Nov
12
Rodrigo Rehn
If you are like a lot of people, you have probably dated a lot of people who share the same or similar spiritual beliefs as you. In many instances this is not even discussed if a relationship does not go very far, but if you have been dating someone and you really like them and you just found out that there faith is much different than yours you may have a lot of questions. What if you get married, what sort of ceremony would you have? How would you raise children? How would you spend the holidays?
These are fair questions but before you totally weird out, you need to slow down a bit. You need to spend some time thinking about whether or not you are comfortable proceeding with someone who does not practice the same religion as you.
Some people feel very strongly about this, and there is nothing wrong with it. But, before you have a knee jerk reaction you should really stop and think about the possibilities in front of you. You may find that you are more accepting of someone with a different religion than you may have ever thought you would be.
Dating someone of a different religion doesn’t have to be a negative thing, even if you are a very spiritual person. Instead, this can be something that helps you grow as a person and become even stronger in your faith. You can learn more about their religion and what they believe and you can teach them about yours. You may find that you had a lot of misconceptions about their religion and you will be expanding your mind as well as opening your heart to something new. You don’t have to take on their religion, but you can both share with one another.
Through this sharing process you may find that your religions have a lot of things in common. You may find that you are both able to keep practicing your faith without impeding the others beliefs. This can be a growing experience for the both of you, and many people have been able to build successful relationships despite differences in their religious beliefs.
If you get married you can make compromises, if you have kids you can teach them both religions, and on holidays you can each incorporate both of your beliefs. You just need to be honest about the way you feel and let your partner know how you are feeling. Being open will allow you to both ask questions, voice concerns, and plan for the future. Religion does not have to impede your relationship, in fact it may allow you to grow in new and interesting ways!
If you are like a lot of people, you have probably dated a lot of people who share the same or similar spiritual beliefs as you. In many instances this is not even discussed if a relationship does not go very far, but if you have been dating someone and you really like them and you just found out that there faith is much different than yours you may have a lot of questions. What if you get married, what sort of ceremony would you have? How would you raise children? How would you spend the holidays?
These are fair questions but before you totally weird out, you need to slow down a bit. You need to spend some time thinking about whether or not you are comfortable proceeding with someone who does not practice the same religion as you.
Some people feel very strongly about this, and there is nothing wrong with it. But, before you have a knee jerk reaction you should really stop and think about the possibilities in front of you. You may find that you are more accepting of someone with a different religion than you may have ever thought you would be.
Dating someone of a different religion doesn’t have to be a negative thing, even if you are a very spiritual person. Instead, this can be something that helps you grow as a person and become even stronger in your faith. You can learn more about their religion and what they believe and you can teach them about yours. You may find that you had a lot of misconceptions about their religion and you will be expanding your mind as well as opening your heart to something new. You don’t have to take on their religion, but you can both share with one another.
Through this sharing process you may find that your religions have a lot of things in common. You may find that you are both able to keep practicing your faith without impeding the others beliefs. This can be a growing experience for the both of you, and many people have been able to build successful relationships despite differences in their religious beliefs.
If you get married you can make compromises, if you have kids you can teach them both religions, and on holidays you can each incorporate both of your beliefs. You just need to be honest about the way you feel and let your partner know how you are feeling. Being open will allow you to both ask questions, voice concerns, and plan for the future. Religion does not have to impede your relationship, in fact it may allow you to grow in new and interesting ways!
Nov
11
The Conflicts Between Religion and Polygamy in the Courts Today
Filed Under Dating | Leave a Comment
Francis Githinji
Being polygamous in the olden days meant that you were a great man. Marrying more than one wife was one of the most prestigious practices especially in the African community. It was like declaring your wealth in the society. A man who took care of wives and their children needed not to brag about his wealth. The truth was there for all to see. With time religion was introduced and Christianity preached monogamy. The one-wife one-husband doctrine was to be followed by all believers. This is not the case in all the cultures as we have seen young girls being married off to old men as the fifth or sixth wife. As if this was not sad enough we also see the men using religion as defense. In most court houses religion and polygamy have been associated so much that the legal line between the two have to be drawn.
It is fascinating to the legal experts that religion is being used as a defense strategy by many polygamists who marry under-age girls. This is demonstrated by a trial for Warren Jeffs who is a religious leader who tried to use religious liberty defenses. Many defendants try to use methods such as insanity but pleading on the basis of religion is unheard off. Religion and polygamy should not be tied together because being polygamous does not make you more saved or religious than other people. On the other hand, being religious does not guarantee you to become automatically polygamous. The spiritual leaders should remember their priorities even when they are convicted and in court. Trying to overcome the charges at the expense of their religious standing is very wrong. Spiritual responsibilities should always come first.
