A combination of different perspectives, ideologies, or philosophies has long been known to allow a more complex and integrated understanding of a certain idea. The concept of the Christian God is not an exception as it gained culture-specific features in various societies. In particular, Hellenistic philosophy had a noticeable influence on Christianity, resulting in an appearance of a more sophisticated view of the divine nature.
The impression of the excerpt from the Bible is that the God is simply a supervisor vested with extreme power. He exercises the unlimited dominion over his creations, including human beings, the way an outstandingly bossy person would do. Even raising His Son from the dead is purely another manifestation of His power. The God is similar to humans in character and behavior but exaggerated.
Meanwhile, the writing by Gregory of Nyssa involves the metaphysics Christianity adopted from Greek philosophical religions. The main conclusion from it is that the nature of the God is incognizable. Simply put, it is possible to characterize Him and describe His actions but not define exactly what He is. What I find particularly perplexed is the explanation of how the Trinity works because it complicates the comprehension rather than simplifies. However, this nuance is aligned with the idea of unapprehensiveness of the God.
To summarize, the influence of Hellenism made the Christian philosophy substantially more transcendent as compared to the version present in the scriptures. The two excerpts illustrate how the God, who probably used to be seen as a one of a human-like nature, turned into an unconditioned entity. Due to this, Gregory’s letter does not clarify the basic concepts of the religion, furthermore, triggers additional questions.
Religious beliefs are essential concepts and attitudes that dictate how people relate to each other. Muslims rely on the teachings of the Qur’an to know what is right and wrong and how they can resolve most of the challenges they encounter in their lives. After thinking deeply about the contents studied in class, I have decided to focus on a unique issue that has troubled me for many years. This thought explains why I have settled on this research question: What religious strategies do Muslims and Christians use to overcome what they identify as evil? I selected this topic to get a clear understanding of the significance of evil to many believers and the major initiatives they apply to deal with negative occurrences. The completed analysis and study have offered numerous ideas and guided me to overcome such challenges as a Muslim.
Selected Methodology
A powerful methodology is always appropriate to solve ethical and religious questions. Such a study approach makes it easier for researchers to identify some of the existing knowledge in literature and identify the major gaps. After selecting the research question, I decided to read and analyze the Qur’an as the primary text for the entire exercise. I also utilized the Internet to examine what different scholars and analysts had completed in the fields of theology and Islam. This approach made it possible for me to consider some of the latest publications and acquire additional ideas for answering my topic accurately and effectively. Some of the articles selected for the activity included “Education and the Overcoming of Evil”, “Evil and Human Suffering in Islamic Thought—Towards a Mystical Theodicy”, and “Strategies for Dealing with Sin about Poverty”. I also went further to consult these two books: The Genesis of Good and Evil: The Fall(out) and Original Sin in the Bible and A Muslim Response to Evil: Said Nursi on the Theodicy. These resources equipped me with adequate ideas to answer the selected question effectively.
The practice of interviewing is essential since it guides researchers to acquire additional information and insights from participants or experts. I decided to pursue such a model since it would make the process much easier for me. The selected person was the Imam from my Mosque. He was the best choice for the exercise since he knew more about the Bible and the relevant passages that can guide more people to overcome evil and attain their spiritual goals (Smith 21). His personal experiences, thoughts, and ideas would also be helpful to support the study process and deliver high-quality answers to the identified question. My reflections were also essential to complete the study process successfully. The combination of all these sources guided me to design a final response to the question and educate more Muslims and Christians about the measures they can apply in their lives to understand the nature of evil and address it successfully.
Findings
While Islam and Christianity might be different in the manner in which believers worship, they have convergent teachings regarding the nature of evil and how to deal with t. The completed exercise became a new opportunity to understand the true nature and meaning of evil among different followers of Muhammad. For instance, Ozkan believes that evil is anything negative that works or operates against Allah’s mission and purpose in the lives of Muslims (19). Human responsibility emerges as one of the leading sources of evil whereby individuals act contrary to Allah’s teachings. The occurrence of ideas, thoughts, and malpractices that go against the true nature of Islam is identified as evil (Ozkan 38). However, religious believers need to acknowledge the fact that negativity is an occurrence that has existed in the universe for many years and will always continue to trouble human beings. The power of evil will usually fall in people’s hands since they will focus on perfection or engage in misbehaviors that worsen the experiences of others.
After considering various passages from both the Qur’an and the Bible, the reader realizes that Satan is the true origin and representative of all that is deemed evil in our world. The Bible reveals that God is the one who affects evil in the universe since He created light and darkness (The Holy Bible Isaiah 45:7). From this spiritual text, Christians observe that the Devil plays a significant role in advancing the message of God and guiding more followers to get the intended meaning. For example, Satan is observed trying to lure or seduce both Christians and Muslims to denounce their beliefs and values. From this observation, any analyst realizes that the purpose of sin and evil spirits is to deceive followers of these religions and discourage them from focusing on their spiritual goals (Kakwata 282). With these predicaments and obstacles in place, followers need to identify and implement appropriate strategies to deal with the Devil and focus on their spiritual goals in life.
Using various messages and teachings from the Bible, the selected publications presented powerful attributes regarding the procedures different individuals follow when trying to overcome the challenge of evil. According to Smith, it was appropriate for Christians to appreciate the fact that Christ died on the cross as a way of redeeming human beings and removing the original sin that made them sinners from birth (31). When individuals acquire this enlightenment, the best activity is to consider additional ideas through which they can pursue their moral goals. Consequently, Christians need to play their roles if they are to overcome the challenge of evil (Smith 28). While doing so, they have to consider and follow most of the teachings that Christ presented when he was on earth. In the Bible, Christians are sensitized about the importance of taking the cross and following Christ’s footsteps (Matthew 10: 38). Those who remain prepared and consider all the challenges they might encounter on earth will never be afraid of any form of suffering. They will strive to consider God’s teachings and work hard until they achieve their religious objectives.
The life of Muhammad is a powerful example since it presents a detailed model through which individuals can succeed in understanding and overcoming the problem of evil. Throughout His life, this prophet encountered numerous challenges and obstacles that could have made it easier for Him to give in. He taught His followers about the importance of remaining steadfast and promoting what was righteous in the eyes of Allah. Since Muslims believe that they are on Earth for a limited period, they need to overcome all forms of evil and suffering. This achievement is what will take them closer to becoming part of Paradise. The Qur’an reads: “if, as is sure, there comes to you guidance from Me, whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” (The Qurʾan 2: 38). From this passage, it becomes quite clear that Adam and all his descendants, including modern Muslims, should always seek Allah’s guidance. With His help and support, such believers will fear nothing and will be closer to realizing their objectives.
Similarly, I observed that Christians could follow or consider various strategies to reduce the negative impacts of evil. For example, Smith indicates that love is one of the best forces through which believers can overcome the predicaments associated with Satan on earth (13). This powerful force makes it easier for more people to forgive one another and overcome all aspects of darkness. When individuals promote hatred in their respective families or communities, chances are high that they will harbor negative thoughts and eventually be unable to lead harmonious lives. Since God is compassionate and the source of love, those who embrace His teachings will be able to overcome all obstacles and challenges (Psalms 145: 8-13). The idea of imitating God is appropriate and capable of empowering more Christians to deal with evil spirits and negative mindsets.
