Category: Christianity

People sometimes encounter situations when they need to be heard because it is the only way to get support. I have also had such problems in my life. In one such case, I needed help with moving to another apartment. I asked several people in my dorm to do this, but they ignored me. In this situation, I found myself unheard, even though I had severe difficulties. However, there was another situation when people heard my requests for help and responded. I was late for my flight and needed to arrive as soon as possible. By asking friends who have a car and explaining what happened, they helped me.

Comparing these two situations shows what it takes to be heard at the right moment. First, you need to reach out to someone who can help; the example above was friends. Second, it must be done with the proper respect. The difference between the environment where people can be heard and when they do not have such an opportunity is that people can turn to others for help and get it in the first case. In the second situation, people process the received news alone and have no one to discuss what happened.

Thus, to be heard by God, it is necessary not just to ask but also to pray (King James Version, 2018). The ritual of prayer takes place with the proper respect that assists God in hearing our requests (King James Version, 2018). In addition, God is the one who has the right and the power to help us in our time of need. The Bible tells us to ask for assistance only with a pure heart and holy intentions (King James Version, 2018). Scripture also says that those who boast of their faithfulness and honesty will go unheeded. Thus, faith teaches people but also develops an environment in which the needy person gets help. The Bible points out all the necessary considerations that must be taken to ensure that pleading for support is not self-serving, driven by laziness or self-pity, but objective and in-demand (King James Version, 2018). My Christian Worldview dictates that I need to develop an environment in which people are guaranteed to receive help and will be heard.

Reference

King James Version. (2018). The Holy Bible. King James version. BookRix.

Stephen Tompkins, in his book, tries to tell the history of Christianity in an accessible language, avoiding specific church vocabulary and moral teachings. The author suggests listening to the story and thinking about how humanity came to todays realities with positive and negative consequences. In the first chapter, Tompkins describes the reasons for the popularity of Jesus among the Jewish people, and the main highlight is his resurrection (2005). However, the teachings of Jesus found followers even before his resurrection, and it is also the basis of all religions. The miracle of the resurrection caused the message to other peoples about the doctrine and attracted attention, but it was not the primary cause of the formation of Christianity.

Nevertheless, the formation of religion took time, and at first, persecution of Christians happened quite often. Some were dubious about the new believers, and some were afraid of losing power. However, the influence set by the chain of events had already been triggered, and there was no turning back.

Further disagreements faced by Christians were clashes of faith and established traditions with new teaching. Questions arose about the division of churches and conflicts based on faith. New ideas have emerged that religion is not just a set of restrictive rules and rituals but also the very essence of human relationships with God (Tomkins, 2005). This adaptability of Christianity found supporters among pagans and Jews, but conflicts with the apostles carrying the voice of Christ did not subside. Moreover, here the author quite plausibly describes the fermentation of thought among the people: how new ideas went through the stages of rejection, interest, and acceptance. The new religion found a response in peoples minds and promised something new to replace the old foundations perceived as the only possible and due.

Church life also proceeded according to the well-established traditions of the Jews. Although Christians were present on Saturday in synagogues, their day was Sunday, the day of Christs resurrection. However, the symbolism of tradition that has survived to modern times was not always dictated exclusively by the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Life meetings, and sharing food, bread, and wine are not associated with flesh and blood of Christ in the teaching of the apostles (Tomkins, 2005). Nevertheless, symbolism increasingly began to manifest itself in teaching, often dictated by more prosaic reasons than those reflected in the scriptures. Self-organization led to the emergence of a structure in churches that spread geographically and survived today. This fact once again confirms the adaptability of religion, the internal structure of which was regulated both by the Holy Scriptures and by the daily life of its followers.

The first Christian Roman emperor Constantine came to the throne in 312. After years of persecution, he completely overturned the empires laws, legalizing Christianity and Christianizing the law (Tomkins, 2005). Although Constantines motives were obvious  he wanted to rally more people under his leadership  his actions did not correspond to Christianity. He killed his son in order to maintain power. On his way came across Donatists and other doubters. However, any conflict of misunderstanding was most often resolved by war. Arius unleashed an information war  he expressed the idea of monotheism, wrote songs, and promoted his teaching. However, this conflict was resolved by the most significant world council in Nicea, and Arius was forgiven by Constantine, which is consistent with the original teaching of Christianity, not tainted by personal motives and cravings for power. Why, then, in Christian communities and states, people again resorted to violence after such a vivid example of resolving the conflict of misunderstanding and non-recognition, forgiving non-believers? Even in the preface, the author leaves this question unanswered, leaving the readers to find their answer.

Reference

Tomkins, S. (2005). A short history of Christianity. London: Lion Books.

In their book Readings in World Christian History, Coakley and Sterk (2004) suggest that the movement of Christianity as a religion has always been more expansive than any individual or local community. The diversity of beliefs and practices inherent to the religion that developed over the past two millennia is compelling and deserves an in-depth investigation. Thus, the books authors brought together this diversity to explore the movement from a global perspective and bring insight into Christianitys multi-dimensional and multi-cultural history.

The exploration of the early Christian communities represents the first bulk of the historical discourse. Its understanding bears immense relevance in the given context as it allows us to determine the first steps that Christianity had taken when capturing significant population groups, as well as how it evolved throughout the history of human development. The Gospel of Thomas, for example, is explored by the authors as a piece of Christian teachings that said that humankind could only find salvation through the words of Jesus (Coakley & Sterk, 2004). The gospel does not mention the traditional stories of suffering, healing, the cross, or miracles; instead, it teaches that salvation stems from an individuals betterment. The Didache is another example that the authors present in the book that offers more explicit instructions according to which Christian groups should lead their lives. It includes rituals such as Communion, fasting, and baptism and contains reminders of Jesuss second coming (Coakley & Sterk, 2004). The piece shows the evolution of Christian thought compared to the Gospel of Thomas, providing less room for interpretation but offering guidance for Christian communities to live godly lives.

