Category: Christianity

Introduction

All human beings are religious in nature; both ancient days and in modern times, people pay allegiance to some supernatural beings for the spiritual purposes. To Christians, their religious life is entirely centered and molded in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The whole being of Jesus have attracted much debate especially on some of the critical decisions and teaching that forms the epitome of Christianity.

The sensitivity of the matter have drawn the attention of many theologians to add their views and understanding of the events and circumstance of the life of Jesus Christ and his role as the founder o f the largest religion in the world. This essay will review some of the perceptions, teachings, interpretations and understanding of some scholars and theologians on key issues surrounding the life of Christ.

On Mirrors, Mists and Murmurs

Just like in many cultures, the Asia American women were under looked by their male counterparts and they were therefore marginalized in many religious practices and participation. According to Nakashima (87) Asian American women were confined in the caves of silence as they were barred from attending the seminaries and other theological trainings.

However, in 1978, this jinx was broken and women started participation in religion issues and contributed enormously according to their sufferings and daily afflictions (96). These women aspired to fight against oppression and discrimination against race, sex and culture. This was accomplished through enrolment in theology schools and trainings centers.

From their experience the Asian American women oppression and torments helped them understand the suffering of Christ and his sacrifice on the cross not as an image of substitution death but as a symbol of solidarity. Their perception of suffering encouraged them overcome the hardship and discrimination with vigor and much delight.

By them being Buddhists it enhanced their understanding of suffering, to them suffering should be borne in humility and with compassion (88). They taught that individuals should to accept suffering to help them avoid leading alienated life coupled with self-doubt and guilty of not bearing with others.

The understanding of the Asian American women of the theme of suffering is vital in understanding the suffering and compassion of Jesus. Suffering brings an experiential understanding of others predicaments and shortcomings. For that reason, suffering not only instills good morals but also enhance bearing each other’s burdens.

In support of Asian American women perception I believe suffering should motivated by love for others and perceiving others better than ourselves, just as Jesus bore suffering out of love for the fallen human race human race.

Christian Theology

The world and all that is therein is controller and directed by divine powers and design. According to Calvin (p.123), the universe is controlled by God’s power, which regulates actions and events of various parts. This idea is hard to comprehend but it requires faith to fully understand everything is designed to work according to God’s power.

Calvin (125) borrows from the bible the assurance given by Abraham to Isaac that “God will provide”. This is an in-depth faith of trusting God even when there is no hope at all. However, this notion is usually challenged by the secular belief that everything happens by chance and not by a predetermined divine plan.

Although God is in control of the universe and other creations, it is vivid that Jesus and God work together with one accord. This being the case, Jesus rules over the universe and therefore makes it to move seamlessly. Jesus confirms that His farther and he are always at work and similar sentiment is share apostle Paul who says, “We live in Christ”. This issue is deep rooted and forms the basic requirements of a Christian believer to entirely rely on God’s provision and guidance.

This theme on God’s provision and guidance is vital and crucial in understanding the God’s omnipotence and His powers. By itself, it helps to understanding the understanding of God’s unfathomable might and intelligence of creation and sustenance. In addition, this understanding helps us in understating that nothing happens by chance or by fate without God’s knowledge. Even, the scientists believe that the world is governed by some supper natural powers that are far and beyond their comprehension.

I believe Christianity is about surrendering everything to God and to entirely looking forward for his provisions and supplies. Christian should to learn to rely upon God and should concentrate solely on him without wavering and seeking other mediums for help. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus calls all believers to seek the kingdom of God first and the rest shall be provided to them. Owing to this solemn promise all Christian should trust God for providence and sustenance.

Philosophy of Theology

The sin problem has been one of the mysterious problems to comprehend and understand its root cause. Philosophers have come up with an interesting suggesting that evil is a problem for believers who believes that a sin is a malfunction of a thing. Further, Hick (77) elaboration argues that the God cannot be all knowing and perfectly loving. Such being the case therefore God cannot be able to able deal with the sin problem. In a different encounter, he argues, “God’s powers are limited” just like the case of other creatures (Hick 77).

A divergent opinion is put forth arguing that God did not create humans who were inclined to sinning. This theme attracts more controversy as some argue God did not create humans since he could have created sin. Agustinian Theodicy adds that if creation was flawless, then they were not able to fall despite having the free will to choose the good and the bad.

From the foregoing argument, the philosophers have therefore resulted to the evolution theory. The theory states the creation theory is a fable and it did not take place. This is in support of the idea that God could not have created perfect beings that had tendencies to sin. However, this idea is sharply criticized by the bible story as well as by majority of the some theologians.

Jesus the heart of God

Major religions have had a central figure through which divine teachings have being given to the human race; Muslims had Muhammad while Buddhists had Buddha. Marcus (80) argues that unlike these religions, Christians had Jesus not as mere God’s messenger but a special revelation of God to human kind-God with us. God reveals himself and His might through Jesus.

In its deep sense, this makes Christianity a unique religion since it has a direct connection with God. This makes the Christianity to be very persuasive although this does not make Christianity any superior to other religions the centrality of God makes it a more realistic and compelling religion.

Throughout the gospel the life and work of Jesus has been recorded using powerful metaphors. In some instances, Jesus is portrayed as being the ‘light of the world’. This means that he came to provide divine enlightenment that saves the world from the evil vices. The other metaphor used is Jesus as the ‘door’ through which the faithful can reach the father.

The other symbolism used to refer to Jesus are; a Jewish mystic, a great physician, social prophet, a movement initiator and wise teacher. The role of metaphors was to add intensity of the Jesus deeds and to create a mental image to people who did not see him nor had a practical experience with him as did the disciples.

The centrality of Jesus in Christianity is out of question and does not attract any controversies. To Christians Jesus presents a perfect figure worth emulation since he represented noble person compassion to others both in actions and in word. Apart from interacting with the humble, he always sought to mingle with rules and point out at their weakness and wrong. He never condoned sins nor feared to rebuke hypocrites.

Although the gospel was written several years after the assertion of Jesus, metaphors used enable its carry the strength and power that Jesus had. Unlike other historical books the gospels were written in a way that makes then interesting and more convincing to the reader. However, some indigenous symbols used are complicated and difficult to understand for non-Jewish readers.

Suffering and Redemption-Feminist Theology

Many a times sufferings challenges human understanding and often blur the reality surrounding such pain. Common knowledge attributes suffering to sin or as a repercussion of violating a given law. Such believe is erroneous and unbiblical but general heresy. In an attempt to unlock the mystery behind innocent sufferings Reuther (96) attributes such to “God’s ways” of manifesting his glory.

She further explains Jobs suffering to God’s way of manifesting his power and will. Reuther reveals that redemption is a sign of God’s acceptance for sinful human race. Moreover, God’s acceptance assumes a vertical relationship and not a horizontal connotation that implies alienation to plagues’ and evils staged by the devil (98).

