Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Parson

2007-09-25T04:49:44Z

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A parson is a [[Protestant]] (especially [[Anglican]]) parish priest who presides over his congregation. He typically lives in a rectory or parsonage adjacent to the church.

[[category:christianity]]

Index of Forbidden Books

2007-09-25T04:48:46Z

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The '''Index of Forbidden Books''' ([[Latin]]: ''Index Librorum Prohibitorum'') was a list of books established by the [[Council of Trent]] (1545-1563 AD) in order to guard Catholics against publications deemed unsuitable (for example, having content that was considered [[heretic]]al or immoral). Catholics were not allowed to read these books.

Since [[1966]], under [[Pope Paul VI]], the list no longer has force of [[canon law|law]], although the ''moral'' authority of the list was reaffirmed by the [[Vatican]]. The last published list dates from [[1948]].

Notable writers whose works appeared on this Index include [[Francis Bacon]], [[John Calvin]], [[Rene Descartes|René Descartes]], [[Karl Marx]] and [[Voltaire]].<ref>[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/indexlibrorum.html Modern history sourcebook], Fordham University</ref>

<references/>

[[category:history]]
[[category:christianity]]

Trent

2007-09-25T04:47:38Z

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'''Trent''' is a city in Italy that is the site of the famous ''[[Council of Trent|general council]]'' which was held in response to the Protestant [[Reformation]]. The city is noted for public baths, fed by underground hot springs, used since Roman times.

[[category:christianity]]
[[category:italy]]

Evangelical Covenant Church

2007-09-25T04:46:12Z

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From the '''Evangelical Covenant Church''' website:

"The Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) is a rapidly growing, multi-ethnic denomination in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] with missionaries on five continents of the world. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the ECC values the [[Bible]] as the Word of [[God]], the gift of God's grace and ever-deepening spiritual life that comes through faith in [[Jesus Christ]], the importance of extending God's love and compassion to a hurting world, and the strength that comes through unity within diversity."

Denominational website: [http://www.covchurch.org]

[[category:christianity]]

Matthias the Apostle

2007-09-25T04:45:11Z

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[[Image:St. Matthias Apostle.jpg|left]]
'''Matthias the Apostle''' (Saint Matthias in [[Catholic]] and [[Orthodox Church| Orthodox]] traditions) was the Apostle chosen to replace the traitor [[Judas Iscariot]].

After [[the Ascension]] of [[Jesus]] into [[heaven]], the Disciples and the family of Judas went up to Jerusalem where they prepared to pick a new disciple to take the place once held by Judas. Matthias was not an original Apostle, but was had been with [[Jesus]] from his baptism by [[John the Baptist]] to his ascension and one of the seventy disciples who had been sent out during Jesus' ministry. Matthias and Barsabas ''(St. Joseph of Barsabas)'' were both worthy of the honor as men who had been with Jesus from the start. Through praying together to God and asking Him to guide the process, the Disciples cast lots and the lot fell to Matthias to become the 12th Apostle. (Acts 1:21-26)

Matthias is not mentioned again in the [[New Testament]]. One tradition has him preaching in Ethiopia and there being [[martyr|martyred]].

'''Feastday''': February 25, May 14.

== Prayer ==

''Saint Matthias, pray that we may become worthy witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus in the way we live the eternal life we have right now.''

==See also==

*[[The Twelve Apostles]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5 Saint Matthias Apostle] Catholic Online.
*[http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintm17.htm MATTHIAS the Apostle]

[[Category:Biblical persons]]
[[category:12 Disciples]]

Ichthus

2007-09-25T04:44:25Z

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'''Ichthus''' is a [[Greek]] word (ΙΧΘΥΣ) that was used in ancient times to represent [[Christianity]] when it was illegal to be a Christian. It is an acronym that stands for "Jesus Christ, Son Of God, Saviour" (Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ). Since "ichthus" is the Greek word for fish, the fish became a symbol for [[Christ]], much like the cross, as seen on the popular fish magnets on cars. The [[Ichthus Festival]] is a Christian [[rock music]] festival that takes its name from the anagram.

[[category:christianity]]

Bible history

2007-09-25T04:43:06Z

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Bible history is simply history from the vantage point of the [[Bible]]. More specifically, it is history from the vantage point of [[God]]. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth..." (Genesis 1:1).

Bible history can be segmented into three periods:

==The Patriarch period==
This would span the time of [[Adam]] until [[Moses]] ([[Genesis]] 1 - [[Exodus]] 19). The Patriarch period can be subdivided even further. a) Adam through Terah (Abraham's father). Genesis 1-11. This would cover a period of time equal to about 2,500 years. During the approximate time frame notable event of history occurred. To begin (no pun), there was creation. In six days, God created heaven and earth (Genesis 1). From a strictly biblical point of view, the general theory of evolution is not compatible. The biblical record is clear that God is the originator of life and kind comes after its own kind (Genesis 1:11-12, 21-25, 28). Shortly after creation, with Adam and [[Eve]] in the [[[Garden of Eden]], sin entered the world with Adam and Eve's choice to partake of the fruit God expressly forbade them to take (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-7). Sin is the result of man's freedom of choice to disobey God (cf. 1 John 3:4). God cast out the couple from the Garden and from that time forth man lived off the ground (Genesis 3:14-24). After Adam, the next notable character is Noah. Noah was one who was righteous in the sight of the Lord (Genesis 6:9). God told Noah to build an ark (something similar to a barge, rectangular box) large enough to take animals upon it to preserve life. This Noah did and life was preserved (Genesis 9:1-17). It was also during this time that God brought about variety in human languages. In Shinar (generally thought to be the same as Babylon), man's arrogance resulted in the Lord bringing confusion to the people. They were unable to communicate since they were unable to speak the same language (Genesis 11:1-9). b) Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph: Genesis 12 - 50. This would cover a period of time than 5oo years. Abraham was the great patriarch of the Israelite nation - though he himself was not an Israelite. Abraham was from the Mesopatamia region (the area of present day Iraq) when called called him to leave his homeland and go to a land God would tell him (Genesis 12:1). Abraham did and the Lord blessed him with much wealth. More than the wealth, it was Abraham's faith that is of great significance (Genesis 15:6). Abraham lived to be 175 years of age, exactly 100 years older than his son of promise, Isaac (Genesis 25:7). Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah. Not much is recorded about him in Scripture except that God considered him a faithful man who lived to be 180 years old (Genesis 35:28). From Isaac came two boy, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the first born (by mere moments). God, probably through Abraham, told Isaac that two sons would be born to him and Rebekah (Genesis 25:23). For the first sixty years of their life together the two sons struggled with one another. One one occasion, Jacob took by deceit from Esau his firstborn right (Genesis 27). However, as deceitful as this was, the Scripture do not look with sympathy upon Esau because he profaned (lightly regarded it) his birthright (Hebrews 12:16-17). Though Jacob did wrong to his brother, nevertheless, the Lord brought through the line of Jacob the Israelite people (Genesis 28:10-17). In fact, Jacob's name was changed to "Israel" (Genesis 32:22-32). To Jacob (Israel) was born twelve sons. One son rose to prominence through unfortunate circumstances, Joseph (Genesis 37-41). Because of famine in the land of Canaan, Joseph brought his father and his family down to Egypt and for the remainder of Jacob's and Joseph's life, the Israelites prospered and grew to a mighty number (Genesis 42-50). c) Israel in Egyptian slavery through two-thirds of Moses life: Exodus 1 - 19. This would cover a period of time equal to about 80 years. After Joseph's death (uncertain how long this would have been), a new king in Egypt arose who held no regard for Joseph and the Israelite people (Exodus 1:8-14). From this time until when Moses was born and nearly two-thirds of his life was over, the Israelites were in Egyptian bondage.

==The Mosaic period==
This would span the time of Moses until the death of [[Christ]] (Exodus 20 - John 21). The Mosaic period is the period of time in which the Law of Moses (Exodus 21 - Deuteronomy), as a codified law, was in force and directed a people of Israel. The law specifically applied to the Israelite people. Non-Israelites were not amenable to the Law's instruction. This period of time covered about 1,450 years. The Mosaic time period is rich with both God's blessings upon the people and His judgment against them. The historical narrative books of this time period would be Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Exra, Nehemiah, and Esther. About 1000 years are covered in these books. Joshua was Moses' servant. When Moses died, the Lord identified Joshua as his replacement.

After Moses death, Joshua became Israel's leader and prosecuted war against the inhabitants of Canaan. Those who dwelt in Canaan were idolators and some of that worship consisted of human sacrifices. In this prosecution, there was corruption. The Lord told them to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan, but they did not (cf. Joshua 17:13). This turned out to be a continual thorn in Israel's side. The period of the Judges was a period of time when Israel had no single leader, but judges who were also prophets. Some notable judges would be Gideon (Judges 6-8), Samson (Judges 13-16), Eli and Samuel (1 Samuel 1-9). The High Priest under the Law of Moses would be the closest single representative of God. Apart from him, Samuel might be the most well known and respected judge.

In the period of Samuel, Kings, and the Chronicles, kings reigned. Three noteworthy kings in Israel's history would be Saul, David, and Solomon. King Saul was Israel's first God ordained king. Saul, however, was not loyal to God (1 Samuel 15). Consequently, the Lord chose a man "after his own heart" (I Samuel 13), that man was David. David was a young man when the Lord gave him the throne (30 years of age) and he reigned 40 years (1 Kings 2:11). Solomon, David's son, reigned in his place and he, too, reigned 40 years (1 Kings 11:42). It was under the reign of Solomon that the Lord said the kingdom of Israel would be split into two unequal (in size) parts (1 Kings 11:11, 31). At this point in Israel's division there was Judah (also known as the southern kingdom) and Israel (also known as the northern kingdom). Israel did not have any loyalty to the Lord. Israel's first king (also known as Jeroboam I) was motivated by fear to establish a false religion of idolatry (1 Kings 12). Each king after him perpetuated this idolatry. Ultimately, the Lord had enough of this and sent them into Assyrian captivity (2 Kings 17). Some of the notable kings in Israel's history would be Jeroboam (1 Kings 12-14), Omri (1 Kings 16), Ahab (1 Kings 16-22), and Jehu (2 Kings 9-10). Judah, on the other hand, was a confused kingdom. There was loyalty to the Lord, but not by every king. Because of their confusion in who to serve, the Lord sent them into Babylonian captivity (2 Kings 24-25). This was for a period of 70 years (2 Chronicles 36:21). Some notable kings of Judah (from the Lord's perspective) would be: Asa (1 Kings 15), Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22), Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-20) and Josiah (2 Kings 22-23).

