Analyzing Smith´s The Meaning and End of Religion

Stephen Prothero’s “God Is Not One” is a survey of world religions, comprising vital information on a vast array of different sets of belief. As someone who has never studied religion before, nor belongs to a particular faith, the variability within these religions is staggering. One might be satisfied to define religion as “how a person goes about believing in God,” but soon finds that even that definition has its holes. Thankfully, “God Is Not One” does an amazing job of cluing its reader into the nuances that are sometimes forgotten about the religions it approaches.

　　There are many books on religion that try to break down each with enough facts to get the reader to understand. Though books are filled fact after fact and at times, slight biases, they sometimes forget to include values and reasons why people follow them. Because of this, students can miss out on a chance to get a deeper understanding of religion and the people that follow it. Huston Smith’s The World's Religion, Revised & Updated is that book that can broaden students’ viewpoint of all religions.

According to Hinks, Methodists were usually more willing to place “the powerful God of Christianity… on the side of social and political justice.” One religious message that Walker conveys through this Appeal that supports this claim, was

Karen Armstrong, author of “Homo Religiosus,” claimed that without the physical rituals and traditions, religion morphed into a belief. Simply put, Armstrong argued that religion requires not only blind faith but also customs and practices that affect one’s physical and mental behaviors. It is through these rituals and taboos that the religions grows and forms, and yet also changes when deemed necessary. Additionally, Armstrong constantly compares religion to different art forms. She does this to convey the message that much like art, one must focus and study religion for lengthy periods of time to be properly understood. However, this connection also suggests that art and religion can perform an analogous role to humankind when required, as they both evolve and change when a society 's infrastructure does. Throughout her essay “Homo Religiosus,” Armstrong focuses on the similar role that both art and religion play in society to discuss her claim that religion is not just a belief, but rather has to do with changes in physical and mental behaviors that in return create change in society and the religion one needs.

New England marks the beginnings of the Baptist struggle for “religious liberty.” Baptist names such as: Roger William, John Clark, and William Screven were significant figures that advanced the cause and displayed the trials and struggle of “religious liberty.” Roger William, (who was a

Huston Smith -----The World's Religions Huston Smith first wrote this book The World’s Religions with the name The Man’s Religions in 1958. Since then the book has remained a renowned literary and religiously popular among the literary as well as the religious circles. The book provides a good source of nearly all the prominent religions of the world, gives us an understanding, and insight and the point of view of these religions. His first chapter of the book is Point of Departure. In this chapter, Huston explains his journey though various religions. Though it is just an overview of his thoughts and beliefs, it gives a premise of what lay ahead. In the fist paragraph of this chapter that reads: “Traditionally, When People Wanted Answers to life's ultimate questions -- Where are we? Why are we here? What does it all mean? What, if anything, are we supposed to do? -- they looked to their revealed texts; or to their ancestral myths if they were oral peoples (it comes to the same thing). Since the rise of modern science, however, they have turned increasingly to it for answers. This is understandable, for controlled experiments enable science to prove its theses; and with those theses it has remade the world. It is a signal feature of our century's close that we recognize that this turn to science was mistaken. Not entirely mistaken, for science (and its spin-off, technology) have their place. What was mistaken was to expect science to answer ultimate questions, for its

Dr. Andreas Kostenberger is the Director of PhD Studies and Professor of New Testament at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Kostenberger uses the Word of God from the Old and New Testament on marriage, gender roles, headship, sex, child-rearing, divorce, and homosexuality. In the second edition of God, Marriage, and Family, by Köstenberger and Jones investigate the most recent contentions, social movements, and teachings inside both the congregation and society and further apply Scripture 's immortal standards to contemporary issues. We live in a time period of a crisis in regards to marriage and the family, and the only way the institution of marriage can be rebuild is by the biblical foundation in the Word of

Can you imagine taking care of 40 wives, being the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and fighting for his religious and civil rights? Joseph Smith, prophet and leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints, left an important legacy on religion and American History; Smith restored the mormon church, became prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and was murdered for his religious beliefs. Smith as a young kid moved often and had a desire to find the true church but he knew that none of the churches that were on Earth while he was young were the true church. Joseph Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont and after a few years of moving some more he moved to New York.