Female suffering has always been attributed to the guilt of evil that emanates from the sin that was committed by Even in Eden. Jesus suffering because he was faultless and pure has challenged this ideology. The suffering that Jesus bore was on our behalf, this is, in other terms, referred to as redemptive suffering.

From her writings, She (101) asserts that “oppressors hearts are never changed by seeing the suffering of their victims”. To her the cross shows the ultimate risk a person can take to overcome oppression and evil system. However, not all suffering is redemptive in nature since other are staged to oppress individuals due to evil motives and objectives.

Jesus redemption suffering is different and unique in nature from the common suffering that humans bear. To Jesus suffering was a way of revealing to human race the exact cost of sin. In addition, Jesus suffering reveals that he share our weakness and despite all that he went through and therefore by relying on God Christians can as well overcome (102). To me, suffering is not a sign of carrying one cross but its God’s way of doing things and manifesting his power to his subjects.

Sin and Salvation

Repentance is inevitable subject in Christian worship in all denominations. The severity of the sin problem caused Heaven to sacrifice the most valuable being –Jesus the son of God. This was the only way of dealing the sin problem and the only way salvation would be attained.

Although sin is the enemy of redemption, its exact meaning has remained subject of inquiry. Marcus (166) and some theologians have agreed that sin is violation of God’s law or the Ten Commandments. The understanding of sin is mainly done in relation to individual to individuals rather than a collective understanding. Such shallow perception inhibits incorporation of social sin, which affects many people in the society (169).

On the other hand, salvation is yet another word that harbors several meaning derived from divergent understanding presented by theologians. To some salvation is a “reality in heaven” while others asserts that salvation begins in this living and continues to the next world (172).

Other theologians, basing their arguments on Pauline writings, write that not all people will face death, but rather, will be translated into immortal bodies. This implies that salvation will happen in this world and eternity is distinct from the belief of heaven. According to the Biblical teaching salvation begins in this world and continues to the next. However, whatever the understanding that is assumed the underlying understanding salvation is only arrived at when Christians repent their sins sincerely.

The topic of sin and salvation touches the very core of Christianity and its discussion illuminates the exact way of attaining salvation. Regardless of the belief one holds pertaining where salvation begins, eternal life remains at the center of all Christians hope.

Attaining this goal calls believers both at personal level and in society to lead pure and just life. Nevertheless, to my consideration the issues pertaining salvation invokes more questions than answers as to exact what the bible says concerning the fate of Christians; will it be heaven or in this earth?

Death of Jesus

The plan of salvation was accomplished on the cross after execution when he proclaimed it is over. Marcus (94) says that salvation was achieved through the life and action of Jesus. In addition, he believes that salvation is attained by believing in Jesus died on the cross (94). However, the scenario surrounding the cross has drawn numerous interpretation and opinion as to when the actual plan of salvation was finalized.

Some these interpretations are; rejection-and- vindication, the defeat of the Roman power, and Jesus died for our sins among others. The theme addressed at the cross is wide and more spiritual and therefore it should not be taken literally. Literal interpretation would mean God was unable to forgive sin without offering an expensive sacrifice to atone (94). Such assumption inhibit the understanding the cost of sin and the love that God has for human kind.

The death of Jesus at the cross forms the foundation of Christian faith. However, the death of Christ should be taught together with resurrection. As the death of Christ illustrates the victory over sin, the resurrection shows the victory of Jesus over death. The two aspects complete the life of a Christian not only by providing hope but also by providing assurance of victory over sin. The death of Christ on the cross is an important in Christian faith since it captures divine atonement for sins.

On this issue, I beg to differ with the author who denies that Jesus did not die for our sins. Jesus died on our behalf, he was made a sinner because he opted to bare our sin burden and he therefore voluntarily decided to die save us from the sin burden. In other words Jesus death was substitution, he assumed our weakness and bore the penalty of sin on human behalf. In Romans, 3:16, the penalty of sin is death; hence, to atone for sin death was inevitable.

The Gospel Account

Two Biblical readings i.e. Luke 3 and John 18 provide a detailed report of Jesus’ life from birth through death and resurrections. Although Jesus was send by God he led a normal childhood while participating in all Jewish rites such as circumcision and dedication.

However, His mission started upon baptism where a voice declared in Luke 3:22 “You are my beloved Son”. Afterwards, Jesus appointed his disciples and commenced his ministry. It is during this period that he performed numerous miracles such as healing driving out demons and even raising Lazarus. In addition, Jesus demonstrated he had power over nature by calming the wind.

The book of John accounts for the climax of Jesus ministry on the world. At this period, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his imminent persecution and death. However, before that he participated in a last supper with his disciples where he hinted out about his betrayer. Later, he comforted them by promising them about the helper who would comer later. Eventually, Jesus is betrayed, persecuted, tried and later crucified according to his earlier prediction. The grand finale was his triumphant resurrection on the third day.

Comparative Analysis

There are several similarities, which cut across the writings of different authors. Both Nakashima and the bible account concurs that suffering should be borne humility and motivated by love. While the Asian American women sufferings halted the oppressive regime, Jesus suffering in John ends the dominion of sin.

Similarly, Ruether portrays Jesus suffering to be in line with Gods will, this is also evidence in the bible in John 18:11 “ the cup that the God has given him. However, contrary opinion is assumed by source five where sufferings are caused by “unjust evils and inexplicable natural disasters”

The other area of similarity is the use of metaphors. In Luke5:34 Jesus is portrayed as “the bridegroom” while John 14:6 described Jesus as the “the lamb of “way, the truth and the life” later he is portrayed as the “King of the Jewish”. Just as used in source four the Gospel uses Jesus as a great physician and a wonderful teacher. Marcus (86) echoes that Jesus is the Lamb of God, although this metaphor is commonly used in the bible it signifies the humble nature in which Jesus came in.

On the other hard, the book of John 18:11 says Jesus “face the cup that God had given me”. Marcus (96) further denies that Jesus died for our sin. The bible demonstrates strong linkage between the death and the resurrection of the Jesus unlike the way it has been echoed by various authors. Ruether (102) argues that Jesus resurrection was a sign victory over death although the cross was not necessary.

Another contrast that exists is the providence of God verses the role of fate. According to Hick, things happen spontaneous without any divine intervention. However, the Bible suggests that the universe works in accordance with the God divine intervention that is orchestrated by Jesus. Similar opinion is advanced by theologians who have unanimously agreed wit the bible concerning the divine direction and control.

Works Cited

Calvin, Jean. Christian Theology. London: Thomas Tegg Press, 1937. Print.

Hick, John. Disputed Questions in Theology and the Philosophy of Religion: Connecticut: Yale University, 1995, Print.