After the period of Babylonian captivity, the Lord's promise to Judah was realized. The books of Ezra records the Persian king's (Cyrus) decree for the people's of the land to repopulate their homelands. For the Jews, about 50,000 went back (Ezra 2).

==The Christian period==
This would span the time of the Lord's commission to the apostles (Mark 16:15) until He returns again (1 Corinthians 15:20-29). The lord commissioned the apostles to preach the gospel to the whole creation, that is, they were to take the gospel message to a lost creation. They were to start, first, in Jerusalem and then go to Judea, Samaria, and ultimately into the further parts of the world (Acts 1:8). By the time of the seventh decade, the gospel had gone to "all the world" (Colossians 1:6, 23). This may seem much too fantastic to our way of thinking, but it is not to be forgotten what capabilities man has when he sets his mind to an action. Moreover, this is not to say that every single person in the world heard the gospel message; it is to say that by the time Paul neared the end of his life he had taken the message into the further parts of the Roman empire and others did the same (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:11).

The gospel message they were to take to a dying world was a God's message of redemption (John 3:16). Man is lost in sin and God's love for man is to reclaim man from the hold of Satan (cf. Romans 3:23; 6:23; 7:24-8:1). However, before one can be reclaimed by God, the individual must first believe god (John 1:12). When one believes Jesus Christ is the Son of God and changes his life (repentance, Acts 17:30) and submits to the Lord's authority in baptism, he (she) is saved (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 18:8).
[[category:Bible]]

Catholics

2007-09-25T04:41:18Z

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The members of the [[Catholicism|Catholic church]].
[[Category:Christianity]]

Mary (mother of Jesus)

2007-09-25T04:40:59Z

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'''Mary''' (Blessed Virgin Mary or Our Lady, Greek: Μαρία, Spanish: Virgen Maria, French: Notre-Dame, Italian: Madonna) is the name of the mother of our Lord, [[Jesus Christ|Jesus of Nazareth]]. In the [[Gospel]] accounts, Jesus was born in [[Bethlehem]] of [[Judea]] to a young virgin, by the [[Holy Spirit]]. The [[gospel of Matthew]] describes the virgin birth of Jesus as fulfilling the prophecy of [[Isaiah]] 7:14. The [[gospel of Luke]] relates that the angel [[Gabriel]] visited Mary in order to announce to her that she had been chosen to bear the [[Son of God]].<ref>Luke 1:26–38</ref>

== Crucifixion ==
[[Image:Murillo Inmaculada de El Escorial.jpg|thumb|right|'''''Inmaculada de "El Escorial"''''' by Bartolome Murillo]]
Mary was present during the [[crucifixion]] of Jesus Christ along with other women who had followed Jesus from Galilee.

While Jesus was hanging on the cross, "there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own" (John 19:25-27).

Following the crucifixion:
{{cquote|''Jesus was in the grave for three days. After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of Jesus), and Salome prepared spices to anoint Jesus' body. When they arrived at the tomb, the stone had already been rolled away! They entered the tomb, where an angel said, "Don't be alarmed. . .You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you'" (Mark 16:6-7).'' <ref>
[http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/crucifixion-of-jesus-christ.htm Crucifixion of Jesus Christ - His Burial and Resurrection]</ref>}}

==Catholic views of Mary==
The veneration of Mary is an essential belief of the [[Catholic Church]]. Mary is also venerated by Eastern [[Orthodox Church]] and Anglo-Catholicism. This veneration could take the form of prayer for intercession with her Son, Jesus. Many [[Protestantism|Protestants]], however, believe that the veneration of Mary is counter to what the Bible teaches.
<ref>[http://www.eich.com/allan/Catholics%20and%20Protestants%20believe.htm The Saints and the Virgin Mary]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.letusreason.org/RC8.htm Problems with the Mary of Roman Catholicism]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/roman-catholicism/RC0300W4.htm The Biblical, Catholic, and Occult View of Mary]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=mary1 Cult of Mary - Part One]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=mary2 Cult of Mary - Part Two]</ref> For years, when it comes to Mary, Catholics and Protestants have been quite contrary. However, there are growing signs that differences over Mary are becoming less apparent. Many Protestant leaders are reevaluating and saying a greater emphasis on Mary needs to be considered. <ref>[http://www.understandthetimes.org/current_transcripts/text/mar2007/2175.shtml Understand The Times MARYIANITY] by Roger Oakland </ref>

Mary's passage into Heaven is celebrated by Roman Catholics as The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 25 and August 15). This Feast is a Public Holiday in many countries. In 1950, [[Pope Pius XII]] formally declared to be dogma the belief in the corporeal assumption of Mary. ''The Orthodox Church expresses reverence toward the Blessed Virgin by the many feast days commemorating the various events in Her life. In prayers the Virgin Mary is called Theotokos, which in Greek means the Mother of God, since the One Who was born from Her was at the time of conception and always will be the true God.''<ref>[http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/mary.htm Honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary]</ref>

{{cquote|''Scripture and tradition agree in ascribing to Mary the greatest personal sanctity; She is conceived without the stain of original sin; She shows the greatest humility and patience in her daily life (Luke 1:38, 48); She exhibits an heroic patience under the most trying circumstances (Luke 2:7, 35, 48; John 19:25-27)... within the first fifty years after the death of St. John the veneration of Mary is proved to have flourished in the Church of Rome.'' <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15464b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia.]</ref>}}

<center>
“Henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” Mary, Luke 1:48.
</center>

==Protestant View of Mary==
While [[Protestantism|Protestants]] respect the life of Mary, some Protestants believe that the veneration of Mary is counter to what the Bible teaches.
<ref>[http://www.letusreason.org/RC8.htm Problems with the Mary of Roman Catholicism]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/roman-catholicism/RC0300W4.htm The Biblical, Catholic, and Occult View of Mary]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=mary1 Cult of Mary - Part One]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=mary2 Cult of Mary - Part Two]</ref>
For some Anglican Christians Mary has an special position within God's purpose of salvation. (Catholics, Orthodox, and Anglicans, make a clear distinction between veneration (which is also due to the other saints) and adoration which is due to God alone).

The Website ReligionFacts states:
{{cquote|....most Protestants have shown a great deal of honor and respect for Mary. [[Martin Luther]] said Mary is "the highest woman," that "we can never honour her enough," that "the veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human heart" and that we should "wish that everyone know and respect her." John Calvin said, "It cannot be denied that God in choosing and destining Mary to be the Mother of his Son, granted her the highest honor." Zwingli said, "I esteem immensely the Mother of God," and, "The more the honor and love of Christ increases among men, so much the esteem and honor given to Mary should grow." <ref> [http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/beliefs/mary.htm Mary in the Reformation and Protestantism] </ref>}}

== Marian Prayers ==
[[Image:Virgen.jpg|right|Virgin Mary and Child]]

[http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/maryprayers.html Classical Prayers]

====Hail Mary====
The prayer "[[Hail Mary]]" (Ave Maria) has its roots in Luke 1:42 where Elizabeth (who is Mary's cousin) salutes Mary and in Luke 1:28 where the Arch Angel Gabriel salutes Mary.

''Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women<ref>Luke 1:28,42</ref> and blessed is the fruit of thy womb<ref>Luke 1:42</ref> Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.''

* Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen)
* Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
* Mary, Mother of Grace
* [http://campus.udayton.edu/mary//prayers/mpray01.html Prayer of the memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe]
* Mary, Help of Those in Need
* [http://campus.udayton.edu/mary//prayers/mpray01.html Sub Tuum Praesidum]

The [http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/maryrosary.html Rosary] combines vocal prayer and meditation centered around sequences of reciting the Lord's Prayer followed by ten recitations of the "Hail Mary" prayer and a single recitation of "Glory Be to the Father".

=== Major Apparitions ===
[[Image:Fatima.jpg|right]]
*[http://www.memorare.com/mary/app1531.html Guadalupe, 1531]
*[http://www.memorare.com/mary/app1858.html Lourdes, 1858]
*[http://www.memorare.com/mary/app1917.html Fatima, 1917]

In the US, '''Lady of Prompt Succor''', (New Orleans, United States, 1809). Wind-blown fire changes directions, sparing the convent; President of the United States [[Andrew Jackson]] credits the Lady with the victory in the famous Battle of [[New Orleans]] in 1815.

==See also==
*[[Our Lady of Guadalupe]]
*[[Ave Maria]]
*[[Annunciation]]
*[[Mary Magdalene]]
*[[Rosary]]

== External links ==
[[Image:Mary Flag.jpg|right]]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15464b.htm The Blessed Virgin Mary] Catholic Encyclopedia.
*[http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/mary.htm Blessed Virgin Mary]
*[http://www.scborromeo.org/prayers/rosary.htm#mary The Rosary]
*[http://www.memorare.com/mary/index.html Hail Mary] Information on the Blessed Virgin Mary.
*[http://www.cancunsteve.com/guadalupe.htm The Mystery of the Virgin of Guadalupe]
*[http://www.catholiclinks.org/virgenotrasaparicionesenglish.htm Virgin Mary, Other Apparitions]
*[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0079a.html Apparitions of the Virgin Mary, A Protestant Look at a Catholic Phenominon: Part Two]
*[http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8318 Feast of the Holy Name of Mary]
*[http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/aboutmary2.html The Mary Page] About Mary.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Catholic Church]]
[[Category:Bible study]]
[[Category:Biblical persons]]

Our Lady of Guadalupe

2007-09-25T04:40:16Z

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[[Image:Our_Lady.jpg|right]]

'''Our Lady of Guadalupe''', also called the Virgin of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas, is Mexico's most popular and important patron saint; is an important symbol to Mexican identity. In [[Mexico]] She is also known as '''Virgen Morena'''.

