Category: Biblical Worldview

In America, citizens are guaranteed the freedom from the government from establishing a national religion and or the freedom to practice a religion of their choosing, which is a fundamental civil right guaranteed under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. “The First Amendment prohibits the government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (FindLaw, 2015). Penal institutions are seeing an increase in inmates claiming some sort of religious freedom for a variety of reasons. It appears many inmates are attempting to circumvent the established rules and or practices within correctional facilities and or jails in order to gain some special exemption, freedom, special privilege, and or to challenge the status quo. This issue has become a controversial topic over the years on both sides of the political spectrum for a variety of reasons and “Congress has supported laws that expand religious liberty” (Wasserman, Connolly, & Kerley, 2018). “One such example is the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (2000), which significantly enhanced prisoners’ right to religious exercise above the minimum provided by the First Amendment” (Wasserman, Connolly, & Kerley, 2018).

“In the 2015 case of Holt v. Hobbs, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Muslim prisoner who had been denied his request for religious accommodations under RLUIPA because the prison failed to satisfy the act’s strict scrutiny standard before it denied accommodations to a prisoner to practice his faith” (Wasserman, Connolly, & Kerley, 2018). When an inmate enters the penal institution, they obviously lose some of their constitutional rights due to them being remanded to a penal institution as a result of them being convicted of a crime. Administrators should be cautioned when considering any cases concerning or regarding an inmate’s religious freedom claims in order to stop frivolous suits by inmates. Therefore, it is imperative and or paramount that policies and procedures be established within the institution to handle religious freedom requests to ensure transparency and consistency. Religious freedom does not give an inmate the right to do whatever they want and not follow the rules within the facility, because they claim religious freedom and or exemption and common sense should be used when evaluating and or handling these situations. One of the basic principles when considering a specific inmate religious freedom claim and or exemption would be to ensure that the religious freedom does not infringe on the rights and safety of others, the integrity and safety of the facility, and ensure that it does not place an undue financial burden on the institution and or taxpayers with the accommodation.

If an inmate’s religious freedom claims and or the exemption is denied by the penal institution, then it should be placed in writing to the inmate and cite each specific statutory exemption as the basis for the denial of the request. The penal institution should be cautioned to ensure that they are not catering to a type and or form of religion and that each religious freedom claim or request is handled and given the same level of consideration and not just accommodating certain types of religious freedoms. An example of a frivolous inmate religious freedom claim, or exemption would be that they cannot wear a prison uniform and or jumpsuit because it is against their religion or somehow brands them or infringes on them. As an administrator of a penal institution, it would be imperative that when considering a request from an inmate regarding some type of religious freedom that all federal, state and local laws be followed and or considered in evaluating the request in order to preserve the basic constitutional rights of all citizens, including inmates, staff and or employees. In conclusion, all religious freedom claims and or exemptions should be evaluated on a case-by-case base integrating federal, state, and local laws and encompassing common sense, the safety and security of correctional officers, staff, and or other inmates. If it was not a safety concern and could be reasonably accommodated without jeopardizing the safety, security, and integrity of the facility then I believe it should be accommodated in order to comply with an inmate’s civil rights.

There have been previous lawsuits in reference to the diets of inmates due to religious preferences and inmates that starve themselves due to religious reasons. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe that the courts have ruled that the correctional staff is not to force feed the inmate in order to preserve their human life and that the diet if it can be reasonably accommodated should be granted; however, I could be wrong. The Bible gives guidance that we are to love God with all our heart and to also love thy neighbor as thyself. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30, KJV). “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none another commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31, KJV). Even though we may have different religious ideologies and or beliefs it is important that we love our neighbor and pray for them that the Lord reveals to them the error of the ways of their sin and or religion that they may be practicing and that they turn to the life and or religion that glorifies God and is pleasing to him.