Marcus Borg. The Heart of Christianity, Rediscovering a Life of Faith. San Francisco: Harper, 2004. Print

Nakashima, Brock. On Mirror’s, Mists and Murmurs. San Francisco: Harper, 1989. Print

Reuther, Rosemary. Introducing Redemption. New Jersey: Claremont Press, 2009. Print.

The Holy Bible, King James Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1999

Introduction

Nowadays, it became a commonplace practice among many people to assume that, when it comes to promoting the cause of peace and tolerance in the world, it is specifically religious leaders, who are more qualified than anyone else, in this respect. Such a situation, however, is utterly ironic, because it is namely the people’s endowment with the acute sense of religiosity, which creates objective preconditions for them to embrace intolerance, as the main driving force of their existential mode.

What it means is that, contrary to the dogmas of political correctness, nothing good can ever come out of religion – the very essence of a religious belief makes its affiliates experience the sense of thirst for the blood of ‘infidels’, which in turn leads to the outbreaks of religious violence. As Dawkins pointed out, “Imagine, a world with no religion. Imagine no suicide bombers, no 9/11, no 7/7, no Crusades, no witch-hunts, no Gunpowder Plot, no Indian partition, no Israeli/Palestinian wars, no Serb/Croat/Muslim massacres, no persecution of Jews as ‘Christ-killers’, no Northern Ireland ‘troubles’…” (2006, p. 2).

Therefore, it will be thoroughly appropriate to suggest that it is not only that religion has always been one of the major causes of war, but also that this will continue to be the case in the future. In this paper, I will explore the validity of the above-stated at length, while promoting the idea that it is in the very nature of just about any monotheistic religion (such as Christianity and Islam) to act as the main incentive that motivates people to indulge in the armed hostilities against each other. I will also advance the idea that, in respect of what has been said earlier, the religion of Christianity is especially illustrative.

Main body

Unlike what happened to be the case with us (modern people), our early ancestors had to struggle daily, while trying to ensure their physical survival. Eventually, this led them to realize that their survival chances would be much higher if they address the challenges of life collectively – as the members of the hierarchically structured group (tribe). Therefore, the very fact that ever since the dawn of history, people used to preoccupy themselves with the issue of religion/spirituality, cannot be discussed outside of what accounts for the tribal mode of people’s existence. Apparently, the sense of religiosity, on the part of our early ancestors, served the role of helping them to relate to this existence’s actual virtues. The foremost of these ‘virtues’ were as follows:

1. Intellectual inflexibility – In order for the group of people to be able to maintain its structural integrity, those group members that are not willing to conform to the tribal code of ethics, are being expelled/eliminated. This establishes certain prerequisites for the specifically mediocre people, in the intellectual sense of this word, to have a chance of a social advancement within the group. This is the reason why the essentially tribal religions of Christianity and Islam glorify the ‘virtue’ of people’s arrogance; as such, that brings them nearer to God.
2. Disrespect to the value of one’s life – While living as the tribe’s fully integrated members, people are being encouraged to think that the tribe’s overall interests account for a much higher value, as compared to the interests of a particular tribe-member. This, of course, naturally prompts the tribally minded individuals to depreciate the value of one’s life, while thinking that under certain circumstances, people can indeed be sacrificed some ‘higher’ cause.
3. Taste for violence – The main reason why people choose in favor of a socially integrated existence, is that, while remaining the members of a particular tribe/community, it makes it much easier for them to ensure their place within the environmental niche of interest so that they can enjoy the access to the limited natural resources. What it means is that the very specifics of communal living presuppose that it is namely the violently minded individuals, who have what it takes to be able to advance socially.

Therefore, there is nothing odd about the fact that monotheistic religions can be well defined, as such that does not only reflect the essentially tribal mindset of their affiliates but also as such that glorify an atrocious war, as being especially pleasing to God. For example, the Jewish God Jehovah used to take a particular delight in seeing the young children of ‘infidels’ murdered, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts… Go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass” (Samuel 15:2-3, New King James).

It is understood, of course, that for as long as they remain sober-minded, those people who face the prospect of being slain, will try not to let it happen, while preparing themselves to war instead. The ‘holy book’ of the Quran also contains a number of ‘divinely inspired’ provisions, as to how ‘infidels’ should be dealt with. The following one is probably the most illustrative, in this respect, “Slay them (infidels) wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out… Such is the reward of those who suppress faith” (2.191, The Holy Quran). In other words, the very paradigm of religion contains the ‘seed of war’, regardless of what the religion in question appears to be on the outside.

The validity of this statement can be easily illustrated by the mean of making a brief excuse in the history of religious wars. Even though Christians and Muslims used to kill each other, ever since the religion of Islam came into being in the 6^th century AD, it was namely throughout the time of the Crusades, that the notion of a ‘religious war’ has attained its classical sounding.

After all, the actual rationale behind the religious Westerners’ decision to embark upon the journey to Palestine, in order to ‘liberate’ Jerusalem from Muslims, had to do with the fact that in 1096, Pope Urban II proclaimed that it was exactly what God wanted ‘good Christians’ to do (Phillips 2009). This, of course, explains the sheer amount of atrocities, committed by both: Christians and Muslims, during the time of the Crusades – while acting on behalf of their gods, these people could not help becoming ever more hateful towards each other.

The above suggested might create the impression that, even though religion does contribute to the outbreaks of war, it is specifically the individuals that happened to belong to the mutually incompatible religions, who are the natural born ‘God’s soldiers’. This, however, is far from being the actual case. After, throughout the course of human history, there have been a number of incidents when the affiliates of essentially the same religion used to massacre each other on an industrial scale – all due to the fact that they could not reach an agreement, as to how some of the ‘holy scriptures’ should be interpreted.

The most illustrative example, in this respect, can serve the so-called Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648), which took place between Europe’s Catholics, on the one hand, and Protestants, on the other. Nowadays, it is being estimated that during the course of this war, the population of Europe was reduced in size by two. One of the reasons for this is that, ever since the time of its outbreak, the Thirty Years’ War never ceased remaining utterly genocidal. At the first glance, it appears that this could have hardly been justified. After all, it was named on the account of their non-belief in the existence of the ‘Purgatory’ that Protestants used to kill their Catholic ‘brothers in Christ’ – a rather laughable excuse. Yet, once we grasp the essence of just about any organized religion, the earlier mentioned situation will make perfectly good sense.

Monotheistic religions are based upon the assumption that a long time ago, God himself provided his ‘chosen people’ with the ‘shining truth’ about how the universe actually works. Nevertheless, as time goes on, the affiliates of these religions grow increasingly aware of the sheer outdatedness of many of the ‘commandments’, provided by God. Yet, religious people tend to regard it as not the indication that there is indeed very little truth in their faith, but rather as something, that implies the wrongful interpretation of God’s actual message.