Thus, by offering examples of the Christian teachings according to which early Christian communities lived, the authors are able to show the progression and modification of beliefs and practices. While core teachings had remained the same over the centuries, the emergence of such pieces as the Apostolic Tradition by the Hippolytus of Rome shows that Christianity evolved together with society as new roles emerged. Specifically, Hippolytuss work had a major impact on the formation of ancient Church Orders (Coakley & Sterk, 2004). In addition, the authors give an overview of the Correspondence of Pliny and Trajan, which marked the first time when the Roman government recognized Christianity as a separate religion from Judaism, thus setting a precedent for the future persecution of the followers of this religion. The reign of Constantine as the first Christian emperor with a unique position in the Church is indicative of not only the rising popularity of the religion but also populations desire for it to get embedded into the sociopolitical life of communities.

The exploration of the History of the World Christian Movement allows for posing several important questions. The first question is the following: How did Christian beliefs and customs change over the course of societys development? The second question is, Why did Christian teachings mention nothing about bishops and priests in the Gospel of Thomas but emerged later in Hippolytuss work? What commentary does it offer regarding social development? The third question What role did Emperor Constantine play in the strengthening of Christianity among the population? The final question for exploration is, What does the history of Christianity over the course of two millennia teach about its future development?

Reference

Coakley, J., & Sterk, B. (2004). Readings in world Christian history. Volume I: Earliest Christianity to 1453. Orbis Books.

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with more than two billion adherents. Christian faith includes numerous branches, the most popular of which are the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Protestantism. Even though all the branches are diverse in terms of canons and rituals, all of them are based on Jesus Christs teachings of redemption, morality, and the love of God for all people. However, since the second half of the 17th century, the number of people who confess Christian faith has been declining. Some of the reasons for this tendency include technological progress and scientific development, mass atrocities of the 20th century, and the rise of secular values. The present paper discusses the aforementioned reasons for the decline.

The first reason for the decline of Christianity in Europe is technological progress and scientific development. The influence of science is particularly evident in the 20th century that is marked by the rise of naturalism. The critical idea of naturalism is that everything that happens in the world can be explained through science and the origin of all events is natural rather than supernatural. It is curious to notice that since began affecting the Christian faith long before the 20th century. More precisely, already in the 17th century, philosophers turned to science for inspiration, direction, and criteria of truth and treated science as a weapon against Christianity (Westfall 2020, 218). In other words, the development of science leads to the decline of Christianity because it provides a measurable and provable explanation of natural phenomena and events in the history of humanity. Science provides clarity and evidence instead of arguing that things happen due to supernatural reasons that people cannot comprehend.

The second reason for the decline of Christianity is related to the mass atrocities experienced by humanity in the 20th and 21st centuries. Two World Wars, numerous terrorist attacks, civil wars, and several nuclear attacks raise a question on whether God actually exists. Undoubtedly, every person might face a crisis of faith while going through tough times in life. Nevertheless, it is still hard to explain why if God exists, billions of people die because of political and ideological reasons. Besides, people who survived World War II prison camps commonly say that these places turned them into atheists, no matter whether these people were Christians, Jews, or Muslims.

The third reason for the decline of Christianity in Europe is the rise of secular values that began in the second half of the past century. The essence of secularism lies in the absence of discrimination on religious grounds and the institutional separation of the church. As Roy (2020) puts it, in comparison to secularism, the only way how religion could prove its values is through examples. Therefore, the Christian faith, as well as any other faith, lacks logic and verifiable evidence. What is more, secularization shows that it is possible to have a good life without the presence of God in it. This way, people simply see no reason in thinking about God and learning more about the teachings of the Christian faith.

To conclude, there are numerous reasons for the decline of Christianity in Europe that started in the late 17th century. Enlightenment, technological and scientific progress, wars, and secularization of society to a large extent contribute to the dramatic decrease in the number of people who profess Christianity. At the same time, it could be noticed that Christianity remains the major monotheistic religion in the world despite this decline.

References

Roy, Olivier. 2020. Is Europe Christian? Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Westfall, Richard S. 2020. 8. The Rise of Science and the Decline of Orthodox Christianity: A Study of Kepler, Descartes, and Newton. In God and Nature (Eds. David C. Lindberg and Ronald L. Numbers), 21837. California, CA.: University of California Press. Web.

Religion occupies one of the essential places in every persons life. The study of the postulates and the gospel of Christianity can give an extraordinary insight into what is happening in peoples lives. In addition, stories about Jesus can further strengthen peoples faith and give them hope for the best in the world. The four Gospels of the New Testament can help in fulfilling this function, as they are precious in Christian denominations. Therefore, this work aims to consider what the gospel is, why there are four of them, and their importance for religion.

The gospel is a book of the New Testament, which consists of several parts. Gundry (2012) highlights Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, all of whom talk about Jesus. Interestingly, everyone has their own narrative features and different perspectives on the events taking place in them. The existence of the four gospels gives people a more profound and precise understanding of who Jesus is and how he and his work are valuable to humanity.

Thus, each gospel has a unique narrative that distinguishes it from the others. For example, in Matthew, Jesus is shown as the Jewish Messiah, the embodiment of the hopes and faith of the Old Testament (Blog, 2017). In Luke, Jesus is presented as a great savior for all nations, and in the gospel of Mark, he is depicted as the Son of God, going through multiple sufferings and sacrificing himself for human sins. In the fourth gospel of John, Jesus is an eternal reflection of his father, God. Hence, such a distinctive view of what is happening to the son of God can give detailed information about the life of Jesus and what lesson can be learned from those events.

At the moment, there are many other gospels, but there are only four main ones. All of them also talk about the life of Jesus, describing his entire history from infancy to death. However, only the four gospels that were considered earlier are included in the Bible. One of the reasons is the uncertainty that many of these stories can be characterized by the authenticity of the narrative. Even though some of them still retain accurate data, there are some other justifications for their absence in the Bible. One of them is too long a time interval; they were written too late to attract trust.

Moreover, many authors preferred to hide and write the gospels under an assumed name, which also reduced the level of reliability of the stories. Although the gospels that are not included in the list of the four main ones may have some value, they have not been approved by the Christian church. Several reasons influenced this decision at once, but the most important of them was the lack of compliance with the spiritual power and perseverance that concerns the Sacred Spirit and the life of the son of God.