References:

1. Bible Gateway. (n.d.). Mark 12:30 – King James Version. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+12%3A30&version=KJV
2. Bible Gateway. (2006, November 25). Mark 12:31 – King James Version. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+12%3A31&version=KJV
3. FindLaw. (2015, April 4). Federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act Overview – FindLaw. Retrieved from https://civilrights.findlaw.com/discrimination/federal-religious-freedom-restoration-act-overview.html
4. Wasserman, L., Connolly, J., & Kerley, K. (2018). Religious Liberty in Prisons under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act following Holt v Hobbs: An Empirical Analysis. Religions, 9(7), 210. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9070210

When studied through the Biblical Christian worldview, the most general description an individual who aligns with these morals believes that sex is a gift provided by God to be used to express love to be shared specifically between a husband and wife. It is stated that the Bible does not and really should not focus on the “obscurity” of homosexual behavior and statements. When looking back on the Scripture, it regards it as moving away outside of God’s intention in creating man and woman in his image and as beings who are made to carry out His Word. They will respect the individual, but not their lifestyle.

Though it is the most common form that surveys a majority of Biblical worldview holders, some may not mind homosexuality and choose to love and respect their brothers and sisters just as God intended them too, they know that them being comfortable with themselves is allowing them to live happier. This makes the worldview holder feel content in their own right. Like mentioned before, as we move into this new day and age, religious individuals have grown to be so much more accepting, and the second version has taken a hold on more individuals.

On the other hand, there is no contemporary issue without some form of violence and within a Biblical Christian Worldview, this comes from those who look to voice their opinions in violent ways. Unfortunately, we still have groups such as the Klu Klux Klan and Christian Identity that find pleasure and reassurance in violation and brutality directed towards the LGBTQ+ community as well as individuals of minority groups. A true Biblical Christian Worldview has absolutely no space for hatred toward those who associate with same-sex attraction. God has personally taught us to regard all beings have special value and dignity even if one may see it as sin as love is the ultimate priority and informing those they may not always agree with God’s truth with understanding and civility. A Biblical worldview can be well-examined and thoughtful, more than just a case based on personal judgment and morals, but, in the end, stands as a specialized life system through Christ that seeks to answer the basic questions of life.

Homosexuality and the varying identities within society today have, without a doubt, shifted and impacted the world around us and, personally, I believe has allowed us to take larger strides in the development of our tolerance and understanding of our neighbors. To say that God hates homosexuals is an absurd statement to make for He wants us all to do good in the world, even if “us” includes those who He or others do not see conventionally. He loves all of His creations with His whole heart and equally, and He pushes all of us to do the same.

‘Religion is the opium of the individuals.’ In setting, the articulation is a portion of Marx’s structural-functionalist contention that religion was developed by individuals to calm instability over their part within the universe and in society. The establishment of skeptical feedback is: Man makes religion, religion does not make the man. Religion is, undoubtedly, the self-consciousness and self-esteem of man who has either not however won through to himself, or has as of now misplaced himself once more. But man is no theoretical being hunching down exterior the world.

Man is the world of man state and society. This state and this society create religion, which is an altered awareness of the world since they are a modified world. Religion is the common hypothesis of this world, it’s broad and precise, its rationale in well-known shape, its otherworldly point dehorner, its excitement, its ethical to authorize, its serious complement, and its widespread premise of reassurance and defense. It is the phenomenal realization of the human quintessence since the human substance has not obtained any genuine reality. The battle against religion is, subsequently, by implication the battle against that world whose otherworldly smell is religion.

Marx utilized the state to create a structural-functionalist contention around religion, especially almost organized religion. In his see, religion may be false, but it may be a work of something real. Specifically, Marx accepted that religion had certain commonsense capacities in society that were comparable to the work of opium in a debilitated or harmed individual: it decreased people’s quick enduring and gave them charming dreams which gave them the quality to carry on. In this sense, whereas Marx may have no sensitivity for religion itself, he has profound sensitivity for the low class who put their belief in it.

Be that as it may, Marx too saw religion as destructive to progressive objectives: by centering on the unceasing instead of the transient, religion turns the consideration of the persecuted absent from the misuse and course structure that encompasses their regular lives. Within the handle, religion makes a difference to cultivate a kind of untrue awareness that encourages social values and convictions that back and approve the proceeded dominance of the administering course. It subsequently avoids the communist insurgency, the toppling of capitalism, and the foundation of a classless, communist society.