Consequently, it prompts them to believe that it is they, who have what it takes to understand what God had in mind while passing down his ‘commandments’ for be implemented. This, of course, makes the self-proclaimed interpreters of God’s message regard other believers, who provide an alternative interpretation, as ‘heretics’. Therefore, contrary to how today’s clergymen would like us to think about it, such despicable deeds as the burning of witches or torturing people by the Inquisitors, committed in the name of God in the past, were not incidental.

Apparently, it is the very monotheistic paradigm, concerned with the categorization of individuals as the ‘chosen people, on the one hand, and ‘infidels’, on the other, which creates objective prerequisites for the outbreaks of religious wars. This, of course, implies that the likelihood for people to coexist peacefully, negatively relates to the measure of their religiosity. That is, the more religious they happened to be; the more likely it will be for them to experience the irrational desire to punish the presumed ‘unbelievers’. Therefore, it will be thoroughly appropriate, on our part, to suggest that the notion of religion is essentially synonymous with the notion of war, as both of these notions organically derive out of each other.

Conclusion

In light of the earlier provided line of argumentation, as to the fact that there is indeed a link between religion, on the one hand, and war, on the other, the paper’s initial thesis appears perfectly legitimate. Therefore, in order for people to be able to enjoy a peaceful existence, they should be willing to adopt an active stance, when it comes to protecting their secular rights and freedoms from the religiously minded ‘lambs of God’, who are best defined as the lambskin-wearing wolves.

References

Dawkins, R. (2006). The God delusion. London: Bantam Press.

Phillips, J. (2009). The call of the Crusades. History Today, 59 (11), 10-17.

New King James version: Scofield study Bible. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson,1982.

The holy Quran. (1999). London: Society for Islamic Unity.

The Case

Modern public schools provide classroom teachers with the opportunity to develop additional skills such as psychological stability, diplomatic communication, and anger management. In preschool X, one of the five-year-old children stole a toy from the locker of his groupmate. The preschool cameras allowed the security guards to determine the criminal within minutes, and John Y was caught not far from the place of the crime.

After a long talk with the preschool administrator and counselor, he admitted the intention to steal this toy from his classmate. The reason was rather strange. John said it should have been “fun” as he saw his father watching a movie about the robbery on TV not so long ago, and at that moment, his father exclaimed, “How fun is that! Huh!” The father did not know that his son was nearby and heard these words. It was necessary to resolve the situation since the child should not think that stealing could be “fun.”

The Response

Considering the fact that this is a public preschool, the influence of the preschool teacher is less significant than it is in the case of a Christian preschool (Ekeland & Walton, 2016). However, I, as a Christian preschool teacher, would do the following: I would speak to the parents and John separately. I would emphasize the importance of the parents’ example in John’s life, considering the lack of proper examples and Christian guidance in the public preschool of their son (Slayton & Slayton, 2015; Ekeland & Walton, 2016).

I would say to the father that he should be the role model for John and should avoid the behavior that would influence the boy negatively. I would try to explain to the parents that children at John’s age perceive parental behavior as the guide to action (Laursen, 2016). Depending on the religious preferences of the parents, this conversation would be either very effective or would have almost zero effect. However, I would know that I have done something instead of doing nothing.

It is very important to help both children and their families to see the need for spiritual development and self-improvement. They should realize that this could be the path to a better life in terms of morality and mental well-being.

The conversation with John would be focused on the boy’s vision of his present and the future. I would ask John about his dreams and the occupation that he would like to have once grown up. It would be interesting to listen to his answer regarding his world, his family, and the time he spends with his father. Then, I would like to listen to his answers regarding the other children in the group and John’s understanding of the concept of friendship, support, teamwork, and interactions in a team of peers. I would say to John the words from the Bible: “Honor your father and mother” (Ephesians 6:2, New International Version) because these are the people to listen to.

I would say to this young person that stealing could not be “fun” by any means. The Bible says, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15, New International Version) because stealing is a sin. I would ask John how sin could be better than a decent life of a good boy. I think that these conversations would give positive results, and John would understand that he acted wrong. He has made a mistake because of a misunderstanding of his father’s exclamation, but the good thing is that these mistakes can be fixed as long as there is a chance for communication and redemption.

Reference List

Ekeland, J., & Walton, B. (2016). Ten differences: Public school and Christian school. Web.

Laursen, F. (2016). School choice: Home school? Christian school? Public school? Web.

Slayton, G., & Slayton, M. (2015). Homeschool vs. public school: How a Christian parent should decide on education. Christian Post. Web.

Introduction

The issue of foster care in the world has recently increased with the increase in the number of the neglected children in the communities. Some kids live with both parents, other with single parent while others are completely neglected with no parent to care for them. This has necessitated the need for foster families which lives with these neglected children. In the United States, for example, the government plays a big role in instituting and supporting the foster family programs. Foster parents are the people who take the responsibility as a parent to a neglected child. It has been alleged that there is lack of parenting to kids in foster families. This paper is an annotated bibliography on how foster kids are treated in foster families and the negligence of foster families and the bad services provided to the foster families. There are discussed in the sections below.

Annotated bibliography foster kids are treated in foster families and the negligence of foster families and the bad services provided to the foster families

Source 1. Handbook of parenting: theory and Research for Practice

According to Hoghughi & Long (17), parenting in foster families is more difficult than in intact families. Foster parents face great challenge while bringing up the kids. A significant factor contributing to this factor is the past history of the child. If the child is beyond the neonatal period, then the issue of attachment usually arises since attachments are typically formed with caregivers from about six months of age onwards.

Foster parents giving foster care to children who are beyond infancy usually forge relationships with the children who have gone through the loss of a parent whom they had primary relationship with. Research has revealed that infants placed in foster care between birth and 20 months of age form secure attachments with foster parents at the same rate as biological parent.

The other factor affecting parenting in foster families is the constellation of attitudes and expectations held by the parents themselves, including impermanence and the consequent possible lack of emotional investment. These factors pose a great challenge in the provision of parenting to those children. The lack of attachment of the foster parents and the kids denies the kids the experience of parental care. The past life of the kids is also difficult to cope with by the foster parents. Parenting the kids in foster families depends on the age of the children. For infants, it becomes easier to adapt to the new families and parents and the parents are able to provide the due care to the kids.

Source 2. Child Abuse Risk Factors: Contributing to Physical and Emotional Abuse and Neglect

Craft (6) explains that the children in foster families are exposed to risky situations rather than getting the parental care they need. He explains how the children are abused in the foster families. Parenting kids in foster families would entail providing care to those kids as legitimate kids of the foster parents. Most of the risk factors that these kids are exposed to are related to the community itself, parents and also the kids themselves. These factors deny the children the parental care that they need. The community related factors include the high rate of crime in the society that exposes these kids to dangerous lifestyles.

Children are abused or used in performing crimes like drug trafficking and other kinds of felonies. The society has also failed to provide adequate social services that are necessary for the kids. Biological Parents strive to ensure their kids get access to all the services they need. If the community does not provide the services needed by these kids, the foster parents may not be in a position to get them available to the children. The high rate of poverty in the economy also has great effect of the parenting of the kids in foster families. The foster parents do not get enough resources to provide for the kids. This makes the kids lack the due parental care from their foster mothers.

