Religious Persecution of Christian Beliefs - 875 Words

Religious Persecution of Christian Beliefs What is religious persecution? At the beginning of this project, I thought religious persecution was a black and white topic with a clear definition. I thought that religious persecution was simply the persecution of a group because of their religious faith. However, I discovered that there are no simple explanations of religious persecution, and it is a much more complex and controversial issue than I had imagined. In fact, some events categorized as religious persecution reveal only shades of grey and ambiguities and do not neatly fit this simple definition. I wanted others to come to this same understanding. Therefore, I have formulated my own definition of religious persecution.†¦show more content†¦A majority of Democrats (72%), political independents (53%), and pastors from NCC denominations (66%) agreed with the statement, compared to a minority among Republicans (32%) and pastors from NAE-member denominations (2 9%). Interestingly, a majority of ministers agreed with the statement Persecution of Christians because of their faith is a major problem in the United States. Sixty-one percent of all pastors agreed with this statement, although just 16% agreed strongly, while the rest agreed somewhat with the statement. Although Republicans (72%), political independents (60%), and evangelical pastors (70%) were more likely than other groups to claim religious persecution in the United States is a major problem, a significant proportion of Democrats (35%) and pastors from NCCC-member denominations (46%) also agreed with the statement. More Christians have died for their faith in the 20th century than in the previous 19 centuries combined. Each year, about 150,000 are martyred, two million are being actively persecuted, and millions more are living with their religious freedoms severely restricted. Religions make claims about the nature of the world, the origin of man, the means of salvation, and so on. The Constitutional freedom of religion gives citizens the right to believe these claims, and freedom of speech gives them the right to make these claims publicly. Freedom of religion is not a prize for governments to awardShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Religious Persecution On The Middle Eastern Countries1353 Words   |  6 Pagesdemonic. Because that’s when you get religious wars and persecution and burning heretics at the stake,† John Shelby Spong, a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church, stated about religious persecution circumnavigating the globe. In today’s world persecution is a natural reaction to any kind of foreign belief established in a country that is governed by the it’s original religious foundation. An example of this would involve, ISIS terrorizing smaller religious groups like the Yazidi people whoRead MoreThe Roman And Roman Rome1666 Words   |  7 Pagesthat makeup The Roman Catacombs. Inside the cavernous pathways of R ome’s catacombs is a plethora of religious and cultural history that provides historians today with an unfathomable source of early Roman and Christian history. Regardless of discrepancies over its use and origins, the Roman catacombs are indispensable for providing insight on the culture, beliefs, and social location of early Christians. Due to the Roman Catacomb’s ancient origins, there are several discrepancies concerning aspectsRead MoreInequality Faced by Christians in Todays Society Essay1373 Words   |  6 PagesThis study shows an increase in inequality of Christians in other Countries. There is a increase in the amount of restrictions and laws put on Christians and their Human Rights in other Countries with more Government leaders putting guidelines on other religions and not liking the freedoms that the people in the western Countries have, like the United States. What we can do to help with this problem The United Nations passed a Declaration that states: â€Å"Everyone has the right to freedom of thoughtRead MoreRole of Religion in Europe868 Words   |  4 Pagessacred mission to many of the Christian rulers and inhabitants of the peninsula. As soon as this period was finished, Spain started focusing on colonization and expansion. Some of the major events that happened during this period were the Portuguese attacks on the Moslem positions in the northern tip of Africa and the search for Christian allies against Islam. There were many factors that motivated the search for the new world. Some of these factors were religious persecution, cheaper route to the IndiesRead MoreReligion And Its Impact On Society1310 Words   |  6 PagesIt has been generally acknowledged that religious belief is a powerful force in society. Religion has been a major component of human culture since nearly the beginning of man. As we emerged as a high intellect species, we developed many different ideologies to answer some of our unanswerable questions. Since these developments, we continue t o evolve as a species and the ideologies we have created evolve with us in our endlessly changing societies. As civilization grows, our different culturesRead MoreBuddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, And Religion926 Words   |  4 Pagesreligion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Focus countries: China, India China: Religions in China: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, folk religion 21.9%, Hindu .1%, Jewish .1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 52.2% (14) 85 % of Chinese people are religious or did in theRead MorePersecution And Martyrdom Among Devotees Of Different Religions1329 Words   |  6 PagesPersecution and martyrdom among devotees of different religions worldwide has been a grave issue. This act is honored and given a prominent place such as going to heaven by some religions while in others, fanatics go as far as killing themselves in an attempt to be seen as martyrs. During the Roman Empire, religion was considered a foremost social activity that promoted loyalty and unity hence the term piety. Disappearance of piety in a society meant that loyalty and peace would perish causing harmRead MoreFreedom of Religion1320 Words   |  5 Pagesattacked more and more every day. In America religious freedom has not been threatened near as much as in China. America’s freedom of religion has not been taken away, yet, but in China and North Korea the people of the countries do not have the freedom of religion that they should be given. Americans freedom of religion has been protected by the First Amendment for hundreds of years. There are two clauses in the First Amendment that protect Americans religious freedom. The Establishment Clause, whichRead MoreChristian Horbury : Early Christian Persecutions1490 Words   |  6 Pageswhat theologian Horbury surmised about early Christian persecutions, and I largely agree with this view. The Jews sometimes persecuted the early Christians because their beliefs clashed and this caused friction between the two religions. As well as this ‘incompatibility’ between the two faiths, Donatism also developed as a separate sect of Christianity within the orthodox church and a lot of persecution and hate was directed towards the early Christians. However, without this I do not believe thatRead MoreHow Christianity Changed Between The First Century And Its Legalization1036 Words   |  5 Pagesorder to survive. Christianity had to merge with the cultures and traditions of other religions. It took four centuries for Christianity to become legal. In the year 30, Christianity mainly consisted of Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah. The belief that Jesus was a savoir was the break from Judaism. Jesus was appealing to people because he was real; lived on Earth. His teachings were appealing to people and the main ideas was that Christ was a savior. Jesus taught using parables, he talked

