Abstract - Greene feels that the remoteness with spirituality of the human in the modern society has led to a loss of faith in God and traditional human values. The peace, belief and moral values are absent among the human. In addition, he condemns the modern civilization with its deep sense of spiritual sense to reach God from the darker side of life. However, he suggests the hope that any human activity exercised with a strong faith in spirituality, there the souls remain unaffected from all evil forces and sufferings. He also reveals the universal dictum that faith in spirituality ultimately wins. It is the only means known on this mortal Earth that can put human at liberty (Moksha) from all kinds of worldly sufferings.
Keywords - Spirituality, Sin, Christianity, Redemption, Purification, Religion, Morality.
Jesus warns against three ways that false faith in one's fellow man can lead to God's judgment: 1) irrational anger towards others without cause, 2) devaluing others by calling them worthless, and 3) carelessly accusing or labeling others as fools. True faith and righteousness is shown through rational anger that conforms with God's love, respecting each person's value as created by God, and avoiding false accusations by judging oneself before others.
Jesus was to be loved with undying loveGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus being loved with undying love. It is to be love that never ends and thus love that influences all that we do in living out the Christian life pleasing to Him.
This paper analyzes Jessica's actions in The Merchant of Venice using Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development. It argues that Jessica demonstrates the highest level of moral reasoning by considering her father's perspective but deciding to disobey him to marry Lorenzo based on universal principles of love and happiness. While her actions hurt her father, she still cares for him. The paper compares Jessica's decision favorably to Portia's, saying Jessica exhibits more individualism by taking control of her happiness rather than relying on fate. It concludes Jessica deserves more credit for her moral reasoning abilities.
Chapter 3 of Renovation of the Heart ClassCarlin Trammel
The chapter discusses the ruined state of the human soul apart from God. It argues that we are all corrupted by sin and in denial of our true condition. When God is denied, intellects become darkened and sensuality becomes the primary focus as we pursue fleeting pleasures. Our pride causes us to try and take God's place, leading to self-obsession. We are lost from God and unable to fulfill our purpose. Only by acknowledging our ruin can we find the path of spiritual transformation through Christ.
An psychological, sociological and spiritual exploration of the need for forgiveness as well as its clear distinction from appeasement. A must-read for today's policy-makers.
1) C.S. Lewis is admired for his ability to speak intimately to people about Christianity despite intellectual struggles with his faith. This is because he experienced deep pains like the deaths of his mother and wife despite earnestly praying for their healings.
2) These events shook Lewis' faith and led him to doubt God. However, he continued wrestling openly with difficulties in believing rather than ignoring objections.
3) Lewis' relationship with God feels authentic because it underwent serious testing but withstood rigorous scrutiny, representing the thinking believer who chooses Christ not for appeals to emotion but because faith has met objections head on.
Jesus warns against three ways that false faith in one's fellow man can lead to God's judgment: 1) irrational anger towards others without cause, 2) devaluing others by calling them worthless, and 3) carelessly accusing or labeling others as fools. True faith and righteousness is shown through rational anger that conforms with God's love, respecting each person's value as created by God, and avoiding false accusations by judging oneself before others.
Jesus was to be loved with undying loveGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus being loved with undying love. It is to be love that never ends and thus love that influences all that we do in living out the Christian life pleasing to Him.
This paper analyzes Jessica's actions in The Merchant of Venice using Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development. It argues that Jessica demonstrates the highest level of moral reasoning by considering her father's perspective but deciding to disobey him to marry Lorenzo based on universal principles of love and happiness. While her actions hurt her father, she still cares for him. The paper compares Jessica's decision favorably to Portia's, saying Jessica exhibits more individualism by taking control of her happiness rather than relying on fate. It concludes Jessica deserves more credit for her moral reasoning abilities.
Chapter 3 of Renovation of the Heart ClassCarlin Trammel
The chapter discusses the ruined state of the human soul apart from God. It argues that we are all corrupted by sin and in denial of our true condition. When God is denied, intellects become darkened and sensuality becomes the primary focus as we pursue fleeting pleasures. Our pride causes us to try and take God's place, leading to self-obsession. We are lost from God and unable to fulfill our purpose. Only by acknowledging our ruin can we find the path of spiritual transformation through Christ.
An psychological, sociological and spiritual exploration of the need for forgiveness as well as its clear distinction from appeasement. A must-read for today's policy-makers.
1) C.S. Lewis is admired for his ability to speak intimately to people about Christianity despite intellectual struggles with his faith. This is because he experienced deep pains like the deaths of his mother and wife despite earnestly praying for their healings.
2) These events shook Lewis' faith and led him to doubt God. However, he continued wrestling openly with difficulties in believing rather than ignoring objections.
3) Lewis' relationship with God feels authentic because it underwent serious testing but withstood rigorous scrutiny, representing the thinking believer who chooses Christ not for appeals to emotion but because faith has met objections head on.
This document discusses the meaning of Christian love according to biblical teachings. It defines love as an action rather than just a feeling, explaining that Christian love is choosing to do what is best for others regardless of personal cost. It differentiates biblical agape love from other forms of love by describing agape as unconditional love for both friends and enemies. The document also examines Jesus' teachings on love from the Sermon on the Mount and his summation of the Ten Commandments as loving God and others.
This is a study of how Jesus looked going through his trials and crucifixion. He was not desirable at this time, and was despised by a great many. Only believers can see the beauty in all His suffering.