When Muslims want to achieve their goals much faster, the Qur’an explains that they should remain steadfast and remain committed. They have to apply the teachings of Mohammad in every issue they encounter. These believers acknowledge that such a strategy will take them closer to Allah. His hand will always be available to guide, encourage, and empower them to overcome all difficulties they might experience in life. The Qur’an teaches people to allow Allah to take over and change their situations (Route 48). They will ask for guidance and the power to conquer darkness.
Additionally, the Bible encourages Christians to believe in His abilities and be ready to do what is ethical and moral. They should also take God’s word as a sword that can guide them when they encounter adversities. When they put all these aspects into action, chances of fighting and overcoming all negativities associated with evil spirits successfully will increase significantly. True Christians who rely on God’s commandments allow Him to guide and fight their battles. The major teachings of this religion indicate that those who ask for His guidance will become victorious over all emerging oppositions and obstacles. They will seek Him in all circumstances and teach others to consider the same path (Smith 29). They will guide their neighbors and colleagues to take the word of God and apply it in all situations. These practices will guide more Christians to appreciate the power of God and ask for it when necessary. Such an initiative will take them closer to their goals, overcome most of the obstacles emerging in their lives, and eventually make their lives more enjoyable.
With the current rate of population explosion in different parts of the world, the nature of evil has taken a different shape. The argument here is that many people are presently finding it hard to find a common ground when they encounter various challenges or differences. Many individuals have moved from one place to another, thereby transforming the diversities recorded in different parts of the world (Smith 36). Many people have become enemies after disagreeing over a wide range of issues or disputes. The problem of evil continues to compel human beings to sin against others and even make it impossible for them to achieve their goals in life. Such issues were complicating the problem of evil in the world. Consequently, different religious believers were relying on superior approaches to overcome such challenges and find new ways to remain true followers of Allah or God.
One of the evidence-based practices that most believers consider when challenges and evil emerge is engaging in prayers. Ozkan reveals that many people rely on such a practice to ask for Allah’s guidance and become resolute to tackle every challenge they might face in life (26). According to many Muslims, it is always possible to overcome evil if Allah gets the chance. Since He is the creator of the world and all living organisms, many Muslims acknowledge that Allah can stop evil or any occurrence that can affect their experiences (Route 49). Similarly, Christians trust that God can guide his true followers to overcome any form of suffering or be able to bear evils. The completed analyses have, therefore, identified prayers as effective in giving believers courage and empowering them to overcome most of their problems.
Human beings will always do wrong or abuse others even without being wronged. When such events occur, Christians believe in the power of God to take revenge on their behalf or bless them abundantly. Many followers of their religion acknowledge that God is a fair judge who does not discriminate against the poor, innocent, or the less privileged (Smith 52). Christians pray and request Him to complete their missions or goals when they become powerless. This model is also essential since it guides more people to trust in God and seek His assistance when they encounter predicaments.
From the completed interview and readings, I have identified helping as a powerful practice that makes it possible for many individuals to overcome evil. When Muslims and Christians become empathetic, they develop a sense of fulfillment and reconsider the example of Jesus (Smith 48). They will support their friends, neighbors, colleagues, or partners who might be encountering some difficulties. When they do so collectively, chances are high that they will identify or develop additional strategies for responding to evil occurrences and suffering. When they encounter those who are suffering, it is appropriate to provide a helping hand and be part of their worries. Such an evidence-based approach will take them closer to their goals and collaborate to get rid of evil in the world. After realizing these aims, such believers will be on the right path towards overcoming the challenge of sin and eventually realizing their maximum potential.
Muslims and Christians believe that there is a need to work as a team and become part of God’s creation. This religion teaches its followers to consider the importance of love and implement it when they encounter difficulties. The major values of friendship, meekness, humility, trust, and sympathy appear to encourage individuals to take the issues of the religious community seriously. These people will be willing to pray for each other, solve their common problems, and implement shared values to transform their societies (Louden 1311). When the level of harmony increases, more people will embrace the idea of loving one another. Consequently, those who take the practice seriously will find it easier to avoid sin and do good to each other. They will also engage in communal worship and ask for forgiveness continuously. They will also seek Allah’s guidance to overcome all evil occurrences and consider new ways of bringing peace to their respective societies (Route 52). Through His support, it will be easier to record positive results promptly.
The findings have gone further to reveal that Christians and Muslims are encouraged to target evil tirelessly in their lives. They should consider various religious teachings and apply them in every situation or scenario. True believers will engage in prayers without ceasing since the Devil is always alert and willing to tempt people. This knowledge makes it easier for them to practice what the Bible permits and be ready to engage others (McTavish 137). Muslims will read the Qur’an widely in an attempt to identify the possible occurrences of evil and how they might affect their goals in life. Christians, on the other hand, will read the Bible to acquire new ideas for repelling evil spirits and learning how to focus on their goals. They need to educate others about God’s position about negativities and sin (McTavish 137). Those who receive such a message will find it easier to be part of God’s creation on earth and ensure that all activities advance His cause or purpose for humanity.
Finally, my personal experiences reveal that Muslims have unique ways of acknowledging the presence of evil in the universe and repelling it. From my family setting, we have been relying on the power of prayers to seek Allah’s guidance in all activities and actions. My family members appreciate the relevance of putting Allah first in every situation since such a practice can empower them to achieve their goals much faster (Ozkan 43). The development of a powerful Islamic philosophy of worship has also stood out as a powerful concept for dealing with the problems of evil and sin (Route 49). I will consider the importance of combining these aspects with the insights gained above to overcome the challenges that I might encounter in life. These practices will take me closer to my goals and apply them to transform the experiences and lives of my colleagues.
Conclusion
Islam and Christianity remain the two leading religions with many followers across the world today. The above research has revealed that they have specific guidelines for following the outlined doctrines and commandments. The completed exercise focused primarily on some of the best approaches different religious believers utilize when trying to overcome the challenges of evil in their lives. The studied materials, the Bible, and the Qur’an were instrumental since they presented numerous insights for answering the intended question. From the completed work, I have realized that Muslims and Christians have diverse ways through which they can overcome emerging troubles and achieve most of their objectives. Some of these initiatives include considering religious teachings, engaging in prayers, and helping those in need. Believers who take these practices seriously will lead peaceful lives and eventually become part of the eternal kingdom. I will, therefore, consult additional publications and religious materials to learn more about evil and understand how both Christians and Muslims can deal with it successfully.
Works Cited
Kakwata, Frederick N. “Strategies for Dealing with Sin in Relation to Poverty.” Stellenbosch Theological Journal, vol. 2, no. 2, 2016, pp. 273-294.
The Holy Bible. Doubleday, 1985.
Louden, Robert B. “Education and the Overcoming of Evil.” Educational Philosophy and Theory, vol. 51, no. 13, 2019, pp. 1308-1318.
McTavish, James. “Suffering, Death, and Eternal Life.” The Linacre Quarterly, vol. 83, no. 2, 2016, pp. 134-141.
Ozkan, Tubanur Y. A Muslim Response to Evil: Said Nursi on the Theodicy. Ashgate Publishing, 2015.
The Qurʾan. Oxford UP, 2010.
Rouzati, Nasrin. “Evil and Human Suffering in Islamic Thought—Towards a Mystical Theodicy.” Religions, vol. 9, no. 2, 2018, pp. 47-59.
Smith, Mark S. The Genesis of Good and Evil: The Fall(out) and Original Sin in the Bible. Westminster John Knox Press, 2019.