Besides the high rate poverty in the society, the society is also experiencing the high rate of unemployment. This poses a great challenge to the foster parents and they are unable to provide to the kids the parental care they deserve. The other factors that deny the children their parental care in foster families include lack of parenting skills by the foster parents. If the parents are not equipped with parenting skills, then there will be lack of parenting. Domestic violence is also a factor denying kids the parental care that that they expect from the foster families. When there is violence, kids are mostly the ones to suffer because they are helpless.

Source 3. “What Makes Good Foster Parent?” British Journal Of Social Work

Dando and Minity (384) investigate the traits, the history and the enthusiasm of foster mothers who become foster parents for a period of one year to one or more children. Their parenting skills are related to the knowledge obtained by the foster mothers in their childhood. The study reveals that enthusiastic parents may offer excellent parenting owing to the fact that they cannot have children of their own. The other reason that triggers enthusiasm is the desire to enable a child live happily because the foster mother has unpleasant memories of their childhood. The author also found out that good foster parents would also be selfless, humanistic and individuals who have a good will.

The investigation disclosed that although the foster parents may enjoy and find fulfillment in fostering children, they hardly find happiness of ever seeing them as their own and as an extension to their generation. Barren foster mothers obtain their accomplishment from caring for the children while the foster mothers with own children get fulfillment from giving the foster child a better life. This article identifies the enthusiasm needed to become a successful foster parent, but it does not give the reason that makes this enthusiasm fade away after sometime.

This journal article gives attention to the origin of motivation of the foster parent. This is because the background of the foster parent may have a direct impact on their ability to become successful foster parents. The most appealing aspect of this source is that the investigation emphasizes on the motivation of the foster mother who in most cases give care to the child. By understanding the background motivation of the foster parent, it is possible to identify a befitting foster family that will enable a child grow up with discipline, family support and enjoys their childhood. The likelihood of the barren foster mother treating the child as their own may be higher that the foster parent with own children and is only helping to give much needed care to a child.

Source 4. Hearn, Jody “Family preservation in families’ ecological systems: Factors that predict out-of-home placement and maltreatment for service recipients in Richmond City”

The authors pay attention to the process involved in fostering children Virginia. The objective of the process is to protect the growing children from dangers that include poverty background of the foster parent and the background of the foster child. Depending on the behavior of the foster parent or the foster child changes that lead to separation could occur for the benefit of either of them (Hearn 4). One of the reasons that are cited is the abuse of the child.

Even parents living with own children risk losing the child to a foster home if they abuse the child or neglect them. The overall objective of the study that was conducted in Virginia was to obtain information on the best ways that can be adopted to enhance child care within the family. More so to emphasize on the environmental factors that are essential for the support of the child. Hearn point out that the major needs of a foster home is to protect the child from poverty and to enable the child obtain the basic needs. They note that the child’s requirements can be taken care by services of the foster home.

Hearn emphasizes the importance of providing services that protect children from poverty and neglect of their needs. The family being the most important social structure for a growing child can be strengthened to enable children grows up with discipline and without deviant behaviors. A growing child needs to grow up in an environment that promote good character and prevent suffering that emanate from neglect of childcare.

Services offered by institutions could be enhanced to meet the individual needs of a child to have a healthy life. Children could find refuge in a foster care institution. These institutions are designed to meet the most important needs of the child that are mainly geared towards helping the child have a healthy childhood experience. Children are protected from suffering and given parenting in the institutions that offer child care.

Parenting can be achieved as the child will not be moved from one foster home to another and fail to get parental care. If the child is to be taken to a foster home the procedure must be followed strictly so that the child benefits from the arrangement rather than suffer. More so the child can benefit from staying in a foster home if the foster parents have parenting skills and ability. The family is the most important institution where a child can be parented. This article reveals the importance of social institutions that provide care for the children who need parenting. The services offered enable the child to belong and to have foster parents.

Source 5. Foster parenting by Berric, Duerr. “When Children Cannot Remain Home: Foster Family Care and Kinship Care” The future children. 8. 1 (1998): 72- 87.

Berric (72), a professor and social service researcher conducts a study in California on foster parenting. He investigates why there has been a shift in the social services centers where the kin is preferred to be the foster parent of a child. He notes the increasing need for foster families to give children adequate care. Despite the efforts of the social services offering assistance to needy children, the children can hardly remain in their foster home, a genuine concern that lead the professor to conduct the research. The research out comes suggest that children who join foster families with kinship ties have a likelihood of staying and getting parental care.

In his article, the researcher indicates the accessibility of foster families and goes further to reveal perceptions that have hindered the smooth functioning of foster homes with foster children. In his study, the issue of compensating for the up keep of the child is raised as the kin that adopts the child has to bear the responsibility of giving sufficient childcare. The individual traits of the foster parent are investigated to distinguish foster parents who are kin from other foster parents. His findings make known that foster parents who are related to the children can be successful in meeting the needs of the child although they fail to follow the legal requirements of the state. The relatives of a child are seen as an alternative to foster families that have no blood relationship with the child.

The article reveals the dynamics involved in giving a child to a foster home where the foster parents have kinship ties with the child. This form of kinship is seen as a better option as the relatives are likely to provide care to the child and provide parenting to the child. The foster child is likely to remain with the kin for a longer period and avoid moving from one foster home to another. The kin have a perception about the parents and this may affect their motivation either positively or negatively. The main challenge with this form of support for the child is that the kin hesitate from obtaining legal ground for becoming foster parents on permanent basis.

Protecting the child is the goal of giving the child a foster home and obtaining services from the kin may be a good option. What is interesting in this article is that the kin can provide adequate care as if the child was their own due to the blood relationship. However, the benefits of choosing the kin over another foster parent who is not related to the child should be considered before the social service agency gives the child a foster family. Moreover, the kin is sometimes preferred because the child may have established a relationship with the kin earlier. The relative who takes the role of the parent may be effective as they may not find them as strangers. Furthermore the foster parents may treat the child as their own since they have a blood relationship.

Conclusion

Child care is an essential part of a child’s growth. This care can be obtained from their original homes and in foster homes. The social services can be availed by social institutions that ensure that the children get foster families that will provide necessary parenting. Children can be adopted by foster families who do not have children and those with children and provide care. When the foster children do not have a home they remain in the social service center where they are taken care of.

The kin can also remain with children and provide good care. The intention of learning the diverse foster options is to avoid a situation where a child suffers from poverty and has no parenting. The hardships in the environment may lead to situations where the parents do not provide parenting and the child may end up with deviant behavior or be exposed to danger. The process of adjusting in a foster may take time and without understanding a child may move from one home to another. A stable family would be the most effective social environment to provide parenting.

