This document provides an introduction to Paganism from a Christian perspective. It begins with questions about Paganism and outlines a methodology for introducing and comparing faiths. It then provides a brief history of Paganism and explores key beliefs such as polytheism, nature worship, magic, and the wheel of the year. Areas of agreement and disagreement with Christianity are examined, such as views of God, humanity, and spirits. The goal is to equip Christians to have respectful discussions about faith with Pagans.
World Religions - Mormonism - JR. ForasterosJR. Forasteros
Is Mormonism a branch of Christianity? Is it another religion? What're the differences? And how much do they matter?
Podcast available at www.jrforasteros.com/world-religions-podcast
What do Muslims believe? What do they have in common with Christianity? What are the important differences? Let's cut through the stereotypes and find the Truth.
Evangelism is a scary word. But when we understand the foundation of the Gospel is that God became one of us to befriend us, sharing that good news with people of other faiths becomes less frightening.
World Religions - Mormonism - JR. ForasterosJR. Forasteros
Is Mormonism a branch of Christianity? Is it another religion? What're the differences? And how much do they matter?
Podcast available at www.jrforasteros.com/world-religions-podcast
What do Muslims believe? What do they have in common with Christianity? What are the important differences? Let's cut through the stereotypes and find the Truth.
Evangelism is a scary word. But when we understand the foundation of the Gospel is that God became one of us to befriend us, sharing that good news with people of other faiths becomes less frightening.
Dr. John Oakes taught a six-week class on World Religions on six consecutive Saturdays beginning on 2/23 9:00-11:00. See below for suggested reading and schedule.
Deep religious pluralism, as understood by process theologians, provides a way toward friendship, mutual learning and mutual transformation among the world's great religious traditions.
Do We Worship the Same God? A Challenge of DialogueRobert Munson
Looks at the question from a Christian (and somewhat Evangelical) perspective. The results are two completely plausible answers: "Yes, but..." and "No, but...". Some implications are drawn as it pertains to Inter-religious dialogue.
One of the first PowerPoints that I made when teaching theology. It is crazy. It has animations, links to further slides, and terrible graphics. But it is fun share and does give an accurate view of the history of Christianity. (Although the animations and links don't work in this slideshare.)
Does the bible command us to share our faith? Is there basis for doing Apologetics in the bible? That is the questions we will be looking at during this presentation.
This week we explore the War in Heaven in Revelation 12. We look at how Revelation presents the problem of Evil and what the Church's response should be.
http://jrforasteros.com/podcasts/revelation-to-john/
Revelation Week 5 - Everything in Its Place - JR. ForasterosJR. Forasteros
Week 5 of JR. Forasteros' study of the Revelation to John explores chapters 8-11. What does the Revelation teach us about how to be holy and faithful, even if it means we will suffer?
Dr. John Oakes taught a six-week class on World Religions on six consecutive Saturdays beginning on 2/23 9:00-11:00. See below for suggested reading and schedule.
Deep religious pluralism, as understood by process theologians, provides a way toward friendship, mutual learning and mutual transformation among the world's great religious traditions.
Do We Worship the Same God? A Challenge of DialogueRobert Munson
Looks at the question from a Christian (and somewhat Evangelical) perspective. The results are two completely plausible answers: "Yes, but..." and "No, but...". Some implications are drawn as it pertains to Inter-religious dialogue.
One of the first PowerPoints that I made when teaching theology. It is crazy. It has animations, links to further slides, and terrible graphics. But it is fun share and does give an accurate view of the history of Christianity. (Although the animations and links don't work in this slideshare.)
Does the bible command us to share our faith? Is there basis for doing Apologetics in the bible? That is the questions we will be looking at during this presentation.
This week we explore the War in Heaven in Revelation 12. We look at how Revelation presents the problem of Evil and what the Church's response should be.
http://jrforasteros.com/podcasts/revelation-to-john/
Revelation Week 5 - Everything in Its Place - JR. ForasterosJR. Forasteros
Week 5 of JR. Forasteros' study of the Revelation to John explores chapters 8-11. What does the Revelation teach us about how to be holy and faithful, even if it means we will suffer?