People like Jeffs who hide behind religion to commit crimes should be sentenced to long life in prison. He is a 50 year senior who was charged of ****. Though he did not **** the minor, he was an accomplice and he claims that he spiritually married the girl to an older man. This is using religion to create serious crimes. In fact the girl was ordered to have *** with the older man lest she was discontinued from the church. Religion and polygamy were brought together to avoid responsibility for the **** crime which was committed.
In 1890, churches split over the issue of religion and polygamy. Some people felt that having plural marriage was key to achieving the top most level of salvation. This is the line of thinking Jeff Warren was using. Actually in his church you would never convince a member that Jeff doesn’t get divine words on who to wed who in his church. He in fact does God’s will by hooking up couples and arranging all marriages. This is how he involved himself in organizing marriages between old men and under-age girls. The law is very careful on such cases and therefore the adults were charged but they off course attempted religious liberty defenses. The members argued that their faith allowed that and therefore religious laws should exempt them from any charges. Religion is by no means a defense to polygamy.
Being polygamous in the olden days meant that you were a great man. Marrying more than one wife was one of the most prestigious practices especially in the African community. It was like declaring your wealth in the society. A man who took care of wives and their children needed not to brag about his wealth. The truth was there for all to see. With time religion was introduced and Christianity preached monogamy. The one-wife one-husband doctrine was to be followed by all believers. This is not the case in all the cultures as we have seen young girls being married off to old men as the fifth or sixth wife. As if this was not sad enough we also see the men using religion as defense. In most court houses religion and polygamy have been associated so much that the legal line between the two have to be drawn.
It is fascinating to the legal experts that religion is being used as a defense strategy by many polygamists who marry under-age girls. This is demonstrated by a trial for Warren Jeffs who is a religious leader who tried to use religious liberty defenses. Many defendants try to use methods such as insanity but pleading on the basis of religion is unheard off. Religion and polygamy should not be tied together because being polygamous does not make you more saved or religious than other people. On the other hand, being religious does not guarantee you to become automatically polygamous. The spiritual leaders should remember their priorities even when they are convicted and in court. Trying to overcome the charges at the expense of their religious standing is very wrong. Spiritual responsibilities should always come first.
People like Jeffs who hide behind religion to commit crimes should be sentenced to long life in prison. He is a 50 year senior who was charged of ****. Though he did not **** the minor, he was an accomplice and he claims that he spiritually married the girl to an older man. This is using religion to create serious crimes. In fact the girl was ordered to have *** with the older man lest she was discontinued from the church. Religion and polygamy were brought together to avoid responsibility for the **** crime which was committed.
In 1890, churches split over the issue of religion and polygamy. Some people felt that having plural marriage was key to achieving the top most level of salvation. This is the line of thinking Jeff Warren was using. Actually in his church you would never convince a member that Jeff doesn’t get divine words on who to wed who in his church. He in fact does God’s will by hooking up couples and arranging all marriages. This is how he involved himself in organizing marriages between old men and under-age girls. The law is very careful on such cases and therefore the adults were charged but they off course attempted religious liberty defenses. The members argued that their faith allowed that and therefore religious laws should exempt them from any charges. Religion is by no means a defense to polygamy.
Nov
7
Derek Dashwood
Antique religion books tell us Confucius felt there was no after life. Jesus and Buddha did. Since 1949, China has been a nation that is officially of no religion.
Yet modern China now is experiencing a rebirth of interest of a deeper sense of meaning in life. And this is happening in the more sophisticated cities on the coast where the new more wealthy people with more education and learning are incorporating Buddhism into their lives.
While the officially Communist government now ensures that a member of state corporations is a partner with each foreign corporation, thus taking the known ways of capitalism directly into their system. And soon automobiles that look very identical to a name brand American car is being sold for less with a cute twist on the American name model.
And the people that work in the factories and the people building new factories and power plants every week are working hard and earning more than they might ever have thought possible a decade or two ago.
And a fascinating series of events are occurring and the government and the system seem relaxed about this, in contrast to their previous persecution of a dreaded meditative group they saw as a danger.
Now the China that persecuted followers of Christ but began to accept followers of Buddha around the time of Christ,is seeing Buddha being discovered again. Many on the richer coast have security and steady jobs.
They also have more freedom and time to reflect. And many are finding they feel empty somehow, and are finding the meditative nature of Buddha as a calming way to feel at peace.
