Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Legends shrouded in mystery and controversy speak of ancient Chinese pyramids in the Himalaya Mountains. The second-largest mountain in the world, K2, is often touted as an example of evidence supporting this legend, and scientists researching the region may even have been inspired by the tale. Either way, it is a story that affects many.
Joss sticks are used as a part of some Taoist ceremonies, including funerals. Joss sticks, like incense, are scented, paste-covered sticks that give off an aromatic smoke when burned. Taoism is a Chinese philosophy that says the "tao" or "way" is a force that flows through all life. Taoists strive to live in harmony with the tao.
Christians are instructed in 1 Peter 3:15 to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you the reason of the hope that is in you." People ask many questions about the validity of the Bible and the claims Christians make about God and Creation. Apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith through logical argument rather than just citation of Bible verses. The purpose of apologetics is for Christians to be sure about their own beliefs and enable them to share those beliefs with others.
The pentacle symbol, consisting of a five-pointed star within a circle, has great significance for a wide range of religious and spiritual practices. It most commonly represents either Wicca or Satanism, depending on its pictorial orientation. For those who practice either faith, wearing a pentacle necklace that faces the proper direction can be a way to outwardly represent their convictions to the world.
Funerals and death rituals change between cultures and religions. Some cultures build ornate chambers and tombs, like the ancient Egyptian pyramids, while others simply bury their dead with a small headstone, like typical American burials. It all depends on what a person believed about the afterlife and the culture he came from.
For centuries, the blind were considered not capable of learning to read and write. Fortunately, a joint commitment by the sighted and the sightless, combined with technical ingenuity, produced techniques that have allowed the blind to achieve literacy and express their unlimited learning potential.
Religion and art always have had a close relationship throughout history. The influence that religion has exerted on art has allowed scholars not only to understand a culture's core beliefs and values, but also helped them understand the spirit of different historical periods. This idea holds true in the case of how religion influenced art in ancient Rome in both the public and private spheres.
Apologetics is the teaching of how to defend one's Christian faith. The study of apologetics could fill numerous books. A properly designed apologetics course will instruct students how to speak against assaults on the Christian faith. As part of the teaching, the students will learn how to spread the Gospel message in a positive way and give answers to anyone's question about biblical faith.
The concept of heaven and hell is a subject that many of us wonder about especially as we begin to accept the fact of our inevitable mortality. It is quite easy to accept the soul as being eternal but to envision eternal life without our physical bodies can be both intriguing and troubling for some.
Vedanta, "the end of knowledge," is an ancient philosophical system that provides the foundation for the umbrella of beliefs that is Hinduism. There is a great deal of literature that shows the depth of Vedanta, which can lead to a practical and deeply spiritual way of life.
There are many instances in which Muslims and non-Muslims date, fall in love, and even get married. Very traditional and strict Muslims are often (but not always) against the concept of dating entirely, especially dating non-Muslims, but there are a lot of real world examples of Muslims in happy relationships and marriages with people of other religions.
