The Amish are a religious sect of Christianity that has made a big impact on American culture. Though they appear to hold opposite values than most Americans, they still seem to embody the American spirit of independence, individuality and religious freedom. The Anabaptists The roots of the Amish sect come from a religious group in Europe known as the Anabaptists. At the time of the Protestant Revolution, the Anabaptists split off from the rest of Protestantism with … [Read more...]
Spirituality and Religion Category
In this section you will find articles on various religions, commentary and exploration of spiritual issues. Enjoy.
Judaism: The Religion Founded On A Contract
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The philosophical and ethical tenets of Judaism have served as the foundation for much of Western civilization. Yet, many people – including those with Jewish ancestry – are unaware of the history of the Jewish people and religion. The “official” start of Judaism occurred approximately 2000 years before the birth of Christ, when Abraham entered into a contractual relationship with God. Abraham lived in the land of Canaan (the region now known … [Read more...]
The Snake Rope: Essential Buddhist Teaching in a Simple Story
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Buddhism is a large and diverse religion. It has many branches and schools of thought that might look quite different from one another at first glance. Its large corpus of texts and philosophical discourses abounds with a variety of ideas concerning life and enlightenment. Nevertheless, there are certain key Buddhist teachings which serve as unifying elements and make Buddhism recognizable as Buddhism. The story of the snake rope beautifully serves to highlight the key … [Read more...]
Was There a Historical Jesus?
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To Christians, the question if there was a real, historical Jesus is an absurd one. Believers would argue there is no question about there being a real Jesus in history. However, there are those critics such as Timothy Freke, a popular author, and Peter Joseph, the maker of the Zeitgeist film series, who assert that the real existence of Jesus is just a myth. Both sides of the debate at times try to co-opt the historical and academic side for their own, claiming that … [Read more...]
Who Were The Puritans?
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The puritans were a division of protestants in the 16th and 17th century from England. One sect in particular was called the English Calvinists. These people were sometimes outcasts from the regular clergy that did not believe in the more progressive nature of the Church of England at the time. The term puritan should not be confused with the idea that these people were pure of heart or mind; however this is what they thought of themselves. Historically the word … [Read more...]