Works Cited

Berric, Duerr. “When Children Cannot Remain Home: Foster Family Care and Kinship Care.” The future children. 8. 1 (1998): 72- 87.

Craft, Carrie. Child Abuse Risk Factors: Contributing to Physical and Emotional Abuse and Neglect. New York: New York Times, 2011.

Dando, Isabel & Minity, Brian. “What Makes Good Foster Parent?” British Journal of Social Work 17. 4 (1987): 383-399.

Hearn, Jody. “Family preservation in families’ ecological systems: Factors that predict out-of-home placement and maltreatment for service recipients in Richmond City” 2010.

Hoghughi, Masud and Long, Nicholas. Handbook of parenting: theory and Research for Practice. US: SAGE, 2004.

Introduction

Understanding what the Christian worldview is is a necessary stage of obtaining it for a faithful Christian. Knowing the basics of cultural studies, such as culture and civic and global engagement, allows one to teach others different viewpoints and involve them in a common cause.

Christian Worldview, Diverse Cultures and Me

The most straightforward answer to what the Christian worldview constitutes is that it is the personal philosophy of Christians. A more complex one would be that it is a cognitive, interpretive, and responsive model of the Christian person where the moral, ethical, psychological, and theological core is scripture. As with any other element of Christianity, “the Bible is the foundation for the Christian worldview” (Elliott, 2021, para. 5). A believer can enhance their world perception by communicating with local religious leaders, reading canonical and non-canonical books and academic works on Abrahamic theology, and performing Christian rituals.

The purpose of my life as a Christian is to follow the commandments and not commit deadly sins. My principal life goals now are becoming a better contributor to society and developing a proficient knowledge of my profession and Abrahamic theology. Paradoxically, having a Christian worldview makes it both easier and more challenging to achieve these goals. It shows the best yet the most challenging and demanding path to achieve them. Education is a journey to the truth, and God has commanded people to seek it, so pursuing professional knowledge is paramount to me.

Culture is the accumulation of a particular community’s historical activities and achievements, including language, writing, societal lifestyle, art, industry, architecture, military affairs, and methods of obtaining food and natural resources. People of different cultures can cooperate through cultural similarities or by understanding their differences. Having a Christian worldview means being a messenger of God and his Word, a channel and mouthpiece of His Will to those who have not yet revealed the truth. Others can be engaged through educational activities, preaching, and religious charity.

Conclusion

Religious introspection is as crucial for a true believer as a scriptural study or theological research. Knowing how their faith affects the way one sees the world develops their morality and character and reveals how to share their worldview with culturally distinct individuals and communities effectively.

Reference

Elliott, M. (2021). Exploring what a Christian worldview is based on. Reporter-Times. Web.

Describe a sight and your first general impression of it.

There is no use denying the fact that every Church serves as the reflection of the culture of people who created it and who have the same beliefs. That is why there are different confessions in the world that have their own special architectural style for their churches which is dictated by peculiarities of the main principles which are followed by these communities. St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco is a representative of the Roman Catholic Church. At the first gaze, it becomes obvious that it is definitely a Catholic Church. Peculiarities of architecture give a clear understanding of the character of this very building. A magnificent combination of Romanesque and Baroque architectural styles helps to impress a viewer and convey the feeling of admiration and religiosity. The massive building can be seen from afar and it is difficult not to pay attention to them. Moreover, it becomes obvious that the inner part of the church will be not less admirable.

Describe what theological principles the sight’s architecture, images, and symbols attempt to convey. You need to relate these principles to the peculiar denominational nature of the sight (in other words, in a Catholic Church you’ll find architecture, images, and symbols that reflect Catholic theological agenda and in a Protestant Church you’ll find architecture, images, and symbols that reflect Protestant theological agenda)

It is possible to suggest, that all peculiarities of the style of any church were formed under the influence of certain demands which were dictated by religion. First of all, having entered St. Ignatius Cathedral it is possible to see traditional benches. They are a common feature for all Catholic churches. These benches are placed here for people to be able to think about their life sitting alone, trying to understand the will of Heaven.

Moreover, arcs and leaded panes also help to create a strong impression, underlining the grandeur and power of the Catholic church. It is possible to say, that in general, all peculiarities of style and some parts of decor which can be seen in St. Ignatius Church can be taken as traditional elements of Catholic Churches whose main aim is to impress a parishioner and create a feeling of loneliness and calm greatness of the place which can allow people to understand the rightness of their choice.

Mention a particular detail (s) that you found to be the most interesting, unusual provocative, inappropriate, etc.

It should be said that the interior of the church is the most interesting thing for a simple viewer. It is impossible not to admire its beauty. There is one more reason for such admiration of the interior of this Cathedral. The beauty of this place can appease a person. Being angry or disappointed, he/she can just enter this church and his/her feeling and emotions will be forgotten. Besides, he/she will be able to rethink the life and try to obtain some answers. The atmosphere of the Cathedral is unique and it is possible to suggest, that it is one of the main factors which helps to promote the development and spread of religion all over the world. People, who have ever been here, will not be able to forget these feelings.

Describe a sight and your first general impression of it.

Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in San Francisco is another example of a beautiful Church. However, at the first gaze, it becomes obvious that this Cathedral is built by representatives of another confession. Rounded forms and lines are peculiar to the architectural style of Orthodox Churches. Moreover, the cupolas of the building help to create the unique appearance of the Cathedral and underline its belonging.

Describe what theological principles the sight’s architecture, images, and symbols attempt to convey. You need to relate these principles to the peculiar denominational nature of the sight (in other words, in a Catholic Church you’ll find architecture, images, and symbols that reflect Catholic theological agenda and in a Protestant Church you’ll find architecture, images, and symbols that reflect Protestant theological agenda).

The first obvious difference between St. Ignatius Church and Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral is the absence of benches inside the building. It is prohibited to sit in orthodox churches. The thing is, that the Orthodox Christians believe that in this way they will be able to rich the God faster as it can be taken as another trial for them. There are many vespers services in the Orthodox church and standing people show their affection and devotion to God because it is rather difficult to do it, having no rest for a long period of time. Moreover, there is also a great number of differences between the appearances of these two Cathedrals. The interior of the Orthodox Cathedral is not so complicated and elaborated as the Catholic one. There are not man tiny details or ornaments, however, it is still richly decorated with gold and some other metals. Additionally, there is obviously a great difference between the styles in which icons are written.

Mention a particular detail (s) that you found to be the most interesting, unusual provocative, inappropriate, etc.

The clothes of priests are the thing which impresses most of all in this very Cathedral. They are absolutely different from the traditional vestments of Catholic ecclesiastics. Being richly decorated, these clothes serve as the symbol of the power of priests. Moreover, they can help people to determine the level of authority of a certain churchman. However, these clothes look marvelous and very solemn. It should be said, that traditionally priests of the Orthodox church used to wear very elaborate and rich outfits for people to see their unique character. Moreover, the whole look of a priest is rather unusual and serves to create a special atmosphere of trust in the church.