Theology is dynamic. It has changed and adapted at various points in the course of history to adapt to the world around it. From Augustine and Aquinas to modern theologians, the concept of religion hasn’t faded but rather morphed to fit the development around it. While science has usually held a contention with religion however it has no need to. Adam Smith (d. 1790) of the University of Glasgow presents some interesting insights into the world of morality and theology and man’s religion.

My initial introduction to this essay was gracious and open-minded, highlighting the priesthood of all believers and the need for personal and community discernment on the topic of marriage equality in Australia. It is very important to note that this author still sincerely believes these things, and their virtues. However, in light of recent life events, like the picketing of one’s Church for employing a) a female minister, and b) the Church leadership’s support of marriage equality, on top of one’s own father feeling the need to explain exactly how the institutionalisation of marriage equality is evidence we live in the end-times as its signifies the tearing apart of society’s very fabric, one’s Christian grace and mercy is wearing

Look back twenty-five years ago, on same sex marriage was a ?thought experiment? in our culture. The idea promoted primarily by those on the left and other cultures who?noticed?? amount of?boundaries to personal freedom and behavior. (April 6th, 2013 Dr.Jim Eckman).Just Seventeen years ago Congress pass a Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which define a marriage, as a union between a man and women. In recent years, the debate has moved beyond questions of individual rights and proper family formation to include questions that pit religious liberty against non-discrimination policies. While all laws legalizing same-sex marriage contain some conscience protections allowing churches and other religious groups to refuse to marry gay and lesbian couples,

In the article, The Meaning and End of Religion, by Wilfred Cantwell Smith writes about his idea of the concept of religion explaining it to be a universally valid category as it is theorized but is truly a European creation. Throughout the article Smith conveys his ideas of religion. In his piece, there are several interesting ideas and most important thoughts that he tries to communicate to the reader. In response, the reader can respond to some of the important questions posited by Smith.

Homosexuality continues as a controversial topic of conversation amongst the civil society and church worldwide. Although in recent decades the homosexual agenda appears to gain territory in legislation and so called civil rights we (Bible believing Christians) should understand that even though gay marriages are supported by the legal system the body of Christ is under a different governing system. As ambassadors of the Kingdom, imitators of Jesus Christ, and Image bearers of God we must acknowledge marriage as a sacred institution between one man and one woman not between the same sex. Meaning we do not condone homosexuality but our love toward homosexuals honor God’s word (NIV, Mr. 10: 6-9; Jn. 3:16). Therefore, the body of Christ should

I join in with your feeling of incensed that, "The Judicial Council also decided, in separate rulings, that the New York and Illinois regions must ask candidates for the ministry about their sexuality and rule out those who are gay "or in any other way violating the church's standards on marriage and sexuality."" (Goodstein, Laurie. Methodist High Court Rejects First Openly Gay Bishop's Consecration,

Nearly every person has differing opinions on homosexuality. Sadly, these divisive differences are even found in the Church, forcing people to pick sides and stand against those we should be united with. As a young child, this was made apparent to me when my family stopped attending a conservative Mennonite Church due to their stance on homosexuality; rather, we began attending a Missionary Church. However, these two denominations aren’t the only that have differences in belief about homosexuality. From one denomination to another, there may be minor or drastic differences; regardless, these Church doctrines shape how we react to homosexuality and those who declare themselves homosexual. By comparing three major Church views, as demonstrated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Mennonite Church, and the Missionary Church, we will gain a more complete picture of the different prevailing beliefs regarding homosexuality. Once this has been attained, one will be able to compare these beliefs to the Bible. Homosexuality has been, and will continue to be, a hot button topic in the Church; therefore, it is imperative to formulate what one believes about the topic, especially as one decides which Church denomination to attend.