When on December 16, 1870, the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church became independent from the Methodist Episcopal Church South and was declared as an entirely separate church for the members of color, the leaders of this church faced two primary challenges: those of external and internal character.
First, the CME Church was challenged by the African Methodist Church over the property that was deeded to the CME Church by the M.E. Church South. The AME Church felt that they had the right to this property because it was in their possession for several years before the CME Church became independent (Lakey, 1996). In addition to that, the newly established CME Church faced the strong opposition of M.E. Church North because of their relationship with M.E. Church South.
The internal challenge of the CME Church consisted of operational difficulties that were connected with the publishing and educational interests of the Colored Methodists as well as the lack of financial support to provide for these interests.
During the formation and development of the CME Church, several Connectional departments were established. At different stages of the development, their number varied, since some of them were merged, some were abolished, and others were established again. The most important departments, which became known as General Departments, were The Christian Index, a religious periodical; the Publishing Department; the General Missionary Board; the Department of Church Extension (reformed in 1902 into the Church Extension Board); the Epworth and Sunday School Department; and the General Board, appointed in 1906. The General Board was composed of members from annual conferences, and all the departments were responsible to this Board (Lakey, 1996).
Role of Women in the Life of the Church
As Lakey (1996) states, “In Colored Methodism, as in most of Protestantism, women were denied leadership and had no official role to play” (p. 270). The positive influence that women could have on the CME Church issues was recognized only at the beginning of the 20th century. Until then, in spite of the fact that in 1890 the General Conference gave official recognition to the Women’s Missionary Society for helping to raise the general funds, the leadership in the Church, according to Lakey (1996), “was for the men” (p. 270). Women’s secondary position was normal for those times when women were supposed to, as Lakey (1996) states, “sit on the ‘women’s side of the church opposite the men” (p. 270).
Such an attitude toward women was mostly determined by the existing gender stereotypes rather than the conviction of the CME Church members in women’s incapability to take part in solving the organizational issues of the Church. However, with the development of the CME Church owing to the social activity of Mrs. Caroline Poe, who was the president of the Women’s Missionary Society, and the women’s determination to operate in some official capacity, the bishops recognized women’s organizational abilities (Lakey, 1996). At the beginning of the 20th century, the role of women in the life of the Church was extended to the establishment of the annual “The Woman’s Missionary and inter-conference Convention” in Georgia and the adoption of the Woman’s Missionary Age periodical. Lakey (1996) claims that the male leaders of the CME Church noted that the “wisdom, force, and thought” of women had given the CME Church life “a new phase of activity” (p. 304).
William H. Miles and Confrontation Between the “Administrative” and “Invincibles”
William Henry Miles is one of the first senior bishops of the CME Church. At the early stages of the development of the CME Church, Miles and Vanderhorst were the two leaders who significantly contributed to the extension of the CME Church by holding the annual conferences and maintaining personal contacts with leaders of the M. E. Church South. Vivid and combative, Miles was the perfect candidate to protect the interests of the CME Church and made the legal claim to the property that was deeded to the Colored Methodists by the M. E. Church South but was occupied by the AME Church. After the death of Vanderhorst, Miles became “the Father of Colored Methodism” and “virtual Ruler of the Church,” and as a result of his twenty-year career as the Senior Bishop, the CME Church numbered 118,000 adult members with 983 traveling and 1,934 local preachers (Lakey, 1996).
By 1910 two political camps of the “Administrative” and “Invincibles” jostled for control over the CME Church. The Invincibles were convinced that the Church used “the skin color rather than ability and superior qualification as a standard for leadership” and wanted to “re-form, remake, and restrict” it (Lakey, 1996). The Administrative did not recognize the claim of the Invincibles and preached for “improving, maintaining, and perpetuating existing principles” (Lakey, 1996). In 1901 the episcopal elections brought M. F. Jamison and G. W. Stewart into power, and the General Conference appointed A. J. Cobb for the editorship of The Christian Index. That meant the end of the political confrontation of the Administrative and Invincibles and indicated the victory of the former in this confrontation.
The Bishops of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church
Between 1870 and 1930, the CME Church elected eight bishops: William Miles, Richard Vanderhorst, Joseph Bebe, Lucius Holsey, Isaac Lane, Rowan Williams, Stephen Cottrell, and Charles Phillips. These bishops took an active part in the development of the CME Church and helped to establish the independent branch of the Methodist Church in the United States. William Miles and Richard Vanderhorst were the first appointed bishops of the CME Church, and they protected its interests and helped to assert its rights for the property that was deeded to the CME Church by the M. E. Church South. After the death of Vanderhorst, Miles appointed the next three bishops of the CME Church.
They were Joseph Bebe, Lucius Holsey, and Isaac Lane. Together with these bishops, Miles established the Departments of the CME Church that was crucial for its development. Bebe, Holsey, and Lane greatly contributed to the improvement of the lives of members of the CME Church. They established new educational centers and new periodicals, encouraged the role of women in the life of the Church, held the General Conferences, and extended the CME Church throughout the Southern states. The appointment of the next bishops was marked by the confrontation of the Administrative and Invincibles. When Charles Phillips was not elected, he elevated the question of skin color to the question of class. This has added pages to the history of the CME Church, but eventually, during the 1902 episcopal elections, Philips was elected as the eighth bishop of the CME Church, and the issue of skin complexion as a means of achieving power in the CME Church was settled.
References
Lakey, O. H. (1996). The History of the CME Church (Revised). Memphis, TN: CME Publishing House.
Christians’ views about human relationships, personal growth, and international affairs are developed with time, discovering new aspects and lessons. There are many cultural, geographical, and theological issues that may influence the position of Christians. After watching the video “The Rise and Fall of Nations,” the idea of the Christian responsibility with regards to geopolitics can be properly identified and understood. The example of Rome’s decline described by Augustine of Hippo proves that Christians had clear purposes to explain why God did not protect the nation. In this paper, it is expected to find out the connection between human faith, religion, and geopolitics, using the doctrine of Augustine and the mandates of the Gospel.
An understanding of geopolitical terms is the first supportive argument to verify the position of Christians and their social responsibilities. Focusing on subjective and objective considerations, Sicherman defines geopolitics as a combination of natural resources and actual locations of people. In his work, Augustine underlined that Rome was the only civilization Christians knew at the moment of its fall, and it was evident that the resources, the land, and society turned out to be the main reason for the conquest. Christians were responsible for geopolitical changes in the world, but their intentions were based on logic and knowledge, not on selfishness and envy. Their goal was to find new areas for their development in different fields, and Rome was defined as the best available alternative.
Another perspective should be based on the Gospel and the lessons people could learn from the source. In Christianity, the image of Jesus was introduced through the prism of excessive love, forgiveness, and respect. Instead of being angry with people who betrayed him, Jesus was ready to forgive and give them his blessing. The same way was followed by Christians in their invasion to Rome. They did not want to punish or execute the locals because of their pagan religion. Polytheism had their deep roots that could be traced not in the fall of Rome but in the fall of men, in the Garden of Edem. Christians’ responsibility lied in the promotion of internal transformation and the acceptance of one God and one faith in respect to paganism.
