Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #9: The Incarnation of God

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #9: The Incarnation of God: "After viewing 'The Nativity Story', analyzing your chosen Christmas carol, and reading Philippians 2:1-7, reflect on the meaning of Christma..."

The Christmas carol ‘Joy to the World’, by Isaac Watts, is derived from Psalm 98 in the Bible. This carol, interesting enough is filled with direct references to Christ and his life. ‘Joy to the World’ is referring to the end of the age during Christ’s triumphant return. Some also refer to this as Isaac using ‘Joy to the World’ to symbolize Christ’s actual birth in Bethlehem. Isaac also included, “Let earth receive her king”. Of course, her refers to the earth, however, it also refers to the mother, Mary.

Many have different opinions/belief to the question, why would jesus come to earth as a baby? However, I believe jesus did this because he wanted to prove that he was a mortal like every single one of us.

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #8 Islam: Two Perspectives

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #8 Islam: Two Perspectives: "Find where Islamic religious beliefs intersect with current events. Research a Western news source on the story and summarize the article fr..."

On December 6^th, by accident, an Israel boy started a forest fire in Northern Israel. He admitted that he was smoking a water pipe at the time with his friends, threw the coals out, realized that a fire was starting, so he ran to school without doing or saying anything. This resulted in 41 lives being lost, over 10,000 acres of forest being burnt, all around one of the major cities of Israel, Haifa. Israel fire fighters are still on stand-by as over 17,000 people were evacuated from their homes.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/12/06/israel.forest.fires/index.html

The only major difference between the CNN article and the Aljazeera article is when they explained who started the fire; it went from being a group of boys smoking a water pipe, to a family leaving embers from a picnic. However, in the CNN article, they failed to include that Israel was very underprepared for the fire.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/12/201012672042314502.html

Modern Religious Experience: Personal Commemoration- Reflection #7

Modern Religious Experience: Personal Commemoration- Reflection #7: "Think of an event in your life- past, present or future. You are going to create a commemorative ritual for this event. First, describe the ..."

Commemorative Event-

Every year, on November 11, my family and I come together to commemorate my birthday. Even though we do this same commemoration for all our loved ones or the ones we care about, it is most important for the person who is being commemorated. On this special day, I am the center of attention. Even though I don't always like this, it feels as though November 11th belongs to me and only me.

People start spamming my facebook wall with "Happy Birthday!", starting from 12:01pm, and not ending till a couple days later. However, these birthday wishes are not the most important ones, the important ones come from your family members who make you feel as though you are the most important person in the world on that particular day.

Being that my mothers birthday is on November 15th, we collaborate by having a birthday dinner. At this dinner, we sing 'Happy Birthday'. There are various versions of this song, but the western society normally sings it like this;

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday dear Charlie!

Happy Birthday to you!

And of course, the favorite part of the day; presents. As I've grown older, the amounts of presents I receive have subsides, however, it stills feel as good as it did all those years back. When opening presents, I've always learnt to be well behaved, especially when there are friends around. First, I must open the cards first, read them aloud and pretend that I am thinking about the individuals, even though I am really just thinking about what is wrapped up in the package. Following the card, I then open the present slowly, making it seems as though I am respecting how they've carefully wrapped the present. After the present is open, you must thank the giver and give them a big hug. Tedious this may seem, but it always makes for an even better present the following year.

:)

Modern Religious Experience: The Morality of Greek Myths- Reflection #6

Modern Religious Experience: The Morality of Greek Myths- Reflection #6: "The Creation of Seasons: Demeter and PersephoneFor this reflection, upload a picture that represents your character in the Greek myth you pr..."

I choose Hermes, not because I am an amazing savior, but because his character displays an enormous amount of leadership.

In the skit that my group performed, Hades, the god of the underworld captures Persephone, the daughter of Demeter. Hades takes Persephone to the underworld, where he intends to rule with her by his side. After Demeter becomes aware that Hades has taken his daughter, he orders Hermes to go and retrieve the daughter. Hermes successfully retrieves Persephone, but all realize that Hades has tricked Persephone into eating poisonous pomegranate seeds, which force her to stay in the underworld for 7 months of the year.

