1. Common Themes of Old Testament Prophets
Sacrament, in its broadest sense, may be defined as an external sign, or symbol, of something sacred. Almost all creatures of the universe define something as sacred, believing in the wisdom and the goodness of a God. ... Many people define their commitment to their religion by the fact that they participate in these sacraments. ... Other people believe it shows the compassion that God has for his followers that anything can be forgiven if it is confessed with a pure and contrite heart. ... The Eucharist is defined as a sacrament because it is a ritual, it was initiated by Christ, and it bes...
He further defines God's sovereign will as "a reference to the fact that God's choices and decisions are in no way constrained by factors outside himself; also, God's right to choose without being answerable to anyone or anything outside himself" (p. 157, emphasis mine). ... Perhaps, depending on how one defines freedom. ... According to Sproul Arminians define free will as the ability to make choices without any prior prejudice, inclination, or disposition (Sproul, 1986, p. 51). ...
The Buddhist Annual of Ceylon defines Buddhism as "that religion which without starting with a God leads man to a stage where God's help is not necessary." ... Even though their background and certain beliefs differ, each seem to embody the same principles when teaching about ethical behavior, discipleship, compassion and materialism....
A position on war taken by the Buddha is as follows, "In times of war/Give rise in yourself to the mind of compassion/Helping living beings/Abandon the will to fight.... The next quote from Lao-Tzu defines the religions view on war, "Weapons, however beautiful, are instruments of ill omen, hateful to all creatures. ...
By defining religion as a sacred engagement with what is taken to be a spiritual reality, it is possible to consider the importance of religion in human life without making claims about what it really is or ought to be. ... Many religious virtues such as love, self-control, compassion, nonviolence, and wisdom appear in more than one religion, but differences in belief systems can give varying significance to these virtues. ...
Some of the most fascinating stories to occur throughout British literature surround the fictional times of King Arthur and his court in Camelot. The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight follows suit. This Arthurian legend is meant to be an initiation story. Throughout the course of the tale, a ...