Revelation Week 8 - The Wine of God's WrathJR. Forasteros
This week explores what God's wrath looks like according to Revelation chapters 14-15. The podcast can be found at http://jrforasteros.com/podcasts/revelation-to-john/
Revelation Week 2 - 7 letters to 7 churchesJR. Forasteros
Week 2 of the Revelation to John, covering the Seven Churches of the Revelation (Chapters 2-3). The podcast is available at http://jrforasteros.com/2012/09/12/seven-churches-of-revelation
The Lake of Fire, the End of Evil and the New Jerusalem: The Revelation reaches its stunning conclusion with a powerful vision for what the Church can be today!
Revelation Week 1 - Introduction and Chapter 1 - JR. ForasterosJR. Forasteros
Learn to read the Bible's scariest book. It's not the End of the World. It's a message of hope to Christians struggling to stay faithful in a faithless culture. Week 1 is an introduction and analysis of Chapter 1.
Hear the lesson at jrforasteros.com or search for the podcast on iTunes under JR. Forasteros.
The Whore of Babylon and the Bride of Heaven establish the stakes of this conflict. And wait until you see who's invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb!
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This presentation explores the nature of theology, theological thinking, transcendence and the arts in relation to film. It was presented during Allan Deck, SJ's class on Latino Religion & Spirituality
Exploring the Mindfulness Understanding Its Benefits.pptxMartaLoveguard
Slide 1: Title: Exploring the Mindfulness: Understanding Its Benefits
Slide 2: Introduction to Mindfulness
Mindfulness, defined as the conscious, non-judgmental observation of the present moment, has deep roots in Buddhist meditation practice but has gained significant popularity in the Western world in recent years. In today's society, filled with distractions and constant stimuli, mindfulness offers a valuable tool for regaining inner peace and reconnecting with our true selves. By cultivating mindfulness, we can develop a heightened awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, leading to a greater sense of clarity and presence in our daily lives.
Slide 3: Benefits of Mindfulness for Mental Well-being
Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, improving overall quality of life.
Mindfulness increases awareness of our emotions and teaches us to manage them better, leading to improved mood.
Regular mindfulness practice can improve our ability to concentrate and focus our attention on the present moment.
Slide 4: Benefits of Mindfulness for Physical Health
Research has shown that practicing mindfulness can contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is beneficial for heart health.
Regular meditation and mindfulness practice can strengthen the immune system, aiding the body in fighting infections.
Mindfulness may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity by reducing stress and improving overall lifestyle habits.
Slide 5: Impact of Mindfulness on Relationships
Mindfulness can help us better understand others and improve communication, leading to healthier relationships.
By focusing on the present moment and being fully attentive, mindfulness helps build stronger and more authentic connections with others.
Mindfulness teaches us how to be present for others in difficult times, leading to increased compassion and understanding.
Slide 6: Mindfulness Techniques and Practices
Focusing on the breath and mindful breathing can be a simple way to enter a state of mindfulness.
Body scan meditation involves focusing on different parts of the body, paying attention to any sensations and feelings.
Practicing mindful walking and eating involves consciously focusing on each step or bite, with full attention to sensory experiences.
Slide 7: Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life
You can practice mindfulness in everyday activities such as washing dishes or taking a walk in the park.
Adding mindfulness practice to daily routines can help increase awareness and presence.
Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our needs and better manage our time, leading to balance and harmony in life.
Slide 8: Summary: Embracing Mindfulness for Full Living
Mindfulness can bring numerous benefits for physical and mental health.
Regular mindfulness practice can help achieve a fuller and more satisfying life.
Mindfulness has the power to change our perspective and way of perceiving the world, leading to deeper se
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
The Hope of Salvation - Jude 1:24-25 - MessageCole Hartman
Jude gives us hope at the end of a dark letter. In a dark world like today, we need the light of Christ to shine brighter and brighter. Jude shows us where to fix our focus so we can be filled with God's goodness and glory. Join us to explore this incredible passage.