1) John Marrant's narrative differs from typical slave narratives as it focuses more on his spiritual and religious experiences than providing an emotional account of his time in bondage.
2) The narrative can be seen as subtly legitimizing slavery as Marrant takes a submissive position and distances himself from his black identity in order to be accepted by white people.
3) When facing execution, Marrant asks his executioner for permission to pray, showing that both God and the executioner hold power over him as his master. The narrative reinforces the use of Christianity to justify white supremacy and slavery.
Chapter 4 of Renovation of the Heart ClassCarlin Trammel
This document summarizes key points from a chapter in the book "Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ" that was discussed in a Wednesday night class. The chapter discusses radical goodness being restored to the soul through self-denial, losing one's life to find it, taking up the cross, and giving rather than receiving. It emphasizes becoming dead to self and one's own desires, and standing up for what is right without ego or anger. The class discussion questions focus on these themes of losing one's life in Christ, counting the costs of discipleship, finding perfect joy through suffering, and avoiding pride when standing up for righteousness.
1) Self-control was essential to Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War, as it allowed him to restrain his anger and avoid further alienating people.
2) Self-control prevents virtues like love, joy, and kindness from becoming perverted or leading to harmful extremes when not balanced.
3) Self-control is necessary to obey God's will and resist temptation, as it gives believers power over their instincts and prevents sin. Without self-control, the Christian life risks failure.
This document is an e-book titled "The 7 Pervasive Whims" by Scott E. Byorum. It explores interpretations of the seven deadly sins - lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. The introduction frames the sins as pervasive aspects of human nature that can be detrimental if not overcome. Each sin is then examined individually through poetic passages and short quotes from various contributors defining when one knows they have succumbed to that sin.
Forgiveness is important for both physical and mental well-being. Studies have shown that forgiving others leads to improved happiness, cardiovascular, and nervous system functioning. Most major world religions also teach that forgiveness is important, with Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism all emphasizing forgiving others. True forgiveness means letting go of resentment without attaching humiliating conditions or continuing to make the other person feel the weight of the offense. People are encouraged to reconcile with adversaries quickly to avoid perpetuating conflicts.
How arguments deteriorate without either side knowing why. When the issue you think you're arguing about isn't really the issue you're arguing about. The audio and video presentation is available at www.mympumc.net for 05.28.17
This is a collection of writings dealing with the spiritual gift of mercy by which some believers are motivated to be unusually caring for the needs of others in their suffering and problems.
This chapter analyzes the concept of kufr (disbelief) in the Quran. It discusses how kufr is the opposite of taqwa (piety) and involves ingratitude, hardened hearts, rejection of resurrection, polytheism/shirk, going astray from guidance, arrogance, mocking revelation, and contentiousness. Kufr is the antithesis of iman (faith) and involves denying Islamic virtues. The concept of kufr helps define positive Islamic concepts by providing the negative counterpart.
1) Dadaji is described as a miracle that defies comprehension, bringing a new dispensation of religion through his teachings.
2) Dadaji teaches that no human can be a guru, and that the divine resides within each person rather than needing rituals or austerity.
3) The author, a former president of India, had his entire perspective transformed through meeting Dadaji briefly, finding answers to questions he had sought for decades.
The document discusses several topics related to spirituality and human development. It argues that fully participating in the life of the Creator and cooperating with the Spirit is more authentic than finding comfort in false loves or religions. It also says that infatuations can be a natural early stage of love if properly oriented, but can become idolatry or infidelity if improperly nurtured. Lastly, it asserts that all stages of human development are equally intrinsically valuable, and that we should not devalue aspects like the body or early developmental stages.
Karma yoga chapter ii each is great in his own placeRavi Ramakrishnan
Swami #Vivekananda Bengali: , Shāmi Bibekānondo; 12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born #Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, a chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna. He was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of# Vedanta and #Yoga to the Western world and is credited with raising #interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the late 19th century. He was a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India, and contributed to the concept of nationalism in colonial India. Vivekananda founded the #Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. He is perhaps best known for his speech which began, "Sisters and brothers of America ...," in which he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893.
Born into an aristocratic Bengali family of Calcutta, Vivekananda was inclined towards spirituality. He was influenced by his Guru, Ramakrishna Deva, from whom he learnt that all living beings were an embodiment of the divine self; therefore, service to God could be rendered by service to mankind. After Ramakrishna's death, Vivekananda toured the Indian subcontinent extensively and acquired first-hand knowledge of the conditions prevailing in British India. He later traveled to the United States, representing India at the 1893 Parliament of the World Religions. Vivekananda conducted hundreds of public and private lectures and classes, disseminating tenets of Hindu philosophy in the United States, England and Europe. In India, Vivekananda is regarded as a patriotic saint and his birthday is celebrated there as National Youth Day.
The document summarizes a documentary about the "Hell House", an annual attraction put on by Trinity Church in Texas. It uses graphic scenes to depict sins like drugs, abortion, suicide and going to Hell as consequences. While it aims to scare people away from sin, some find it offensive and think it relies too heavily on fear. The document discusses how sociologist Emile Durkheim would disapprove as it focuses too much on individuals rather than society, while theologist Eliade may agree as it separates the sacred and profane. It questions if scaring people effectively teaches Christianity or turns them away due to the severity.