== History ==

In 1531, '''La Guadalupana''' "appeared to humble Juan Diego" (and imprinted her image on his mantle). "The signs, of the roses, of the uncle miraculously cured of a deadly illness, and especially of her beautiful image on Juan's mantle, convinced the people there was something to be considered in [[Christianity]]. Within a short time, six million Native Mexicans had themselves baptized as Christians...Mary appeared to Juan Diego not as a European madonna but as a beautiful [[Aztec]] princess speaking to him in his own Aztec language" <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=456 Our Lady of Guadalupe] Saints & Angels. Catholic on line.</ref>. (December 9, 1531.)

"I wish that a temple be erected here quickly, so I may therein exhibit and give all my love, compassion, help, and protection. Because I am your merciful mother, to you, and to all the inhabitants on this land and all the rest who love me, invoke and confide in me; to listen there to their lamentations, and remedy all their miseries, afflictions and sorrows. And to accomplish what my clemency pretends, go to the palace of the bishop of Mexico, and you will say to him that I manifest my great desire, that here on this plain a temple be built to me."
Words of Our Lady to Juan Diego<ref>[http://www.sancta.org/basilica.html Words of Our Lady to Juan Diego]</ref>.

In 1533, the first sanctuary was erected in Mexico. In 1567, a new bigger church is completed. In 1976, a new Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is finished in Mexico City, constructed on the site of the earlier 16th-century church.

In 1571, "Admiral Doria carried a copy of the image aboard ship during the battle of [[Lepanto]] and imputed to the Virgin of Guadalupe the victory over the Ottoman Empire forces."<ref>[http://www.sancta.org/table.html CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS]</ref> In 1810, when [[Miguel Hidalgo]] initiated the war for Mexican independence, they used the image of the ''Guadalupana'' as the insignia of their enterprise.

On 2002, Juan Diego was canonized in a ceremony presided by [[Pope]] [[John Paul II]] in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The 12 of December is the holiday of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

== Prayer ==

In the dioceses of the [[United States]] of America, Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12. The following is the opening prayer of the memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

:''[[God]] of power and mercy,
:''you blessed the Americas at Tepeyac
:''with the presence of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.
:''May her prayers help all men and women
:''to accept each other as brothers and sisters.
:''Through your justice present in our hearts
:''may your peace reign in the world.
:''We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
:''who lives and reigns with you and the [[Holy Spirit]],
:''one God, for ever and ever.
:''Amen.

== See also ==

*[[Virgin Mary]]
*[[Jesus Christ]]
*[[Christianity]]
*[[Catholicism]]
*[[Cinco de Mayo]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.virgendeguadalupe.org.mx/index2.htm Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe] In Spanish.
*[http://www.inside-mexico.com/guadalupe.htm Our Lady of Guadalupe]

== References ==

<references/>

[[Category:Catholic Church]]

Our Lady of Lujan

2007-09-25T04:39:43Z

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Our Lady of Lujan is a Catholic shrine located 40 miles west of [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]]. It consists of a small, doll-like statute of [[Mary]], the mother of [[Jesus]], crowned with precious stones such as diamonds and later honored with the building of an entire cathedral, which in 1930 was designated as a [[basilica]].

[[Argentina]], [[Paraguay]] and [[Uruguay]] all consider Our Lady of Lujan to be their official protectress.
[[category:christianity]]
[[category:South America]]

Shiva

2007-09-25T04:39:09Z

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Shiva is one of the three major gods in [[Hinduism]], representing the destructiveness inherent in the world, and is supreme god in Shaivism
[[category:hinduism]]

Pope Benedict XVI

2007-09-25T04:38:18Z

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[[Image:XVI.jpg|right|His Holiness Benedict XVI p.p.|thumb]]
His Holiness '''Benedict XVI''' ('''Joseph Alois Ratzinger''', born April 16, 1927 in [[Bavaria]]) is the current [[Pope]] of the [[Roman Catholic]] Church (2005-), succeeding [[John Paul II]].

==Early Life==
He was born in Marktl am Inn, [[Germany]] on April 16, 1927 as Joseph Ratzinger. As a child, he lived in Traunstein where much of his philosophy developed. Ratzinger joined the [[Hitler Youth]] in 1939 - membership being required by law - but was unenthusiastic and refused to attend meetings.<ref>http://bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/topics/new_pope_defied_nazis.htm</ref> Ratzinger's father opposed Nazism.

==Education==
His Holiness studied at the higher School of Freising and University of Munich. He received a Doctor of Theology Degree in 1953.

==Ordination==
He was ordained Father Joseph Ratzinger on June 29, 1951.

==Appointment to the See of Munich==
[[Paul VI]] appointed him Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freisling on March 25, 1977.

==Cardinal==
He was chosen to the [[College of Cardinals]] by [[Paul VI]] on June 27, 1977. He was thereafter known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. On November 25, 1981, Pope [[John Paul II]] named Cardinal Ratzinger "Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith", one of the major Curial institutions of the [[Holy See]].

==College Positions==
On November 6, 1998, he was elected Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals. On November 30, 2002 he was elected Dean of the College.
==Accession to the Papacy==
[[Image:Popebenedictbirthday.jpg|right|His Holiness Benedict XVI p.p. on his 80th Birthday|thumb]]
On April 2, 2005, John Paul II passed away. Following the prescribed mourning period, the College of Cardinals was summoned to the Vatican for the Papal Conclave. He was widely regarded as one of the strongest candidates for election to the papacy. On April 19, 2005 after a prior false signal, white smoke appeared at the chimney of the [[Sistine Chapel]], the traditional sign of a new pope. As in the past, the Cardinal Protodeacon, Jorge Cardinal Medina Estevez, appeared on the balcony and proclaimed the following;
<blockquote>
Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: 
Habemus Papam! 
Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum, 
Dominum Joseph, 
Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinalem Ratzinger, 
Qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedict XVI. 
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
(I announce to you all a great joy: 
We have a pope! 
A most Eminent and Reverend Lord, 
Lord Joseph, 
Cardinal Ratzinger, of the Holy Roman Church, 
Who has imposed a name for himself: Benedict XVI.) 
</blockquote>

== See also ==
[[Image:C. A. Benedict XVI.gif|right|thumb|Coat of Arms of Benedict XVI.]]
*[[Our Lady of Guadalupe]]
*[[Holy See]]
*[[Sistine Chapel]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.pellegrinocattolico.com/ctv/frame.htm The Vatican] Italian web site.
*[http://flagspot.net/flags/va_ben16.html Personal Flag and Arms of Benedict XVI]

[[Category:Popes|Benedict XVI, Pope]]

[[Category:Religious people]]
[[Category:Catholic Church]]

Pope John Paul II

2007-09-25T04:37:56Z

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[[Image:John_Paul_II.jpg|thumb|300px]]
'''Pope John Paul II''' (May 18, 1920, [[Wadowice]], [[Poland]] - April 2, 2005 [[Vatican City]]) was the second longest reigning [[pope]] in modern times.

==Early Life, From Child to Priest==

His given name was '''Karol Józef Wojtyła'''. At a young age he was a known to be gentle and loving to all. He was a very good [[soccer]] player and his nickname was Goalie. In 1928 his mother died and 4 years later his older brother who was a doctor died of a extreme fever. He then lived with his father until he entered the [[Jagiellonian University]] in [[Krakow]] Poland. At 21 his father died leaving him alone in the world that was at war. In 1942, at the age of 24 he entered the seminary, despite Nazi occupation. In year of 1946, on November 1, All Saints Day, Karol was ordained a priest. John Paul II finished his doctorate in theology in 1948, and later he became a professor on the subject.

==Election and Pontificate==

The Conclave of Cardinals elected him [[Pope]] on October 1,1978. As Pope, John Paul II traveled to more places, visited more countries, and traveled more miles than any other previous Pope. He also conducted more public meetings with the faithful, as the total attendance of his Wednesday audiences alone eclipsed 17,600,000 people. Controversially, during his reign, as many new saints were created, as had been created in the reigns of all previous popes combined.

On 22nd October 1996 Pope John Paul II made world headlines with his message1 delivered to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. It was entitled ''Magisterium Is Concerned with Question of Evolution for It Involves Conception of Man'' and resulted in headlines in many of the world's newspapers declaring that evolution and creation could coexist. His holiness stated his opinion on evolution that "In fact it is remarkable that this theory has had progressively greater influence on the spirit of researchers, following a series of discoveries in different scholarly disciplines. The convergence in the results of these independent studies—which was neither planned nor sought—constitutes in itself a significant argument in favor of the theory."

Another one of his accomplishments is the establishment of [[World Youth Day]]. Also, he wrote 14 [[Encyclicals]], 5 books, and inumerous letters.

On May 9, 2005 John Paul II's successor, [[Pope Benedict XVI]], waived the five year waiting period for beatification.

1 From the Vatican, 22 October 1996. ''Official translation published in L'Osservatore Romano, "Weekly Edition in English," 30 October 1996.
''

== See also ==

*[[Our Lady of Guadalupe]]
*[[Catholicism]]
*[[Luigi Giussani]]
*[[Virgin Mary]]

[[Category:Popes|John Paul II, Pope]]

[[Category:Religious people]]
[[Category:Catholic Church]]

Sharia law

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'''Sharia''' is the body of [[Islamic]] law. The term means "way" or "path"; it is the legal framework within which public and some private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on [[Muslim]] principles of jurisprudence. It is not actually part of the canonical [[Qur'an]]; that is to say, it is not believed to be the direct word of [[Allah]] by Muslims, but rather the interpretation of it.

Sharia deals with many aspects of day-to-day life, including politics, economics, banking, business law, contract law, sexuality, and social issues. Some Islamic scholars accept Sharia as the body of precedent and legal theory established before the 19th century, while other scholars view Sharia as a changing body, and include Islamic legal theory from the contemporary period.{{fact}}

There is not a strictly codified uniform set of laws pertaining to Sharia. It is more like a system of devising laws, based on the Qur'an, Hadith and centuries of debate, interpretation and precedent.

Before the 19th century, legal theory was considered the domain of the traditional legal schools of thought. Most [[Sunni]] Muslims follow Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki or Shafii, while most [[Shia]] Muslims follow Jaafari (Hallaq 1997, Brown 1996, Aslan 2006).