Discover various methods for clearing negative entities from your space and spirit, including energy clearing techniques, spiritual rituals, and professional assistance. Gain practical knowledge on how to implement these techniques to restore peace and harmony. For more information visit here: https://www.reikihealingdistance.com/negative-entity-removal/
A375 Example Taste the taste of the Lord, the taste of the Lord The taste of...franktsao4
It seems that current missionary work requires spending a lot of money, preparing a lot of materials, and traveling to far away places, so that it feels like missionary work. But what was the result they brought back? It's just a lot of photos of activities, fun eating, drinking and some playing games. And then we have to do the same thing next year, never ending. The church once mentioned that a certain missionary would go to the field where she used to work before the end of his life. It seemed that if she had not gone, no one would be willing to go. The reason why these missionary work is so difficult is that no one obeys God’s words, and the Bible is not the main content during missionary work, because in the eyes of those who do not obey God’s words, the Bible is just words and cannot be connected with life, so Reading out God's words is boring because it doesn't have any life experience, so it cannot be connected with human life. I will give a few examples in the hope that this situation can be changed. A375
Why is this So? ~ Do Seek to KNOW (English & Chinese).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma teaching of Kamma-Vipaka (Intentional Actions-Ripening Effects).
A Presentation for developing morality, concentration and wisdom and to spur us to practice the Dhamma diligently.
The texts are in English and Chinese.
2 Peter 3: Because some scriptures are hard to understand and some will force them to say things God never intended, Peter warns us to take care.
https://youtu.be/nV4kGHFsEHw
2. What Do You Know?
1. Do ghost stories have a place in Christianity?
2. What do you know about Pagans?
3. Do you have any experience with Paganism?
4. What questions do you have about Paganism?
3. Our “Mars Hill” Methodology
• A basic introduction to the faith’s worldview
1.
• Areas of agreement between that faith and
2. Orthodox Christian theology and practice
• Areas of disagreement between that faith
3. and Orthodox Christian theology and practice
GOAL: To equip you to build a truth-seeking
relationship with someone of another faith.
22. Key Beliefs: Wheel of the Year
Mabon Samhain
Autumn October
Equinox 31
Lammas Yule
August 1 Winter Solstice
Litha
Imbolc
Summer
February
Solstice
Ostara
Beltane
Spring
May Day
Equinox
33. Where Christianity and Paganism Disagree
Where is God?
What Gender is God?
Nature of People
What to do with Spirits
34. How Not to Build a Friendship
Wicca is not Devil Worship
Church has often been painful
Personal Liberty is very important
Religious Experiences are valuable
An umbrella term for a sort of pantheism. Because the category is so broad, we’re going to focus mainly on Wicca, which is the most popular (and most organized) form of Paganism. Much of what we cover will apply to many pagans.
Many of the earliest human religions were polytheistic. We misunderstand what exactly Polytheism is. Gods are incarnations of natural powers. Humans can make appeals to these gods for help in their lives. In the ancient world, this always centered around fertility – rain, health, child-bearing.
The term ‘Pagan’ originally meant ‘hillbilly’ in Roman culture. After Constantine Christianized the Empire, the people ‘out in the sticks’ were the last to hold onto the traditional polytheistic practices. ‘Pagan’ came to mean anyone who was polytheistic.
The term ‘Pagan’ originally meant ‘hillbilly’ in Roman culture. After Constantine Christianized the Empire, the people ‘out in the sticks’ were the last to hold onto the traditional polytheistic practices. ‘Pagan’ came to mean anyone who was polytheistic.
While there’ve always been pagan groups, they really gained popularity as a reaction to modernism. Founder of modern paganism Gerald Gardner 1952 Britain
Those who worship a god, goddess or set of gods. Those who consider themselves witches and follow (to some degree) the teachings of GardnerThose who consider all things to be part of god. Broad category Really its own category (and rejected by most Pagans). Can be theistic or atheistic. Shares some values with other Pagans, like the focus on individuality.