Finally, the chosen video proved that Romans were not ready for invasion because of their deep beliefs and trust in their gods, and Christians found it necessary to show the weaknesses of the nation. After the decline of Rome, citizens, as well as invaders, were able to see that Roman gods never protected people, questioning the existence of this religion. Therefore, it was correct for Christians and other religious thinkers to define Christianity as the only acceptable religion that connected the world, salvation, and dependence on supreme power. While there were more than one religion and one God, it was always possible to doubt and distrust his power. If the representatives of one faith achieved success (like it happened to Christians) and another group of people (pagans) experienced failure, the latter’s God became weaker than the former’s one. Such contradictions and misinterpretations were not appropriate and caused constant rises and falls of nations.
In general, the main responsibility of Christians was the establishment of common religious rules and standards to strengthen people’s emotions and faith. Instead of trying to prove which religion or God had more powers, it was crucial to pay more attention to the geopolitical and social aspects. The Gospel contained general recommendations on how to behave and establish trustful relationships, and Augustine’s work showed why these guidelines were not enough, confirming the position of Christians as fair emancipators.
Bibliography
Black, Jeremy. Geopolitics and the Quest for Dominance. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2016.
“The Rise and Fall of Nations.” iTunes video, 8:57. Posted by Liberty University, Web.
It is hard to disagree that Christianity is a religion that spreads the message of forgiveness, kindness, care, unconditional love, and support for other people. One of the key purposes of Jesus Christ was to help poor, lonely, and hungry persons, and he tried to promote such an attitude towards those on the margins of society. This is one reason why Christianity was initially considered a religion for the poor, and for the same reason, it later became one of the most accepted and preferred teachings in the world (Standaert 2011). However, its popularity had both positive and negative effects on the essence of this religion. Overall, it is possible to say that, after Christianity became very popular, it has simultaneously continued to be a religion for the marginalized and also prevented the love, protection, and care for these people.
Defining Marginalized People
Before talking about the popularity of Christianity and its impacts on marginalized persons, it is necessary to define the latter. Generally, according to Chand, Nel, and Pelc (2017), marginalization may be defined as social exclusion or isolation of certain individuals or groups; this exclusion may happen due to various reasons. Marginalized people are those who experience discrimination, become humiliated, ignored, or avoided by others, and they typically get limited access to different services or resources like healthcare, education, or nutritious food (Chand, Nel, and Pelc 2017). For example, marginalized groups may include seniors, individuals with limited abilities, cultural or racial minorities, LGBT representatives, refugees or immigrants, women and children, and low-income families.
The Message of Jesus
As evident from the list of marginalized communities, it is impossible to completely exclude or ignore such people because, if united together, they represent the majority of the total population. However, individually, they face and have always faced many difficulties. When Jesus came to spread his teachings, one of his primary goals was to care for the poorest people and make them feel included and accepted (Priebe 2020). Therefore, he never divided individuals into the worthy and unworthy ones, trying to save all of them.
For example, Jesus Christ never denied the value of children. He encouraged society to welcome them, treat them in a better way, and pay more attention to their desires (Mark 10:14). Jesus insisted on the necessity for the richest to give their valuable belongings to the poorest: “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Mark 10:21). He also welcomed women by not avoiding and helping them (Luke 8:48). Finally, it is even more important that, unlike other people, Jesus Christ did not fear the lepers, and it may be seen in various parts of the holy texts that he healed the disabled people (Mark 1:41, Mark 10:52). Therefore, the very essence of Christianity is to support the marginalized individuals and communities and sacrifice one’s well-being to help them.
The popularity of Christianity: Impacts on the Marginalized
When Christianity became one of the most popular religions in the world, many people joined this teaching without truly understanding its essence. Nowadays, representatives of the marginalized communities are braver in revealing themselves and challenging the norms of society, which is why they face many obstacles (Standaert 2011). Despite the message of Jesus Christ and his promotion of unconditional love toward all people, some Christians consider themselves empowered to judge others based on their characteristics.
Prevention of Love and Protection
Negative impacts of the popularity of Christianity are explored by Hudnut-Beumler (2018) on the example of the LGBT community. As noticed by the author, “for conservative Christians in the South, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and now transgender persons have ‘chosen a lifestyle’ that amounts to rejecting God’s natural order of creation” (Hudnut-Beumler 2018, 215). Unlike centuries and even decades ago, modern times are more tolerant and accepting, which is why more and more people reveal their true gender or sexual identity. Consequently, they also face more oppression, and a major part of it comes from the Christians. The latter appeal to the teachings of Jesus and messages of God, and gay persons “bear up under that pressure while often holding on to the Christian faith that supposedly drives those who would exclude them” (Hudnut-Beumler 2018, 216). Consequently, Christianity stopped being a counterculture and became extremely popular, which made most of this religion’s followers forget the real idea behind the message of Jesus.
Another example is how many Christians avoid helping or even thinking about disabled people. This issue is studied by Longchar (2012); the author tries to answer the question of why are persons with disabilities underrepresented or absent in the modern Christian tradition? It is rather common for Christians nowadays to live their own lives, pray every Sunday, and never pay attention to the needs and devastating situations of disabled individuals (Longchar 2012). The possible answer is that precisely popularization of this religion has made it less genuine and sincere. Most Christians are only focused on their well-being, ignoring the message of Jesus; they want to be wealthy and desire to have political influence but still call themselves the followers of Christ (Longchar 2012). At the same time, the marginalized groups are not protected by Christianity anymore.
The religion of the Margins of Society
One would argue that not all Christians forget about the teachings of Jesus. Indeed, there are still those who follow the true message of Christianity and strive to help various marginalized individuals. For instance, while the majority of the representatives of this religion exclude LGBT persons, the genuine followers of Jesus welcome them, try to help, and spread the love (Hudnut-Beumler 2018). Additionally, many sincere charity organizations appeal to Christ’s message and ask ordinary people to support disabled or ill persons, as well as refugees (Hernandez 2021). Considering this information, it is fair to suggest that if more persons remember the teachings of Jesus and spread them around the world, it will be possible to support the marginalized populations in a more effective way.
Conclusion
To draw a conclusion, one may say that the issue under discussion is rather controversial and uncertain. On the one hand, it is good that the teachings of Jesus Chrisy have been spread around the world, and more and more people can accept them. On the other hand, not all of these persons truly know the essence of Christianity – some of them simply refer themselves to this religion because it is popular to do so. Consequently, they cannot follow the message of Jesus and sincerely support and care for the marginalized groups. Thus, the popularity of Christianity has simultaneously extended the number of people following this teaching and loving those on the margins of society and made this religion more popularized and insincere.
References
Chand, Raghubir, Etienne Nel, and Stanko Pelc. 2017. Societies, Social Inequalities and Marginalization: Marginal Regions in the 21st Century. Berlin: Springer.
Hernandez, Elizabeth. 2021. Christ and the Marginalized: Bringing Refuge to the Broken. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Hudnut-Beumler, James. 2018. “Southern, Christian, and Gay.” In Strangers and Friends at the Welcome Table: Contemporary Christianities in the American South, 215-241. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
Longchar, Wati A. 2012. “Sin, Suffering, and Disability in God’s World.” In Disability, Society and Theology: Voices from Africa, edited by Samuel Kabue, Esther Mombo, Joseph Galgalo, and C. B. Peter, 47-58. Kenya: Zapf Chancery Publishers Africa Ltd.