The Utopian Vision of Mother Teresa Essay - 2071 Words

The Utopian Vision of Mother Teresa In August 1948, at the age of 38, Mother Teresa decided to adventure into the poorest neighborhoods of Calcutta, India, in order to live out her utopian dream by providing food, care, education, and shelter for the poor. Feeding people the Word of God; clothing them with dignity; educating them with knowledge, peace, truth, justice and love; nursing the mind and spirit; and sheltering them with a heart that understands. (servants) I believe that a utopian vision is any vision that follows natural law, creates happiness in the community, and is feasible. Mother Teresas visions are, in fact, effective utopian visions. Mother Teresas visions included living a simple life, serving the poorest†¦show more content†¦Her intentions more than her actions should be looked at and they were to love and treat everyone equally. When Mother Teresa looked into the eyes of those she literally pulled out of the gutter, she saw Jesus Christ. She said, They are Jesus. Everyone is Jesus in a dis tressing disguise. (servant) Mother Teresa teaches that the best way to live a simple life is by giving up all you have and joining those that suffer physically and financially. She says, When all you got is all youve got, all thats left is to be yourself and you can only receive. And that, in a sense, is why the poor are blessed, because they know what really matters. (M.T. Simple) If a simple life helps one to know yourself better than it can also help you discover the natural law. (M.T. Simple) Poverty seems to me to degrade a sense of self, causing the poor person to feel worthless and incapable. Poverty can be beautiful in that you are not hiding behind someone and all you can do is receive, but I think it is important not to mystify poverty like it is so glorious when really it is not. Mother Teresa says, Poverty is a wonderful gift because it gives us freedom --- it means we have fewer obstacles to God. (M.T. Simple) I think education gives usShow MoreRelatedContingency Theories of Leadership659 Words   |  3 PagesContingency Theories of Leadership Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa are just few of the names that come to mind whenever we think of great leaders. They have a vision of what they want and have the ability to communicate their vision in order to gain the support and cooperation of their followers. Often we find it easy to identify great leaders yet it is difficult to explain the qualities that make them great. In comparison, Nelson Mandela and Margaret ThatcherRead More School Violence - Giive Peace a Chance Essay1702 Words   |  7 Pagesmore frightening reality every time they walk to the schoolhouse door. These incidents also lead us to question what has caused the increase in the frequency as well as the severity of school violence?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mother Teresa said, Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and

