Category: Religion and Theology

Keeping in mind the assigned reading from DeYoung, please answer the following: 
-How does Jesus argue for the authority of Scripture in the following passages: Matthew 5:17–19, Matthew 12:38–42, and Matthew 19:4–5?
– What do you believe is the strongest argument that He presents? Explain.
PLease use the Bible and the textbook:
Taking God At His Word: Why the Bible Is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me , chapters 7 and 8 by-
DeYoung, Kevin

write a research paper investigating and analyzing how African masks like the ones linked below play a role in African religion and beliefs

Please include all answers within one file or Word Doc
Pick one question from each section and answer a total of 3 questions
Each answer will be graded out of 20 points, for a total of 60 points. 
Each response needs to be at least 1.5 pages double-spaced [minimum], you can write more if you would like.
Each response needs 4 references/in-text citations 
There will be a total of 4.5 double-spaced pages with written responses at a minimum.
There will be a total of 12 references at minimum. 
Format: 12-pt font and 1-inch margins, include a title for each essay, and paragraphs should be orderly/organized. 
Reference Instructions:
Death and Dying in World Religions / In-text reference: (Bregman, Pg#)
A Brief History of Death / In-text reference: (Spellman, Pg#)
“Ways of Grieving Among Ojibwe Elders: ‘They’re All Around Us. They’re Always.’” / In-text reference: (Dennis and Washington, Pg#)
“Death Scenes” from Roman Death: The Dying and the Dead in Ancient Rome / In-text reference: (Hope, Pg#)
Cremation Rites in Hinduism / In-text reference: (Idler, Pg#)
Hindu entry from Religious Understandings of a Good Death in Hospice Palliative Care / In-text reference: (Rambachan, Pg#)
Relics of the Buddha / In-text reference: (Strong, Pg#)
Buddhist entry from Religious Understandings of a Good Death in Hospice Palliative Care / In-text reference: (Bruce, Pg#)
“Sallekhana: The Ethicality and Legality of Religious Suicide…:” (Braun, Pg#)
“Attitudes and Practices of Euthanasia…;” (Emanuel, Pg#)
“Tradition and Change in Jewish Ideals…” (Ravvin, Pg#)
“Excremental Assault:” (Des Pres, Pg#) 
“Noble Death or Death Cult?…” (Middleton, Pg#)
“The Association Between Religious Beliefs and Practices…:” (Silton, Pg#)
““Remember Death: An Examination of Death…:” (Davoudi, Pg#)
“Xunzi Versus Zhuangzi…:” (Fraser, Pg#) 
When you reference a Lecture use this in-text reference format:
Each essay response for each question MUST include:
4 References at minimum
3 textual references from class readings listed above at minimum
1 lecture reference at minimum
An answer to all parts of the question
Section One: Pick only ONE question from this section
Based on all the religions, traditions, and cultures we read about or discussed throughout the lectures in Weeks 9-14 pick TWO examples that allow you to explore ideas of salvation.
How does salvation work in each example and what are the significant differences?
How is salvation tied to beliefs in the afterlife?
What hopes and fears do these beliefs in salvation address?
How might attitudes to death be impacted by believing in salvation?
Based on all the religions, traditions, and cultures we read about or discussed throughout the lectures in Weeks 9-14 pick TWO examples that allow you to explore ideas of the afterlife.
What are some beliefs found within each [chosen] culture which relate to the  afterlife and what are the significant similarities/differences?
How are attitudes toward death tied to beliefs in the afterlife?
How might beliefs in the afterlife have impacted the practices surrounding death within the chosen culture?
Based on all the religions, traditions, and cultures we read about or discussed throughout the lectures in Weeks 9-14 pick TWO examples that allow you to explore burial and/or cremation.
What are some specific burial and cremation practices?
How is burial or cremation tied to beliefs in the afterlife?
What hopes and fears do these practices address?
How might attitudes to death be impacted by either practicing burial or cremation?
Section Two: Pick only ONE prompt from this section [must include 4 references/in-text citations]
Based on all the religions, traditions, and cultures we read about or discussed throughout the lectures in Weeks 9-14 use THREE examples to demonstrate the significance of martyrdom/sacrifice in death and dying.
Based on all the religions, traditions, and cultures we read about or discussed throughout the lectures in Weeks 9-14 use THREE examples to demonstrate the power of the spirit world.
Based on all the religions, traditions, and cultures we read about or discussed throughout the lectures in Weeks 9-14 use THREE examples to demonstrate the power of transition/liminal states in death and dying.
Based on all the religions, traditions, and cultures we read about or discussed throughout the lectures in Weeks 9-14 use THREE examples to demonstrate the power of the gods/goddesses/spirits/saints/martyrs related to death and dying. 
Section Three: Pick only ONE question from this section [must include 4 references/in-text citations]
Based on all the religions we read about or discussed throughout the lectures in Weeks 9-14 use THREE examples to explore three religious beliefs or philosophical perspectives related to death and dying that were the most surprising or interesting to you.
Based on all the religions, traditions, and cultures we read about or discussed throughout the lectures in Weeks 9-14 compare TWO conceptions of dying a “good death.”
What are the specific conditions of dying a “good death” in each example?
What do you think these conceptions say about what each culture values?
Do you believe the framework of dying a “good death” is useful? What would the merits or limitations of this framing
How has our study of the religions, traditions, and cultures covered throughout this courseinformed/altered your views on the ethics of death? Please explain your views, and then use specific topics covered during the course to reflect on how the course content has informed/altered your views. [You may reference any of the course content for this answer: weeks 2-14]
IF a topic we have covered in the second part of class (weeks 9-14) has impacted the way you view life and death, then write about this impact and explain why it caused a perspectival shift.
12. IF you have hopes related to death (the manner of death, the nature of the afterlife, community remembrance, etc.) explain them, and then use specific topics covered during this course to reflect on how these topics may have informed those hopes. [You may reference any of the course content for this answer: weeks 2-14]