Laws and practices under Sharia:

===Marriage laws===
* The Muslim man who is not currently a fornicator can only marry a Muslim woman who is not currently a fornicatress or a chaste woman from the people of the book.
* The Muslim woman who is not currently a fornicatress can only marry a Muslim man who is not currently a fornicator.
* The Muslim fornicator can only marry a Muslim fornicatress.
* The Muslim fornicatress can only marry a Muslim fornicator.
* Men can marry up to four wives, but only if they are treated equally. Those who do not consider themselves capable of maintaining just behavior between wives, should refrain from this practice.
* The woman cannot marry without the consent of her guardian. If she marries, her husband becomes her new guardian.
* The guardian may choose a suitable partner for a virgin girl, but the girl is free to contest and has the right to say 'no'.
* The guardian cannot marry the divorced woman or the widow if she didn't ask to be married.
* The number of husbands is limited to one.
* "Do not marry unless you give your wife something that is her right." It is obligatory for a man to give bride wealth (gifts) to the woman he marries.[5]

===Divorce laws===
* A woman who wishes to be divorced usually needs the consent of her husband. However, most schools allow her to obtain a divorce without her husband's consent if she can show the judge that her husband is mistreating her, failing to support her financially, or is impotent. If the husband consents she does not have to pay back the dower.{{fact}}
* Men have the right of unilateral divorce. A divorce is effective when the man tells his wife that he is divorcing her. At this point the husband must pay the wife the "delayed" component of the dower.
* A divorced woman of reproductive age must wait three months before marrying again to ensure that she is not pregnant. Her ex-husband should support her financially during this period.{{fact}}
* Under certain circumstances (abuse, for instance), the wife may ask a judge to separate the couple.
* If a man says "I divorce thee" three times to his wife, he can no longer marry her again unless she marries another man and then divorces.
* These are guidelines; Islamic law on divorce is different depending on the school of thought.

===The penalty for theft===
*In accordance with the Qur'an and several hadith, theft is punished by imprisonment or amputation of hands or feet, depending on the number of times it was committed and depending on the item of theft.
===The penalty for adultery===
*In accordance with hadith, stoning to death is the penalty for married men and women who commit adultery. For unmarried men and women, the punishment prescribed in the Qur'an and hadith is 100 lashes.

[[Category:Islam]]

Shem

2007-09-25T04:36:03Z

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'''Shem''' ([[Hebrew]] '''שֵׁם''') was one of the three sons of [[Noah]] in the [[Bible]] who helped to repopulate the earth (Gen 9:19). Shem, along with his brother [[Japheth]] respectfully covered his father when he was naked. (Gen 9:23) Shem had five sons who settled in what would be modern day [[Syria]], [[Iraq]], and [[Iran]].<ref>NIV Study Bible, Zondervon, p. 21 map</ref> [[Abraham]] was a descendant of Shem through Shem's son [[Arpachshad]]. The term "Semite" originally denoted descendants of Shem.

==References==

<References/>

[[Category:Biblical persons]]

Seven Deadly Sins

2007-09-25T04:34:41Z

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The '''Seven Deadly Sins''' are:

*[[Pride (sin)|Pride]] (or Vainglory)

*[[Envy (sin)|Envy]]

*[[Gluttony (sin)|Gluttony]]

*[[Lust (sin)|Lust]]

*[[Anger (sin)|Anger]]

*[[Avarice (sin)|Avarice]] (or Covetousness)

*[[Sloth (sin)|Sloth]]

Each sin had a different punishment allotted to it in [[Hell]].

== External link ==

[http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/history.html A brief history of sin]

[[Category:Christianity]]

Sabbath

2007-09-25T04:34:22Z

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In the [[Bible]], the '''Sabbath''' is a weekly religious day of rest as ordained by one of [[the Ten Commandments]]: the third commandment by Eastern, Roman Catholic and Lutheran numbering, the fourth by other Protestants.

For many [[Christians]], the day of Sabbath is Sunday. Other Christians observe the Biblical Sabbath on Saturday (actually sundown Friday to sundown Saturday). [[Judaism]] observes the Sabbath on Saturday.

While it has been suggested that the exact date given to [[Moses]] has been lost this does not bear up under scrutiny. The weekly cycle has never been changed or lost and the seventh day of the week is known as "sabbath" in over 100 languages--http://www.seventh-day.org/chartweek.htm.

According to the Bible, the Sabbath must be taken very seriously. Breaking the Sabbath is just cause for death according to '''Numbers 15:32-56'''

''They found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. ... And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones.... And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. ''

However, [[Jesus Christ]] implied the the Sabbath, and all Biblical edicts, could be broken under extreme situations, according to '''Matthew 12:1-9'''

<blockquote>12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. 
12:2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 
12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 
12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 
12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 
12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 
12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 
12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. 
12:9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:</blockquote>

[[Category:Judaism]]

Sadducees

2007-09-25T04:33:33Z

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The '''Sadducees''' were a political Jewish group that sided with the ruling party, most notably Rome at the time of [[Jesus]]. They were unpopular with the masses as a result, and their adversaries the [[Pharisees]] eventually became the Jewish leaders instead. Made up mostly of aristocrats, they had a vested interest in the status quo.

When Pompey captured [[Jerusalem]] in 63 B.C., he executed many of the leading Sadducees, as did [[Herod the Idumean]] (Herod the Great) when he gained power in 37 B.C. But the Sadducees still retained their power throughout this period.

The Sadducees rejected all religious writings except the Torah. They denied the resurrection of the dead, the immortality of the soul and the existence of angels (Matthew 22:23; Mark 12:18; Acts 23:8). They rejected the oral traditions followed by the [[Pharisees]].

The influence of the Sadducees disappeared after the first Jewish revolt against Rome and the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.<ref>NIV Study Bible, Zondervan, 1985, Pg. 1483</ref>

==References==

<References/>

[[Category:Judaism]]
[[Category:Bible]]

Tree of Life (Kabbalah)

2007-09-25T04:32:55Z

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In the mystic tradition of the [[Kabbalah]], the '''Tree of Life''' is a diagram of the [[Sephiroth]] and the relations between them.

[[category:Judaism]]

Shroud of Turin

2007-09-25T04:31:57Z

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The '''Shroud of Turin''' is a long cloth that contains the image of an apparently [[crucifixion|crucified]] man who had also been scourged and crowned with thorns.<ref>http://www.shroud.com/</ref> Many believe it was the burial cloth for [[Jesus]]. It has been the source of intense scientific controversy and there have many modern attempts to prove or disprove its authenticity. It was owned and maintained by families in [[Italy]] for centuries and given only in the late 20th century to the [[Roman Catholic Church]], which has never taken a position for or against its authenticity.

The Shroud has several unique characteristics. First, its image is brighter in as a [[photography|photographic]] [[negative]], suggesting some extraordinary type of interplay of light in the burning of the image. Second, the nail wounds are through the man's wrists rather than his hands, despite the unanimous and inaccurate [[medieval]] depiction of the nail wounds for crucified victims as being through the hands. Modern analysis indicates that the hands are not strong enough to sustain the weight of man on the cross, while the wrists would be. Third, all the indicators of the unique scourging ''and'' crucifixion of the man are present on the Shroud, when it is unlikely anyone else would have been both scourged and crucified. Computer analysis suggests the image of coins on the Shroud that date from the time of [[Pontius Pilate]].

Scientists have devoted years of work in analyzing the Shroud. Several of these scientists who have studied the Shroud converted to [[Christianity]] as a result.<ref>http://www.shroud.com/mrinobnf.pdf</ref>

== Dating the Shroud ==

[[Raymond N. Rogers]], a retired [[chemist]] from the [[Los Alamos National Laboratory]] in [[New Mexico]], studied the Shroud and declared, "The chemistry says it was a real shroud, the blood spots on it are real blood, and the technology that was used to make that piece of cloth was exactly what Pliny the Elder reported from his time," about A.D. 70. "It's a shroud from the right time, but you're never going to find out (through science) if it was used on a person named [[Jesus]]," Rogers said.<ref>http://bibleprobe.com/</ref>

In 1988, [[carbon dating]] of a small snippet of the Shroud was performed, and the results suggested that the Shroud originated between A.D. 1238 and 1430. However, a peer-reviewed scientific paper later demonstrated the invalidity of those results, suggesting instead that the Shroud is between 1,300 and 3,000 years old.<ref>Rogers, Raymond N., "Studies on the radiocarbon sample from the shroud of turin". Thermochimica Acta, Volume 425 Issue 1–2, pp. 189-194 (Jan. 20, 2005)[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6THV-4DTBVHC-1&_user=10&_handle=B-WA-A-W-WE-MsSAYWA-UUA-AAUYYDZUYC-AAUZVCZYYC-YZEWAVVVC-WE-U&_fmt=full&_coverDate=01%2F20%2F2005&_rdoc=26&_orig=browse&_srch=%23toc%235292%232005%23995749998%23553672!&_cdi=5292&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=3d89246a5d4144616be7657f0d83b6cf]</ref> <ref>Mark Antonacci, "Resurrection of the Shroud: New Scientific, Medical, and Archeological Evidence" (2000)[http://www.amazon.com/dp/0871318903?tag=worldmyster07-20&creative=373489&camp=211189&link_code=as3&creativeASIN=0871318903]</ref>

The defect in the carbon dating was that the samples were "uniquely coated with a yellow–brown [[plant]] gum containing dye lakes. [[Pyrolysis-mass-spectrometry]] results from the sample area coupled with microscopic and microchemical observations prove that the radiocarbon sample was not part of the original cloth of the Shroud of Turin." Instead, [e]stimates of the kinetics constants for the loss of vanillin from lignin indicate a much older age for the cloth than the radiocarbon analyses."<ref>http://bibleprobe.com/</ref>

== References ==

<references/>
[[category:christianity]]

Pharisees

2007-09-25T04:31:09Z

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The '''Pharisees''' were scrupulous observers of the Biblical law and representatives of the religious views, hopes and practices of the Jewish people in the Second Temple. The Pharisees opposed the priestly [[Sadducees]] who were not as great in number, but had political power. The term "Pharisees" derives from "Perisha" (the singular of "Perishaya"), which means "one who separates himself." In a religious sense it meant a group that separates itself from impure persons and things in seeking a higher level of holiness as desired by [[God]].

At times [[Jesus]] was very critical of the Pharisees, as observed in the [[Gospels]]. After the Jewish struggle with Rome (A.D. 66-135) that ended with the [[diaspora]], Pharisaism became virtually synonymous with [[Judaism]] itself.