This is good news as the natural peaceful natures of Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha were both recognized as far back as the Mighty Khan. Mighty Khan had given a scroll for the Pope to Marco Polo. Marco knew the wish of the Khan was to have the Pope send one hundred missionaries.
Mighty Khan had heard that this holy man Jesus was known as the Prince of Peace. His people were restive under a Mongol ruler and needed a calming, passive religion that would allow them to put their faith in an after life so they could get on with their duties in this life with less complaint.
Alas, the old Pope was dying, it took the new Pope time to consider. His advise was to strike a committee, which they did: they met annually, for several years. Until news came that the Mighty Khan had tired of waiting and instead receive one hundred missionaries of Buddha, who the Khan knew also promised a passive faith.
And now this simmering faith that shows thin Buddha of India as a emperor sized belly who is fully of China. What matters is that those who find this inner spiritual process of meditation are less likely to take up arms, for now.
That must be a comfort for those inside the Forbidden Palace: so far no people of Buddha have taken up the sword to force others to their faith or slay them, as other faiths have done.
History has an amazing capacity to allow events to unfold in ways that Marco Polo would fully understand.
Antique religion books tell us Confucius felt there was no after life. Jesus and Buddha did. Since 1949, China has been a nation that is officially of no religion.
Yet modern China now is experiencing a rebirth of interest of a deeper sense of meaning in life. And this is happening in the more sophisticated cities on the coast where the new more wealthy people with more education and learning are incorporating Buddhism into their lives.
While the officially Communist government now ensures that a member of state corporations is a partner with each foreign corporation, thus taking the known ways of capitalism directly into their system. And soon automobiles that look very identical to a name brand American car is being sold for less with a cute twist on the American name model.
And the people that work in the factories and the people building new factories and power plants every week are working hard and earning more than they might ever have thought possible a decade or two ago.
And a fascinating series of events are occurring and the government and the system seem relaxed about this, in contrast to their previous persecution of a dreaded meditative group they saw as a danger.
Now the China that persecuted followers of Christ but began to accept followers of Buddha around the time of Christ,is seeing Buddha being discovered again. Many on the richer coast have security and steady jobs.
They also have more freedom and time to reflect. And many are finding they feel empty somehow, and are finding the meditative nature of Buddha as a calming way to feel at peace.
This is good news as the natural peaceful natures of Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha were both recognized as far back as the Mighty Khan. Mighty Khan had given a scroll for the Pope to Marco Polo. Marco knew the wish of the Khan was to have the Pope send one hundred missionaries.
Mighty Khan had heard that this holy man Jesus was known as the Prince of Peace. His people were restive under a Mongol ruler and needed a calming, passive religion that would allow them to put their faith in an after life so they could get on with their duties in this life with less complaint.
Alas, the old Pope was dying, it took the new Pope time to consider. His advise was to strike a committee, which they did: they met annually, for several years. Until news came that the Mighty Khan had tired of waiting and instead receive one hundred missionaries of Buddha, who the Khan knew also promised a passive faith.
And now this simmering faith that shows thin Buddha of India as a emperor sized belly who is fully of China. What matters is that those who find this inner spiritual process of meditation are less likely to take up arms, for now.
That must be a comfort for those inside the Forbidden Palace: so far no people of Buddha have taken up the sword to force others to their faith or slay them, as other faiths have done.
History has an amazing capacity to allow events to unfold in ways that Marco Polo would fully understand.
Nov
2
Madison Avenue Religion
Filed Under Religion | Leave a Comment
Ernie Fitzpatrick
Come on in folks and take a seat. The how is about to begin. You won’t be disappointed because there is a story to tell that defies all logic (tongue in cheek). Listen up and pay attention because what you’re about to behold is how you can escape this hellish life on earth and live forever eternally with God in the sweet bye-n-bye. Take a seat as the show is about to begin.
I just read the book, Jim and Casper Go To Church. It’s quite a muse about how America’s religion has put Madison Avenue to shame with it’s awesome sales pitch!
While you might not know it but you were DOOMED before you were ever born as you were an ORIGINAL SIN(er) and there’s no way out unless you quickly see your unworthiness and make amends. And you can accomplish eternal bliss today, at the end of the service, by simply saying YES to JAY-ZUS!
But first, let us tell you how rotten you really are how you can GIVE to His church. No, this is not some sort of Dark Ages indulgences. This is mdoern-day reality. Give and you will be saved! Give and you will be accepted. Give and your condo in heaven will have a down payment made in your name. One substitution does it all. One confession on your part buys the whole package. Say YES to JAY-ZUS now and you will receive the following.