The existence of the gospels is a necessary aspect of this faith. People need them because they help to gain even greater spiritual strength in faith. This is due to the fact that the gospels show the hardships that Jesus went through, and this is what motivates people to make their lives and those around them better so that all the sufferings of Jesus do not go unnoticed. So, it is wrong to say that people could do with only one or two Gospels. As already mentioned, each of the four stories provides its own unique and valuable perspective about Jesus. Moreover, they are all aimed at solving a certain problem, around which the choice of writing a certain story is tied.

References

Blog, Z.A. (2017). What are the gospels, and why are there four of them? Zondervan Academic. Web.

Gundry, R.H. (2012). A survey of the New Testament. Zondervan.

Introduction

Gospel Essentials and the Christian Worldview

Gospel essentials are the subject matter of the gospel books, whose theme is forgiveness of sin and redemption, qualified by Jesus atonement (1 Cor. 15: 1-4 New International Version). On the other hand, Valk describes the Christian worldview as the underlying philosophical structure by which Christians construe and interact with worldly phenomena (2012). The worldview framework blends with gospel essentials to shepherd followers to comply with Gods will, bringing them into personal relationships with their creator (Cooling, 2010).

Implementation of this merged approach helps Christians understand and recognize how to respond to realities such as man and sin. This essay is a benchmark assignment paper that gives an overview analytical summary of the Christian worldview. It also highlights some of the essentials of the philosophical framework such as God and Jesus, among others. Moreover, it communicates on my personal reflections regarding this biblical worldview.

Body

Fundamental Constituents of the Gospel Essentials

God, Jesus, humanity, and restoration constitute the four key figures of the gospel essentials (Cooling, 2010). In what follows, are particulars of these constituents.

God

From a Christian stance, God is the supreme sovereignty and absolute power over all human and nature forces (Yandell, Werther, Linville, & Griffiths, 2012). He is the avatar, creator and ruler of all things existent, the universe and infinity inclusive (Gen. 1:1). Proverbs 9:10 states that God is the patron of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. The characteristics of God are vast. Schatkin (2011) attributes that God is omnipotent, eternal, transcendent, omnipresent and infinite.

God is also unchanging, incomparable, unfathomable, holy, omniscient, gracious, just, and sees all evil. His creations comprehend the day and night, the sky, and its heavenly bodies; the land, seas and vegetation, birds and sea creatures, land animals and, human beings. The ultimate character of God bespeaks in high volumes, taking into account that all His work of art came to actuality by word of mouth (Gen. 1:31).

Humanity

Humanity entails the defining qualities that uniquely makes us human, setting us apart from all other creation, animals inclusive (Schatkin, 2011). Reason, thinking, acting, weaponry use, and economic structures are amongst our unique human aspects. Mans chief purpose is to love and serve God, a characteristic represented by the responsibilities that God gave man. The responsibilities and duties included dominating the earth, naming the animals, and caring for the garden (Gen. 1:28; 2:15). Man performed all these undeterred, except for one mysterious command forbidding man from consuming the forbidden fruit (Gen. 2:17).

Out to rival God, Satan tempted Eve to eat the fruit, thereby instituting sin into the world, and causing the fall of mankind. The act of sin is the foundation and cause of human problems and suffering today (DiVincenzo, 2014).

Why is Jesuss identity and work significant for the Christian worldview?

Jesus identity is the Chosen One, the Christ- Son of the Living God (Matt. 16:13). He is a prophet, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father, and Mighty God. Cooling (2010) reckons Jesus as the perfect sacrificial lamb. Through incarnation, God- Jesus- became man and died for our sins (DiVincenzo, 2014). Despite the self-imposed sin, Jesus underwent the torturous crucifixion to liberate the human species from death. As regards the significance of Jesus identity, Jesus deity is substantial for salvation (Yandell et al., 2012). Jesus identity as God is crucial to suffice for redemption (1 John 2:2). Incarnation, too, is prime, as Jesus had to be in the form of a mortal man to die (DiVincenzo, 2014). Jesus is admittedly the Son of God and Man, and only He can deliver us from our sins through faith.

What is the solution to human problems according to the Christian worldview?

Christian recovery refers to return to divinity and the perfect relationship with God (Cooling, 2010). According to the Christian worldview, the solution to human problems is through redemption, reconciliation, renewal, and restoration (DiVincenzo, 2014). Only when we repent our wrongdoings and accept Christ into our lives, do we receive eternal salvation. Salvation necessitates grace through faith by the human race (Cooling, 2010).

Cooling defines grace as the unmerited favor that God grants the human race. Grace encompasses doing righteous things to people who are not worthy of them (Yandell et al., 2012). Salvation also integrates transformation, whereby, during the Holy Communion, Christians transfigure into a holy dwelling for Gods Spirit (Cooling, 2010). Loving and serving others reorients the self and society to assimilate and manifest Christ in a spiritual form.

Analysis

In what follows, are analytical resolutions on benefits, conflicting factors, and influences derived from Christian belief.

Benefits derivable from the Christian faith

Cooling clearly outlines the advantages and gifts guaranteed when one trusts in Christ (2010), as enumerated below.

Forgiveness

The reparation of sin approved the rescuing of man from punishment by death. Christs acceptance, therefore, affords believers the gift of forgiveness.

Peace

By virtue of belief and faith in Christ, you earn the gift of peace and escape Gods wrath of death and torture in hell.

Eternal life

Christian belief assures believers that they will not perish but live forever.

Divine Temple

Christian transformation restructures the human body to serve as a holy temple and dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

Salvation

Belief in Christ earns you salvation and the status of a born again.

Conflicting factors about Christianity

The Christian doctrine contains critical allegations concerning Gods existence and the authority of the Bible (Schatkin, 2011). The allegations tabled are as follows.

Argument from Confusion (AC)

This argument asserts that evangelical Christianity fails to unravel the mysteries and myths found within particular worldview concepts (Cooling, 2010). Among these postulations are Gods nature, the Church, the Bibles authority, and the nature of the afterworld. The confusion is, to the extent that even believers disagree with the interpretations derived from these concepts (Schatkin, 2011).

Argument from Biblical Defects (ABD)

ABD argues that the Bible holds a number of errors for example, unfulfilled prophecies, self- contradiction, atrocities by God Himself, and is arbitrary (Schatkin, 2011). Further, different versions of the Bible record conflicting writings, yet all writers received inspiration from the same God.

How does the Christian worldview influence a persons thinking and behavior?

Christianity affects an individuals way of thinking and behavior in constructive ways (DiVincenzo, 2014). Living by Christs example equips us with a consummate framework of expected behavior and thinking mindsets. In Luke 6: 27-36, Jesus says that Christians should lead their lives by an expression of love and compassion towards their friends, and enemies in an even greater proportion. Christianity declares fruits of the Holy Spirit as the stamp of the believers way of life (Yandell et al., 2012). We, as Christians, fulfill this obligation by serving as beacons of light in a depraved world (Cooling, 2010).

Christianity influences us to glorify God, do good works, and surrender ourselves as living sacrifices (Valk, 2012). By letting Gods Spirit possess us, we assume the form of His imitators and become stewards of Christs work.

Reflection

I hereupon speak briefly reflecting, on how I exercise the beliefs of the Christian worldview. By virtue of being a Christian believer and a born-again, I act in accordance with the consummate fruits of the Holy Spirit that Jesus urged his followers to observe. I strive to demonstrate love to my opponents, be righteous to those that despise me, and pray for my offenders, as instructed by the writings of Luke 6: 27-36. I live to execute my role of continuing Gods work on earth by preaching His Word and glorifying Him. I do this by discharging virtuous practices such as bringing people back to God and ensuring they start a personal relationship with Him.

Gospel Essentials Essay Conclusion

In a thumbnail, a Christian worldview is a religious belief system, compiled to guide Christians on how to read the world and relate accordingly (Valk, 2012). Of vital significance is the feature of the gospel essentials- God, the Supreme Ruler; Jesus, the Chosen One; humanity and restore from sin. Christian belief influences believers to act according to the teachings of Christ, by a demonstration of love, patience, obedience, humility, and self-control among other virtues. Cooling (2010) urges Christian believers to respect and follow the biblical worldview, as it serves as a handbook in all aspects of their lives.

References

Cooling, T. (2010). Transforming faith: Teaching as a Christian vocation in a secular, worldview- diverse culture. Journal of Education & Christian Belief, 14(1), 19-32. Web.

DiVincenzo, A. (Ed.). (2014). The beginning of wisdom: An introduction to Christian thought and life. Phoenix, AZ: Grand Canyon University. Web.

Schatkin, A. J. (2011). Essays on the Christian worldview and others political, literary, and philosophical. Lanham, MD: Hamilton Books. Web.

Valk, J. (2012). Christianity through a worldwide lens. Journal of Adult Theological Education, 9(2), 158-174. Web.

Yandell, K. E., Werther, D., Linville, M., & Griffiths, P. J. (2012). Philosophy and the Christian worldview: Analysis, assessment and development. New York: Continuum. Web.

Christianity is one of the oldest and largest religions existing in the world. It is an Abrahamic religion that is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. According to Christians, Jesus coming as a Messiah to save people was prophesied in the Holy Bible. There are four large branches of Christianity, which include Catholics, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox Church. Christianity is culturally diverse in Western and Eastern branches and explains its doctrines differently. As a result of diversification, people who consider themselves Christians ought to either choose a branch they associate themselves with or choose the essential aspects they believe in. The core beliefs of Christianity are the belief in God the Father and the Creator and the purity and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

To understand the existence of God, it is necessary to turn to its primary source, which is the Holy Bible. In Christianity, there is a God who created the world and human beings in his image (Col. 1:16, The Holy Bible, 2019). Humans fell into sin, which brought brokenness to the rest of Gods creation. Therefore, this religion brings the idea of God-the-creator being merciful and just. In other religions, it is common for people to search for God and salvation for themselves. However, Christianity brings the idea of God existing and caring for people, being within people, and bringing salvation to those who need it. Therefore, one of the core beliefs is the presence of God the Father for every person who believes in him, and might be the main belief a rightful Christian should possess.

The pure nature of Jesus Christ serves as a primary belief in Christianity; however, people tend to disagree with it. According to Godawa, Christian postmodernists deny the knowledge of biblical truth and question biblical interpretation (2009). Such a notion exists as a result of modern understandings merging with traditional arrangements and creating a questionable narrative. Mentioning new studies appearing on the matter, Jesus purity and abilities can be undermined, as he is often portrayed as human-like, which implies, that he may not be pure (Barlev et al., 2017). However, for Christians, the personality of Jesus Christ is sacral as he saved people from the eternal doom they were to undergo. The fallen nature could not make such a sacrifice, as all humans are flawed and would not endure such suffering.

The revelation is the key to understanding the matter of Jesus Christs sacrifice. The ultimate truths lie within the scripture and are embodied in Jesus Christ. He, the God, communicated his personality and character in creation. Jesus Christ, his son, is considered to be his creation; therefore, Gods nature is within him (Myers and Noebel, 2015). As people were suffering, Jesus Christ was condoling them and crafting miracles to save them. Therefore, when the time came to pay for the sins, Jesus sacrificed himself, and then God redeemed him by creating ascending of Christ. The sacrifice of one for many is one of the core beliefs of Christianity as it gives hope and a feeling of necessity to the Christians. This belief is in the line of those that rightful Christian organizations consider because it brings people a feeling of reliance.

Understanding the true meaning of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice leads to unraveling the nature of God the Creator. According to the Holy Bible, God has created the heavens, the earth, and things therein (Gen. 1:1, 2019). However, another theory surrounds the beginning of life in the world, which is the big bang theory. This theory tells about particles of energy coming together to form an explosion and create the universe. Christians suppose that such a thing could not have happened because life is a complex phenomenon that begs careful thought and planning. In its complexity, life, in general, has much detail to it and has a purpose. It should have been created by someone who planned it accordingly and brought a sense to it: God. Therefore, according to Christians, other theories about the creation of the universe fall false, and God is the Creator.

In discussing core beliefs possessed by Christians, it is vital to note which of them a person should hold to be considered Christian rightly. It is essential to note the age of a person, as children might not understand some aspects of Christianity but can still be Christians. It is said that children find it easier to believe in God as they believe in the purpose of life (Myers and Noebel, 2015). Therefore, the beliefs that they have might be as simple as believing in God the Creator only, as this is the only aspect they perceive well. According to the study done in Colombia, science teachers maintained a Christian lifestyle and rightfully consider themselves Christians, despite their views on the world order (Penaloza et al., 2021). The core component of faith that should belong to every believer is the faith in God the Father, the almighty, who knows everything and is there to help.