[[Category:Judaism]]
[[Category:Bible]]

Copts

2007-09-25T04:29:59Z

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{{merge|Coptic Church}}

The Copts are [[Egypt]]ian [[Christian]]s belonging to the [[Coptic Church]]. About seven million people, nine percent of the Egyptian population, are Copts{{fact}}. The Coptic Church is the largest Christian group in [[Middle East]].

[[category:christianity]]

Holy Sepulcher

2007-09-25T04:29:23Z

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The Holy Sepulcher is the tomb outside the city walls of Jerusalem where [[Jesus]] was placed between His burial and [[Resurrection]]. It was a new tomb cut out of rock, owned by [[Joseph of Arimathaea]], who had asked [[Pontius Pilate]] for Jesus's body.

Emperor [[Constantine]] built a [[basilica]] over this tomb, and today the Church of the Holy Sepulcher stands there.

[[category:christianity]]

The Gospels

2007-09-25T04:28:45Z

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{{Christianity}}

The Four '''Gospels''' of the [[Bible]] (from the Greek for "good news") are the first four books of the [[New Testament]]. Two of the gospel accounts of [[Jesus]] are attributed to eyewitness accounts of two of His [[Apostles]] ([[Matthew ]] and [[Gospel of John|John]]) and two gospel accounts are attributed to disciples who did not know Jesus personally ([[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] and [[Luke]]). There was no ambiguity among the early [[church fathers]] as to the authorship of the gospels, with their earliest writings attesting to our current titles. For additional information on each Gospel, see their individual entries.

The Gospels were originally written in [[Greek]], the common lingua franca (common or commercial language among diverse peoples) of the Roman Orient. No original Gospels have been found in [[Aramaic]]; the only known Aramaic Gospels are translations from Greek versions. The general consensus is that the Gospel according to Matthew was written particularly for [[Jews]]; the Gospel according to Mark was written particularly for [[Romans]]; the Gospel according to Luke was written particularly for [[Greeks]]; and the Gospel according to John was written for everyone.

==Etymology==
"Gospel" is derived from the Middle English word "godspel," in which "god" means "good" and "spel" means "news." Thus "Gospel" literally means "good news," and some denominations like to use the phrase "good news" because they feel it conveys the nature of the Gospel clearly. It is a translation of the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion), which is also the root of the word "evangelist;" an evangelist is someone who spreads the good news. The "good news" here is, specifically, the news of Christ's redemption. The four Gospels offer different, yet complementary, accounts of the story of Jesus's life and teachings, and lay the foundation for the doctrine of Christ's redemption.

==The relationship of the Gospels==

Although Matthew comes first in Biblical order, the gospel of Mark is widely agreed to be the oldest of the Gospels. Matthew and Luke were probably compiled slightly later, drawing both from the oral traditions of the life of Jesus. John is the last of the Gospels, the most theologically mature, and the strongest in its emphasis on God's loving sacrifice of his only son, Jesus, and the ways in which this sacrifice redeemed all mankind. The first three canonical Gospels are often called the "synoptic" Gospels, as they tell slightly different versions of the same underlying story of Christ's life and ministry on earth.

Luke was a said to have been a Greek physician (see Col 4:14) who accompanied [[Paul]] and also wrote the [[Acts (of the Apostles)|Acts of the Apostles]] describing the arrival of the [[Holy Spirit]]. Unlike the Gospels of Matthew and John, written as firsthand accounts, the Gospel of Luke records eyewitness accounts of others, much as a doctor asks a patient for his medical history and then writes it down in the medical file. Due to Luke's professional nature, his Gospel is very comprehensive about Jesus' life and resurrection, and it also conveys the great sense of joy that Jesus' family, friends and followers felt.

==Non-canonical Gospels==
In addition to the four Canonical gospels, other texts claiming to record the accounts of Jesus's earthly ministry have survived in part or in whole. Most notable among these is the [[Gospel of Thomas]], which contains additional sayings and teachings. Recently, a [[Gospel of Judas]] surfaced, but this text is decidedly a later one, and its claim for any original authority is very slim. These Gospels are considered apocryphal by modern Christianity, and therefore not authoritative texts.

A number of other "gospels" were written sometime in the first four centuries, most well after the dates when the disciples lived. They include: the Gospel of the Ebionites, Gospel of the Hebrews, Gospel of Marcion, Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Thomas, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, and the Infancy Gospel of James. <ref>Donald Harman Akenson, Surpassing Wonder: The Invention of the Bible and the Talmuds, 216.</ref>

Among fragments that still survive are the gospels according to the Hebrews (much prized by the early Jewish Church), according to the Egyptians, of the Ebionites, of Philip, of Matthias, of Peter, of Thomas (almost complete), of Nicodemus, of Bartholomew, of Pseudo-Melito, of Joseph of Arimathaea, of James, of Pseudo-Matthew, of Barnabas and a whole collection of infancy gospels <ref>James. M.R, The Apocryphal New Testament (Clarendon, Oxford, 1924)</ref>.

==References==

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gospels, The}}

[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Book of Worship]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Catholic Church]]
[[Category:Christianity]]

Christian Humanism

2007-09-25T04:27:37Z

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A movement that developed in [[Renaissance]] [[Europe]], with the rediscovery of classical [[Greek]] and [[Latin]] works that had been thought lost. [[Humanism]] sought to return to "original sources". It argued that the height of [[western civilization]] had been in the classical period, and with the fall of [[Rome]], most knowledge had been lost, and the much of the knowledge that remained had been corrupted by false traditions. It was the responsibility of the scholar, therefore, to rediscover the original Greek and Latin texts, and separate real wisdom from false interpretation.

This movement had a profound effect on society, and, with its emphasis on classical texts and the rejection of much of the religious tradition that developed in the [[Middle Ages]], helped lead to the [[Protestant]] [[Reformation]], and, in fact, some of the new humanist [[Bible]]s, such as [[Erasmus]]'s Greek [[New Testament]], were important sources for both [[Martin Luther]]'s translation of the Bible and the [[King James Version]] of the Bible.

== External links ==

*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07538b.htm Humanism] Catholic Encyclopedia
*[http://www.christianchronicler.com/history1/christian_humanism.html CHRISTIAN HUMANISM]
*[http://mb-soft.com/believe/txn/chrishum.htm Christian Humanism]

[[category:christianity]]
[[Category:philosophy]]

Great Schism

2007-09-25T04:27:06Z

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The phrase '''The Great Schism''' is used to mean two different things:

*The ''East-West Schism of 1054 was the separation of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and Western ("Roman Catholic") branches of the Catholic Church.

*The ''Western Schism'' (1378-1417) was an argument within the Roman Catholic Church resulting in French cardinals electing an "antipope" (Clement VII) in order to dispute the authority of the recently elected Pope Urban VI. This and other controversies set the stage for the Protestant Reformation.

[[category:European History]]
[[Category:christianity]]

Holy Lance

2007-09-25T04:26:19Z

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The Holy Lance is the instrument used by the Roman soldier to pierce the side of [[Jesus]] while on the cross.

The lower section of the Holy Lance was reportedly taken to [[Constantinople]] before 900 and then in 1492 taken to [[Rome]], where it remains at St. Peter's.

The broken point of the Holy Lance was reportedly taken to Constantinople also, but then brought to Paris in 1241. Like other religious artifacts, it was lost or destroyed during the [[French Revolution]].

[[category:Christianity]]

Imam

2007-09-25T04:25:36Z

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An imam is a person having great authority in [[Islam]]. There are five different specific meanings of the term:

* in a mosque, a leader in prayer is the imam only while he leads the prayer. More generally, the imam is the most respecte person in the assembly. In modern times, the term has expanded to include a leader employed by the congregation, like a priest in Christianity.

* in Shi'i Islam, the highest leader is the imam. The first imam was Ali. The imam is presumed to have a special relationship to Allah.

* Under the direction of Ayatollah Khomeini in Shi'i Islam, the imam alone was no longer considered to be the sole leader and authority, and Khomeini and his associates ruled the religious life in [[Iran]].

* In the largest branch of Islam, Sunni Islam, [[caliphs]] were called imams. But there are no longer any caliphs, so the term imam means almost nothing today.

* Also in Sunni Islam, "imam" is added to the names of learned men, such as founders of the schools of Sharia and as an honor to the great theologian al-Ghazzali.

== Sources ==

[http://lexicorient.com/e.o/imam.htm Encyclopedia of the Orient]

[[category:Islam]]

Idiorrhythmic

2007-09-25T04:25:13Z

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Idiorrhythmic is a descriptive name for [[Eastern Orthodox]] monastic life. These monasteries began in the fourth century [[Monk]]s would live in isolation, either individually or in small groups, and only meet in a community for meals on feast days.

[[category:christianity]]

Erastianism

2007-09-25T04:24:34Z

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'''Erastianism''', named after [[Thomas Erastus]] (1524-1583), is a doctrine that considered civil rulers to have supremacy in religious matters. It became the theological basis for the [[Church of England]] and other state-based [[church|churches]].

[[category:christianity]]
[[category:politics]]

Maurists

2007-09-25T04:23:45Z

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Maurists were the French [[Benedictine]] monks of the Congregation of [[St. Maur]]. Founded under [[Richelieu]] in 1621, the Marists later excelled at scholarly writing. Their leading authors included [[Aubert]], [[Massuet]] and [[Mabillon]].

This order was hurt when several of its monks associated with [[Jansenism]], and its numbers dwindled. [[Pope Pius VII]] dissolved this order in 1818.
[[category:religious people]]

Mensa

2007-09-25T04:23:12Z

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A mensa is the flat top of a [[Christian]] [[altar]].

Mensa can also refer to the portion of church property set aside for the benefit of the clergy rather than the congregation.
[[category:Christianity]]

Mennonite

2007-09-25T04:22:37Z

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{{stub}}A '''Mennonite''' is an adherent to an [[Anabaptist]] movement begun in the 1500's by men such as Menno Simons. They practice adult [[baptism]], [[pacifism]], and living a simple lifestlye. Mennonites come from across the globe. Mennonite denominations range from liberal to conservative though many have an opposition to war.