>All sins forgiven
>Prosperity, success, and a fabulous job
>The perfect wife (or husband) if you’re not married
>The healing of all your sicknesses
>A Sunday home where you can always find love
Thus, if you DO NOT say YES to JAY-ZUS then you’re going to spend eternity in hell because God is sick and tired of those who do not give Him the respect of bowing their knee before Him. Rememebr the God of the Old Testament who meted out plagues, pestilence, and genocidal tirades for misdemeanors? Remember Him? He’s still here!
So, much for Madison Avenue religion. You don’t even have to go to church on Sunday to get these benefits. Just put your hand on the TV set and send in the biggest check that you can and they will pray for you and send you a beautiful genuine leather bound Bible- not to mention a request for more money every month!
Aren’t you glad this really isn’t the true God of Jesus, the Christ! Abba Father is love and His love is unconditional. There’s nothing you can do that will cause Him to stop loving you. You are His creation and you will be forever!
Come on in folks and take a seat. The how is about to begin. You won’t be disappointed because there is a story to tell that defies all logic (tongue in cheek). Listen up and pay attention because what you’re about to behold is how you can escape this hellish life on earth and live forever eternally with God in the sweet bye-n-bye. Take a seat as the show is about to begin.
I just read the book, Jim and Casper Go To Church. It’s quite a muse about how America’s religion has put Madison Avenue to shame with it’s awesome sales pitch!
While you might not know it but you were DOOMED before you were ever born as you were an ORIGINAL SIN(er) and there’s no way out unless you quickly see your unworthiness and make amends. And you can accomplish eternal bliss today, at the end of the service, by simply saying YES to JAY-ZUS!
But first, let us tell you how rotten you really are how you can GIVE to His church. No, this is not some sort of Dark Ages indulgences. This is mdoern-day reality. Give and you will be saved! Give and you will be accepted. Give and your condo in heaven will have a down payment made in your name. One substitution does it all. One confession on your part buys the whole package. Say YES to JAY-ZUS now and you will receive the following.
>All sins forgiven
>Prosperity, success, and a fabulous job
>The perfect wife (or husband) if you’re not married
>The healing of all your sicknesses
>A Sunday home where you can always find love
Thus, if you DO NOT say YES to JAY-ZUS then you’re going to spend eternity in hell because God is sick and tired of those who do not give Him the respect of bowing their knee before Him. Rememebr the God of the Old Testament who meted out plagues, pestilence, and genocidal tirades for misdemeanors? Remember Him? He’s still here!
So, much for Madison Avenue religion. You don’t even have to go to church on Sunday to get these benefits. Just put your hand on the TV set and send in the biggest check that you can and they will pray for you and send you a beautiful genuine leather bound Bible- not to mention a request for more money every month!
Aren’t you glad this really isn’t the true God of Jesus, the Christ! Abba Father is love and His love is unconditional. There’s nothing you can do that will cause Him to stop loving you. You are His creation and you will be forever!
Nov
1
The Truth About Religion And Acupuncture
Filed Under Religion | Leave a Comment
Konstantin Volegna
For every practice or thought, there is an opposite viewpoint. This is true with religious beliefs, political beliefs, and even opinions and studies of the environment. As humans, we both consciously and unconsciously choose to believe a side. There are many, many individuals who can see the reasoning on both sides of the proverbial fence, but there are also those that are staunchly devoted and will see no side other than their own. Medical treatments are no exception to this rule.
There are religious groups through out the world, including some who believe that a transfusion of blood is sacrilegious and would never take someone else’s blood into their body, as it makes them “impure”. There are some who do not believe in modern medicine and still, to this day, practice holistic medicine. However, most religions do not have a prejudice against Western medicine in whole, but may be against particular things, such as prescriptions for depression. Many Eastern religions have given birth to medical practices of their own. An example of this would be Taoism. Taoism believes in studying nature and its influences upon man. From this belief and observation rose the practice of acupuncture, which has to do with the flow of energy, Qi (pronounced chee), and how those affect areas of the body.
Passages from bibles, scriptures and a religion’s written word tend to be used by devout followers to discount the possibility of acupuncture as being a good thing. Many people will manipulate subjective – and even not so subjective – text from their spiritual writings to show that certain procedures and actions are nothing more than hocus-pocus or the “Devil’s work.” Certainly, once someone has taken a side and holds a firm opinion, they tend to feel that they have basis for their views and feel that others who argue with them have the wrong set of beliefs, no matter which religion they consider themselves a part of.
