homeless. Popular rumor persistently asserted that the fire was started by incendiaries acting under the orders of the Emperor Nero. It was said that Nero wanted the city burnt down so he could build a new city which was to be re-named after himself. Nero felt that something must be done to deflect the public indignation against him. To do this he contrived that accusations should be brought against the Christians. So Nero began an aggressive persecution of the Christians in Rome. Those who confessed their guilt were brought to trail. During these trials a great number of other Christians were uncovered and were also brought to trial. Oddly enough, these people were not charged with starting the great fire of Rome, but rather for “hatred of the humankind.”
The Christians received the displeasure of the Roman emperors because they did not participate in the worship of the emperor and they were kind of secretive in there worship. Therefore, the Roman emperors believed that the Christians were trying to spread the beliefs that might detiorate the the structure of the Roman government.
Christianity is the world’s most prominent religion, with more than six billion people practicing worldwide. Although Christianity has come to dominate the world of religion, it began as a small and mysterious cult in Ancient Rome. Small, and poorly understood, Christianity soon became an enemy of Rome, marked with persecution, martyrdom, and murder. By the end of the third century CE, tens of thousands of Christians had been arrested and killed for their beliefs.
Religious leaders ought to be the epitome of goodness and morality and are supposed to live lives worthy of emulation. Yet, in Voltaire’s Candide and Goethe’s Faust, the church is infested with hypocrisy what with religious leaders being hypocritical characters that are corrupt, greedy and immoral. These are seen in so many instances in both texts as will be discussed below.
At the beginning of the Roman Empire, Christianity did not exist and the majority of Romans were Pagans. It wasn’t until a few hundred years after the execution of Jesus that his followers started gaining support and soon Christian leaders became very influential and started gaining power over the Roman Emperor. “This came in the early 4th century, with Constantine, who was actively involved in Christian policy-making.” (About.com, 2014) For a long time people for persecuted for believing in Christianity but Constantine put a stop to the persecutions. Constantine became Rome’s first Christian Emperor making Rome a Christian Empire and the Christian beliefs clashed with the working of the Empire. The introduction of Christianity into the Roman Empire directly undermined the states previous pagan religion. The Christian belief in only one God “weakened the authority and credibility of the Emperor” (ushistory.org, 2008-2014). Now that the Roman Empire was a Christian Empire, under Constantine’s rule he contributed to another factor for fall of Rome. He split the Roman Empire into the Western Empire and the Eastern Empire and he moved the capital of the Em...
During Hypatia’s life, there was bitter rivalry between the pagans and Christians of the Mediterranean. Hypatia was a pagan herself, but taught both Christian and non-Christian students. The pagans and Christians were battling over who had more power, and in March of 415 AD, it was the Christians who had the most power. These two groups were trying to drive each other out of Alexandria.
Larry Hurtado’s novel, Destroyer of the gods discusses the historical context behind Christianity and its role in the polytheistic world of ancient Rome. Hurtado examines what characterized early Christians through distinctive patterns of religious beliefs and practices that separated them from the Roman world (Hurtado 76). The novel consists of five significant points that demonstrate the difference between Christianity and polytheism which includes: religion in Rome, rules that Jews and converted Gentiles had to follow, Christian rituals, the history of the codices, and infant exposure. Each of these points represents a different aspect of history and were what stuck out in the novel. However, there are strengths and weaknesses that are contained