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...

• Word Count: 2331
• Approx Pages: 9

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. ...

• Word Count: 1542
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

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. ...

• Word Count: 1578
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate