Religion

According to the biblical account, one of the gifts given to the Christ child by the three wise men was frankincense, which not only was a substance of significance at that time, but remains in...

"Pilgrim's Progess" is the most successful allegory ever written, according to the New Schaff-Herzog Encylopedia of Religions. The writer, John Bunyan (1628-1688), published it in two parts, in...

Fire magic is the magic of destruction, as well as divination and passion. Typically, its destructive force is used to eradicate bad habits and disease. It is also used as a symbol of the sun in...

Many churches feel that a children's ministry is an essential part of the function of the church. Some dedicate a great deal of time, money and entire wings of the church to the children. Other...

Sikhism is a religion that was developed in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak Dev, who wanted an alternative to Hinduism and Islam that was focused on God, according to ReligionFacts. The...

I started smoking when I was about 10 years old, I know!!! that’s just super crazy!! but…sadly true. :( I used to tell people that I was not a smoker, I was the smoker, I was the reason smoking...

Music plays a very important role in a church service. To get the most out of the music that is being played, you need to have a quality sound system. This way, everyone in the auditorium is able...

Albertus Magnus, or Albert the Great, was a German theologian whose efforts to interpret Aristotle and connect the natural sciences with Christian thought made him a Catholic saint.

Amish customs barely change with each new generation. Observing the performance of ordinary tasks might appear to an outsider as a step back in time.

A deacon's wife, sometimes referenced as a deaconess, has a unique set of responsibilities. In addition to church-based duties, a deacon's wife performs other duties to establish her role in both...

The senior pastor is the spiritual and administrative leader of the local Protestant church. This position is usually filled by interview with the church's hiring committee or a state overseer.

Quan Yin, also known as Kuan Yin, Kwan Yin, Pinyin, Guanyin, and Kuan Shih Yin, plays an enormous role in Mahayana Buddhism. She appears in hundreds of manifestations across Asia, and millions of...

Writing a welcome speech for a church event can be a challenging affair. Whether you are welcoming congregants to a wedding, funeral, baptism, confirmation or regular service you are setting the...

Instead of being a time of thanksgiving and joy, for many, the holiday season is often depressing. Because of the current failing economy, widespread panic concerning the H1N1 virus, battles...

If you want to write sermons that convict you are walking onto dangerous ground, holy ground really. It is ground upon which we are not really worthy to walk. This is take off your shoes...

Conflict theory for religion is a natural outgrowth of the conflicts that naturally exist in cultures. Religious identity acts as an indicator of social status while incorporating the social...

Chaplains typically do not oversee large congregations as pastors but work with individuals or families in many nontraditional church settings. Chaplains are often required by their licensing...

Tarot is a method of divination using cards imprinted with archetypal, symbolic and spiritual images. There are two universal tarot decks, each one distinguished by the name of its designer and...

Eastern traditions teach that the body has different energy centers, called chakras, which correspond to different parts of the body, vital organs and emotions. The word chakra actually means...

The 7 days in Bible history symbolizes God's creation of the world. This account can be found in the first two chapters of the Bible's first book, Genesis.

The cedar tree has been revered for its spiritual significance for thousands of years. Its wood was used for the doors of sacred temples and burned in cleansing ceremonies for purification. The...

It's one thing to take pride in your accomplishments or have a healthy view of yourself, but when pride becomes exaggeratedly self-centered, it's sinful. This kind of pride hinders every part of...

The Christian faith is based on Jesus Christ and His resurrection. It is an active faith requiring belief in God and a trusting acceptance of His will. For the Christian, faith is continually...

They seem nice enough, but these guys have training that would make cold-callers jealous. They're very polite, but they somehow manage to keep the conversation going. Mormonism is one of the...

Sunday School began in the 1780s as a way to teach the working poor of England reading, writing and proper conduct. It quickly spread to America and has since become a cultural institution. Some...

Many people believe in God. Most of those people don't know where to go beyond that. There is one simple thing to do that can get you started on the path to building your relationship with God. ...

Church greeters are on the front line of ministry. They are the first and last face seen by visitors and members at worship times. The church greeter should be a people person with a friendly,...

Sitting in the pews of your church can cause you to become calloused to the voice of God. Knowing how to find God in a sermon will strengthen your relationship with the Lord. Listening to the...

Tibetan Buddhists raise prayer flags (Dar Cho) outside of homes and monasteries. Tibetan prayer flags are inscribed with Tibetan mantras, symbols and prayers. Decorating prayer flags is a...

When preparing to teach children about the Ten Commandments, the last thing you will want to do is to assemble a boring Bible lesson on the subject. Instead, invite children to participate in the...

Some people want the quick and easy certification that allows them to marry their friends a month from now. But for those who feel called to serve others in their Christian faith and wish to...

The Law of Karma and the Law of Attraction both deal with a person bringing about certain events in their life either through positive action or positive thought.

The steeple of any church says a lot about the church itself. A steeple can be seen from a distance away and create an attraction for onlookers. Choosing a church steeple may seem like a daunting...

The Feng Shui ruler is used to measure dimensions and proportions of rooms, doors and furniture, because certain measurements bring good fortune while others bring misfortune. According to...

"Pulpit" is most often associated with religion, referring to the podium or platform from which a preacher or other cleric speaks. The term can also refer to clergy and religion in general.

If you're a Christian and you plan on dating a non-Christian, there are a few things that should be considered before making any long-term commitments. Although it may not seem like a huge issue...

When wearing tefillin, it's important to remember that the knot is always supposed to face in towards the heart. Make sure you are wearing your tefillin correctly with guidance from a Rabbi in...

A shofar is blown from the right side of the mouth and will begin with a long sound to start with. Find out how to prepare and blow a shofar with guidance from a Rabbi in this free video on Jewish...

A kippah can be made out of any material and is worn on the top of the head to remind you that there is something above. Satisfy this Jewish obligation with help from a Rabbi in this free video on...

When caring for a shofar, make sure to clean it out with bleach and water to eliminate any odors that might accompany it at first. Discover how to care for a shofar with advice from a Rabbi in...

A mezuzah is hung typically within the top third of the doorway on the right side of the entrance. Learn how to properly hang a mezuzah with help from a Rabbi in this free video on Jewish practices.

When laying tefillin, you'll make your blessing once the wraps are on the sides of your head. Find out how to correctly lay the head tefillin with help from a Rabbi in this free video on Jewish...

To wear a tallit, start by holding it over your head while holding both edges of the embroidered edge. Discover how to wear a tallit with guidance from a Rabbi in this free video on Jewish culture.

A disciple is a Christian who accepts and helps in the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is the process in which Christians grow in the Lord through the direction of the...

to move beyond the dilemma of needing to ask why? and instead focus on our personal transformation - that is the restorative, rejuvenating, enduring path to wholeness and completion the key to...

You will discover the specialness and joy of celebrating a baptism.

Traditionally, western medicine separated the physical body from the non-physical mind, believing in their independent existence. Today, western medicine accepts a possible link between the mind...

Soma is worshiped by religious groups identifying with ancient works specifically from the Valley of the Indus. Modern scholars identify the Soma as any number of different concepts including a...

Praise dancing has been an important aspect of religious worship since ancient times. There have been numerous descriptions of this particular form of dance, which has received various labels as a...