The atmosphere in the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in San Francisco should also be mentioned. Solemnity is mixed with a feeling of helplessness in the face of some higher power. However, it is still pleasant to come here again and again.

The basic belief of Christian religion is that there is only one God, who is triune and is portrayed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This triune God is believed to be the creator of life and everything that is. Every Christian person is believed to have the Holy Spirit within them. Besides, Christianity believes in Jesus Christ, God’s son, who is also called the Savior, who may be symbolized as a lamb or a baby. Jesus Christ is accepted to be the Head of the Christian Church.

The Bible is the holy book of the Christian religion; it is believed to be written by people inspired by God’s word, so everything included in the Bible is considered to be true and right. The Bible contains regulations and encouragements for all the righteous Christians that practice humility, compassion, and forgiveness. The ones that do not follow the set of Biblical rules and commandments are considered to be sinners, who will be punished by God.

Finally, Christians believe that Jesus, who once already came to earth and salvaged the righteous, will return one day and will rule eternally as the Lord of Lords. While he is not here yet, God’s wish is that the elders such as priests are in charge of the church.

Introduction

The boy’s parents voiced the patient’s preferences, including several important topics. Mike and Joanna chose not to have one of their sons receive dialysis, which worsened their situation. Joanna and Mike, who wanted to give their kidneys, could not find eligible recipients.

Discussion

Moreover, the parents had to determine if they wished Samuel, their second son, to help his sibling by donating a kidney. James’s nephrologist called to schedule a private appointment with Mike and Joanne. James was stable and given regular dialysis but would require a kidney transplant within the year. In other words, patients were free to weigh their beliefs against medical advice. To maintain the stability of his health, James must occasionally undergo dialysis. A kidney transplant necessitates the usual dietary and exercise limitations before and after the procedure (Garcia, 2020). Also, James and Samuel would have to live with one kidney if the parent would have consented to their other twin donating one of his kidneys.

Three characteristics are included in the contextual features provided in this instance. On the one hand, the patient’s parents are Christians who fervently support prayer-based treatment. On the other hand, James’ condition has worsened because of this fact, which might impact Mike and Joanna’s choice to get a kidney transplant for their child. Second, James’ identical twin brother is the perfect candidate to serve as a donor. Additionally, although it is not mentioned in the narrative, the expense of critical care, dialysis treatments, and potential surgery is insignificant and can impact parents’ choices. Thus, both positive and negative effects of contextual factors on the patient’s state are seen.

The patient’s preference is the fundamental idea put forward in the case. Liberal values can come from a religious perspective. It teaches that each individual has the right to be heard and that future decisions must consider their opinions (Beauchamp & Childress, 2019). Christianity emphasizes tolerance, openness to instruction and correction, and respect for others as potential truth-bearers (Murphy, 2020). These characteristics respect each person’s ability to participate in group decision-making while considering individual values and beliefs. Patient preference is, therefore, the concept that people with a Christian worldview would appreciate the most.

However, this premise is in dispute because it worsened the condition. First, Mike and Joanna chose not to undergo dialysis out of personal preference and reasons of religion, which, despite the regular dialysis treatments, would require a kidney transplant. If the choice were based on the facts and a mix of the other three principles, kidney transplantation would not arise. Second, the same issue can result in a more significant rejection of the suggested operation since the parents would see it as a test of their faith. This dilemma, however, is distinct from the first since the parents must choose if it is appropriate to have Samuel give a kidney because doing so will affect his quality of life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, since personal choice was the problem that Christians regarded most highly, this became the focus of the case, which concentrated on the choice not to undergo dialysis.

References

Beauchamp, T., & Childress, J. (2019). Principles of biomedical ethics: Marking its fortieth anniversary. The American Journal of Bioethics, 19(11), 9–12. Web.

Garcia, J. L. (2020,). Virtues and principles in biomedical ethics. The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 45(4), 471-503. Web.

Murphy, T. F. (2020). Theorizing religion in its meanings for bioethics. The American Journal of Bioethics, 20(12), 47–49. Web.

Introduction

Christianity is a historical religion that revolves around Jesus Christ as the Lord and savior of humankind. It claims its origin right from the Garden of Eden in the creation story where the first man and woman fell into sin. Jesus came to rescue man and reconnect him to God.

Understanding of these facts and others has led to emergence of diverse spiritualism based on discoveries of historical documents like the Nag Hammadi discoveries in 1945. Such documents challenge the person and life of Jesus. It is important to note that the differences are not at all major but they are indeed very critical.

History

The Nag Hammadi discoveries comprised of scripts suspected to have been those of a religion in the early centuries. They comprised of The Gospel of Truth, The Gospel of Thomas, and The Gospel of The Egyptian among others. The religion depicted in these documents show a sharp difference to what the bible says and evidence show that they were based on heresies.

Most of the Christian bishops classified them as such and saw them as obstacles to the spread of the true gospel. The documents were written and circulated by people who purported to be spreading the true gospel of Jesus. It was hard to know the truth as they used Christian vocabularies and largely related to the Jewish customs.

The scripts spread much faster than the other gospel mainly because they claimed to spread tradition about Jesus that was hidden from other people. However, the discovery of similar documents in different times of history and different places theologically, only serves to show the extent to which this religion had spread (Robinson, 3).

A campaign against these ‘misleading’ religious beliefs was started and it was not until the time of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century when Christianity became the official religion that the Christian bishops felt a relief and the battle was won. Books and documents labeled as heretical were banned.

Anyone found in possession of such books was charged and imprisoned on criminal offense. It is highly suspected that it was during this time that some supporters of this ‘gospel’ hid some manuscripts from destruction and survived until their discovery in the nineteenth century.

The Differences

God is the center of the differences many Christians hold. Many take God to be an ‘out of this world’ person who is all-powerful and all knowing. On the other hand, others regard it as blasphemous to consider human beings to be the image of God.

Others still see God not as a human being but as a force beyond the confines of the universe. While some Christians claim that Jesus’ death on the cross was to bring salvation, others believe that the most important thing about Him is the life he lived on earth. They attach more importance on the wonderful moral teachings he taught.

Some Christians think of the resurrection as the physical restoration of His body while some believe resurrection was only a symbol and not real. Hell is real for others and considers it the punishment that the unrighteous ones will receive after the present life. To others, hell remains a metaphorical expression of the life without God. Further issues include baptism and the Holy Communion. These are just the few differences that present the base for spiritual diversity among Christians. Gnosticism is just one form of spiritual diversity.

Gnosticism

The word gnosis literary has the meaning of wisdom which according to its proponents, it is a divine form of wisdom; meaning that, it is an experience with a supernatural being, in this case, God.