This document discusses the sin of masturbation and argues that it is harmful and against God's design. It provides several reasons for this view:
1) Masturbation excites the body to unnatural action and speeds exhaustion of vital energies, leading to physical and mental decline.
2) It begins with lustful thoughts, which Jesus said can be a form of adultery. It also often involves fantasy and pornography.
3) While it may provide temporary relief, it actually increases sexual desire over time and enslaves people to lust.
4) True purity can only be found in resisting sinful thoughts, not choosing between "lesser evils." God empowers us to overcome all sin through
This document discusses theories about soulmates and provides quotes about the concept of soulmates. It discusses the idea that humans were originally combined beings that were split in half, and that soulmates are two halves seeking to reunite. It also discusses the idea that souls split into separate genders over reincarnations and seek their counterpart. The rest of the document consists of quotes about soulmates from various sources that reference themes of deep connection, understanding, and finding one's other half.
This is a study of how Jesus describes the devil in all the darkest and blackest of languages. He was the liar and murderer from the beginning. Was Jesus being anti-Semitic here? check it out.
This document discusses the meaning of Christian love according to biblical teachings. It defines love as an action rather than just a feeling, explaining that Christian love is choosing to do what is best for others regardless of personal cost. It differentiates biblical agape love from other forms of love by describing agape as unconditional love for both friends and enemies. The document also examines Jesus' teachings on love from the Sermon on the Mount and his summation of the Ten Commandments as loving God and others.
This is a study of how Jesus looked going through his trials and crucifixion. He was not desirable at this time, and was despised by a great many. Only believers can see the beauty in all His suffering.
1) John Marrant's narrative differs from typical slave narratives as it focuses more on his spiritual and religious experiences than providing an emotional account of his time in bondage.
2) The narrative can be seen as subtly legitimizing slavery as Marrant takes a submissive position and distances himself from his black identity in order to be accepted by white people.
3) When facing execution, Marrant asks his executioner for permission to pray, showing that both God and the executioner hold power over him as his master. The narrative reinforces the use of Christianity to justify white supremacy and slavery.
Chapter 4 of Renovation of the Heart ClassCarlin Trammel
This document summarizes key points from a chapter in the book "Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ" that was discussed in a Wednesday night class. The chapter discusses radical goodness being restored to the soul through self-denial, losing one's life to find it, taking up the cross, and giving rather than receiving. It emphasizes becoming dead to self and one's own desires, and standing up for what is right without ego or anger. The class discussion questions focus on these themes of losing one's life in Christ, counting the costs of discipleship, finding perfect joy through suffering, and avoiding pride when standing up for righteousness.
1) Self-control was essential to Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War, as it allowed him to restrain his anger and avoid further alienating people.
2) Self-control prevents virtues like love, joy, and kindness from becoming perverted or leading to harmful extremes when not balanced.
3) Self-control is necessary to obey God's will and resist temptation, as it gives believers power over their instincts and prevents sin. Without self-control, the Christian life risks failure.
This document is an e-book titled "The 7 Pervasive Whims" by Scott E. Byorum. It explores interpretations of the seven deadly sins - lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. The introduction frames the sins as pervasive aspects of human nature that can be detrimental if not overcome. Each sin is then examined individually through poetic passages and short quotes from various contributors defining when one knows they have succumbed to that sin.
Forgiveness is important for both physical and mental well-being. Studies have shown that forgiving others leads to improved happiness, cardiovascular, and nervous system functioning. Most major world religions also teach that forgiveness is important, with Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism all emphasizing forgiving others. True forgiveness means letting go of resentment without attaching humiliating conditions or continuing to make the other person feel the weight of the offense. People are encouraged to reconcile with adversaries quickly to avoid perpetuating conflicts.
How arguments deteriorate without either side knowing why. When the issue you think you're arguing about isn't really the issue you're arguing about. The audio and video presentation is available at www.mympumc.net for 05.28.17
This is a collection of writings dealing with the spiritual gift of mercy by which some believers are motivated to be unusually caring for the needs of others in their suffering and problems.
This chapter analyzes the concept of kufr (disbelief) in the Quran. It discusses how kufr is the opposite of taqwa (piety) and involves ingratitude, hardened hearts, rejection of resurrection, polytheism/shirk, going astray from guidance, arrogance, mocking revelation, and contentiousness. Kufr is the antithesis of iman (faith) and involves denying Islamic virtues. The concept of kufr helps define positive Islamic concepts by providing the negative counterpart.
1) Dadaji is described as a miracle that defies comprehension, bringing a new dispensation of religion through his teachings.
2) Dadaji teaches that no human can be a guru, and that the divine resides within each person rather than needing rituals or austerity.
3) The author, a former president of India, had his entire perspective transformed through meeting Dadaji briefly, finding answers to questions he had sought for decades.
The document discusses several topics related to spirituality and human development. It argues that fully participating in the life of the Creator and cooperating with the Spirit is more authentic than finding comfort in false loves or religions. It also says that infatuations can be a natural early stage of love if properly oriented, but can become idolatry or infidelity if improperly nurtured. Lastly, it asserts that all stages of human development are equally intrinsically valuable, and that we should not devalue aspects like the body or early developmental stages.
Karma yoga chapter ii each is great in his own placeRavi Ramakrishnan
Swami #Vivekananda Bengali: , Shāmi Bibekānondo; 12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born #Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, a chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna. He was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of# Vedanta and #Yoga to the Western world and is credited with raising #interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the late 19th century. He was a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India, and contributed to the concept of nationalism in colonial India. Vivekananda founded the #Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. He is perhaps best known for his speech which began, "Sisters and brothers of America ...," in which he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893.