Gardner and Adler are guides to modern witchcraft.Russell is a scholar who deals with the history of paganismEilers chronicles landmark cases in protecting the religious freedom of pagans.
DIY!
Many pagans view their religious practices as direct resistance of dominant Christian culture. Because Pagan peoples have been persecuted by Christians throughout history, and because Christianity has appropriated many Christian practices, those who feel excluded by the Church (or a church, or a Christian) often feel drawn to Paganism. (more on this later)
Pagan practice today is not identical to ancient polytheistic religions. Modern Paganism is as much a child of modernity as Agnosticism or Atheism (and in fact, many Pagans may identify as Agnostic or Atheistic). Paganism is a reaction against Deism, and it’s a natural development from Humanism.
Some Pagans are atheists. They believe that magic is simply misunderstood science.Other pagans are spiritual. They believe the world is supernatural.
Polytheism to PantheismOne Two (Male/Female) Many
Hunt/Sexuality/Sun/WorldThreefold Goddess (Maiden, Mother, Crone) – note the phases of the moon correlating with the phases of life (waxing/youth, full/adulthood, waning/elderly)Many Wiccans give preeminence to the goddess, though Wicca is technically egalitarian
Humanist philosophy underlies much of Paganism. Modern Paganism assumes that the individual is sufficient and essential. This undergirds Pagans’ belief in magic and their moral code.
Magic is manipulating the natural world with one’s will.
Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Aether (Spirit)
A version of Hinduism’s Karmic reincarnation.Between lives, Spirits are accessible through mediums, Ouija boards, etc.
Rule of ThreeWiccan Rede “An it harm none, do as you please.”What matters most is what is right for YOU
Samhain – October 31 //Fall Festival that commemorates the Dead. The veil between worlds is thinnest, so many rituals involve not only ancestor veneration, but attempts to contact the dead. Replaced by Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve)Yule – Winter Solstice // Sun is furthest from Earth, so we’re welcoming back the Sun. Light/Fire is the most important part of a Yule celebration. Yule is the Norse version; Saturnalia is the Roman version. Common trappings of Yule are Holly, Mistletoe, Wreaths and Yule logs. Replaced by Christmas!Imbolc – February // End of Winter/Spring Anticipation Often involves fertility ritualsOstara – Spring Equinox // Celebration of Spring, fertility rituals, etc.Beltane – May Day (May 1) // Celebration of Fertility/LifeLitha – Summer Solstice // Power of Sun, Crops and Fertility, etc.Lammas – August 1 // Harvest Festival, celebration of first fruits. Comparable to ThanksgivingMabon – Autumn Equinox //
Places Paganism reacts against Christianity. Some of these are legit differences and some are unfortunately where the Church got too wrapped up in Modernity.God as Male, Leadership as MaleSimilar to Agnostic critique: Institutions tend to resist change and be oppressiveCuts against the grain of individualismIndividual Freedom vs. God’s WayWhat about these other encounters?
The Church is the Bride of Christ. No such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian…
Deism vs. Sustainer/active presence (individualism vs. daily communion)
The Church is the Bride of Christ. No such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian…
We can say that God is both genders (after all, Genesis 1 makes it clear that it takes both male and female to be the image of God), but it’s more accurate to say that God is beyond gender. Gender is a human thing. It’s an aspect of creatures, not of the creator. That said, we believe that both genders can relate fully with God. We can also understand how overly-masculine pictures of God in the Church have made women feel excluded.
The Church is the Bride of Christ. No such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian…
Deism vs. Sustainer/active presence (individualism vs. daily communion)
The Church is the Bride of Christ. No such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian…
The Scriptures affirm the reality of Spirits, Mediums and Magic. They also affirm that it’s bad. Christians are called to have no God but God. And to trust no power that does not come from the Holy Spirit.
The Church is the Bride of Christ. No such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian…