Religion and Theology

This is a critical look at the counseling theory proposed by Dr. Sandra Wilson about counseling in her book Hurt People Hurt People. It takes a literal look into the Christian perspective on counseling and the hurt people hurt people concept. Her argument is based on the premise that family shapes every aspect of ones life in how children model their parents behavior and how these family relationships can form the basis of our future relationships. An unhealthy relationship breeds formation of unhealthy...

Yoga is now a popular spiritual practice not only in the West but also in many other parts of the world.  It has helped millions improve not only their physical health but also their spiritual life.  Much of this has to be credited to Paramahansa Yogananda who introduced Yoga to the West in the early 20th century.  But Yoganandas practice would also not have been perfected if it were not for the influence of others.  These influential people include Sri Yukteswar Giri, Sri Anandamayi...

In his book, Reaching out The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life, Nouwen (1997) divides up the believers path into three stages (1) reaching out to ones self (2) reaching out to the human community and (3) reaching out to God.  In the first stage, the Christian is utterly lonely before he or she finds solitude.  At this level it is easy to hear the voice of God within ones heart.  From this point, the believer can start reaching out to fellow human beings, as his or her heart has...

Entwistle (2004) writes about the integration of psychology and Christianity in his book, Integrative approaches to Psychology and Christianity An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration.  According to the author, it is essential to appreciate both the Word of God through which Christian faith is birthed, and the works of God manifested as mankind on earth.  Thus, science and religion must necessary integrate as God is the author of all truth...

This paper is a presentation of the contrast in the beliefs of Calvin, Luther and Zwingli concerning the meaning of the Lords Supper. The introduction provides the definition of the Lords Supper, otherwise referred to as the last supper. There is also the background on the origin of the Lords Supper. The paper proceeds to discuss the contrasts in the views and arguments of the three reformists on the meaning of the Lords Supper. The paper begins with the beliefs and arguments of Martin Luther, then...

The words love, loving kindness and Mercy are used synonymously in the bible. Through the bible we find that the words illustrate the relationship between God and Man, Man to Man and Man to Angels. Loving kindness as an act or covenant represents a level of deep trust and dependence on the parties concerned. In the following paragraphs I explore the different representations of the words Love, Loving Kindness and Mercy as expressed in the NIV and KJV. Gen 1919 (NIV) Your servant has found favorhave...

Modernity, which some date from the French Revolution and from the revolutionary war in North America, put reason not religion at the center. Both revolutions resulted in political systems that separated religion from the state. Both saw government as belonging to the people, to citizens who have the right to rule themselves. Freedom of belief, speech and thought were asserted as rights. Democracy, especially secular, liberal democracy, is often regarded as a by-product of modernity. Much has been...

In the world today so many Christian scholars and ordinary people find themselves asking very critical questions about evil. Every second, every minute, every hour and every day evil happens to every person and in different ways. In fact, every person experiences evil within himself and around himself.  In this regard, evil is an inevitable reality in the world of humans and something that she must learn to live with in life. A good reflection on evil brings about the notion of imperfection...

The historical background of Thessalonica was originally an ancient town named Thermani, meaning Hot Springs.  In due course, it became a city with a significant role because of its strategic location. Cassander, the Macedonian king, established the city in 315 B.C. and named it after his wife, who was the half-sister of Alexander the Great. By the time of the Roman Empire, it became the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia, and it stood on the Via Egnatia, the Roman highway heading eastward....

Among major religious traditions of the world, belief in the feminine divine is especially prominent in the Indic family. What follows mainly explores the role of the feminine divine in Hinduism but touches on how Buddhism and Sikhism also possess strands honoring the feminine. Tracing the origin of the feminine divine to the Indus Valley civilization (3,000  1, 500) BCE, it will be seen that although the Vedic period (1,500 to 600 BCE) saw less emphasis on feminine aspects, even the development...