[[Category:Christianity]]

Hell

2007-09-25T04:22:07Z

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[[Image:Hieronymus Bosch - The Garden of Earthly Delights - Hell.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''Hell'', painted by [[Hieronymus Bosch]], part of ''[[The Garden of Earthly Delights]]''.]]
In the English translation of the [[Bible]]'s [[Old Testament]], the word '''hell''' normally corresponds to the [[Hebrew]] ''sheol'', which was simply the place of the dead. But in the [[Greek]] [[New Testament]] the word used is either ''Gehenna'' (the garbage dump outside the walls of Jerusalem where fires were kept eternally burning to consume the refuse and keep down the stench) or ''Hades'', the [[Greek]]s' dark, gloomy underworld. The modern English word appears to derive most directly from "Holle" or "Hela" or "Hel", goddess of the dead in Germanic/[[Norse mythology]]. When the [[Anglo-Saxons]] later embraced [[Christianity]], the existing word in the language was reused in the new Christian concepts.

To Christians, hell is a place where the souls of the wicked are punished eternally for all the [[sins]] they perpetrated during their lifetime on Earth. Since all have sinned (Rom 3:23) hell can not be avoided on ones own merits, but through the love gift of [[Jesus]] one can know, love, and serve [[God]] and share eternity with Him in [[heaven]].

The Christian and [[Muslim]] religious traditions often emphasize the ''Gehenna'' aspect: Hell is extremely hot and filled with fire and [[brimstone]]. Opinion varies on the question of whether, while hell itself is eternal, experience of it purges away the sins of sufferers to the point of eventual redemption. See [[purgatory]]. A minority of Christians do not believe in an eternal hell as punishment, believing instead that the souls of the wicked are annihilated. This view is referred to as [[Annihilationism]]. There is also a question of whether hell has a literal burning fire, or whether it is separation from God and therefore has the same torment as if there was a burning fire. This view has been supported by writers such as [[J.P. Moreland]].

Although hell is a focus and a concern in Christian theology, the Bible has an even greater focus. In the [[King James Version]] the word hell is mentioned 54 times, but heaven is mentioned 551 times.

* Matthew 13:41-42 - ''The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.'''

* Matthew 25:41 - ''Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.''

* Matthew 25:46 - ''And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.''

* Mark 9:43 - ''And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.''

* 2 Thes 1:7-8 - ''And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.''

* Revelation 20:10 - ''And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.''

* Revelation 20:14-15 - ''And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.''

[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Islam]]

Great Flood

2007-09-25T04:21:19Z

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[[Image:Michelangeloflood.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''The Flood'', by Michaelangelo, detail from the [[Sistine Chapel]], 1509.]]
Cultures around the world record a world-destroying '''flood''' in their oral or written histories. Dr. [[John Morris]] wrote regarding the existence of a past worldwide flood the following: "One of the strongest evidences for the global flood which annihilated all people on Earth except for [[Noah]] and his family, has been the ubiquitous presence of flood legends in the folklore of people groups from around the world. And the stories are all so similar." <ref>http://www.icr.org/article/570/</ref> Today 60% of Americans accept as true the Biblical account of the Great Flood,<ref>http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040216-113955-2061r.htm</ref> and the olive branch returned by a dove to the Ark after the Flood is universally recognized as a symbol of peace.

== The Flood accounts ==

The best known of the flood accounts are, the two intermeshed versions found in the book of [[Genesis]], and the version found in the [[Gilgamish Epic]]. Both are written accounts.
The Genesis account is the most detailed of any of the accounts, and the one against which others are usually compared.
It has also been studied the most, with a number of terms used in reference to it, including the '''Flood''', '''Noah's Flood''', the '''Deluge''', the '''Great Flood''', and the '''Noahic flood'''.
The terms ''pre-diluvian'' and ''post-diluvian'' are used to refer to the times before and after the flood respectively.

A table comparing specific details in a number of different flood accounts can be found [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3107 here].

== The Genesis account ==

The Genesis account is the most detailed account.
In it, God warned Noah that He was going to destroy the world with a flood, because of the wickedness of mankind. Noah was to build an ark and take on it his family and representatives of all air-breathing, land-dwelling creatures. The ark was to be 300 cubits long by 50 cubits wide by 30 cubits high<ref>''Genesis'' 6:15</ref> (approximately 450 feet long, by 75 feet wide, by 45 feet high), have three decks, and rooms.

God brought the animals and birds to Noah, and there were, per Gen 7:2 two of the "[[unclean (animals)|unclean]]" animals and seven (or seven pairs) of the "[[clean (animals)|clean]]", and per Gen 6:19-20 "two of every sort".

After Noah and his family and all the creatures were on board, God shut the door of the ark.
The flood was brought on by the eruption of subterranean water ("''the fountains of the deep were opened''"), and rain.
The rain lasted nearly six weeks (40 days and nights).
The flood waters apparently continued to rise for 150 days, but it was just over a year before the waters had receded enough for the occupants of the ark to leave.

The ark is recorded as having come to rest on the mountains of Ararat, taken by many today to be the existing mountains of that name.
God put a rainbow in the clouds, and said that it was to be a reminder that he would never again destroy the world in a flood. (Genesis does not say that this was the first ever rainbow.)
He also told Noah that it was now okay to eat meat.

All people alive today are descendants of [[family of Noah|Noah and his family]].

== The Gilgamish Epic account ==

The council of the gods decided to destroy mankind with a flood, but Utnapishtim was warned by the god who had made man, Ea, to build a boat to take all living being. The length, width, and height were each 120 cubits (about 180 feet). It had seven stories.

The gods got frightened by the flood and retreated to heaven where they cowered and wept.
The flood lasted six days and seven nights, and was accompanied by wind and storm.
Utnapishtim send out a dove followed by a swallow, but both returned, unable to find land. He then sent a raven, which didn't return.

Dr. Jonathan Sarfati comments on the Gilgamish Epic:
:It is common to make legends out of historical events, but not history from legends. ... For instance, in Genesis, God’s judgment is just, he is patient with mankind for 120 years (Genesis 6:3), shows mercy to Noah, and is sovereign. Conversely, the gods in the Gilgamesh Epic are capricious and squabbling, cower at the Flood and are famished without humans to feed them sacrifices. That is, the human writers of the Gilgamesh Epic rewrote the true account, and made their gods in their own image.<ref Name="JS_GE" />

== Other ancient references ==

The Assyrian King [[Ashurbanipal]], who lived in the seventh century B.C., recorded, "I have read intricate tablets inscribed with obscure Sumerian or Akkadian...inscriptions on stone from before the Flood."<ref>[http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1032092 Ashurbanipal]</ref>

== Common Themes for Flood Accounts ==

=== Cause ===

Many of the accounts say that the flood was caused by God or some equivalent being.
In Genesis, it was Yahweh<ref>Genesis 6:3</ref>.
In the Gilgamish Epic, it was the council of the gods <ref Name="JS_GE">[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3107 Noah’s Flood and the Gilgamesh Epic] by Jonathan Sarfati, ''Creation'', vol. 28 No. 4 pp.12-17</ref>.
In the Bundaba (Australian aboriginal) flood story, it was Ngowungu, the Great Father. <ref>[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1468 Australian Aboriginal Flood Stories], ''Creation'' Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 6-9.</ref>
The Greeks recorded it as being [[Zeus]].<ref name="Greek">[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flood-myths.html#Greek Greek], in ''Flood Stories from Around the World'' by Mark Isaak.</ref>

=== Purpose ===

When the cause of the flood is attributed to a god, the reason is frequently said to be for [[mankind]]'s wickedness.
Genesis adds that "every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time".<ref>Genesis 6:5 (NIV)</ref>
The Miao account from China says, in verse, "These did not God's will nor returned His affection. / But fought with each other defying the Godhead. / Their leaders shook fists in the face of the Mighty."<ref>[http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=articles&action=view&ID=341 Genesis According to the Miao People], by Edgar A. Truax, ''Impact'', April 1991</ref>
A Navajo account says that it was because of "their sins of adultery and constant quarreling". <ref>[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flood-myths.html#Navajo Navajo (Four Corners area)], in ''Flood Stories from Around the World'' by Mark Isaak</ref>

=== What saved the people ===

People were generally saved either by floating out the flood, or fleeing to the top of a mountain. In the former case, the vessel took a variety of forms.
A Hopi Indian story has them surviving in the hollow stems of giant reeds<ref name="Hopi">[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flood-myths.html#Hopi Hopi], in ''Flood Stories from Around the World'' by Mark Isaak.</ref>
The Greek story has them surviving in a chest. <Ref name="Greek" />
In Genesis, Noah was instructed by God to build an ark to dimensions and other specifications included in the account.

=== Who was saved? ===

The survivors were often a single family.
An Australian aboriginal account has Ngadgja, the Supreme One, telling Gajara to take his wife, his sons, and his sons' wives.<ref name="Wunambal">[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1467 Aboriginal Flood Legend], by Howard Coates, ''Creation'' Vol. 4 No.3, pp.9-12</ref>
The Masai account from East Africa has Tumbainot taking his two wives, his six sons, and their wives.<ref name="Masai">[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flood-myths.html#Masai Masai (East Africa)], in ''Flood Stories from Around the World'' by Mark Isaak.</ref>
A Hawaiian story has Nuu taking his wife and three sons. <ref name="Hawaii">[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flood-myths.html#Hawaii Hawaii], in ''Flood Stories from Around the World'' by Mark Isaak.</ref>
Noah took his wife, his three sons, and their wives.<ref>Genesis 7:13</ref>

=== Birds sent out ===

Genesis describes Noah sending out birds to see if there was yet dry land.<ref>Genesis 8:6-12</ref>
Initially this was unsuccessful, but a subsequent attempt was successful when a dove didn't return. In the Hopi account also, they unsuccessfully sent out birds to find land.<ref name="Hopi" />
An Australian aboriginal account has a cuckoo not returning because it found land.<ref name="Wunambal" />
The Masai account has Tumbainot sending out a dove, which returned because it had no place to rest.<ref name="Masai" />

=== A rainbow ===

The Masai account has four rainbows signifying that God's wrath was over.<ref name="Masai" />
A Hawaiian account has the god Kane leaving a rainbow as a perpetual sign of his forgiveness.<ref name="Hawaii" />
From an Australian aboriginal story comes this account:
:Ngadja, the Supreme Being, put the rainbow in the sky to keep the rain-clouds back. The rainbow lies bent across the sky; he ties up the clouds behind it and the rain does not come. The rainbow keeps the clouds back and protects us so that the rainfall does not rise too high. Our people understand the significance of it. When we see the rainbow we say, ‘There will not be any abnormally heavy rain.’<ref name="Wunambal" />

Genesis says that the rainbow would be a reminder that God would never again destroy the world with a flood.<ref>Genesis 9:12-17</ref>

=== Criticisms ===

''See also criticism in [[Noah's Ark#Controversy|Noah's Ark]] and [[Flood Geology#Controversy|Flood Geology]].