In conclusion, there are many beliefs in Christianity, and it might be challenging to identify the core aspects. However, considering the Holy Bible, the most important beliefs are the belief in God the Father and his deem to create, the pure nature of Jesus Christ, as well as the sacrifice he made. The beliefs that Christians choose should not contradict their position in life and their age. The core belief that a rightful Christian should hold on to is the belief in God the Father who possesses all power in the world.

References

Barlev, M., Mermelstein, S., & German, T. C. (2017). Core intuitions about persons coexist and interfere with acquired Christian beliefs about God. Cognitive Science, 41(1), 425-454.

Godawa, B. (2009). Hollywood worldviews. Inter Varsity Press.

Myers, J., & Noebel, D. A. (2015). Understanding the times: A survey of competing worldviews (5th ed.). Summit Ministries.

Penaloza, G., El-Hani, C. N., & Mosquera-Suarez, C. J. (2021). Between scientific ideas and Christian religious beliefs. Science & Education, 30(2), 1-35.

The Holy Bible. (2019). Creative Media Partners, LLC.

Introduction

Religious organizations provide familiar institutions of social cohesion and control in an environment. In the city of Los Angeles, many religions are being practiced due to the freedom of worship. Talking about how Christianity and Islam are prevalent in the city of Los Angeles today, these two religions have the most adherents. Among the religions practiced, Christianity is the most prevalent, having various denominations and sects, and Islam, along with other minor religions, follows this closely. Despite having a common origin, these two religions have been known to have conflicting stands regarding the conduction of various religious rituals. However, it is notable that both of these religions are monotheistic. People from the Christian denomination have some beliefs that Muslims find ideal. For instance, both religions believe that there is a supreme being that gives peace and guides people.

In faith traditions followed by Christianity and Islam, stories are woven around Abraham as the founding Father. Christians usually assume that they recognize the Muslims as the descendants of Ishmael, even though Muslims do not ascribe to this view. However, Muslims do identify themselves as descendants of Abraham by faith and not family ties. The Quran mentions both Isaac and Ishmael, even though it does not state which of the two was dedicated to God. Although Christianity and Islam share a common origin and are monotheistic, there are notable differences in their beliefs.

The two religions have different sacred scriptures, the Bible for Christians and Quran for Muslims. Muslims believe that the Bible is a distortion of the holy message. However, both religions hold a foundational belief regarding the birth, life, and works of Jesus, even though the accounts of such events differ. Muslims often view Christians as non-believers due to committing polytheism due to their belief in the Trinity. The aim of this paper is to compare and contrast Christian and Islam prayers. Muslim Prayer has more strict rules, thus having a tendency for ceremonialism, while Christian Prayer is more informal.

Origin and History of Prayer

In Christianity, Prayer is seen to have originated right from the time the universe was created. This is evident in the relationship between God and his first creation, Adam and Eve, in their early life, as documented in Genesis 3:8-9a. The covenants between God and Noah, God and Abraham, and God and Jacob further reinstate the position and early development of Prayer within the Old Testament. The central point of change in the history of worship is seen with the birth of Jesus, a savior to humankind (Isaiah 53:12). The birth of Jesus brings a new perspective into the relationship between God and man, whereby each person now gains the privileges to speak to him directly through Prayer.

The early church was found in the first century and was dedicated to apostles teachings and fellowship, prayers, and commemoration of the last supper (Acts 2: 42). The apostles doctrine, of course, is the things that Jesus taught His disciples and instructed them to make disciples of others (Matt 28:19-20), so the primitive church was bound to the Word of God. Still, they also had fellowship and the breaking of bread, which could mean both are eating together or possibly partaking in the Lords Supper or Communion consistently. They also were a praying church. Over time, the church grew and started having more value for the traditions than the word of God, giving rise to the religious order. This made it possible for the development of more well-established ways of conducting prayers while at the same time providing a clear pathway to spreading the religion to more parts of the world. Even though divisions came to be realized in the church, most of the fundamental procedures of conducting prayers have been upheld. The digitization era has also made Prayer in the Christian religion continue being formalized.

In the Islamic faith, it is stated that God is the original origin of salat (Muslim Prayer), and the Quran claims that It is God Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion. Quran, the Islam scripture, is the revelation received by Muhammad from God, and it is the destining compass for Muslims. Probably influenced by Christianity, where prayer times were governed in the past, in Islam, the five obligatory prayers must be taken. One must take them at dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset, and night.

To Allah belongs the east and the West. Wherever you turn, there is the presence of Allah. For Allah is all-Pervading, all-Knowing (Quran 2:115)  the essence of praying towards the Kaba is to pray to Allah, but not to the monument. Kaba in Mecca is the cube-shaped memorial where Muhammad got the first revelations. Primary, Muhammad followers, were instructed to pray towards Jerusalem, and then they were said to change direction to Mecca. Judaism seems to influence this factor, and all mosques are constructed with one wall towards Mecca; thus, Muslims form lines facing the wall.

Salat (Islamic Prayer) has not been changed throughout history; people have prayed five times a day towards the Kaba in Mecca. Nowadays, people may locate the Kaba with a compass and pray to face the correct direction even without being in a mosque. In The Old Testament, some famous characters performed a praying to God and connected it to vows, fasts, and sacrifices. Christian faith  Prayer is mentioned in the Bible, and how Christians should pray is specifically outlined in the Bible, namely the Lords Prayer:

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. The Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, Forever and ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

According to the Didache, Christians should pray three times a day, and early Christians prayed at fixed hours (first hour, third hour, sixth hour, ninth hour) when the Liturgy of the Hours was established. Nowadays, in Christianity, one does not follow this schedule and can pray at any time. There are no illegal times for praying, and one would not be punished for omitting the praying even without the esteemed reason.

Style, Form, and Content of Prayer

Prayers as a religious ritual are essential in the practice of the two religions. However, there are significant differences in the way Prayer is conducted in each of the religions. The most notable differences are in the worship times, the positions of Prayer, and the dressing. These set apart the two religions when it comes to observance of rituals, as documented or hinted at in the various doctrines that are in use.