This word may also mean learned or intellectual wisdom and this indicates clearly that Gnosticism is all about the pursuit of human wisdom, knowledge, or intellect and not about spiritual connection with God. The Gnostic tradition dates back to the Vedic philosophy, paganism, Greek traditions, and Zoroastrianism, which implies that it is beyond the Christian traditions. It assumes that, there was once a universal religion, which changed over time due to the spread of people across the world.

The different cultures and environments also contributed to these changes. Therefore, there are people enshrined with these traditions and faith that are no longer their primary intellectual source. The Gnosticism of coming of Jesus was because of the higher power needs; to restore the mystery traditions, therefore, Jesus is not at all superior but a rejuvenation of the old traditions. It is claimed that Jesus’ Gnosticism united the older mysteries to form one larger and powerful system.

Feature of Gnosticism

Gnosticism has its own feature and characteristics that make it unique. Gnosis is ‘esoteric’; this means the inner teachings that are responsible of the religious intellect.

This knowledge is not available to everyone but only to a select few. The gnosis teachings are deemed mystical because of their ancient origin wisdom, which is claimed as the mother of today’s religious system. They are termed occultism and religious at the same time, occultism because of their secrecy and hidden nature and, religious because they lead back to the world ideals.

Ancient Gnostic teachers taught that, knowing God was the result of knowing oneself. It involved knowing who they were, what they were to become, where they were, and where they were going, where they were coming from, and why they were being released from it, what birth is and what is rebirth.

According to Gnosis, investigation of these matters would result to the knowledge of God. The Gnostic system viewed the world as having two entities meaning that, they had a dualistic view of the world where two equal divine forces are depicted. These forces are God and man where their respective governing of the world is put to measure (Jonas 17). The Gospel of Thomas further depicts the concept of dualism.

The Gospel of Thomas

This ‘gospel’ is one of the Gnostic gospels discovered in the Nag Hammadi discovery whereby, Jesus acknowledges having the same power as Thomas by refusing him to call him master. It is estimated to have been authored around 140 A.D. mainly because it is thought to have been written after the New Testament, which dates 60-140 A.D. Jesus is shown to claim that if anyone drunk from his mouth was bound to become as himself.

The teachings here show Jesus as a spiritual guide only, and not as the Lord and the savior, the orthodox Christians regard him. This gospel has many similarities with eastern religions like Buddhism where the founder is only a spiritual leader and not in any way superior. Historically, there are indications that Thomas the disciple of Jesus may have gone to India thus the emergence of suggestions of an influence of Indian tradition in the gospel.

The Creation Story

The Nag Hammadi discovery tells many stories differently from the commonly referred to, texts in the Bible. The origin of the human race found in the book of Genesis in the Bible was found in some manuscripts in the discovery. The story is vividly explained from the serpent’s perspective.

The serpent is a representation of divine knowledge or wisdom in Gnostic circle. In this text, ‘the Lord’ is threatening Adam and Eve with death in a bid to prevent them from getting knowledge while the serpent is convincing them to obtain knowledge. Later, ‘the Lord’ expels Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden when they finally heed the words of the serpent to partake knowledge.

Women

Other scripts in the Nag Hammadi discovery seem to depict women as highly placed in the society, something very uncommon especially in those days. There are poems put across in feminine voice that seem to be of a divine power or a goddess. Here is an example of such a poem:

For I am the first and the last

I am the honored one and the scorned one

I am the whore and the holy one

I am the wife and the virgin….

I am the barren one, and many are her sons….

I am the silence that is incomprehensible….

I am the utterance of my name (Robison, 3).

The Gospel of Mary

The Gospel of Mary is another indication of Gnostics’ way of elevating women. It is not exactly clear which Mary is referred to here, but it is largely assumed she is Mary Magdalene. The first six pages of the gospel have not been found to date but the account begins with Christ and his disciples in a discussion after Christ had resurrected.

The gospel shows Christ prohibiting his disciples from teaching spirituality as an external experience but instead instructs them to teach it as an internal experience (Robinson 17). Later, Christ leaves the scene but his disciples are left confused and in great fear. In the text, Mary describes to the disciples her personal experience with Christ including the visions she had seen in a bid to encourage the disciples. She tells them things that the savior had told her when they were together alone.

Though Peter and Andrew acknowledge that Mary is spiritually superior to them, they differ with her sharply and claim that the savior could not have possibly said the words Mary claims He said. Mary depicts the Gnostic principle of inner experience here; it teaches that sin is an indication of the desperate cry of balance by the soul. This insight shows that sin results from the soul’s imbalance and not from moral ignorance.

Conclusion

Spirituality is a matter of personal belief on a deity or superior being. It is mainly passed on from generation to generation by the documents left behind, parental guidance and the prevailing conditions in the society. The study above of the different spiritual diversities in Christianity serves as an indication of how small issues can end up separating people in the world. As such, there is bound to be differences in the way these documents are interpreted, which has resulted to diverse spirituality all through history.

Works Cited

Robinson, James. The Definitive Translation of the Gnostic Scriptures. New York: Nag Hammadi Library, 1997.

Introduction

The topic of spirituality is essential to many healthcare providers in the world. The reading concerning Christian values and decision–making in health care is enjoyable and a source of information significant to nurses (Ghorbani et al., 2021).

Discussion

The case studies are interesting and leave the reader thinking of the right steps that could have been taken in different situations. The author’s response to the scenarios is thoughtful and should be appreciated. The author truly addressed the cases with immense respect and care. The case study concerning Karen and the dilemma of pulling the plug is fascinating, mainly on how the low-income family addressed the issue.

The case study is an essential indication of real-life scenarios that most healthcare providers deal with in daily life. Healing is indeed more than just taking care of the patient suffering from an injury or disease. Healthcare workers should care about the family and friends of the patient. For instance, being compassionate to family members can help eradicate sadness and depression in the family (Murgia et al., 2020). In addition, healthcare workers can help families make decisions that seem difficult for them, maybe because they lack in-depth knowledge of medical grounds.

Additionally, healthcare providers should be conversant with steps to ensure a patient is spiritually fine. For instance, requesting to pray and reading them the word of encouragement. In addition, nurses should be present for patients who do not have family members or friends. In addition, nurses can help patients with their faith beliefs (Murgia et al., 2020).

Conclusion

Generally, healthcare workers should portray a religious-like attitude; for example, they should be loving and kind to the patients. Nurses should help the patient, family, and friends to make them feel comfortable and not confused when making decisions and dealing with different issues.

References

Ghorbani, M., Mohammadi, E., Aghabozorgi, R., & Ramezani, M. (2021). Spiritual care interventions in nursing: An integrative literature review. Supportive Care in Cancer, 29(3), 1165-1181. Web.

Murgia, C., Notarnicola, I., Rocco, G., & Stievano, A. (2020). Spirituality in nursing: A concept analysis. Nursing Ethics, 27(5), 1327-1343. Web.