Western traditions - Essay Example

Western Traditions (Questions in block letters; answers below each question) Page 31 question How did the introduction of writing alter the practice of religion How does it affect our knowledge of history and of ancient religion Religious literature has contributed much in the beliefs and practices of various religions in the world. For one, scriptures and other religious text help document the occurrences and events and the rituals we continue to practice today. Its historical allusion is towards the beginning of how religion has emerged and developed in which areas of the world as well as its impact on society and culture of the countries where religion is practiced, which therefore contributed to the present way of life of its citizens. Without religious text to support the faith, there will be no continuity of practices that will be handed down from generation to generation. Second, it has engaged individuals, even heretics to first interpret certain notable events and figures as we see them in each religion, or relate life events to these same religious indoctrinations and help people see beyond suffering. Next is learning to question long time traditions and beliefs in religion that either belie or undermine others which naturally mock the purpose of imparting goodwill to mankind through religion. Page 156 #2: Where, geographically, was the center of Jewish intellectual life at the following times (a) After the Babylonian destruction of the Jerusalem temple. (b) After Constantine patronized Christianity. (c) After the expulsion of Jews from Spain. (d) After the annihilation of Germany's Jews. The center of Jewish intellectual life after the Babylonian destruction of the Jewish temple is completely debatable. Some would say it is in the central plains of Sahara, where the fruits of genetically altered plant species were cultivated to benefit early Byzantine human civilization. Some would say it would have shifted along with the axial tilt of the planet, to an estimated forty three degrees where old Mesopotamia was. Unfortunately, it cannot be determined with enough accuracy so as to be rendered fully ascertained. Still we can consider the events that transpired in order to determine when it actually occurred. For one, the Jews have been particularly ostracized and persecuted since the olden times, from the start middle ages where they have been considerably ridiculed in Christian Europe, especially with the reign of Christianity through Constantine's prodding. The enlightenment of Jews from around the world began when their full emancipation from such restrictive laws that govern their social existence regardless of their beliefs and traditions were encouraged and slowly emerged. The golden age of Jewish culture in Spain has particularly contributed to where Jews were placed in society until the Nazi terrorism against Jews. Page 339 #2: Over what issue or issues did Latin and Greek Christianity separate, and what are the principal continuing differences between these two branches of Christianity in worship, organization, and theology Latin Christianity strictly adheres to the liturgies of Latin rites, including the absolute celibacy of priests, appointment of bishops directly by the Pope, and other traditional standard rules enforced by this part of the Catholic church that originated from western Europe where Latin was the primary language. As opposed to the beliefs and traditions that are implemented by that of Greek Christianity, where priests and pastors can marry, and have separate liturgical rites from that of Latin Christianity, though they continue to respect the usual policies originating in Rome. The Great Schism between the Eastern and the Western Church based on the issues faced by Constantinople apart from language barriers and political events have contributed greatly to this separation. Whereas Latin Christianity considers Rome as the ultimate highest single entity to govern the Church's policies, Greek Christianity believes no lone authority should be notable but the acknowledgement of other ecumenical churches as sister churches which constitutes an Ecumenical Council. #3: How do Catholics and Protestants differ in their views of Mary, mother of Jesus Catholics have venerated Mary as the 'Blessed Mother', who was pre-selected to bear the Son of God. Even the Muslims highly regard her in the Koran. The belief that what transpired when she was pregnant with Jesus was through 'Immaculate Concepcion', as the best candidate to bear Jesus as the fruit of her womb, as what the Angel Gabriel has told her in the Bible. She was considered a virgin mother, bereft of sin when she bore Jesus until her assumption in heaven based on tradition being a source of teachings and doctrines without it being existing in the Bible. Protestants on the other hand consider it unscriptural to venerate Mary in this regard, and find anything close to worship or adoration of Mary as abominable. In the Roman Catholic church, Mary has become the symbol of ultimate love and sacrifice, through accepting what has been willed of her when she was told by the archangel that she is to bear witness to all these that occurred, standing by her son being tortured to death to allow the will of the Father to come through. By being humble and consenting to whatever the Father has willed her to do, she has become the perfect model of abiding by what God has chosen for us to do - accepting without question. For Protestants, they believe it is only Christ and Christ alone that acts as the chief instrument towards the salvation of man, and no other saint not even Mary should be considered as a co-redemptrix at any point. All the other saints and Mary venerated by the Catholic Church are born flesh and blood without any link to God as compared to Christ, and therefore should not be given the same honor in religion - this for them becomes idolatry. Page 461#1: Compare the Muslim understanding of God's self-disclosure as scripture with the Christian understanding of divine self-disclosure as incarnation. In truth, there is not much difference in this regard between Islamic belief and the Christian faith. Jesus has been interpreted as a prophet by the Muslims, to which Christians consider as the Son of God. The Koran by which the Muslims revere to declare all teachings within the book as the word of the one true God Allah, where God's message of salvation has been through the centuries. The Christians believe the same of the Bible only that Jesus will come back and be resurrected and those who have faith will follow suit. #3: How did the spread of Islam in its first six centuries differ from later Muslim expansion Islam began to spread in the late 500s C.E. with the emergence of Muhammad, considered the last prophet of the God Allah. He traveled across the Arabian continent preaching and making followers, and also enemies, declaring himself as not establishing a new faith but merely reliving the ancient ways of traditions and beliefs already disgraced by Christianity and Judaism. He eventually became a leader that went to war to banish his enemies and unite all tribes within this area that when the time he passed away in the early 600s C.E. he has successfully spread the religion across the Arabian continent. By the 18th century, warring empires emerged flourishing with the rise of the Ottoman empire, which will eventually be brought down by too much Western influence in culture. The declaration of war against other groups practicing different religions has been always attributed to the Muslims; in fact the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has been ongoing for decades was sparked by the clash in religious differences. Page 509 #2: Comment on the observation that what is considered apologetic in one religion may appear as polemic to adherents of another. A prime example being the latest row on the Danish cartoons which depicted Allah in various images, even one where there was a turban shaped into a bomb. The Western culture particularly those countries in Europe have lobbied for the right to freedom of speech, which exercises the journalistic abilities to portray these as they are. Predominantly Muslim countries such as Pakistan and Egypt condemned such acts and demanded an apology from the Danish newspaper and government. Western culture as primarily indoctrinated by Christianity argues that they would not feel the same sentiments if Jesus was portrayed in cartoons, and argued that there were tons of images found where Jesus was depicted in images. These countries do not understand that it is forbidden in the Islamic practices to have any depiction of Allah or any drawing, image to his likeness, as it is related to their views on idolatry - tolerance is a virtue one must concede to in matters of faith and beliefs. In fact, the truth of the matter is the Danish cartoons were actually meant to provoke controversy rather than imitate a likeness - the accusations versus Muslims on the issue of terrorism as encouraged by the cartoons. Read More