Quick fact: The traditional Chinese explanation of the effectiveness of acupuncture is based on the Taoist philosophy according to which good health depends on a free circulation of chi or life-force energy throughout all the organs of the body
However, for the most part, acupuncture is receiving a positive welcome in communities around the globe. Perhaps this is because of exercise programs, such as Yoga and Pilates, which have become so popular. Asian culture has exploded into the main stream in fashion, thought, spirituality, technology, and medicine. Years ago, such things as acupuncture and Yoga were only for the “beatniks”. The regular Joe did not practice such things and would not have heard the positive benefits, but nowadays, people around the globe want different choices when it comes to their bodies. Many individuals want to try to live a life with minimal medication and invasive procedures, turning to nature to help with illness and pain. Acupuncture is a good alternative.
Did you know that most experts would say that acupuncture is at least 2000 years old. The exact age is less important than the fact that Oriental Medicine is the most widely utilized healing system on this planet
Acupuncture, as mentioned before, has to do with the flow of energy in the body. The energy flows along pathways, fourteen to be precise, which are called meridians. All along the meridian, there are points within that can become blocked. Acupuncture is used to unblock the meridian and allow the energy to flow. This is done with the use of long, thin, solid needles, but most people report that the procedure is painless, so do not worry.
The medical field and the health-care services we choose to receive fall into our set of values and beliefs, be they moral or religious. Certainly, the ultimate decision to accept acupuncture or consider it nothing more than psychological smoke and mirrors remains yours alone, depending much on your personal group of beliefs and your opinion.
For every practice or thought, there is an opposite viewpoint. This is true with religious beliefs, political beliefs, and even opinions and studies of the environment. As humans, we both consciously and unconsciously choose to believe a side. There are many, many individuals who can see the reasoning on both sides of the proverbial fence, but there are also those that are staunchly devoted and will see no side other than their own. Medical treatments are no exception to this rule.
There are religious groups through out the world, including some who believe that a transfusion of blood is sacrilegious and would never take someone else’s blood into their body, as it makes them “impure”. There are some who do not believe in modern medicine and still, to this day, practice holistic medicine. However, most religions do not have a prejudice against Western medicine in whole, but may be against particular things, such as prescriptions for depression. Many Eastern religions have given birth to medical practices of their own. An example of this would be Taoism. Taoism believes in studying nature and its influences upon man. From this belief and observation rose the practice of acupuncture, which has to do with the flow of energy, Qi (pronounced chee), and how those affect areas of the body.
Passages from bibles, scriptures and a religion’s written word tend to be used by devout followers to discount the possibility of acupuncture as being a good thing. Many people will manipulate subjective – and even not so subjective – text from their spiritual writings to show that certain procedures and actions are nothing more than hocus-pocus or the “Devil’s work.” Certainly, once someone has taken a side and holds a firm opinion, they tend to feel that they have basis for their views and feel that others who argue with them have the wrong set of beliefs, no matter which religion they consider themselves a part of.
Quick fact: The traditional Chinese explanation of the effectiveness of acupuncture is based on the Taoist philosophy according to which good health depends on a free circulation of chi or life-force energy throughout all the organs of the body
However, for the most part, acupuncture is receiving a positive welcome in communities around the globe. Perhaps this is because of exercise programs, such as Yoga and Pilates, which have become so popular. Asian culture has exploded into the main stream in fashion, thought, spirituality, technology, and medicine. Years ago, such things as acupuncture and Yoga were only for the “beatniks”. The regular Joe did not practice such things and would not have heard the positive benefits, but nowadays, people around the globe want different choices when it comes to their bodies. Many individuals want to try to live a life with minimal medication and invasive procedures, turning to nature to help with illness and pain. Acupuncture is a good alternative.
Did you know that most experts would say that acupuncture is at least 2000 years old. The exact age is less important than the fact that Oriental Medicine is the most widely utilized healing system on this planet
Acupuncture, as mentioned before, has to do with the flow of energy in the body. The energy flows along pathways, fourteen to be precise, which are called meridians. All along the meridian, there are points within that can become blocked. Acupuncture is used to unblock the meridian and allow the energy to flow. This is done with the use of long, thin, solid needles, but most people report that the procedure is painless, so do not worry.
The medical field and the health-care services we choose to receive fall into our set of values and beliefs, be they moral or religious. Certainly, the ultimate decision to accept acupuncture or consider it nothing more than psychological smoke and mirrors remains yours alone, depending much on your personal group of beliefs and your opinion.