Born into an aristocratic Bengali family of Calcutta, Vivekananda was inclined towards spirituality. He was influenced by his Guru, Ramakrishna Deva, from whom he learnt that all living beings were an embodiment of the divine self; therefore, service to God could be rendered by service to mankind. After Ramakrishna's death, Vivekananda toured the Indian subcontinent extensively and acquired first-hand knowledge of the conditions prevailing in British India. He later traveled to the United States, representing India at the 1893 Parliament of the World Religions. Vivekananda conducted hundreds of public and private lectures and classes, disseminating tenets of Hindu philosophy in the United States, England and Europe. In India, Vivekananda is regarded as a patriotic saint and his birthday is celebrated there as National Youth Day.
The document summarizes a documentary about the "Hell House", an annual attraction put on by Trinity Church in Texas. It uses graphic scenes to depict sins like drugs, abortion, suicide and going to Hell as consequences. While it aims to scare people away from sin, some find it offensive and think it relies too heavily on fear. The document discusses how sociologist Emile Durkheim would disapprove as it focuses too much on individuals rather than society, while theologist Eliade may agree as it separates the sacred and profane. It questions if scaring people effectively teaches Christianity or turns them away due to the severity.
This document discusses the sin of masturbation and argues that it is harmful and against God's design. It provides several reasons for this view:
1) Masturbation excites the body to unnatural action and speeds exhaustion of vital energies, leading to physical and mental decline.
2) It begins with lustful thoughts, which Jesus said can be a form of adultery. It also often involves fantasy and pornography.
3) While it may provide temporary relief, it actually increases sexual desire over time and enslaves people to lust.
4) True purity can only be found in resisting sinful thoughts, not choosing between "lesser evils." God empowers us to overcome all sin through
This document discusses theories about soulmates and provides quotes about the concept of soulmates. It discusses the idea that humans were originally combined beings that were split in half, and that soulmates are two halves seeking to reunite. It also discusses the idea that souls split into separate genders over reincarnations and seek their counterpart. The rest of the document consists of quotes about soulmates from various sources that reference themes of deep connection, understanding, and finding one's other half.
This is a study of how Jesus describes the devil in all the darkest and blackest of languages. He was the liar and murderer from the beginning. Was Jesus being anti-Semitic here? check it out.
TEN --~--One Question Left Unanswered ----~ ...docxmattinsonjanel
TEN
--~--
One Question
Left Unanswered
----~ ... ·----
Among all my patients in the second half of life, that is,
over thirty-five, there has not been one whose problem in
the last resort was not that of finding a religious outlook
on life. It is safe to say that every one of them fell ill
because he had lost that which the living religions of every
age have given their followers, and none of them has really
been healed who did not regain his religious outlook.
-C. G. Jung,
Modern Man in Search of a Soul
IF there had been psychiatrists in Jerusalem twenty-five
hundred years ago, Ecclesiastes might well have gone to
one and told him, "I'm unhappy because I feel that some-
thing is missing in my life. I feel that I'm not as consis-
t~ntly good as I should be. I feel I'm wasting a lot of my
lime and my talents. I keep trying to live up to the stan-
dards I set for myself and sometimes I almost get there,
~ut never quite. I feel that with all the advantages I have
ad, I have wasted my life. " And the therapist might have
:?Id him, " You're asking too much of yourself. Be realis-;• !0~er your standards. After all, you are only human ."
c esiastes would have left the appoint ment feeling even
177
WHEN ALL YOU'VE EVER WANTED ISN'T ENOUGH
more disappointed in himself for not being more com.
farted by such well-intentioned professional advice.
But it would probably have been the wrong answer. A
man like Ecclesiastes needs to set his sights high. In order
for his life to take on meaning, he has to feel that he has
been summoned to do important things. We feel better
when significant moral demands are made of us. We feel
we are being taken seriously as moral creatures. It would
have been better to tell him that God would forgive him
for trying and falling short than to suggest that he give up
the effort and lower his expectations of himself.
A young man who ran away from his conventional
middle-class home to join the Unification Church was
asked why he had done it. He replied, "My father only
talks about getting into college and getting a good job.
Reverend Moon talks to me about helping him save the
world." Just as we misunderstand what it means to be a
parent when we make life so easy for our children that
they never have to test themselves, we misunderstand
human nature when we think we are helping people by not
expecting very much of them. "Only human" should not
be an excuse for laziness, carelessness, or selfishness. To
be human is a great thing, and God pays us the ultimate
compliment when He makes demands of us that He makes
of no other living creatures. It may be hard to be good,
given all the distractions and temptations of the world, but
it is a lot harder to be told that you don't have what it
takes to be good, so you are excused from trying.
Ecclesiastes asked, "What makes my life matter? What
makes it more than a passing phenomenon, not worth
noticing while I am alive and ...
This document discusses the "fruit of the Spirit" mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. It contains commentary from multiple sources analyzing the spiritual fruits and their significance. The fruits represent the character of a spiritual life in Christ and include qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Cultivating these fruits through the Holy Spirit's presence is essential for Christian growth and overcoming sinful desires.
The document discusses several topics:
1) It argues that we often pursue comforts through inauthentic loves and false religion rather than fully participating in the life of the Creator. Suffering can burn away such impurities through the fires of love.
2) It states that infatuations can be an early stage of authentic love if properly oriented, but if improperly nurtured as mere dalliances, they constitute betrayals or idolatry.
3) It claims that failing to dedicate time to those considered ordinary or broken reveals a missing of fidelity and holiness, embracing a false love or false religion by not sharing in God's delight in unfinished creation.
The document discusses the idea that God has both masculine and feminine qualities and aspects. It suggests that by uniting the opposites within ourselves, such as the masculine and feminine, we can increase our consciousness and spiritual growth. The title "The God Crucible" refers to how each person contains both qualities and can act as a vessel for transforming and uniting those opposites, similar to how a crucible is used for transformation, to help create a more unified understanding and experience of God. By becoming more conscious of our "shadow" sides and uniting them with our preferred sides, we can continue progressing spiritually.
Does Morality Need Religion – Yes!Professor Derrick Willis.docxelinoraudley582231
Does Morality Need Religion – Yes!
Professor Derrick Willis
The question of whether”morality needs religion” is an important one in both philosophy and religion. The central concern is where exactly does our sense of morality, of right and wrong, come from. Does our moral consciousness come from religion or God, or is it a socially constructed phenomenon - does it come from our parents, social environment, or community. If it is socially constructed, then where do we draw the line in terms of differences between cultures or cultural attitudes. For example, during Nazi Germany 12 million people were murdered, 6 million of whom were Jews. Their skin was used for lampshades, and they were tortured and used as slaves. If morality is socially constructed (that is based on culture) then does that mean that the cultural viewpoint of the Nazis was correct. And since we come from a different culture, then where and on what basis do we say that their cultural paradigm was incorrect or wrong? Who are we to tell them that their moral views (murder and torture) are wrong? This is the substance of the debate.
Author’s Viewpoint
Author C. Stephen Layman argues that morality does need religion because God becomes the absolute standard that draws the line. So Layman argues that:
Any claim concerning the Good must be based on religion as an independent idealprinciple.
Morality is a claim concerning the Good.
Therefore, morality must be based on religion as an independent ideal principle.
Layman argues that morality is not an emergent phenomenon, i.e., emerged into existence at a particular time and place, or in a particular social environment, but was established by God. Even though various cultures oppose murder, stealing, and lying, the foundation and groundwork for that was laid by God. We have a tendency to assign human value to principles that have ordered our universe from the beginning. Even though human beings twist religion to their own devices, there are in essence some universally agreed upon principles that they all share, opposition to murder and torture are two.
If our sense of right and wrong comes from culture then what about secret violations when no one’s looking. For the religious person secret violations aren’t permitted because God is watching, and as we know, you can’t hide from God. But if right and wrong are culturally determined then why not cheat or murder if you can get away with it. If no one knows; no harm, no foul.
And further still if it is culturally determined, then doesn’t this just simply insulate one culture in relation to the next. My culture is right, so I really have no moral obligation to a culture other than my own. This, according to Layman, creates a kind of cultural tribalism. My culture is my culture and you can’t judge it. If I need to kill my citizens to make life “better” in my country, then so be it. Your culture is your culture, and my culture is my culture, so butt out!
But if God is in.
This document summarizes research on how people perceive God's mind and the relationship between belief in God and human suffering. The key points are:
1) A study found that people see God as having agency but not experience, unlike humans who are seen as having both. God is uniquely perceived as the ultimate moral agent.
2) The theory of moral typecasting suggests that when someone does good or bad, they are typecast as a moral agent, and when someone receives good or bad, they are typecast as a moral patient.
3) Seeing God as the ultimate moral agent explains why belief in God may increase with suffering - people perceive God as the entity responsible for moral outcomes, whether helping or harm
Being a Christian is difficult for several reasons:
1. Following Christ requires changing one's character, which is an extremely difficult task that seems almost impossible.
2. There is confusion, anger, judgment, and violence among Christian traditions and between Christians and non-Christians, which makes Christianity unappealing.
3. Most Christians are nominal and leave their faith outside of church, failing to live authentically or take social action as called for by Christ. This dims Christianity's light for transforming society.
4. The biggest impediment to living out faith is ourselves - our pride, arrogance, lack of interest in others, and failure to use our time, talents, and resources to demonstrate
Similar to Elements of sin and spirituality in the selected works of graham greene (10)
Main Java[All of the Base Concepts}.docxadhitya5119
This is part 1 of my Java Learning Journey. This Contains Custom methods, classes, constructors, packages, multithreading , try- catch block, finally block and more.
A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
This slide is special for master students (MIBS & MIFB) in UUM. Also useful for readers who are interested in the topic of contemporary Islamic banking.
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty, In...Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty,
International FDP on Fundamentals of Research in Social Sciences
at Integral University, Lucknow, 06.06.2024
By Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
This presentation includes basic of PCOS their pathology and treatment and also Ayurveda correlation of PCOS and Ayurvedic line of treatment mentioned in classics.
Executive Directors Chat Leveraging AI for Diversity, Equity, and InclusionTechSoup
Let’s explore the intersection of technology and equity in the final session of our DEI series. Discover how AI tools, like ChatGPT, can be used to support and enhance your nonprofit's DEI initiatives. Participants will gain insights into practical AI applications and get tips for leveraging technology to advance their DEI goals.