Book: Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity
Your book response may be 4–8 pages, excluding the title page and reference page. Your paper must include the following components:
– Title page
– Introduction (a paragraph briefly describing the contents of the paper)
– Seeking Allah section
– Finding Jesus section
– Pastoral Counseling Case Study section
– Reference page
You must support your assertions with academically-sound sources. This includes professional literature (e.g., peer-reviewed journals and textbooks) and select Internet resources. Be wary of dubious websites. You are encouraged to use the Liberty University online library. You are also encouraged to include biblical insights. Your paper must be in current APA format.

Research and write a two page paper on the following topic:
What are three rules and the reasons for them that all Muslims have to follow? Make sure you include one rule of diet, one rule of clothing/modesty and one rule of worship/prayer that Muslims follow. 

Now reread Amos 8. Remember that prophecy is Hebrew poetry which uses figurative language (pictures).
Choose two uses of figurative language in the passage. What effect would these pictures have on the hearer/reader?
Describe the social position and economic practices of the people in 8:4-6. Are there Any ethical/legal issues? (use specific detail).
Describe the religious practices mentioned. How are these related to the social and economic practices mentioned in this chapter? Do the people see the connection? Does God?
Describe God’s interaction with the people. Why do you think God responds this way?
How is God pictured in this chapter? Why? What does this image represent?
How is the social world of Amos like/unlike our own?  How is it similar/different from your community? What legal/justice issues are similar/different from our modern era?

use the Bible as the 4 resources. Make sure the paper has an appropriate introduction including a thesis statement. let me know if you need to add or change more than 300 words and I will accommodate you for that. Use the template below and make sure everything is in the paper. Prepare the assignment according to APA style guidelines. Also I would prefer you would use word document but it is optional.
Nature of God: What is the triune God like? What are God’s characteristics? What is his
creation?
Nature of Humanity: What is human nature? What is human purpose? What is the root cause
of human problems?
Nature of Jesus: What is Jesus’s true identity? What was Jesus’s kingdom purpose? Why is
Jesus’s identity and work significant for the Christian worldview?
Restoration: What is the solution to human problems according to the Christian worldview?
What role do grace, faith, and repentance play in Christian salvation? How do Christians think
that the transformation of self and society happen?
Christian Foundation: Summarize how the concepts of the gospel essentials (nature of God,
nature of humanity, nature of Jesus, and restoration) constitute the foundation of the
Christian worldview. In other words, how are these concepts essential to the Christian
worldview?
Anglysis of the Implications of the Christian Worldview: Based on the previous five prompts,
analyze the implications of the Christian worldview by addressing each of the following
questions:
. What are the benefits or strengths of the Christian worldview as it relates to human value
and dignity?
•Compare the Christian concept of salvation in contrast to any other worldview
perspective.
.How does the Christian worldview influence a person’s thinking and behavior?
• What do people find troublesome or confusing about Christianity and why?
Conclusion: Synthesize the main points, pulling the ideas of the paper together.