A short story †Behind the Canvas Free Essays

Behind the canvas the shadow loomed large and dangerous. The head was enormous and it seemed to be floating in the air. The feet, as long as canoes, would rise and fall as the other elongated shadow moved up towards the top of the tent. We will write a custom essay sample on A short story – Behind the Canvas or any similar topic only for you Order Now As John entered the tent, the head burst. It was a balloon, a silly childish prank. The shadow, a petite ten year old. Falling on top of his mates in laughter, John started to come round from his ever-lasting laughing fit. â€Å"That was the worst monster I’ve ever seen,† laughed James. † It wasn’t as bad as your go yesterday!† chuckled David. â€Å"OK, but you have to say that that was awful David,† James stated. † Time for some real stories I think.† â€Å"Not ghost stories, James they’re boring,† whined John. â€Å"Not a ghost story, John, a real story†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The time was 2-45pm and there was only fifteen minutes until kick-off and the road was deserted. A piece of tumbleweed blew across the pavement. A bulky shadow squeezed under the thin barriers and a tall, chunky middle-aged man was walking across the road towards the ground. By his side his son, a skinny seven year old. They rushed through the busy traffic and into the long never-ending passageway, which reflected the sight of a Leviathan winding through the prehistoric woodlands, towards the stadium. The boy was furiously tugging his father’s hand in an attempt to arrive on time. Stopping 100m from the ground the boy’s dad slowly bent down to tie his shoelaces up. By this point the young boy could see the amount of people. Thousands gathering for the match. He began to sweat. His father rose; he quickly grasped his hand and tightened up against the giant figure. And pulled. As they pushed through the big crowds plaguing the entrance, a sight similar to an ocean of tall, blue and white waves crashing into each other, a loud, unfamiliar crackling sound rang in his ear. He sharply turned his head and could see a speaker blurting out messages that just seemed scrambled to the excited boy. They took their seats for the start of the match. With his father to the left of him, the boy looked across to his right where he saw a big-boned bald supporter, with distinctive dark glasses, tucking into a Cornish pasty. The man lowered his head. As the match progressed the crowd grew more and more agitated. A large, black crow hovered over the grandstand. The boy’s father was fidgeting constantly. After a few minutes the father got up from his seat. † I’ll be a few minutes son, just got to use the toilet.† The small boy looked like a pebble on the beach in contrast to the crowd’s attendance, which was like the mountainous Rockies. Minutes past and his father had still not returned. He looked over to his right. The man with dark glasses had disappeared. A grey cloud passed over the stadium. The boy started to panic. His heartbeat rocketing, his body trembling and his eyes watering. The referee blew his whistle loudly to signal half time and the crowds started to disappear into the toilets and hot dog stalls, into the bars and club shop. In an instant the crowd had plummeted in number. He couldn’t see anybody he recognized and he felt so alone. The minutes ticked by, never before had he been left so alone. As the crowd reappeared from the exits, every fan that wasn’t the boy’s Dad was like a knife in his heart, as painful as a pig to the slaughter. After nearly giving up hope of his father returning, the strange dark-glassed man emerged from the exit, a wide grin on his face. As he placed himself next to the boy he glanced over. † Alright kiddo, are you enjoying yourself?† The small boy, as frightened as a cat running away from a dog, hesitantly replied with a nod. As the match progressed so did the boy’s anxiety. It had been 30 minutes since his Dad left and the boy was really starting to shake. He lowered his head onto his lap and as he lifted it back up he could see a tall, broad, sinister looking Caribbean man with an afro plodding up the steps in a fluorescent orange jacket. The boy sat up properly and the man squeezed his way through the seated crowd and placed himself next to the boy. Before the boy could speak he was being carted off towards the emergency exit and thrown into the back of a shiny silver Renault Cleo. The boy didn’t know what was happening and as they passed through the gates of the football stadium he could see the chunky bald man he’d been sitting next too staring at him with his dark shaded glasses. Suddenly I shiver wriggled down the boy’s spine. The car, being driven more recklessly by the minute, every junction they passed through a loud ringing sound would come out of the car. The car, going faster than the boy was used to when his dad was driving started swinging round roundabouts, accelerating through motorways and skidding past corners at great speed. The car finally came to a halt outside a big four-storey building; the boy was swiftly whisked out of the car and marched into a plain white room where he was left. This room was plain, with five simple chairs around an oak table. A few womens magazines were all that lay upon this furnished table and it seemed an eternity for the boy whilst, he was waiting. The boy didn’t know what was happening; with nothing to do he stared at the low walls. He heard the door rattle and turned sharply, the door hadn’t been touch. The boy, panicking, ran to the door to answer it but it wouldn’t budge. He yanked it. He kicked it. He barged into it but it still wouldn’t open. He was going, crazy what place was this? He could see men and women in wheelchairs and crutches ambling round the place. Men with head bandages and women with there arms in slings. Every few minutes a big trolley would pass the room. The boy would knock as hard as he could but still there would be no answer. Nobody could see him and no one answered his cries. As the fourth trolley rushed past it stopped just outside the door. A tall, chunky middle-aged man stepped off it. The boy instantly recognized the figure. It was his father. The door was unlocked immediately and the two were re-united. The boy was still unsure what had happened but he didn’t care in the slightest. â€Å"That wasn’t scary at all James, tell us another one,† laughed John. â€Å"It was scary John, look how scared Peter is,† â€Å"Peter, what’s the matter that wasn’t as scary as one of mine.† As the boys looked across to Peter who was shaking like a leaf, the door flap flew open as a cold chilling wind descending down their spines, and in the door laid a pair of dark shaded glasses. How to cite A short story – Behind the Canvas, Papers