How to Build a Module in Odoo 17 Using the Scaffold MethodCeline George
Odoo provides an option for creating a module by using a single line command. By using this command the user can make a whole structure of a module. It is very easy for a beginner to make a module. There is no need to make each file manually. This slide will show how to create a module using the scaffold method.
LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
This Dissertation explores the particular circumstances of Mirzapur, a region located in the
core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
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9
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RPMS TEMPLATE FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024 FOR TEACHER 1 TO TEACHER 3
Elements of sin and spirituality in the selected works of graham greene
1. 77
International Journal of Recent Research and Review, Vol. X, Issue 3, September 2017
ISSN 2277 – 8322
The Elements of Sin and Spirituality in the Selected Works of
Graham Greene
Deepika Shekhawat
Research Scholar, Department of English, University of Rajasthan
Abstract - Greene feels that the remoteness with spirituality
of the human in the modern society has led to a loss of faith
in God and traditional human values. The peace, belief and
moral values are absent among the human. In addition, he
condemns the modern civilization with its deep sense of
spiritual sense to reach God from the darker side of life.
However, he suggests the hope that any human activity
exercised with a strong faith in spirituality, there the souls
remain unaffected from all evil forces and sufferings. He
also reveals the universal dictum that faith in spirituality
ultimately wins. It is the only means known on this mortal
Earth that can put human at liberty (Moksha) from all
kinds of worldly sufferings.
Keywords - Spirituality, Sin, Christianity, Redemption,
Purification, Religion, Morality.
I. INTRODUCTION
Graham Greene is one of the most celebrated post-war
novelists who gave English novel the spiritual heights.
Greene has been classified as a modern spiritual writer.
As a Catholic writer, Greene’s art of letters deal with the
crucial subjects of sin and spirituality via different themes
like man’s relationship with himself, with society and
with God. Greene, in his novels emphatically deals with
the ideology that only faith in God can save man from his
destruction. His conceptions are that central to Christian
theology. For this great reason, Graham Greene is
generally regarded as one of the greatest English Catholic
novelist of the twentieth Century. Greene's faith in
Catholicism is evidently moral, action centered, instead of
contemplative or mystic. Jesus Christ brought in the most
important principle that the worth of human beings must
be understood. The directives, the laws and all the other
related rules are to be put to use for the betterment of man
and his soul. This will ultimately bless man the basic
spiritual intention of Christianity. Greene’s works have
always accompanied the personal and social aspects of
human with their sin and morality by which his acts and
thoughts are bonded. It further intends to teach the world
at large about living and making good and moral lives
with social restrictions, because if human beings are left
free they tend to be selfish. Hence, sense of spirituality
plays a helping hand in curbing the evils and sins.
II. SIN, SPIRITUALITY AND GREENE’S
CHARACTERS
Greene has presented such characters very relentlessly.
Outwardly, these characters remain perfect, without any
fault and are over-confident about their perfection. But in
reality they are far from purity –physically, mentally or
spiritually. They are always keen in crucifying the
common, outwardly imperfect beings without bothering
about their own blatant imperfections. Greene pertinently
comments through his characters in his works that evil
and sin can affect one’s life but he wins grace of God
with a deep sense of spiritualty and purity of mind. He
suggests to faithfully look at life with courage and faith in
man and God. The characters like Ida Arnold in Brighton
Rock never win the love and compassion of the society or
of God. Greene also mentions 'ego' which stops a person
to make an assessment about his own status, physically,
mentally or spiritually and these individuals never attain
Spiritual progress at the same time their condition moves
from bad to worse and in effect there is a retardation or
retracing of the steps on the spiritual path. In The Ministry
of Fear quoted by S. K. Sharma in his book: “Pity is
cruel. Pity destroys. Love isn't safe when pity's prowling
round” [1].
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The Bible witnesses of the fact that no man is
without ills and sins, not even one, but the divine God,
Jesus Christ, forgives and defends them, all. He forgives
and derides those who have lost their purity, physically.
Again, for their spiritual sins, he criticizes them, as it is in
his words when he says, “Therefore I tell you, every sin
and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy
against the spirit will not be forgiven.”[2]
The noticeable element in Greene’s character is
that all bear a strong faith in religion and have complete
awareness of the presence of God that enshrines their
actions. Even the evil characters in his novels, are
conscious of the grace of God if they switch on to the
path of saintliness.
Greene is entirely disappointed with the world
and he is repelled with the true nature of man as his lack
of faith in the true spirituality of man blights any Bible
optimism concerning the expectation of goodness in man.
We apparently notice in The Heart of the Matter when he
says, “Point me out the happy man and I will point you
out either extreme egotism, evil or else an absolute
ignorance.” [3]
In the Brighton Rock critics point out that the
character Pinkie is driven by forces beyond his control
that he is possibly a victim of society. So he cannot be
directly considered among the damned ones but for the
devil forces, instead he deserves the sympathy and
understanding of the others. However, all these, he fails to
win from his relatives and society consequently
angularities and psychic disorders become a part of his
character.
Greene very aptly defends the character Pinkie
who is damned, to give a clear conception of sin and
spirituality where the moderating circumstances of his
sins, holds back him in a favorable light. Thus, Pinkie is a
character who may be accepted by God –who is highly
merciful with a strangeness of mystery that cannot be just
comprehended by other than a religiously spiritual man.
Thus, the conventional approach towards sin spirituality
is skillfully made in Greene’s novels.
On the other hand, Greene’s character, Ida
Arnold keeps him in frustration and dissatisfaction.
Greene sheds his anguish over such characters
complaining about their growing attitude towards
materialism. These characters have been overconfident,
reluctant and pretentious about their character and
actions. In reality, they are far from purity and perfection,
physically, mentally and spiritually. Although they are
very keen in disgracing the ordinary and little imperfect
human beings, without bothering about their own inner
self. The very characters like Ida Arnold in Brighton Rock
fail to win either love or compassion of either their
society or God. It is all their purity of mind engulfed by
their ego. This evil hinders their spiritual progress and
retards the steps on the spiritual path.
Greene takes it as an interesting subject to reveal
the disastrous effect of such flaws as in the characters that
can destroy a man. The flaw of Greene’s character Scobie
in The Heart of the Matter deviates them from their path
of sin and immorality and finally leads to the saintliness
that is longed for, by any true believer. This is how
Greene serves these elements thorough his novels in an
exalted and manifested manner. Now considering
morality and sin from the social point of view, William
Glasser suggests that crimes and sins are certainly due to
personality failure of the characters in most of the cases.
As a consequence the sinners and criminals should be
considered as failures and thus treated with kindness and
sympathetic understanding, and not anything else. He
further adds that these victims and sufferers failing to
establish their identity in the existing society try to resort
to all kinds of perversions. This ideology is very similar
to the ideology of the character Pinkie, in Brighton Rock,
who won social sympathy of the readers.
Greene presents this supreme notion through the
character, Scobie, in The Heart of the Matter, in whose
life there is a lot of suffering. Scobie’s character remarks
the disastrous effect of pride and pity. He being a catholic
ceases to love his real devoted wife Louise, and keep
immoral sexual relation for his physical pleasure, which
is apparently a sin that he commits very knowingly. He
could have declined Helen and stayed with his wife
Louise, or he would have owed Helen as legal wife and
left Helen. However, he did not, just because of want of
3. 79
sinful pleasure. He was very much aware of his sins, but
ignorance gave him no way and he remained on the errant
path, for long. It sets a dialectical tension in Scobie’s
mind. In this process, he had to suffer a lot in the later
phase of his life. He fails to put his faith in trust of God.
For his love and faith remains in his short physical
pleasure. This indicates so much his theological
convictions as his yearning for self-destruction. He prays
to God, but fails to comprehend the appalling divine
mercy. Because of his pride and does not trust Him who
loves him. Nevertheless, Greene remarks that a sinner is
very close to God.
Michael Torre in Greene’s Saints says,
“Scobie is driven to this act is quite believable
because his inner anguish is fierce and death seems
the only release. In a way, he is trying to be true to
that which is best in him, trying to live out the form
of his life in faith, trying to maintain his solitude for
all those he has undertaken to care for and protect in a
way that will hurt them at least. This is, of course, a
foolish and pretentious thing to do: he is being too
dutiful, is too busy playing God.” [4]
Scobie suffers the maximum for his rejection of God‘s
assistance forever. It is much of his free choice through
which he moves toward his voluntary death or
redemption. Greene brings out this notion successfully
that it is his indecisiveness that Scobie rejects God’s help,
knowing very well that it would mean damnation. Inside
the Church, he imagines that he has an argument with
God. He says to God,
“You’ll be better off if you leave me once and for all.
I know what I am doing. I am not pleading for mercy.
I am going to damn myself, whatever that
means…but you’ll be at peace when I am out of your
reach…you‘ll be able to forget me, God.” [5]
Thus, Greene Records the minutest sensations and
impressions through The Heart of the Matter where he
advocates the central paradox that love is the factor that
has led his ardent character in this novel, both to sin and
to sanctity.
III. SIN AND SPIRITUALITY: A UNIVERSAL
THEME
Greene has his own ideologies are universal regarding sin
and spirituality that revolves every human being inside
this universe. For example, despair is thought to be an
unforgivable sin in Christianity but Greene is of the
opinion that the corrupt or evil man would never pay any
heed to it. He is always after fulfilling his desires and lust
in the present world as well as the next birth. Greene truly
remarks, “Only a man of goodwill can carry in his heart
the capacity for damnation.”(62)
This idea qualifies justifiably the attitude Greene
has towards his universal characters that are presented as
the model of sinners and evils to the readers of the
society.
Moreover, the utter feeling of salvation and
damnation is appreciated in the character of the
protagonists of most of his famous and controversial
novels. Such pure and humanistic attitude itself shatters
the conventional attitude of the believers and religions
like Christianity and Catholicism, about the fate and
damnation of a person. Thus, Greene’s novels give an
elevation to the idea of damnation and purification of the
mortal existence of human beings, which is today
absolutely absent, but still theologically, remains the only
sine qua non of attaining purity and good-will in the eyes
of the God, in his created world.
Considering this ideology philosophers and
intellectuals discover a universality and commonness of
theme in this aspect that Greene has been advocating
throughout his works. For example, according to
Hinduism sin can be comprehended as the earthly or
materialistic lustthat takes a man far away from the path
of achieving salvation/ mukti. In the Indian tradition of
spirituality, the ultimate goal of a mortal life lies in
liberation, i.e. moksha:
“The goal of spirituality, like that of science, is also
liberation. It is the liberation of the inner spirit.