Times of Prayer

In Muslim tradition, all prayers are outlined in the Sunnah. The adherents, therefore, have no liberty to formulate prayers regardless of the ritual under observance. All the ritual prayers in Islam are conducted within specific times and following the laid out traditions. Muslim believers know and keep track of the particular times when they must participate in these religious sessions. After the early Morning Prayer, the following sessions take place in the midmorning, midday, evening, and night when it has become dark. The ritual prayers were authorized in the eleventh year of the prophetic mission in Mecca when the Prophet was taken on a miraculous nocturnal journey (al-isr
was al-mir
j) from Mecca to Jerusalem and from Jerusalem to the heavens, where he met his Lord and then came back. On this journey, the Prophet was gifted with fifty prayers, which were finally reduced to five carrying the reward of fifty.

In the early church, Christians had to participate in prayers at seven fixed times in a day. However, the continuous changes in the administration of the church and the incorporation of different cultures in the way of worship led to the abolishment of such traditions. The Christian traditions under practice in Los Angeles do not define the number of times one should pray in a day. This, therefore, means that prayers in the Christian religion are spontaneous and hold significant meaning to the individual involved. Christians view Prayer as a fundamental gesture of belief, faith, dependence, and connectedness to God, thereby ruling out the need to have a specific way of approaching it. Therefore, such methods of administering prayers have led to more freedom for Christian adherents.

Position for the Prayer and Proper Clothing

In Islam, the state of Prayer by glorifying God is known as Takbir. During this time, Muslims face Mecca, humble themselves and recite the ritual prayers as outlined in the Sunnah up to the end of the obeisance. The Prayer creates a spiritual tie between the congregant, the more prominent Islam sect, God, and the Prophet. During the Prayer, the adherent must be clothed appropriately. The person praying must also be the owner of the cloth or have permission to wear it.

Prayers in Christianity take a more informed perspective. There are defined positions neither during Prayer nor during laid out rules regarding the clothing. The Bible even grounds this in John 4:21, where Jesus is seen to be against the idea that Prayer must be conducted following a given procedure. This places Christianity as much informal religion, giving the adherents freedom on many issues regarding belief and their conduct towards the Supreme Being.

There is a big difference in how Christianity and Islam are conducted as religions. Islam provides more rules and guidelines regarding the conduct of its adherents, while Christianity offers freedom of choice. This presents Christianity as an informal religion when it comes to the conduction of prayers as a ritual. Islam also provides guidelines on the appropriate clothing to be put on during Prayer. This presents Islam as a religion that is more focused on orderliness, while Christianity wallows in confusion. The Quran provides a systematic way of conducting the prayer ritual, beginning from the ablution and garment cleaning to how the appropriate postures when reciting the prayers. This affirms the systematic nature of the Islamic religion, further reaffirming the informality of the Christian faith. However, it is notable that the informality of the Christian religion has provided the flexibility that most people would have craved. Christianity has also offered even more freedom by accommodating various denominations, thereby catering to the spiritual well-being of all the adherents.

Significance of Prayer

In Islam, regular Prayer is an obligation and a mandatory exercise for all adherents. According to the Islam doctrines, it is believed that there is no sin more significant than the deliberate failure to attend salat. The inability to pray is, therefore, inexcusable, whether based on sickness or disability. Apart from moral obligation, Muslims pray to seek comfort and peace. It is believed that addressing the Supreme Being in times of emotional turmoil brings about inner peace. Prayer, therefore, becomes the first go-to point of comfort for a Muslim who is troubled. Muslims also use Prayer to seek answers to the everyday problems that they face in life. This is because each person believes that only God can help the mortals in times of need, as he is the overall provider.

In praying, the Muslims wish to seek supplication and forgiveness and to offer thanksgiving. Muslims believe that God is the provider of all the needs of life. Therefore, each Muslim goes to the prayers to ask God for provisions beyond the moral obligation to offer ritual prayers. Muslims also take the praying time to present their thanksgiving prayers to God for the daily requirements. The adherents believe that God provides all that life offers and are therefore obligated to provide ritual thanksgiving prayers in return. Ablution precedes each ritual prayer in a Muslims life. This is an act of cleansing before appearing before God in an attempt to offer prayers. The ablution also signifies the individuals remorse due to his sins. This complements the ritual prayer provided to seek forgiveness for the daily shortcomings and be reassured of a better life upon death.

Christians make prayers with several intentions in mind. The primary purpose is to strengthen their faith in God. Therefore, Christians hold prayer sessions to be able to stay firm in their belief and be reassured of the hope of life after death. Aside from that, Christians pray to seek provisions and comfort from the daily tribulations of life. Prayer helps the adherents to remain steadfast and have faith that their problems shall be taken care of by the supreme being. Prayers are also used to seek guidance from God regarding various issues affecting the lives of the believer. This constant belief and hope keep the people going, reassuring them of better things to come.

Just like in Islam, Christians seek to accomplish a variety of things through prayers. The believers use prayers to express their adoration for the Supreme Being and recognize his overall maximum power over everything. Christians also use prayers as a way of seeking forgiveness from God whenever they do wrong. The assured forgiveness keeps the assured of a better life upon death, devoid of judgmental punishments. Christians also use Prayer as a way of offering their thanksgiving to God for life and daily provisions. This makes Prayer an essential component of the Christian life since it is the only way to communicate directly to God. Accomplishing all these, therefore, makes the prayer ritual a success.

References

Berend, Nora. 2020. Christians and Muslims in the Middle Ages: From Muhammad to Dante by Michael Frassetto. Journal of Islamic Studies. Web.

Cosgrove, Charles H. 2018. The Syntax of Early Christian Hymns and Prayers. Early Christianity 9 (2): 158. Web.

Green, Steven K. 2019. The Legal Ramifications of Christian Nationalism. SSRN Electronic Journal. Web.

Ismail, Mazlan. 2020. The Effect of 40 Days Static Stretching After Prayers on Flexibility among Elderly Muslim Men. Asian Social Science 16 (11): one. Web.

Subri, Irwan Mohd. 2021. Malaysian Muslim Knowledge and Compliance with the Rule of Distancing Prayers by One Meter during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Revista Gestão Inovação E Tecnologias 11 (3): 825-840. Web.

Christianity is the worlds major religion with around 2 billion followers. Its central figure is Jesus Christ who through his birth, ministry life, trials, crucifixion, death, and, resurrection is believed to have offered the salvation and atonement needed by His followers from their sins. His nature and personality have been the subject of debate for centuries among many groups resulting in different world views and denominations.

The name Jesus is originated from Hebrew to mean save. In the New Testament, an angel told Mary and Joseph to name their child Jesus on different occasions. The Bible in Matthew 1:21 states that you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins, (Bible, 2020). Christians have believed that the name has divine power, and it is commonly called upon when they want to display their ability.

There are titles given to Jesus by His followers when He was still on His mission here on earth as a human. These names include;  Christ, The Word, the Son of God, the Son of David, and the Light of the World. The name Christ is derived from the Greek word Christos, which means the anointed one. It had been prophesied in the Old Testament that God would send the Messiah to save the world from their sin. The Jews knew that Jesus Christ the Messiah was coming though they never understood what He had come to do. They thought that He had come to set up an earthly kingdom and deliver them from the Romans, but He came to deliver them from the bondage of sin.

In the scripture, John 1:1, Jesus is referred to as The Word. It clearly shows that He was an eternal being just like God Himself. John further elaborates in the chapter that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Bible, 2020). This means He came on earth, was born as a human being, lived with men, and later died (Senga & Grose, 2021). It affirms the divinity of Jesus claim that He was God who came to be amidst people.

The title Son of God has been used severally referring to Jesus in the New Testament. It indicates His divinity from when His birth was announced up to when He was crucified. The declaration that He was Son of God was made by individuals like John the Baptist in the gospel of John 11:27. Demons declared the same in the gospel of Luke 4:41 and Mark 3:11 (Bible, 2020). Also, Jesus Christ Himself asserted that that was His title.

Jesus is again called Son of David, which explains that He was a descendant of David. This is brought out in the gospel of Matthew 9:27 when He healed blind men in Galilee, who were saying, have mercy on us, Son of David. When He was entering Jerusalem, some people in the crowd that welcomed him were heard saying, Hosanna to the Son of David. (Matthew 21:9) (Bible, 2020). In Revelation 22:16, Jesus calls Himself the Root and the Offspring of David.

There are several instances in the New Testament where Jesus is referred to as the Light of the world. In John 1, John states that In Him was life and the life was the light of men. Jesus, Himself explains that He came to the world to make the blind see. He also states that whoever follows Him shall not walk in darkness but shall have life. The epistle of 1 John 1:15 says that God is light and in Him, there is no darkness at all. Two titles stand out for me, namely, Son of God and The Word of God (DeSilva, 2018). These two set the standard of how best to understand who Jesus is.

After the death, resurrection, and ascending of the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ, there was no movement identified as a church. There were only a few men termed as disciples and apostles who used to walk and work with Christ who later started the Christian faith across the land of Israel. Through these men, the movement gained pace and started to be known within Israel and far-off areas outside Israel. One of the key factors that led to the remarkable spread of Christianity was the supernatural power that had been promised to the disciples by Jesus himself. According to Acts 1:8, Jesus assured them of some power that would prepare and drive them to preach the gospel to all nations (Bible, 2020). But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, (Bible, 2020). This was evident during and after the day of Pentecost when the promised Holy Spirit descended on the disciples, and Peter led the rest to proclaim what had happened and started witnessing about Jesus.

Before Christianity, the dominant religion within Israel was Judaism which had a strict form of worship that was informed by the Old Testament practiced mainly by the Pharisees and Scribes. A religious clash started to emerge with the introduction of a New Testament that was a bit different from the old one. The New Testament was more appealing to many people who felt that the laws were unbearable to follow, which also had severe consequences (Bishop et al., 2018). This factor led to many people believing in Christianity, which translated to more conversions.

Politics, too, played a very key role in influencing the direction and scope of the spread of Christianity. During the days of Jesus here on earth, the dominant empire by that time was the Roman Empire. The death of Christ Himself happened in the hands of Roman soldiers, which shaped the way the political entity started viewing the followers of the New Testament. This negative perception spread out across the Roman Empire, and Christians were viewed as outcasts. It is believed that Paul, who is probably the greatest of all the apostles, was killed in Rome. At some point in the rule of the Roman Empire, there emerged an emperor by the name of Constantinople who claimed to have converted to Christianity. He declared Christianity to be the state religion across the entire Roman Empire (Alawode, 2020). This gave rise to a new body within Christianity known as the Roman Catholic Church, and with the absence of persecution of Christians, this was bliss for the movement, which gained roots across the whole of Europe.

The idea of God being three persons in one has been the key topic for many decades to many circles and groups across the world. It is a mystery that has caused great debate over the centuries with very few agreements. It is, however, worth noting that God initiated this concept early enough in the Old Testament to prepare the hearts and minds of people about His second person, Jesus Christ, who is also known as God the Son. For instance, Isaiah 6:9 says, For to us a child is born, to us, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Craig, 2019). This is one of the precise parts of the old testament that indicate that Jesus was that Son who was to be born and was the same as God.

The New Testament strongly introduces this radical idea that Jesus is God the Son. John chapter one is very unequivocal in his claim that Jesus was there at the beginning of time with God the Father. John further pens down that Jesus is the creator of the universe and the earth. He then states that the same Word that was with God the Father, in the beginning, took flesh and dwelt among men. During the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, a voice is heard by all who were around, confirming Him to be the Son of God. The Jews knew this special status of the Son of God meant that Jesus was the same as God, and that is the reason they wanted to stone Him to death as recorded in John 10:33. Philippians chapter 2 states that Jesus, although being equal with God, humbled Himself to a man of no reputation to save people.

In summary, Jesus Christ remains to be the most influential single individual in human history. The prophecies about His birth, name, life, and completion of His mission here on earth stood out, placing Him as different from other humans and, therefore, the worlds savior. His ministry was carried forward after His death, resurrection, and ascension by His disciples to many parts of the world. The ripple effect continued, coupled with many challenges, propelled Christianity to what it is today.

References

Alawode, A. O. (2020). Politics in Christian missions. HTS: Theological Studies, 76(1), 1-4. Web.

