Religion and Theologyy - Essay Example

?Religion and Theology Introduction: According to James L. Christian "Religion is said to be man's involvement in the source and meaning of his existence, and the in-depth involvement is the depth of his religion." Religion is the source to service and worship God; it is a system of faith, trusts and beliefs. Theology helps to learn religious traditions; this is a system of theoretical principles that derives the religious practices. According to H. Dermot McDonald, religious experience does possess a sense of adequacy and completeness. Theology has facilitated Christianity towards human values to the fullest. The impact of Jesus in the lives of people since ages has never passed by with absolute positives like none before. History talks about many skeptics and critics whose lives have also been transformed completely. Different factors that facilitate the Christian values into human lives, it is quiet important to analyse and understand certain aspects about Jesus if he had claimed to be God ever, if the Bible had the authority in human life, and if a person is a Christian, does it in any way matter as to how a life is lead. These factors have always been the focal areas of interaction many times. According to John 10:30 Jesus says “I and the Father are one”, but Jesus never said the words precisely as “I am God”. This means that Jesus never said that he was God ever; in fact he referred to the Father and him as equals, with Father, Son and the Holy Spirit in the form of Trinity. Secondly the point if Bible has authority over human life; Bible is the essence of timeless truth rather than an authority. According to N.T Wright, the question posed is how the Bible could be authoritative; he brings up the views that most of the Bible does not consist of rules and regulations or a list of detailed commands that are to be obeyed, nor does it have creeds in it. There is no such Biblical doctrine of having authority of Bible and rather it is the root path to human beings towards reformation of life. The scriptural values one could follow to have an intimate relation with God. Thirdly, leading the way of life as a Christian emphasizing on the way life is lead. It lies in the works that one does in his life, where his reward comes from. Obedience and faithfulness are very essential to lead life close to God. Did Jesus claim to be God? To understand more precisely about the aspect of Bible, did Jesus ever claim to be God, when Jesus declared as per John 10:30 “I and the Father are one” his statement meant that he and his father were of similar nature and essence. John in his context reiterates the in-depth truth and concept linked to Jesus, wherein he says “the word was God” and “the word became flesh” according to John 1:1, 14 from the scripture. The verse elucidates that Jesus is God in the Human Flesh. In the book of Revelation, an angel instructs the apostle John to worship only God; on the other hand Jesus in the Bible receives worship at various instances. People have been worshipping him at different phases. Jesus never opposed the people not to worship him. Jesus never claimed himself to be God. But the point that could be emphasized is that if Jesus were not God, he would have certainly told the people who worshipped him, not to do the same. Jesus was the word, a word which was with God, a word which was God himself. A primary aspect that could be observed is that Jesus had sacrificed his life for human kind, in a way where people could repent and come back to the righteous life. His death has paid the penalty for the sins of this world. Jesus has given an infinite penalty for human beings for the sins of people. This shows that Jesus was God and such an instance could happen only from an infinite entity as a whole. Jesus life on earth has been a journey that changed the lives of many. The scriptural verse as per 1 John 2:2 says “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” It can be stated that only God could take the sins of the whole world and as a result sacrifice his life on the cross, and then be resurrected as a sign of his victory over sin and also death. Sin and death could not take control of him. Therefore, it could be said that Jesus is one in God the Father and God himself. Does Bible have authority? Coming to the point if Bible has authority over human life, in this context it could be said that in a Church and in a state the term authority is taken in different forms; Positive and Negative too. The term authority as per the terminology of Bible is the primary factor. To talk about the key points of how the church life is structured within us, what could be the boundaries if attitudes and behaviour that could be permitted and so on. These factors are determined not by the authority of the Bible but rather by the impact of Christian values imbibed into human life. The term authority refers to the answers to the primary questions. People tend to take the understanding of the biblical authority as something that controls situations or people in every possible manner linked to human life and values. It is stated that a bigger portion of the bible does not consider any specific rules or norms as such. It does not command human beings nor does the bible tend to give creedal statements. There is said to be no biblical doctrine of authority. Many strong points talk about the relation between the Old Testament and the New Testament but the same is not the relation when we take the relation of the New Testament with ourselves. I. Howard Marshall in one of his books says “How are we to interpret the Bible” Going back into the Biblical scriptures, if we refer the Bible to see where the term authority is practiced or asked to be kept in practice, we would find none, as it is said that complete authority lies with God himself. Barr.J brings out the historical analysis of the Bible as to how far the description of the text stands from the actuality of the Scripture and says that bible is to be imbibed as a live happening rather than a history. Barr.J also says that Bible has his authority in some or the other form because of the way its essence is built into Christian faith and Christian Religion. Thus, it can be said that Bible is not an authoritative book as such but gives us the ethics that could be followed to mould the values of Christianity to live life to the fullest. If a person is a Christian, does it matter how they live their life This is another aspect that explains itself of the Christian values in many cases. It can be said that a Christian life is to be filled with gratitude. Taking the infinite God and his righteousness, yes it is definitely true to the point and adds value with the kind of life that is lead by a Christian. According to CF. John Baillie, The sense of the presence of God assesses the manner in which Christians sense God and respond. The life of a Christian is to be motivated and to be lead in the same way with thankfulness and gratitude. Humans are shown the route towards righteousness and a good life to be lead on earth. True Christians follow the laws of the Bible, accepting the principles and moral being obedient to God. Obeying God is said to be crucial in the life of a Christian as a true believer whose lives are framed not by the religious formalities but by the love and obedience to God and his commands. Faithfulness is another aspect that adds value to a Christian life. Therefore it could be rightly said that certain qualities like faith, peace loving, justice and kindness, humility, learning and being taught, being an example and praying at all times are certain aspects that matter to a person as a Christian and how they imbibe these qualities into their lives. An absolute point that could be highlighted here is that being a Christian, definitely matters to each one in the way they live and lead life as such. Conclusion: Thus the core aspect of Christianity is to follow Jesus, to know the values that Jesus has passed the human kind through his death and resurrection, the Bible and its intervention in the lives of people, and the way a Christian life has to be lead. To live a life of righteousness and prayer is the vital aspect and imbibing the concept of one true faith, one true religion, one true church and one true God as a whole. Grading Rubric   Description Understanding Appropriate factors conclusion Score Stated Objective or Performance Description of the required statements reflecting a beginning level performance. Description of the given topic with appropriate understanding and reflection Description of the appropriate factors with suitable reference Description of characteristics reflecting the level of understanding   References: Barr.J. The Scope and Authority of the Bible. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1980. Print. Marshall, Howard. I Biblical Inspiration. London: Hodder, 1982. Print. McDonald, Dermot. H. What is Meant By Religious Experience. Vox Evangelica, 1963. Print. Baillie, John. CF. The Sense of the Presence of God. 1962, 65. Print. Read More