Religion and Theology

.Name several instances of racism and/or discrimination among the Jews throughout history. Why do you think that Jews have experienced such harsh treatment, racism, and physical and verbal abuse throughout history? Do Jews still experience discrimination, racism, and/or abuse today? Explain Christianity has over 1.87 billion people in the world today. Discuss from your point of view the factors that have caused this religion to become the most widespread and largest religion in the present world. In the book, Jesus and the Rise of Christianity, describe the economic world in which Jesus was born. How does this world compare with the economic world we live in today? How did Jesus try to bring change among the different classes of people during his day? 

St. Augustine in the 5th Century held that we are free to make choices in life. This is the idea of free will. It may seem at first glance odd for a religious thinker to say that we have free will. After all, if God exists, then God created all things. God knows already what we will do. God can cause anything to occur. If we cause things to occur, that seems to be a limitation on the power of God and not make God all-powerful. There are also religious traditions that say that we have no free will. There are some theologians in Islam who seem to suggest that is true. In order for this line of reasoning to hold true, one would need to believe free will is an illusion and that we have no control over how we live our lives, but rather that we are puppets moving and acting due to God’s will and the powers of destiny and fate. And if this then in the case, how can we possibly be responsible for our actions? The considerations above show us to what degree our religious beliefs can shape us. For instance, someone who believes in free will may experience way more guilt than someone who believes we don’t have free will and thus isn’t responsible for the choices (and consequences) of the actions we take. Personal struggles with religion and ethics occur in many places, including in the healthcare arena. Consider the following: You are a nurse in a hospital. A 12-year-old was brought to the hospital by an ambulance. The parents have just arrived at the hospital. This 12-year-old has lost a large amount of blood and requires a transfusion. The parents happen to be members of a religion that believes that blood transfusions are immoral. They want to remove the child from the hospital and prevent the transfusion even if it means the death of the child. You have to decide whether or not you will participate in an action that violates the will of the parents and aid in providing blood for the child. If you choose to participate, and even if you are able to legally justify it, you have to think about the distress you are creating for the parents. If you refuse to aid here, you may be subject to retaliation from the hospital. What is the moral thing for the nurse to do here? Initial Post Instructions For the initial post, address the following questions: What would a divine command ethicist say is the moral thing to do here? Why would they say that? Do you agree with the divine command ethics? Why or why not? Evaluate what a natural law ethicist would say is right to do. Do you agree with them? Why or why not? Given what you said are the right things to do, what would an emotivist say about your positions and judgments? What role does subjectivity play here in determining what is ethical?

1. Introduction – the general subject matter of the paper 2. What is the author’s main point (Summary of the paper) 3. The author’s addition/contribution to the subject matter 4. Our own critique of the paper and  5. Conclusion and recommendations

What are the differences between the Theravada and Mahayana expressions of Buddhism? Be sure to address all of them

In what ways does Jesus teaching challenge or contradict the conventional outlook of his time? Explain your position in detail

What did you learn in terms of what religions mean for Japanese people?What are some differences in the role that a religion plays for Japanese people from those in other societies?

What are two core worldview concerns/questions that every worldview seeks to answer? What particular ethical questions beg to be asked and answered, based on the responses to these worldview questions? Cite your sources from the textbooks and other course materials.

As with many other philosophical or theological questions, the answer to the question of morality and its benefits depends upon to whom the question is addressed. Of equal importance to the response is that person’s worldview. Each student reading this overview has and acts out of their weltanschauung, or worldview.Every ethical system is part of something bigger . . . that can be called a worldview . . . [which] consists of our beliefs and assumptions about how the world fits together. As is the case with ethical systems, everyone has one, whether it is acknowledged or not. (Wilkens, 2011, p. 19)Consciously or unconsciously, a worldview hinges on the answers to questions about five subcategories of philosophy. They include questions about:· God· Metaphysics, which is related to the nature of reality· Epistemology, which is related to the nature of knowledge· Anthropology, which is related to the nature of humans and their cultures· EthicsIdeas regarding morality hinge on an individual’s responses to questions such as:Is there a God? What is he like? Is human nature innately good, or is humankind fallen, fatally flawed by some original sin? Are human beings just highly evolved reasoning animals, or are they the crown of God’s creation? Can human beings only trust empirically verifiable data, or can personal intuition or divine inspiration be equally valid ways of

Please pick and write on ONE of the following four topics:1.Given your understanding of Jesus’ ministry and themes of preaching, what are the main points of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Also compare it with the shorter version found in Luke 6:20-23, and determine what is Jesus’ main focus in these “blessings” sayings.2. Choose 3 stories (parables or accounts) from Luke that are related to the Gentiles (non-Jews), and that can also be found in either Matthew, Mark, or John. What are the differences in Luke’s description and emphasis? What can they tell you about the focuses of Luke (and Acts) when it comes to Gospel and the Gentiles?3. How does Paul use the example of Abraham to explain his theology of faith and salvation? Use at least two passages of Paul (e.g. Galatians 3, Romans 4) to explain the main reasoning of this teaching of Paul.4. Compare between 1 Corinthians 12-13 and Romans 12 – what does Paul say about the Church? What does he suggest that the believers should see themselves in order for the unity of the Church to be maintained and secured?Some requirements to pay attention to:a. Select a theme, and use what you have read in the selected passages to argue for it.b. Use more outside references (i.e. in addition to the Bible)c. Citation is required, for example:Thomas Hatina, “Module Seven: The New Testament Canon”,Introduction to the New Testament, Section 7.2.d. Include a small section of your personal thoughts

Yad VashemJewish Memorial Berlin[For an overview of Holocaust memorials, see this lecture(https://britishassociationforholocauststudies.wordpress.com/an-evening-lecture-with-professor-james-e-young/?fbclid=IwAR164iVIwpyf-eJi4ILOVPEtj-sPft7b0TEifLR_ZlvsonzZMizefWn_GGg) byJames E. Young, “The Stages of Memory: Reflections on Memorialization and Global Commemoration,”hosted by The British Association for Holocaust Studies,Literature/PoetrySebald, AusterlitzWiesel, NightAchebe, Things Fall ApartMorrison, BelovedCharlotte DelboLeila SebbarPaul CelanIrena KlepfiszFilmInglorious BasterdsThe Nasty Girl (Das Schreckliche Mädchen)Nowhere in AfricaIdaNumberedCachéWaltz with BashirMusicGoreckiChildish Gambino (“This is America”)HamiltonVisual Art/Artists