1. Marx and the Opiate of the Masses. LibreTexts. 2021 February 20. Retrieved 2021 May 17.
2. Marx, Karl. [1843] 1970. ‘Introduction.’ A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel`s Philosophy of Right, translated by A. Jolin and J. O`Malley, edited by J. O`Malley. Cambridge University Press. via Marxists.org.
3. Selsam, Howard, and Harry Martel, eds. 1987. Reader in Marxist Philosophy: From the Writings of Marx, Engels, and Lenin

The town’s hollow adherence to religion is another form of deceit explored. Christ’s imagery, such as God abandoning the village is shown through the bishop, “the bishop didn’t get off his boat,” (15) but despite this he is still idolized by the town. Angela Vicario is another example of this deceit as she was always thought of as a saint, even though her name Angela means angel, but “no one would have thought [,] that Angela Vicario wasn’t a virgin” (37) exposes her deception. Later, by no accident Márquez also makes the prostitute Maria appear to be the only one telling the truth, “knowing her so well, I never doubted it” (50) as the premise of honesty as a trait of a prostitute is ironic, especially in this culture/religion where prostitution is disfavored. The dichotomy of the honest prostitute and lying saint is but one example of Márquez’s inversion of the sacred and the profane. This poses a problem for the narrator as the town’s ignorance and unwillingness to acknowledge the deceit of religion has symbolically blinded them to the murder.

The priest is staunchly religious but neither his nor the townspeople’s belief is rewarded. In the end, the idea of the purity of a virgin is tainted by the overbearing sense of impending doom that pervades the text. In this culture religion is highly valued even by Santiago, “church pomp had an irresistible fascination” (6). However, Márquez demonstrates the hypocrisy of this with small details such as the “coxcomb soup [and] Nasar had reason to feel cheated” (15-16) signifying waste and how religion has just become a way for the church to control the town. For instance, the bishop operates mechanically, “the bishop began to make the sign of the cross in the air [and] without malice or inspiration” (16). This imagery shows the fallacy and hollowness of religion within the town. Constant references to god, “god’s medicine” (20) used with no meaning also demonstrate this. The bishop is even said to “hate this town” (6).

Marquez exhibits the extortion of the people of the town, implying that it is precisely the deceit of the absurd hollow religious lip service that allows the murder as honor killings are forgiven under religion. The bastardization of Father Amador through his dissection of Santiago’s corpse also shows this. The visual imagery, “syrup-colored liquid began to flow from his wounds” (74) presents another grueling depiction of religion. This simultaneously symbolically exhibits the lies the townspeople live by and do not wish to acknowledge.

Ultimately the question of deciphering the fate of Santiago will never truly be answered. But it is for this same reason that this text has risen to such prominence. The lies and deceit perpetrated by individuals, and the community as a whole are significant in ultimately sealing the fate of Santiago, this theme is but one angle to perceive the cause of the murder. If one is to truly understand the text, one must recognize that there will never be a right answer. The ambiguous nature of Márquez’s writing style, particularly his use of magical realism, would never allow it.

The Bible is a fundamental text for many who seek to understand the world around them. At its core is a biblical worldview that shapes how we understand ourselves, others, and the world we live in. One of the most important sections of the Bible for understanding this worldview is Romans 1-8.

But what is the intersection of these two concepts and examine the key themes of Romans 1-8 through a biblical lens? By examining this passage of scripture, we can gain a deeper understanding of the nature of humanity, the role of faith, and the hope that lies ahead for those who seek to follow God.

The Depravity of Humanity (Romans 1:18-32)

The first major theme in Romans 1-8 is the depravity of humanity, which is introduced in verses 18-32. Here, the Apostle Paul describes how all people have a natural knowledge of God through creation, but they suppress this knowledge and exchange the truth about God for a lie, worshipping created things rather than the Creator.

As a result, God has given humanity over to their sinful desires, leading to all kinds of wickedness and immorality. Paul argues that this depravity affects all people, regardless of their social or religious status, and it ultimately leads to God’s judgment. This theme sets the stage for the need for salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Righteousness of God (Romans 3:21-26)

In Romans 3:21-26, the apostle Paul discusses the righteousness of God. Paul explains that all people have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, but God’s righteousness is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. This righteousness is not earned by following the law, but is given freely as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus.

Paul emphasizes that this righteousness is available to both Jews and Gentiles, and that it is the same for all people. He explains that this righteousness is made possible by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, which reconciles us to God and allows us to be made righteous in His sight.

Life in the Spirit (Romans 8:1-17)

Romans 8:1-17 speaks about life in the Spirit and the freedom and transformation that comes from being in Christ. Paul emphasizes that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, as the Spirit of life has set them free from the law of sin and death.