Standaert, Nicolas. 2011. The Interweaving of Rituals: Funerals in the Cultural Exchange between China and Europe. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
The church is based on Jesus Christ as its central figure, whom Christians believe was God dwelling among humans around over 2000 years ago. The book of Acts provides a detailed account of the establishment and proliferation of the early church. From the previous gospels, the disciples of Jesus are seen to be under strict and constant training by their master Jesus Christ. Jesus’ ministry was characterized by often clashing with the elders and leaders of the Judaic religion that practiced and adhered to the laws of guidance given by Moses to the nation of Israel years back. The difference made Jesus and the disciples significantly differ from the religious leaders in charge of controlling the population. The leaders had the power to persecute, jail, torture, and even kill the minority followers of Christ and ultimately crucify Jesus. The book of Acts provides an accurate record outlining the beginning of the early church, the challenges it faced, and the spread to far regions of the world.
Discussion
After the death and ascension of Jesus to heaven, the disciples are pictured as frail, weak, and confused individuals since they had nobody to cover them among the crowd. Following the threats faced by the followers, they opted to hide for a duration of 40 days as per the instruction Jesus gave them. On several occasions, their master appeared to give them assurance based on their actions. This was after Jesus had died and resurrected on the third day as promised. The followers were stricken by the arrest and crucifixion of their master on the cross by the governing body. They found it challenging to cope with the pressure from their political leaders and spread the word of God that Jesus instructed them to continue preaching. During the ministry, Jesus Christ promised not to leave the disciples alone but to give a helper that would guide them in all aspects of their actions. The aide would strengthen them in the physical absence of Jesus among them to spread the gospel (Bradshaw, 2020). The main theme of the founders of the early church was the coming of the kingdom of God.
The disciples believed that they had to be twelve in number as per their masters’ standards therefore purposed to replace one of their own who died. Judas Iscariot betrayed their master to the religious leaders who wanted to kill Jesus for teaching against their beliefs in the Mosaic Law. They hated Jesus for being referred to as the Messiah because they thought the Lord would withdraw earthly power from them. After working together with the soldiers to arrest Christ, Judas was convicted and chose to commit suicide following the guilt of betraying the Lord. The disciples voted to decide on the person to replace Judas between Joseph, also called Barsabbas, and Matthias. They did not have the power to directly appoint the followers as Christ did. After casting the votes, they chose Matthias to become one of them (Smith, 2021). At this point, the church was weak and could not trust the disciples because they were unable to preach the gospel of God to the people accordingly.
The helper Christ had promised to send to the disciples after ascending to heaven came on the day of Pentecost. At the time, Israel was a cosmopolitan nation that acted as a link between three continents, namely Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the book of Acts 1:1-3, the Holy Spirit landed on them, and they started speaking in tongues that nobody could easily utter. This power to speak in tongues was accurate as they were heard by people from diverse tribes in the world speaking of the words of Christ in their native languages. It remains a mystery how they were able to comprehend different dialects ranging from African to Arabic and native European languages. The transition of the 12 disciples from ordinary Hebrew men to courageous healers and preachers caught the rabbis of the Mosaic Law by surprise. At this moment, the disciples were first involved in preaching at the synagogues.
Preaching, teaching, and performing miracles were common activities among the followers. Chapter three of the book of Acts introduced Peter and John, Disciples of Christ, walking into the temple and having an encounter with a disabled man that was a beggar. The person was seated at the entrance of a synagogue called the beautiful gate and was healed by using the name of Jesus. The cured man was amazed after receiving the healing and went ahead to mention that the name of Jesus made a miracle. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were unhappy about the information since they had told people not to mention anything about the power of Christ. The Bible accounts for the belief of around 3,000 men in a day. The miracles performed by the disciples were core drivers to strengthen the faith of the believers who existed during the foundation of the church. The government hated this ministry because the disciples became famous through the practices across the countries.
A man named Saul from Tarsus was among the students of the Mosaic Law. Saul spent most of his childhood studying in Jerusalem and realized that the teachings of the disciples did not match the content they learned. Saul was promoted to the Sanhedrin that was a senior council that had led to the crucifixion of Christ (Acts 8:1-2). It is understood that when it came to matters concerning the law, no person would challenge Saul. Furthermore, the individual hated the disciples and their teachings that revolved around Jesus as the Messiah, citing it as blasphemy.
Saul began persecuting Christians that trusted and belied Christ was their God. Furthermore, Saul initiated direct attacks on leaders of the Christians to prevent the gospel from spreading. The individual oversaw the death of Stephen, who became the first martyr in the history of the church. Disciples and other followers of Christ were intimidated and reduced the preaching they had begun. The man Saul, according to Acts1-3, persecuted Christians by taking them to prison. Saul supervised a prolonged period of deaths in the early church, especially in Jerusalem because it was the center of worship.
Saul embarked on a journey to Damascus to significant the persecution of early believers. The followers worshipped secretly in each other’s households, echoing the words of Jesus Christ to encourage one another. Saul, alongside others in the quest to end Christianity, experienced an extraordinary conversion. According to Acts chapter 9, “and as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?” Saul became blind for three days and gained sight while already in Damascus.
Saul’s name changed to Paul and became contrary to the expectations of many people, became a believer too. The individual continued teaching about Jesus to the gentiles and laid a strong foundation for the Christian generations to come. Although Paul never saw Christ during the ministry on earth, it is believed that Saul succeeded in meeting the glory of the Lord God and sat on the right-hand side. In addition, Saul became the disciple who ministered specifically to the gentiles all over the world. In the book of Acts 15, which was about 50 years AD, there was a crucial meeting to determine whether circumcision was necessary among those who had been converted. The early Christian faith had not made it clear if one needed to be circumcised to receive salvation. Peter tackled this issue with significant wisdom obtained from the Holy Spirit and explained that God did not judge people by flesh but by their hearts.
Paul realized that the Romans were against the teachings, which prompted the disciple’s migration to Macedonia. Paul traveled to Greece and preached to the gentiles located in that region. After which, the follower felt that there was limited time to preach the gospel of God and went to Troas. The individual had to speak to the early believers in the late hours of the night, and it happened that a man called Eutychus fell asleep during the teachings of the word of God. As recorded in the book of Acts chapter 20:8-12, the person fell from the third-floor window out of being tired and died. Paul performed a miracle in this town by holding the man and raising the person from death. Moreover, Paul proceeded to preach the word of God to different parts of the world. Paul spoke to elders at Ephesus, where the disciple had spent an extended period preaching the gospel mainly based on repentance. Paul bid farewell to them in an emotional way, encouraging them that the second coming of Christ was nearby.
Paul acted as the strongest disciple in steering the gospel by encouraging Peter and other disciples in their low times. It was clear to the early church that they would be opposed by the world. Christ had assured them that they would be hated because the world hated Jesus and the teaching of God. During the celebration of Passover in Jerusalem, Paul was tried before Festus following the actions and the spread of the word of God to the people. The follower was accused of many things by the Jews, which had no proof according to Acts 25. Festus consulted Agrippa, who tried Paul based on having committed crimes against Caesar and the Jews. While undergoing trial, Paul explained to the king about the calling that happened on the journey to Damascus.
Conclusion
In summary, early churches experienced a difficult moment in trying to lay a foundation for modern world Christianity. They mainly practiced sharing among themselves based on each other’s needs. It set a good example of the endurance of persecution, just like the way Paul and other disciples were prisoned. The believers were forced to worship in secret places to evade the opposition of the non-believers of Christ.