Critics of the global flood suggest that the flood accounts are unrelated accounts of local floods, or stories influenced by the arrival of missionaries.

However, Nozomi Osanai responds that "''...the detailed nature of the widely spread statements has common elements to the Bible. In fact, even people who live far from the sea or in mountainous areas have flood traditions which are similar to the Genesis account.''"<ref>[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4089/ A comparative study of the flood accounts in the Gilgamesh Epic and Genesis, chapter 7], by Nozomi Osanai.</ref>

And Murray Adamthwaite responds regarding the missionary influence, "''...that explanation fails since in many cases secular anthropologists gathered the stories before missionaries reached these tribes with the Gospel. In other cases missionaries have related how they indeed told the story of Noah, only to find that the tribal folk already had a similar tale in their own legends.''"<ref>[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/2538 Animals, a Deluge and Noah’s Ark]</ref>

== Modern explanations ==

===Black Sea theory===
In 2000, explorers discovered evidence that humans lived where the [[Black Sea]] now is and speculated the sea was created during a great flood <ref>http://archives.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/09/13/great.flood.finds.ap/</ref>. Dr. Robert Ballard expanded on this theory, postulating that the Black Sea was much lower during the Ice Age (including the finding of a beach thousands of feet underwater), and when the walls holding back the Mediterranean Sea at the Bosporus broke, the sea rushed in and drowned the inhabitants; those who survived told the tale orally, and according to Ballard this became the basis for the flood accounts of Genesis and Gilgamesh [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/blacksea/ax/frame.html]. This theory is for a local flood, and not the world-wide flood as recorded in Genesis and many other cultural traditions. It also doesn't fit with many other details of the Genesis account.<ref>[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3392 Proof of Noah's Flood at the Black Sea?] by Creation Ministries International.</ref>

===Crustal Displacement Theory===
In ''When the sky fell: In search of Atlantis'' (1996), Rand Flem Ath <ref>http://www.flem-ath.com</ref> expanded on Professor [[Charles Hapgood]]'s theory of crustal displacement whereby the entire earth's crust moved with respect to the core. The suggested date for this was about 10,000 years BC. If a displacement had occurred then it would have caused enormous disruption to the the earth's oceans with massive tsunamis and heavy rain. Although the book was nominally about the disappearance of [[Atlantis]], the theory of crustal displacement not only explains the discrepancies in ice thickness in Greenland and Antarctica but also the sudden demise of the mammoths. This theory could also potentially explain the widespread existence of flood accounts throughout different cultures.

== Flood geology ==

''See main article: [[Flood Geology]]''

Flood geology is the study of the Earth's geology from the point of view that the Genesis account is true and accurate, and that evidence of the Flood can be found in the geology of the Earth.

Until the rise of [[uniformitarian]] geology in the early 19th century, most geologists accepted the Noahic deluge as part of geology.
But [[James Hutton]] proposed in 1795 that geology ought to be based on the processes that we see happening now, thereby automatically ruling the Flood out of consideration.
During the 19th century a number of "[[scriptural geologists]]" held out against the rising acceptance of Hutton's principles,<ref>The Great Turning Point, by Terry Mortenson. See also a series of articles in the ''Journal of Creation'', commencing with "British scriptural geologists in the first half of the nineteenth century: part 1" by Terry Mortenson, ''Journal of Creation'' Vol. 11 No. 2 pp. 221-252.</ref> but they fought a losing battle and interest in flood geology virtually died out by the end of the 19th century.

However, in the second half of the 20th century, interest was revived amongst people keen to show that the biblical account was correct, and a small but growing number of geologists are now studying this field again, although the vast majority of geologists still reject the idea of a global flood on Earth.

Flood geologists propose that such a world-wide, year-long flood would have caused massive erosion, sedimentation, and geological movements, and leaving extensive evidence in the [[geology|geological]] record.
Many propose that there was a single continent before the flood that broke up during the flood.
The idea of tectonic plate movement was proposed by creationary scientist Antonio Snider in 1859,<ref>[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3670 What About Continental Drift], Chapter 11 of The Answers Book Updated & Expanded, Don Batten (Ed.)</ref> although it was not until several other scientists had proposed similar ideas that the idea was adopted by mainstream scientists in the last few decades of the 20th century.

According to flood geologists, the flood resulted from subterranean water erupting to the surface ("''the springs of the great deep burst forth''"—Genesis 7:11, NIV), combined with 40 days and nights of rain.
Although the rain stopped after 40 days, the flood waters continued to rise for 150 days, and lasted just over a year before Noah and the others on the boat were able to leave.<ref>The flood began on the 17th day of the second month of the 600th year of Noah's life (Genesis 7:11) and the ark's passengers alighted on the 27th day of the second month of the 601st year of Noah's life (Genesis 8:13-15)</ref>
During the flood, there was massive tectonic activity, including some land rising up and other land dropping, such that the waters ended up in newly-deepened oceans.
All the animals and birds (except those on the ark), and large numbers of sea creatures perished, and many of them were buried so quickly that they became [[fossil]]s, accounting for the vast majority of fossils existing today.

Flood geology also proposes that the flood waters swept together and buried large mats of vegetation ripped from the surface of the Earth, forming the [[coal]] beds that are mined today.

===Creationist Scientists Defense of Flood Geology ===
Creationist scientists assert that there are multiple lines of evidence from the field of geology showing that flood geology is correct. <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/geology.asp</ref><ref>http://www.creationism.org/topbar/geology.htm</ref><ref>http://www.grisda.org/georpts/gr11.htm</ref><ref>http://www.nwcreation.net/geologylinks.html</ref><ref>http://globalflood.org/</ref> Creationist scientists also state that there was enough water to cause a worldwide flood and various other objections to a worldwide flood are invalid. <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/AnswersBook/flood12.asp</ref><ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/flood.asp</ref>

==External Links==

*[http://www.maicar.com/GML/Flood.html Greek Myths: Deucalion and the Flood]
*[http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/tab11.htm Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet 11 (Flood Story)]
*[http://www.nwcreation.net/geologycolumn.html Geological evidence from Northwest Creation]
*[http://www.genesisfiles.com/Library.htm#B Genesis Files website]
*[http://www.searchgodsword.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T2631]
*[http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/AnswersBook/global10.asp Was the Flood Global? Answers in Genesis article]
*[http://www.nationalgeographic.com/blacksea/ax/frame.html Black Sea theory, from Dr. Robert Ballard and National Geographic]
*[http://www.ilhawaii.net/~stony/lore64.html Native American flood story]
*[http://wovoca.com/myths-flood-1.htm Collection of Flood myths]

== Notes ==

<references />

[[category:geology]]
[[category:abrahamic Religions]]
[[category:history]]

Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty

2007-09-25T04:20:15Z

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'''Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty''' (1892 - 1975) was a Hungarian [[Catholic]] persecuted and imprisoned first by the [[Nazis]] and then by the [[Communists]] based on his [[faith]].

Mindszenty was ordained to the [[priest|priesthood]] on the [[Feast of the Sacred heart of Jesus]] on June 12, 1915 and, after serving faithfully for almost thirty years, was consecrated [[Bishop]] of Veszprem on March 25, 1944. From November 27, 1944 to April 20, 1945, he was imprisoned by the Nazis.

On October 2, 1945, [[Pope Pius XII]] appointed him [[Archbishop]] of Esztergom and Primate of [[Hungary]]. Just a few months later, on February 18, 1946, the Pope raised him to the Cardinalate. As Pope Pius XII placed the [[Cardinal]]'s hat on his head, the Pope said: "Among the thirty-two, you will be the first to suffer the martyrdom whose symbol this red color is."<ref>http://www.mindszenty.org/misc/jcm.html</ref>

In 1948 the Communists in [[Hungary]] banned religious orders. On December 26, 1948, Archbishop Mindszenty was arrested and charged with treason, conspiracy, and other offenses.

His trial began on February 3, 1949, and five days later he was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason against the communist Hungarian government.

On February 12, 1949, Pope Pius XII announced the [[excommunication]] of all persons involved in the trial and conviction of Mindszenty.

During the [[Hungarian Revolution]] in 1956, the freedom fighters released Cardinal Mindszenty from jail, and when the [[Soviet Union]] invaded Hungary to suppress it, he fled to the American embassy. Mindszenty then lived in captivity inside the embassy for 15 years, facing recapture should he ever step foot outside.

Upon the request of [[Pope Paul VI]], Cardinal Mindszenty, then almost 80, was allowed to depart from his country of Hungary, still occupied by the Communists, on September 29, 1971. He settled in Vienna, Austria and died there at the age of 83 a few years later.

Today, Cardinal Mindszenty is buried in the Church of the Assumption, the Basilica of Esztergom, Hungary. Pilgrims visit there daily and pray for his intercession in their needs.

== References ==

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mindszenty, Joseph}}

[[category:history]]
[[category:biography]]
[[category:religious people]]

Essenes

2007-09-25T04:19:13Z

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The '''Essenes''' were pious [[Jew]]ish ascetics who lived in communities in [[Palestine]] from the second century B.C. to the second century A.D., and may have been influential with key individuals such as [[John the Baptist]]. According to the historian [[Josephus]] (A.D. 27 - c. 100), the Essenes totaled about 4,000 late in the first century. Neither the [[Bible]] nor the Talmud mentions the Essenes, but in addition to Josephus, the historians Philo (20 B.C. - c. A.D. 40) and the elder Pliny (A.D. 23-79) confirm their existence.

The Essenes were celibates who adopted young children to maintain their numbers They believed in immortality and enforced a caste system in their rigorous community life.

They had nearly been forgotten when there was an extraordinary discovery in 1947 of ancient biblical texts preserved by the Essenes, known as the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]].