Spirituality could be seen also as a complementary
force that gives a positive direction to science and
acts as an antidote to the latter’s use for destructive
purposes. In the least, it provides coping mechanisms
4. 80
to deal with psychologically debilitating anxiety,
stress, fear and helplessness.”[6]
In addition, our highly religious Indian saint, Swami
Vivekananda approves of the factum:
“In certain moods when we would be seized with a
passionate longing to break all bonds and fly unto the
Highest, he would say that his works and activities as
a religious teacher and preacher were all vanity, and
superimpositions upon his true nature. Viewed from
the highest standpoint, all work, even that of doing
good to others, is no doubt Maya, a hindrance to
personal mukti. But illumined souls like Vivekananda
who belong, in the words of his Master, to the class of
Acharyakois or world teachers, are born to take upon
their shoulders the burden of a whole world. They
care not for their own mukti, or for remaining merged
in the bliss of the Absolute, though these are within
their reach.” [7]
Thus, with the above high statement of a universal
spiritual saint, it is apparent that Greene too with his great
oeuvres has constantly remained hard to establish a
spiritual lesson for the common person, with the support
of his protagonists of his novels.
Approaching further towards attaining salvation,
which is a must to gain the original and pure spirituality,
loaded with dignity and nobility of one self, (here
presented through the characters of Greene), suffering is
the only sine qua non to attaining it back. Greene puts
forth the path of religion, Christianity, which ennobles a
human being relieving him from the burden of his sins.
The more he suffers, the more is his redemption gained.
He has got to accept the damnation for the welfare and
satisfaction of the others.
IV. SOCIAL RELEVANCE
The significance of this paper strictly lies in the social life
of a man who lives amidst all activities. Greene attempts
to deal with the historical, political and cultural
transformation in which the presence of religion and
spirituality produce a profound change. Greene’s
Literature is but a collective fictitious feeling of
spirituality expressed in various forms to reveal the
history and happenings of the past where every work
touches the essence that are pious, God fearing and
dealing with all good paths of life where every hymn
praised the purification, the deeds of the Almighty, with a
religious experience of the human predicament.
Many critics and psychoanalysts observe his
religious predominance, reflected spiritually, in his
novels, at large. Herbert R. Haber criticized the writers
like Hemingway, who did not remember the next world
but praised for Greene, for whom spirituality has not died;
relatively the world at large has chosen to forget Him and
for the most Part, He has reciprocated in kind. [8]
The present piece of work emphatically examines
an interwoven theme of sin and spirituality, which is too
obsessed and consistent throughout all of his literary
oeuvres. Sin is a moral evil, if regarded from the point of
view of religion, and as distinguished from that of ethics.
These elements are much more dominant in the three
major Catholic novels of Greene Brighton Rock, The
Power and the Glory and The Heart of the Matter giving
to his works a religious overtone.Greene by bringing back
to the English novel this religious sense, and dealt with
spiritual problems such as faith, salvation, and damnation
in his novels.The finest critic on Greene, George
Woodcock states:
“Theologically Greene may recognize original sin,
but in his writings, the evil in man is always less than
evil without arising from the collective activities of
society. His observation of humanity, forces him into
a revolutionary attitude” (199) [9].
Herbert R. Haber points out,
“. . . Graham Greene believes that ultimately from
impurity will come purity, from demonism
saintliness, from unbelief belief, from vice virtue and
that is why his heroes often seem closer to demons
than to saint.” [10]
V. CONCLUSION
Briefly, it can be wisely concluded that Graham Greene
has thoroughly and effectively made use of his literary
philosophy accentuating the universal elements of sin and
spirituality, which strongly interferes with the human
5. 81
activities that are not born free, but bonded with various
religious dimensions and belief as depicted throughout his
novels. The spiritual seediness is seen in almost all his
works, as it were, the utilization of sin by grace of god, in
one’s life. His works justify the spiritual dependency that
prompts the sinner to think of his redemption. Greene
suggests that a true believer in the process of redemption
certainly finds the presence of God. With the
conventional force of religion and spirituality Greene
seems to say that even if, one has committed a moral sin,
it is quite possible that he would be redeemed by the mere
touch of the grace of God.
VI. REFERENCES
[1] Shanna, S. K. Graham Greene-The Search for Belief.
New Delhi: Manjit Singh, Harman Pub. House, 1990, p.
82.
[2] The Bible, Matthew 12: 31.
[3] Greene, Graham.The Heart of the Matter. London:
William Heinemann and Bodley Head, 1971, p.139
[4] Torre, Michael. Greene’s Saints. www.muse.jhu.edu.
[5] Graham Greene, The Heart of the Matter, (New York.
Penguin Books, 2004),p. 241.
[6] Rao, K. Ramakrishna.‘Parapsychology and Yoga
Psychology’, Gandhi and Applied Spirituality. New
Delhi: Matrix Publishers, 2011.
[7] Swami Mumukshananda, Vivekananda: The Man and
His Message,Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama, 1995.
[8] Herbert R. Haber, “The Two Worlds of Graham
Greene”.Modern Fiction Studies 3.3 (Autumn, 1957),p.
256.
[9] Woodcock, George. “Graham Greene.” Twentieth
Century Crime and Mystery Writers. Ed. John M. Reilly.
London: The Macmillan Press Ltd., 1980.
[10] Frederick R. Karl, A Reader's Guide to the
Contemporary English Novel (London: Thames and
Hudson, 1960, pp. 89-90.