Every religion adopts its principles and practices that must be exercised by its believers. Islam is one of the common global faiths that is practiced in many countries. The religion has adopted five pillars which are considered obligatory acts of worship for all Muslims. Hadith of Gabriel summarizes the five pillars as observed in the Islamic religion. While the Sunni and Shia emphasize the pillars, Shia refers to them by different names. The Sunni lists the five pillars as Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawn, and Hajj. Meanwhile, the pillars of Shia Islam are the Twelvers and the seven pillars of Ismailism. Each of the five pillars of Islam serves a different purpose that strengthens the beliefs of the Muslims.
Shahada (Faith)
Faith is an essential ingredient among religious believers since it motivates them to do accepted acts before men and God. Shahada is the first pillar of Islam, meaning assertion of faith. In Islam, there are two Shahadas: “There is no god but God” and “Muhammad is the messenger of God” (Pschaida, 2022). The two Shahadas are normally expressed and recited in Arabic. The first Shahada promotes the monotheistic approach among Muslims. The Shahada is expressed through the Tawhid prayer, “no god but God”, asserting the unity of God as the existence source (Alves, 2021). The first Shahada is important since it encourages the worshipping of only one God.
Meanwhile, the second Shahada uses Muhammad as an example that should be imitated by the Muslims. Muslims believe that Muhammad was the recipient of distorted revelation by the Jewish and Christians, among other earlier communities (Alves, 2021). Additionally, Muhammad is the recipient and bearer of the Quran guidance among Muslims. The Shahada is recited five times a day and marks the important events in a Muslim life: birth and death. Therefore, the Shahada demonstrates the importance of prayer among Muslims from birth to death.
Salah (Prayer)
Prayer is considered a means of communication to God among Muslims and Christians. It is through prayers that believers seek God’s intervention during troubling and happy moments. Salah is the second pillar of Islam that allows them to make requests and thank God. Ablutions must be performed before observing Salah as a ritual among Muslims. Some of the ablutions include the washing of one’s feet, hands, and face. Muzzein chants aloud from a raised place in a mosque to alert the believers on prayer time. The Muslims must face Mecca when observing Salah, and do so five times a day. Each prayer time has a specifically designated name: Fajr for dawn, Dhuhr for noon, Aṣr for the afternoon, Maghrib for the evening, and Ishā for the night (Ali & Shah, 2021). Although prayers can be observed in any place, the Mosque is the preferred venue. Women on periods, prepubescent children, and mentally challenged people are disallowed to observe Salah.
Zakat (Almsgiving)
Charitable activities are crucial among various religious beliefs since they promote unity and sympathy. Zakat is the third pillar of Islam which indicates that almsgiving makes one’s family wealth legally and pure in religion (Muslim Aid, n.d.). The pillar encourages the believers to offer part of their wealth in support of the Muslim community. 2.5% of the wealth, is the set amount an individual should contribute to the community. Although the pillar is not found in the Quran, the hadith provides for the pillar. The offered wealth is used to promote Islamic activities such as taking good care of holy places and individuals who cannot afford basic needs. Zakat serves an important function of making an individual achieve balance and new growth (Muslim Aid, n.d.). Therefore, Zakat exhibits how the Islam influences financial situations of the believers.
Sawm (Fasting)
During Ramadan, the holy month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims fast. Sawn is the fourth pillar of Islam that prohibits the intake of any food or drink (Daldal et al., 2021). The pillar is expressly stated in the Quran: “eat and drink until the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night at dawn, then complete the fast till night” (Quran 2:187). The Quran recognizes three kinds of fasting which are ritual fasting, fasting as compensation for repentance, and ascetic fasting (Alves, 2021). Sawn is exercised by all Muslims who have reached puberty unless suffering from illness. Fasting is significant among Muslims since it allows them to seek nearness to God and express their gratitude to Him.
Hajj (Pilgrimage)
Hajj is the fifth pillar of the Islamic faith that requires them to make a pilgrimage journey to the holy Mecca. During Hajj the Muslims are required to wear only two white sheets for identification. Additionally, the ritual promotes equality, negating class distinction among Muslims. While men dress in a straightforward fabric, women wear clothes that are lesser complex than their ordinary dressing. The pillar is observed through main rituals of walking seven times around Kaaba, touching Istilam, traveling seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah, and symbolically stoning the devil in Mina (Elgammal & Alhothali, 2021). Hajj is important among Muslims since it serves as their devotion to God.
Salah (prayer) serves a significant role in the daily life of a particular Muslim. Just like any other believer, a Muslim depends on God for providence. Consequently, observing Salah during the day makes one closer to God. The first prayer, Fajr, is made in the dawn to thank God for the gift of life and another chance of waking up while healthy. Additionally, Fajr allows an individual to ask for God’s guidance during the day since the future is unpredictable. The guidance may include protection against enemies or action that could to temptation and consequent sin against God.
The individual observes Dhuhr at noon to thank God for the peaceful before noon activities. The prayer could also be a chance for the individual to seek forgiveness for the sins done. Thereafter, Aṣr is observed to praise God and seek guidance for the remaining part of the day. In the evening the individual makes Maghrib thank God for the successful day. Moreover, he could repent for any sin committed after the afternoon prayers. Finally, at night the individual observes Ishā thank God for providing during the day and keeping their families healthy. The night prayer is also an opportunity for the individual to pray for others and have a peaceful night.
Various Christian organizations serve in the Islamic context, obeying the practices of Muslims. Coptic Church in Egypt is one such organization that operates in a country that is dominated by Muslims. The church diverged from other Christian in the 5th Century due to their divided opinion on the nature of Christ (Tadros & Habib, 2022). The Coptic church operates on the principle that Christ had two natures: one human and one divine. Meanwhile, other Christians believe that Christ was fully human and fully divine. Therefore, the Coptic Christians have different beliefs from other Catholics. The Coptic church in Egypt observes the practices as taught in Saint Mark’s ministry. The church criticizes some of the five pillars of Islam.
Although expressed in different ways the Coptic church believes in the existence of one God, observation of prayers, charity, and fasting. Unlike the Muslims, who believe in Muhammad as the bearer of God’s prophecy, the Coptic church believes in Jesus Christ (Demichelis, 2021). With regards to the second pillar of Islam, the church does not perform prayers five times a day and there is no restriction on women in periods. For the third pillar, the Coptic church believes in almsgiving. However, there is no set percentage offering in the Coptic church. Meanwhile, the Copts observe fasting but do it for between 180 to 210 days out of the 365 days (Šebelová, 2021). The Copts do not perform the pilgrimage journey as done by the Muslims. Instead, they are involved in various missionary activities that promote their faith. Therefore, while the Copts and Muslims exhibit the five pillars of Islam, they take different approaches.
The Coptic Church in Egypt observes almsgiving as the Muslims do. The two denominations can utilize the third pillar of Islam, Zakat, to develop a relationship with the Muslims. Although the Copts have no specific percentage of their income that must be offered to God, they are actively invoked in Charitable activities. Some of the activities include helping the poor and the sick in the community. Meanwhile, the Muslims’ offerings are used in promoting the well-being of dysfunctional families among other activities prescribed in Zakat. The two believers can develop a united initiative that utilizes offering in support of the community. During the activity, the Muslims and Copts can interact and share their perspectives on denominational unity.
