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DEVRY RELI448 all week discussions

Religious Experience (graded)Have you ever had an experience that you could properly describe as religious? I have in mind not only dramatic experiences like visions and conversions, but also more commonplace, socially-embedded experiences such as receiving communion, becoming bar mitzvah, serving as a godparent for a young relative, or even simply attending religious services. Think about that experience and ask yourself: Did it put you in touch with the infinite? How would you describe the experience? Was it transcendent? Monotheistic? Elaborate.The Origins of Religion (graded)Imagine that you are in a comparative religions class and your professor argues that all religious experience is false. It is nothing more than a projection of childhood fears (sic Freud). How would you answer your professor? Use one of the authors studied this week to counter this claim. Use specific details to support your answer.This section lists options that can be used to view responses.week 2 discussionThe Paths to God (graded)The Bhagavad Gita states: “Whatever man give me / In true devotion: / Fruit or water, / A leaf, a flower: / I will accept it. / That gift is love, / His heart’s dedication. / Whatever your action, / Food or worship; / What the gift / That you give to another; / Whatever you vow / To the work of the spirit: / Lay these also / As offerings before me.” What do these verses say about Hindu ethics? Do you see any parallels between these and Jesus’s sayings in the Gospels? Elaborate.Jainism and Ahimsa (graded)Jainism has five ethical principles, the first of which is ahimsa, or, nonviolence towards all living creatures. Some Jains sweep the ground in front of them to avoid killing small insects. Jains are also strict vegetarians, and some reject the use of any animal products such as leather and jewelry. Do you think this kind of ethic is reasonable for all people or only a minority? Argue the case for or against such strict principles.The Four Noble Truths (graded)The most important of the Four Noble Truths is the fourth, the Noble Eightfold Path. Did anything in particular strike you about these “paths” (e.g., the idea of “right thoughts,” that we should always try to act with pure motives)? Do you see any similarities between the Noble Eightfold Path and Christianity? Did Jesus say anything similar to Buddha in this regard? Elaborate.This section lists options that can be used to view responses.Two Parables: The Prodigal Son (graded)Read the Buddhist and Christian versions of the prodigal son story:.comparativereligion.com/prodigal.html”>https://essays.homeworkacetutors.com/write-my-essay/comparativereligion.com/prodigal.html.comparativereligion.com/prodigal.html.”>What do you see as the main difference between these two stories? You can start by simply taking one element of the parable and discussing how this element differs in the two parables. For example, how is the role of the father different in the Buddhist and Christian versions of the story? Elaborate.week 4Confucius Says… (graded)Confucius was once asked if there was one rule that could serve as the guide to one’s whole life. He replied: “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” How does this rule compare with Jesus’ teaching on the Golden Rule? Look at these Biblical verses to see if you can tell the difference: Matthew 7:12; Matthew 5:21-26, 43-48 (see the Webliography for an online Bible). Is there one rule that you live by?East Meets West (graded)The ideas of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) have been widely translated into English. Some might recall the delightful children’s version of The Tao of Poo and The Te of Piglet. Consider this saying: “The best man is like water. Water is good; it benefits all things and does not compete with them. It dwells in places that all disdain…The best man in his dwelling loves the earth…” What does this mean to you? Do you agree with this philosophy? Can you see any connection between Taoism and the environmental movement? Elaborate.Judaism and the Prophetical Tradition (graded)The prophet Amos spoke out against the injustices of the Northern Kings of Israel. He set the tone for centuries of prophetical figures in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. A central theme of the prophetical tradition is social justice. Read Amos 2:6-16; 5:14-15 in this regard (see the Webliography for an online Bible). Do you think churches have done enough with regard to social inequality, poverty, injustice, and so on? What one issue do you think churches should address today?Biblical Themes: The Problem of Evil (graded)Epicurus is generally credited with first expounding the problem of evil, and it is sometimes called “the Epicurean paradox”: “Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?” The problem of evil poses this question: how can a God who is all-powerful, all-wise, and all-good permit so much pain, suffering, and evil in the world? How would you answer this question?week 6Jesus and the Kingdom of God (graded)Write a page paper – Describe some of the values Jesus had in mind when he used the phrase “Kingdom of God.” One scholar has called Jesus’s message “ethical apocalypticism.” What do you think this means in light of our discussion of apocalypticism in the text? (You might want to relate this to theBeatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12.)The Proofs for the Existence of God (graded)Read through the Proofs for the Existence of God carefully (see Webliography). Do any of them convince you? If the answer is yes, then explain one that resonates with you. If the answer is no, then what purpose do you think those proofs serve?Would it make a difference to you if the proofs were somehow made better? How would Jesus have responded to attempts to prove the existence of God?week 7The Five Pillars of Islam (graded)In that it recognizes one God who rules the entire world, Islam may be called a universal religion. However, although Islam grew out of a particular seventh-century Arabian context, Muslims claims that its central document, the Qur’an, must be read in Arabic in order to be fully appreciated. How can Islam or any similar religion resolve the tension between the universal and the particular? How can it (or any other faith) be a religion for people of all races and nationalities without giving up its distinctive cultural heritage?Indigenous Religions (graded)Indigenous religions, such as those of Native American traditions, claim a special relationship with nature. Give an example of this relationship. Some have said that urban people in the modern world romanticize the attitude towards nature held by indigenous peoples. Are there any examples of unnecessary damage made to the environment by native groups of the past?

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