The morals that can be extracted from this story are endless. However, there is one that seems to be more prominent than others; to always have your guard up. A moral that can be connected to the Greeks through the understanding of this story is that they were trusting, but yet intelligent people. Even when something bad happened, they came together to help one another with the issue; like Hermes did.

One could learn that you should never lower your guard to someone, even your family when you are unsure of something. Always be careful when trusting others. You can never be sure of anything until proven otherwise.

Modern Religious Experience: The Morality of Greek Myths- Reflection #6

Modern Religious Experience: The Morality of Greek Myths- Reflection #6: "The Creation of Seasons: Demeter and PersephoneFor this reflection, upload a picture that represents your character in the Greek myth you pr..."

HERMES

Modern Religious Experience: Quarter 1 Art Project

Modern Religious Experience: Quarter 1 Art Project: "Eastern Religions Display Art ChoiceDue: October 22nd1. Choose one of the art forms we discussed in class coming from either: Buddhism, Co..."

Buddhism – The Buddha

The first Buddha was found in the 12^th century in a deep pit in China. Not till many years after was it that they determined the Buddha’s were over six hundred years old. This might stand as justification for the true origins and how far this religion dates back.

The reason for choosing a Buddha to draw was simple; it is what comes to ones mind when thinking about Buddhism. However, not all know the true meaning behind a Buddha. Interestingly enough, there is much more to the simple Buddha than one might realize. In fact, every little piece of a Buddha represents an aspect of the Buddhist religion.

Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is the spiritual teacher from ancient India. He is the one responsible for bringing Buddhism to Northern India and introducing it to become a worldwide religion. However, what is Gautama Buddha remembered through today? That’s simple, once you look at a Buddha, you should instantly think of him.

Every Buddha that you ever might see, you are looking at Gautama Buddha. More importantly however, it represents the “Enlightened one”. The “Enlightened one”, being the idol of all Buddhists; to follow with complete truth, the “Four Noble Truths, and the “Eight Fold Path”.

When you look at a Buddha, you notice that it might not seem happy or sad; instead, it seems neutral, careless almost. This is because the Buddha also symbolizes the Buddhist belief system; that Buddhism is so heavily concentrated on and concerned about the system of suffering.

Something that is also very unique this particular painting is the skin “texture”. The skin is very smooth, representing a nirvana-like state. This state is when one individual has succeeded in following the eight-fold path, and the four noble truths. All Buddhist strive to do this, however, some are never able to. In this case, the Buddha represents what all wish to be; almost like their motivation.

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #5: Bongwonsa Temple and Nature Walk

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #5: Bongwonsa Temple and Nature Walk: "After visiting the Zen Buddhist Temple, Bongwonsa and attempting to see nature as a Taoist, answer this question: What is it about creation,..."

Bongwonsa Temple Reflection

Many people follow a religion because that’s all they’ve known since being born. An individuals mind is filled with the same ideas over and over again because of another one belief. Does this mean that their belief is not truly genuine? No, of course not, but it does mean that ones is influenced by another. That other however, did truly believe in the religion enough to pass it onto to others. So, what made that other devotes his/her life to such a religion? Being that there is no physical benefit to believing in a religion, other than the common moral that ones acceptance into some societies involved belief.

Believing in a certain religions may allow you to believe certain things throughout your life; worshipping a superhuman god, ideas between science and religion, and beliefs about life after death. All of these aspects bring an individual closer to the true meaning of their religion; whether that is nirvana, enlightenment, or happiness.

In Buddhism, individuals meditate to bring themselves closer to a “true self”. They belief that by meditating, following an eight fold path, and the four noble truths, that they can reach a form of enlightenment, and finally reaching nirvana. This is a small example out of the Buddhist religion as to why one might devote them to a religion. However, all religions give individuals reasons to follow them.