References
Ali, I., & Shah, M. W. (2021). Rejoicing the visual richness in mosque architecture in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Al-Duhaa, 2(02), pp. 41–54.
Alves, C. A. (2021). Muhammad Hamidullah on the Islamic theology of revelation: topics for a discussion on comparative theology. Caminhos de Diálogo, 9(14), pp. 84.
Daldal, E., Dagmura, H., Dasiran, F., Okan, I., & Bulbuloglu, E. (2021). Ramadan fasting increases socialization in patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy: An observational study. Obesity Surgery, 31(6), pp. 2576–2582.
Demichelis, M. (2021). Quranic Christology in late antiquity. ‘Isa ibn Maryam and his divine power (Energeia) in the Islamic revelation. Religions, 12(11), pp. 979.
Elgammal, I., & Alhothali, G. (2021). Towards green pilgrimage: A framework for action in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage, 9(1), pp. 39-57.
Pschaida, D. A. (2022). Review: Varieties of American Sufism: Islam, Sufi Orders, and authority in a time of transition. In E. Bazzano and M. Hermansen (Eds.). Nova Religio, 26(1), pp. 127–130.
Šebelová, M. (2021). Saints and tradition in Coptic Orthodox Christianity in Egypt. Religio: Revue pro Religionistiku, 29(1), pp. [3]32.
Tadros, M., & Habib, A. (2022). Who speaks for Coptic rights in Egypt today? (2013–2021). Religions, 13(2), pp. 183.
The Christian Identity Movement is a movement that includes the Anglo-Israelism, British Israelism, white supremacists, anti-Semitic, as well as other groups. This movement consists of “many extremely conservative Churches in Christianity, religious organizations, survival groups and political groups” (Brayton, 2009, para.3).
The adherents of this religious movement are followers as well as churches, which are slackly associated with a racialized doctrine. They believe in Jesus Christ and that he died for the houses of Israel and Judah only.
Therefore, people must receive salvation through both redemption and race for them to be accepted in the kingdom of Christ. The Islamist Movement on the other hand is a religious movement that also believes in God and do not believe in Christ. The Islamists hold that all political authority is God’s. Therefore, all their followers are obliged to create a political body that imitates their religious duty.
All these movements hide behind religion and use violence to impose and achieve their goals, which they consider as being morally right (Juergensmeyer, 2000). This paper compares and contrasts the two religious movements.
The Christian Identity movement believes that the world will someday end and that Christ will come the second time. In preparation for this, they believe in Armageddon, which is a war between God’s people, the white race and forces of evil. This, they consider, is part of the purification process required prior to Christ setting up his dominion on this world.
The Christian Identity groups also believe in interpreting the bible in a conservative way. Through this, they have condemned some actions in the society. Some of these are the practice of homosexuality and disallowing other members of other beliefs. They see the white race as the superior race. In addition, they consider them as true Israelites since they believe that they are the real descendants of Adam and Abel.
These people consider the other races to be satanic. These Christians believe that the original parents of this planet, Adam and Eve, were white. Therefore, these groups consider themselves the direct offspring of Adam and thus God’s chosen people. Many white supremacist groups adhere to these Christian Identity groups’ believes.
The Christian Identity Movement has both political as well as social aims and goals they want to achieve. From the legal aspect, the groups want to bring the American laws and legal system into harmony with the legalisms of the Bible (Cline, n.d.). They also support political aspirants who advocate for their course for them to gain political power. The Identity followers look forward to the day when the human law will cease to exist.
When the human law is in conflict with the divine law, these Christians disobey and resort to violence in order to avoid punishment. Further, the Christian Identity groups aim at forming religious groups that are insulated from the rest of the world.
What is more, they intend to set up groups that express the view that only the local political organizations are lawful. The aim of this is to justify their resistance against governmental actions and even involvement in violent resistance (Ferber, 2004). Beyond the law, these Identity groups’ aims are to overthrow the current governments and to establish religious nations.
Islamism is also a religion. Within Islamism, there are many movements, which take different forms and use different strategies and tactics to achieve their goals. With this, we understand that Islamism is not a united movement. The radical Islamic Movement is also a religious movement.
It also assumes a political function and claims that political supremacy belongs to God. As a result, the movement believes that it has a religious obligation to lead the people in politics and even in their social and personal life. They believe that it is a religious duty of a Muslim to create a political body that shows people that Shari’ah is supreme to the state law.
The movement is militant in nature, believes in, and wages war (Jihad) against anybody who disagrees with its principles. They do all this anticipating to one-day control the world (Emerson, 2002, p. 2).
Like the Christian Identity Movement, the Islamic movement also has its own aims and goals to achieve. The Muslims believe on their law, Shar’iah as the supreme law of God and consider it superior to the state laws. They therefore struggle to replace state laws with their Shar’iah laws (Grant, n.d.). They also perform a political function and aim to take control of the political arena.
The Islamic Movement group supports and campaigns for their political candidates to secure top seats in governments as a means of achieving their goal. This group also aims at controlling the world. Due to this desire, they engage in war with anybody or any nation, which is against them. This has made the Islamic Movement to be associated with many terrorism activities in many parts of the world.
The common goal in the two movements is to have nations of the world governed by religious laws instead of state laws. They both want to do away with state laws. The groups are also not only religious but also political. They seek support from other people in order for them to succeed in their political life.
They also struggle to form some states, which are religiously governed. These religious groups use violence to achieve their goals while using religion to give them a moral justification for their actions (Juergensmeyer, 2000).
Both groups are likely to form alliances with the anti-U.S. transnational groups. This is because the groups need a lot of collaboration and support socially, politically and financially in order for them to succeed. The Islamist groups are most likely to form alliances with the anti U.S. transnational groups. This is because the Islamist movement is more aggressive and targeted most by the America’s anti terrorism operations.
In order to achieve their goal, they also need the financial assistance, which will make them to seek for alliances. The Christian movements have been also observed to relax and not get too much involved in these terrorism activities as much as the Islamist Movements.
There are also many Muslim groups targeted by the United States of America due to terrorism and would be willing to form alliances in order to weaken the efforts of the America’s anti terrorism.
In conclusion, there are many religious groups, which get involved in terrorism activities while hiding behind religion to give them moral justification of their wrongdoing. These religious groups also resort to violence a means of avoiding punishment after going against the state laws.
Most of these religious groups see their religious laws as superior to the state laws and therefore strive to impose the religious law in governing nations.
Because some of these religious laws conflict with those of other religions, the religious groups are also prone to rise against each other violently in order for them to impose their own laws. The Muslims believe in holy fight called Jihad and commit to fight it at all costs to impose their faith on people and to eliminate their enemies.
Reference List
Brayton, E. (2009). Another UD Post Disappears. Science Blogs LLC. Web.
Money is actually the most complex phenomenon ever understood by man because of its “miraculous nature”. Some folks also argue that money is the root cause of all evil but I will also argue that lack of money is also root of all evil from a moral point of view. Money is life since money can give almost everything.
Who said that money is not life? Money is life since the time you get money which is enough you feel more alive than when you have nothing. Am not amoral but realistic. Luxuries, happiness, and good food just to name a few are all about me. Actually I subscribe to the school of thought which argues that money “talks” (Hartman, & DesJardins, 2010).