He also highlights the importance of the mind being set on the Spirit, leading to life and peace, as opposed to being controlled by the flesh which leads to death. Paul reminds the readers that they are children of God, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, and that the Spirit helps them in their weakness and intercedes for them in prayer. The chapter concludes with the assurance that nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

The Hope of the Gospel (Romans 8:18-39)

In Romans 8:18-39, Paul discusses the hope of the gospel and the future glory that believers will experience. He highlights the fact that creation is currently in a state of suffering, but it will ultimately be restored to its original intended state. Additionally, believers are promised to be glorified with Christ in the future.

Paul emphasizes the importance of hope and the fact that believers should eagerly await the fulfillment of God’s promises. He also reminds believers that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ. This section of Romans provides encouragement and assurance to believers that their future is secure in Christ.

Conclusion

The book of Romans, particularly chapters 1-8, provides a comprehensive biblical worldview that highlights the depravity of humanity, the righteousness of God, life in the Spirit, and the hope of the gospel. Through these chapters, we learn that all humanity is in need of redemption and that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live a life pleasing to God, and in Christ, we have a sure hope for our future. This biblical worldview provides a foundation for understanding the human condition and God’s plan for redemption, ultimately pointing us toward a life lived in obedience to God and a hope of eternal life in Christ.

The Bible is a fundamental text for many who seek to understand the world around them. At its core is a biblical worldview that shapes how we understand ourselves, others, and the world we live in. One of the most important sections of the Bible for understanding this worldview is Romans 1-8.

But what is the intersection of these two concepts and examine the key themes of Romans 1-8 through a biblical lens? By examining this passage of scripture, we can gain a deeper understanding of the nature of humanity, the role of faith, and the hope that lies ahead for those who seek to follow God.

The Depravity of Humanity (Romans 1:18-32)

The first major theme in Romans 1-8 is the depravity of humanity, which is introduced in verses 18-32. Here, the Apostle Paul describes how all people have a natural knowledge of God through creation, but they suppress this knowledge and exchange the truth about God for a lie, worshipping created things rather than the Creator.

As a result, God has given humanity over to their sinful desires, leading to all kinds of wickedness and immorality. Paul argues that this depravity affects all people, regardless of their social or religious status, and it ultimately leads to God’s judgment. This theme sets the stage for the need for salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Righteousness of God (Romans 3:21-26)

In Romans 3:21-26, the apostle Paul discusses the righteousness of God. Paul explains that all people have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, but God’s righteousness is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. This righteousness is not earned by following the law, but is given freely as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus.

Paul emphasizes that this righteousness is available to both Jews and Gentiles, and that it is the same for all people. He explains that this righteousness is made possible by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, which reconciles us to God and allows us to be made righteous in His sight.

Life in the Spirit (Romans 8:1-17)

Romans 8:1-17 speaks about life in the Spirit and the freedom and transformation that comes from being in Christ. Paul emphasizes that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, as the Spirit of life has set them free from the law of sin and death.

He also highlights the importance of the mind being set on the Spirit, leading to life and peace, as opposed to being controlled by the flesh which leads to death. Paul reminds the readers that they are children of God, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, and that the Spirit helps them in their weakness and intercedes for them in prayer. The chapter concludes with the assurance that nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

The Hope of the Gospel (Romans 8:18-39)

In Romans 8:18-39, Paul discusses the hope of the gospel and the future glory that believers will experience. He highlights the fact that creation is currently in a state of suffering, but it will ultimately be restored to its original intended state. Additionally, believers are promised to be glorified with Christ in the future.

Paul emphasizes the importance of hope and the fact that believers should eagerly await the fulfillment of God’s promises. He also reminds believers that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ. This section of Romans provides encouragement and assurance to believers that their future is secure in Christ.

Conclusion

The book of Romans, particularly chapters 1-8, provides a comprehensive biblical worldview that highlights the depravity of humanity, the righteousness of God, life in the Spirit, and the hope of the gospel. Through these chapters, we learn that all humanity is in need of redemption and that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live a life pleasing to God, and in Christ, we have a sure hope for our future. This biblical worldview provides a foundation for understanding the human condition and God’s plan for redemption, ultimately pointing us toward a life lived in obedience to God and a hope of eternal life in Christ.