Bishop, R. C., Funck, L. L., Moshier, S. O., Walton, J. H., & Lewis, R. J. (2018). Understanding scientific theories of origins: Cosmology, geology, and biology in Christian perspective. InterVarsity Press.

Craig, W. L. (2019). Is God the Son begotten in His divine nature?. TheoLogica: An International Journal for Philosophy of Religion and Philosophical Theology, 3(1), 22-32. Web.

DeSilva, D. A. (2018). An introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, methods & ministry formation. InterVarsity Press.

Senga, S. S., & Grose, R. P. (2021). Hallmarks of cancerthe new testament. Open Biology, 11(1). Web.

Bible, H. (2020). New International Version®, NIV® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Introduction

Global events and attitudes have to a large extent been shaped by religion. The history of humanity have been encompassed by a number of events such as wars, the building of new cities and the introduction of new laws with the central of aim of promulgating or protecting one religion or another. This research paper will seek to undertake a comparative analysis of the three major world religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This will involve an analysis on how the three religions view their God and various beliefs held by these religions. The second part of this research will however delineate to discuss the contributions of Justian and Theodora to a new form of civilization in Greek, Turkey and Roman Cultures.

Comparison of Three major Religions

All major religions of the world have been described as closely related in terms of their origins. This is because Judaism, Christianity and Islam have specific areas on their origins that they share in common. The Abrahamic religion is one common scripture that is mentioned in Christian and Quran literatures. One fundamental similarity between the three religions is the existence of God as a perfect being whose non-existence is inconceivable. According to Becker (2007), the abidance in the existence of God by the three major religions can be analyzed from three perspectives;

First, the priory approach argues from a conception of God as a perfect being whose non-existence is inconceivable. Second, the posteriori approach gives evidence from the observable world insisting that such a structured design requires a designer. Third, the existential approach asserts direct experience of God by way of personal revelation.

In addition to the above, all the three religions believe in a creed of monotheism- they all believe in the existence of one supreme God. A comparative analysis on the view of God between Christianity, Judaism and Islam reveal similarities but there is more closeness that exists between Judaism and Christianity who both reject the origin of the Islamic faith (Becker, 2007).

All the three religions also believe in the judgment and heaven. According to Becker (2007), the goal of all these three different religions is to ultimately get to a place called heaven. Islam believes in the attainment of paradise. Since the Holy Quran was sent down from heaven in Arabic to Muhammad, it serves as a guide for the believers to get to paradise (Poorthuis, Schwatrz & Turner, 2009).

Whereas all these religions are only similar in broad definitions, they differ in a number of small ways that govern their systems of worship. To the Muslim, Jesus is regarded as a prophet but is not considered in Quran as the son of God (Becker, 2007). Christians on the other hand believe that Jesus is the only son of God through which salvation to the humanity can be received. In fact, the belief in Jesus as the son of God as held by Christians is rejected by both Muslims and Jews.

In addition to the above, both Judaism and Islam reject the Holy Trinity that forms an entrenched belief among Christians. Equality between the God, Jesus and Holy Spirit in the trinity as believe by Christians portend that God came back to the world to be crucified because of our sins. Muslims vehemently reject this belief because God can never be represented any worldly form and remains supreme.

Contributions of Justinian and Theodora in Shaping Civilization

The contributions that Justinian and Theodora played in the shaping of the new form of civilization has been documented by a number if literatures in the world for centuries. According to Young (1982), it was under St. Justinian that Byzantine civilization reached its climax since the Orthodox Church honors this emperor (and his wife, the wonderful Theodora) as saints. Justinian contribution to the new form of civilization was through the promotion of the Christian culture that was conscientiously and deliberately being built and completed as a system during this significant period in the reign of the Emperor. Outstanding examples of his contribution to the civilization through Christianity include magnificent Temple of Holy Wisdom, the great church of Sophia in Constantinople.

Through devotion to the orthodox faith, Justinian was able to influence the culture of Turkey and Roman Cultures by instilling the orthodox architecture in most aggressive works the Empire undertook. According to Young (1982), Justinian was a faithful and devoted member of the Orthodox Church and worked not only to protect its dogmatic teachings, but also to elevate the spiritual and moral stature of its representatives.In addition to the above, Justinian advanced the new form of civilization through scientific revolution and enlightenment.

As an emperor, he presided over the construction of a vast line walls along the eastern and southeastern frontier of the empire for the advancement of knowledge security of his subjects. Through continuous advancement in law, law, religion, sports, and trade are present in western civilization, Justinian was able to impact on the modern civilization. According to Young (1982), Justinians code was Roman law that was introduced by Justinian, the emperor of the Byzantine Empire and he ordered a systematic review of Roman law that was more thorough than any that had taken place before. The impacts of such actions are still present in the modern form of civilization especially in religion.

Theodora on the other hand was the emperors wife who supported the activities of the husband and participated in the preservation of the artifacts that her husband collected during the reign. Whereas the Justinian rule was ruthless, he incorporated religious intolerance into the legal framework of his regime for the expansion and advancement of the kingdom through military exploits which were mostly successful. His ability to influence the civilization of Greek, Roman and Turkey were because of his military abilities that ensured success. The massive expansion of the Byzantine meant that trade and related activities were expanded and the impact of civilization was large.

As a strict believer in the orthodox, religious diversity was wiped out of the Byzantine Empire. Religious diversity according to Justinian beliefs was a demonstration of disorder. The encouragement of a single form of religion within the Byzantine ensured that a particular form of civilization was advanced. Byzantine Empire therefore became a bustling multicultural center of philosophy, religion, arts, humanities, theater and literature (Young, 1982).

Conclusion

From the discussions, it can be discerned that the Byzantine Empire through Justinian and Theodore contributed to the advancement of new form of civilization that still remain relevant to date. It is debated that without the pivotal role of Justinian and his wife Theodore, new form of civilization would have not been realized at the pace it has been achieved.

References

Becker, C.H. (2007). Christianity and Islam. London: Read Books.

Poorthuis, M. Schwatrz, J. and Turner, J. (2009). Interaction Between Judaism and Christianity in History, Religion, Art, and Literature. London: Brill.

Young, A. (1982). Justinian the Great, Emperor and Saint. Web.