Money in relationship to Christian faith has been very much contentious with some followers arguing that money is evil since it led to crucifixion of Jesus Christ the Messiah who was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. Attitude about money since history and also the contemporary world dissent in a great way and this leads to polarization. Monks of the mediaeval age consecrated poverty so much but today, there are a lot of prosperity preachers preaching about sawing seeds because the love money and they do not even deny this fact.
Matters of money and affluence are very much conspicuous but superfluous in the Christian realm. Although the scripture is very much clear about the dangers of riches Christians proclaim wealth as being a blessing from God. The same scripture also gives clarity on the issue wealth since wealth may not be a ticket to heaven since even the wicked flourish with wealth hence debacles of money are stupendous.
The attitude of the early church about money was quite different because of the dogmatic anticipation of the Lord’s return. If anybody has to meet his maker then even the World Bank will lose value and meaning in consequence the early church did not struggle so much with the themes they did not understand.
Virtue ethics in relation to the use of money and the corporate social responsibility has a characteristic of contemporary virtue ethicists. Virtue ethics argues that any action taken is right only if that action could be done by the most righteous people on earth given the same circumstances that led to the dispensing of that very action.
To my understanding about virtue ethics, what it claims may not really be distinguished since as it appears it is next to a cliché. The disparity connecting those who practice righteousness and virtue ethicist like me is positioned in how the claimed manner is read.
The notion of right and wrong or the righteous and wicked in relation to expend of workers in the industries and money is quite fundamental since how can you keep unproductive worker only because you are being virtuous? Virtuous agents only use truism in satisfaction of their imminent ideas and concepts (Hartman, & DesJardins, 2010).
Some people may argue that something is right only if that action leads to utility maximization hence without utility maximization which is a desire in most of the corporate world then action is inadmissible. Hence the definition of an agent who is virtuous is totally deficient. As a president of the Viacom which is failing I would do anything to revamp the company’s worth in the stock market.
I do not agree with the ideas of Sharon about keeping the employees who cannot deliver since they do not have any incentive to deliver on. The company is in doldrums and on the blink of collapsing. Even if the analysts argue that am trying to lay off the company workers so as to invest in machines, if that is good for the company then I think it is virtuous to do the right thing in order to salvage the company than retain workers and our stock is fixed and reducing in value.
Employees do not invest in companies but it is the company that invests in the employees hence the employees are required to do their best and be enterprising so as to make sure that the company is rejuvenating from its continuous loses.
Am not thinking of laying out employees so as to frustrate them but as a president, if you lay down strict policies on the terms of performance and you include laying off as an alternative to non performing workers, then I strongly think that all workers will put the interest of the company first.
As a president whatever step I take on matters of policies righteousness should be thought out well since in respect of virtue ethics, what am doing is right for the company and if it fails, I will have failed also hence need to be laid off by the company and employ another president who can perform and deliver for the sake of the company. For any business to perform well, market changes in terms of competition must be mitigated within the changes in the industry and also the company (Hartman, & DesJardins, 2010).
Almost all corporations have policies and there are usually yearly reports that show the progress of the corporate whether it is failing or succeeding and the reports are usually detailed. So as a president of Viacom, which caliber of report am I going to give? Laying off non performing workers is not an adequate solution but we also have competitors who will not like to see as advancing since we exist in a free market economy. Defining what is “socially responsible” contentious hence mostly arguable.
Corporations make part of the beau monde and the impacts of such organization to the society should be thought of very critically. First before anybody condemns my action as the president of the Viacom, you should ask yourself what will happen to the society if the company falls. And what will happen to the society if an individual who is unproductive is laid off.
There is nobody in the corporate world that will take social responsibility without having a thought of accumulating maximum profits to the company which actually matters most. I would also dare and ask, if I keep fifteen employees of Viacom and there are no profits and the company is liquidated how those employees will survive without the company.
In conclusion, incorporation of the theories in ethics and Christian moral teaching about money and the corporate world which has to do mostly with social responsibility, is quite difficult but in case of a company failing in its output there are so many issues that are supposed to be addressed and if at all the problems are identified, analyzed and implemented then the company will stand out benefit.
Reference
Hartman, L., & DesJardins, J. (2010). Business Ethics: Decision-Making for Personal Integrity & Social Responsibility (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
Christianity and Islam are some of the most influential religions in the world. However, the history of the spread of these religions is rather insightful and encapsulates various complications and important events. While some parts of the world continued supporting those beliefs, others did not. The following text will review a similarity between the spread of the two religions, a difference and how they changed in the process.
Christianity has a significantly longer history than Islam. The former was first developed in the 1st century CE by Jesus of Nazareth, while Islam dates back to approximately the 7th century with the help of the prophet Muhammad (Denova, 2022; History.com Editors, 2022). He was declared to be the messiah by his supporters and became well-known due to his miracles. After the death (and later, resurrection) of Jesus Christ, one of his disciples, Paul, continued his mission by spreading the religion all over the world.
There was one similarity regarding how the two religions were being spread from their places of origin. During the first years, Christianity and Islam relied on one influential prophet who would spread the word of God and Allah to the people. For the Muslims, it was Muhammad who preached the beliefs to the world, having received a message from Gabriel. Meanwhile, Christians had Jesus, who became renowned for his miracles and impactful religious sermons.
However, there are some differences in the events related to the spread of those religions. For example, as a result of the ongoing persecution, Muhammad’s supporters immigrated to Yahrib. The followers later planned an act of retribution against those who oppressed them (Khan, 2019). This event led to the Battle of Badr, which was triggered by raids on Arabian caravans and brought victory to Muhammad’s supporters. This made the latter a military force that was not to be silenced. Six years after the battle, Mecca was passed to the Muslims and Mohammad provided those who surrendered with an amnesty, as they would later convert to Islam.
Meanwhile, Christians would bring petitions to emperors, which were declined until 313 CE. They did not experience military conflicts due to their actions; however, they were blamed for every misfortune that Romans faced. However, the situation took a shift when Constantine had a vision of the Christian cross prior to the Battle at the Milvian Bridge. The emperor then thanked the deity for winning the conflict with Maxentius. This led to the publication of the Edict of Milan, which became the first step to the further spread of Christianity.
One of the main causes for the change in beliefs of Christianity was disagreement in the interpretation of God and Jesus. For example, Jesus Christ was temporarily demoted to God’s subordinate in the 4th century. This happened due to the conflict between the perception of the former and the latter. Worshipping Christ as a deity was rather contradictory to God’s role. According to them, since God formed the universe, He would later create Jesus as well. However, in 325 CE, it was decided in the First Council of Nicea that the Lord and Christ were identical in essence.
Christianity’s split into two branches is known as The Great Schism. It took place in 1054 and was caused by religious and political disagreements. There were arguments about whether it was right to use unleavened bread for communion or not and if clerics should remain celibate (National Geographic Society, 2022). Constantinopole’s disagreement with Rome’s belief that the Pope should control the Patriarch resulted in the split into Catholicism and Orthodoxy.
Regarding Islam, the religion witnessed a split into two branches due to differences in opinions and interpretations. The belief was divided into the Sunni and Shia branches. The separation was caused by disagreements regarding Muhammad’s future successor. The former thought it should be Umar and Uthman, while the latter suggested Ali. Moreover, Sunnis viewed imams as a guide into Islam, while Shia Muslims viewed them as the link between humans and Allah. Thus, these separations had a great impact on Christianity and Islam.
References
Denova, R. (2022). Christianity.World History Encyclopedia. Web.