[[category:Judaism]]

Hinduism

2007-09-25T04:18:41Z

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'''Hinduism''' is the fourth largest religion in the world<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref>. Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It can be called "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's 1000 million Hindus live in India, and about 80 percent of Indians are Hindus.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their
religion."</ref>

It dates back to the ancient days. Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual unity with what is known as [[Brahman]] as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. The goal of Hindus is to advance to higher caste in next life through "[[karma]]" and achieve unity with Brahma.

== Description ==

In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes:

1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavad Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection, to be attained by adhering to a code of conduct. The Bhagavad Gita is a spiritual guide to life’s problems, like the parable in Christianity.

2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view.

3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession.

4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and pre-existence.

5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation.

6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts.

7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example Agni (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, Indra (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and Lakshmi (fortune).

Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref>

For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Hinduism]]

Homoousios

2007-09-25T04:18:15Z

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Homoousios is a term adopted by the first general council of the early Christian church to confirm that [[Christ]] was [[God]], on in being with the Father, and not simply like and from [[God]] as claimed by the [[Arians]] who were condemned at the [[Council of Nicea]].
[[category:Christianity]]

Infinity of God

2007-09-25T04:17:27Z

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The "infinity of God" is the perfection, without limitation, of God.

[[category:Abrahamic Religions]]

HaShem

2007-09-25T04:16:28Z

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'''HaShem''' (''Heb. "The Name"'') is the word used to refer to the Almighty, as it is against [[Jewish Law]] to name Him.
The name of the [[Lord]], rendered "יהוה " in [[Hebrew]] is believed by Jews to be used again only when Moshiach (the Messiah) comes and the [[Temple of Jerusalem|Temple]] in [[Jerusalem]] is rebuilt.

[[Category:Judaism]]

Anabaptists

2007-09-25T04:15:51Z

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[[Christian]]s of the Radical Reformation who believe that infant baptism was not valid.
[[Category:Christianity]]

Names of Christ

2007-09-25T04:15:07Z

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Names of Christ are the 26 distinct titles for the [[Messiah]] in the [[Old Testament]], and 65 distinct titles in the [[New Testament]].

For example, [[Jesus]] referred to Himself during teaching by these names:

*Son
*Way
*Truth
*Son of Man
*Bread of Life
*the Door
*the Vine
*Master
*Lord
*the Life
*Light of the World
*Good Shepherd
*the Resurrection
[[category:Christianity]]

Resurrection of Jesus Christ

2007-09-25T04:14:22Z

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According to [[Bible]], [[Jesus Christ]] was [[crucifixion|crucified]] and resurrected - raised from the dead - three days later. Christians celebrate the resurrection on [[Easter]].

It was soon after the darkest hour, not three days had passed. Women were weeping, men had turned their faces away. All his followers assumed they would never see Him again.

The time for burial was approaching, and two different groups of women came. But the angels appeared, saying, "He is not here; he has risen!" (Matt. 28:6)

"After His suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3).

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time." (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

== Defense of the resurrection of Jesus ==
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is critical to the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul wrote, "if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain" (I Cor:15:14). Traditionally, Christianity has believed in a physical resurrection of Jesus Christ. <ref>http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/crj0056a.txt</ref>

In the field of the defense of Christianity, which is known as [[Christian apologetics]], there have been [[Christian apologetics|many scholars who have provided numerous reasons for believing in the authenticity of the resurrection of Christ]]. In regards to [[early christianity]], many people who claimed to be eyewitnesses to the resurrected Jesus voluntarily preached the news of this despite extreme persecution, and died for their efforts. Unlike the early members of most religions, these people had the opportunity to be direct eyewitnesses to what verified the claims of Christianity.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category: Jesus]]
[[Category: Christianity]]
[[Category: Bible]]

Yahweh

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'''Yahweh''' is an Anglicized version of the Name of God, as spoken during the time of the [[Temple of Jerusalem|Temple]]. In the [[Hebrew]] written language, which often uses no written vowels, The Name is written ''[[Tetragrammaton|YHWH]]'', but never spoken.

However, because [[Jew]]s generally were forbidden by the [[Fifth Commandment]] to pronounce the sacred name, the vowels of ''Adonai'' (literally 'my lords') were normally inserted between its consonants, resulting in the name '[[Jehovah]]'. Reflecting the same taboo, the earlier English translations of the [[Bible]] replaced the name with the phrase 'the LORD'. Because [[Jesus]]' followers routinely called him ''adon'' ('boss', 'lord', which translated into the [[gospel]]s' [[Greek]] as ''kurios''), the two titles became confused in English, to the point where it became unclear whether the phrase 'the LORD' was referring to Jesus or to Yahweh.

==Sources==

* Armstrong, K., ''The Battle for God'' (Harper Perennial, 2000)
* Burrows, M., ''The Dead Sea Scrolls'' (Secker & Warburg, 1956)
* Cruden, A., ''Complete Concordance to the Old and New Testaments'' (Lutterworth, 1930)
* Cross, C., ''Who Was Jesus?'' (Hodder & Stoughton, 1970)
* Finkelstein, I. and Silberman, N. A, ''The Bible Unearthed'' (The Free Press/Simon & Schuster, 2001)
* ''The Holy Bible'' (King James Version)
* James, M. R., ''The Apocryphal New Testament'' (Clarendon, Oxford, 1953)
* ''The New English Bible'' (Oxford & Cambridge University Presses, 1970)
* ''The New Jerusalem Bible'' (Darton, Longman & Todd, 1990)
* Lemesurier, P., ''The Armageddon Script'' (Element Books, 1981)
* Peake, A.S., ''Commentary on the Bible'' (Nelson, 1962)
* Powell Davies, A., ''The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls'' (Mentor Books, New York, 1956)
* Schonfield, H. J., ''The Passover Plot'' (Hutchinson, 1965)
* Schonfield, H. J., ''The Pentecost Revolution'' (Macdonald, 1974)
* Schonfield, H.J., ''Those Incredible Christians'' (Bernard Geis, New York, 1968)
* Vermes, G., ''The Dead Sea Scrolls in English'' (Penguin, 1968)
* Vermes, G., ''The Dead Sea Scrolls: Qumran in Perspective'' (Collins, 1977)
* Vermes, G., ''Jesus the Jew'' (Collins, 1973)
* Young, R., ''Analytical Concordance to the Holy Bible'' (Lutterworth, 1939)

[[Category:Judaism]]
[[Category:Divine Beings]]
[[Category:Christianity]]

St. Joseph

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[[Image:St. Joseph..jpg|left]]

''[[God]] in His Wisdom chose '''St. Joseph''' a descendant of the house of [[David]] to be the most chaste spouse of the Blessed [[Virgin Mary]] and the foster father of Our Lord [[Jesus Christ]]. Joseph was a just man, who worked as a carpenter to look after Mary and the holy infant Jesus.'' <ref>[http://www.theworkofgod.org/saints/Lives/Joseph.htm Saint Joseph] The Work of God Apostolate </ref> ([[The Holy Family]])

'''Feast:''' 19th of March

In the Roman [[Catholic]] Church, he is the patron saint of workers and of several places.

 
'''Prayer to St. Joseph'''
[[Image:St. Joseph...jpg|200px|right]]
''Guardian of virgins and Father, Holy Joseph, to whose faithful care Christ Jesus, innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of Virgins, were committed: I pray and beseech Thee, by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, that free from all uncleanness, and with spotless mind, pure heart and chaste body, you make me ever more chastely familiar with Jesus and Mary, all the days of life. Amen.''

''Remember us, O Blessed Joseph, and aid us by your powerful intercession with Him who allowed himself to be called your son; make also gracious to us your most Blessed Virgin Spouse, the Mother of Him, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.''
== External links ==
*[http://www.nndb.com/people/654/000101351/ St. Joseph] NNDB.
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08504a.htm St. Joseph] Catholic Encyclopedia.

== References ==

<references/>
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Christian History]]
[[Category:Bible]]

Pentecostalism

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Pentecostalism is a spiritual Christian revivalist movement that began with Protestants and was also accepted by the Roman Catholic Church in the [[Second Vatican Council]]. The movement consists of a focus on the outpouring of the [[Holy Spirit]] on the [[Apostles]] as described in the [[Acts (of the Apostles)|Acts of the Apostles]] and embrace that same spirituality on a weekly or daily basis today. In sum, Pentecostalism consists of becoming a messenger for the [[Holy Spirit]] in modern times. Adherents seek gifts of prophecy and healing, and sometimes speak in different or unrecognized tongues.

Supporters of the movement cite as an obstacle to participation a distrust or diffidence towards the [[Holy Spirit]]'s ability to achieve today what was accomplished in the first century A.D.

[[category:Christianity]]

Pentateuch

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The Penatateuch, also called the [[Torah]], is the first five books of the [[Bible]]: [[Genesis]], [[Exodus]], [[Leviticus]], [[Numbers]], and [[Deuteronomy]]. The Pentateuch narrates from the creation of the universe to the arrival of the Israelites in the land of [[Canaan]]. Many religious [[Christians]] and [[Jews]] believe that the Pentateuch was written by [[Moses]] with the text either inspired or dictated by [[God]]. Many secular scholars believe that the Pentateuch was compiled as part of four main sources [[J (Bible)|J]], [[E (Bible)|E]], [[P (Bible)|P]] and [[D (Bible)|D]].<ref>http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Bible_Criticism_and_Its_Counterarguments.htm</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Septuagint]]
* [[Judaism]]

== References ==

<References/>

[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Judaism]]
[[Category:Book of Worship]]

Tariq Ramadan

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'''Tariq Ramadan''' is a second generation European ([[Switzerland]]) Muslim Scholar, dubbed a 'reformist' by some but also is a keen and devout Muslim. Ramadan is the grandson of [[Hassan al-Banna]] who founded the conservative [[Muslim Brotherhood]] in 1928, which advocates a return to traditional Muslim life. Ramadan on the other hand advocated a [[Muslim Renaissance]], an informal group of Muslims with idealistic visions of Medieval [[Islam]], aiming to restore the kind of society that the [[Fatimid Muslims]] of [[Cairo]] championed. The Fatimids were the highlight of the Muslim golden age, with strong emphasis on education, the Liberal arts and pluralism.

==External Links==
*[http://www.tariqramadan.com/ Tariq Ramadan's homepage]
*[http://www.time.com/time/innovators/spirituality/profile_ramadan.html Time magazine predicts the most innovative men of the 21st century]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramadan, Tariq}}

[[category:Islam]]