Lesson 4 ~ Comparative Religions Part 1 ~ Essay

Lesson 4 ~ Comparative Religions Part 1 ~ Essay

By:  Rev. Trent Murman

 

Those that are historical and affected people around the world.

The Great Floods.

1)     According to the story, G d decided to flood the Earth to cleanse it of humanity's wickedness. G d chooses one family to ensure the continued survival of the human race. G d warned Noah about the flood, and instructed him to build a great boat, the ark, and onto this ark gather two of every kind of animal, one male and one female, to ensure the survival of all of G d's animals. And this happened, and mankind was washed away, except for Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives, and this family re-started life on earth, along with a boatful of animals.

2)     Greek story about a man named Deucalion and his wife, Pyrrha. In this story, Zeus and the other gods were weary of the human weakness in battling against sin, since the humans (those without godlike ancestry) had been made from clay. The gods decided that the earth needed to be cleansed of all the weak humans, so that the gods could start over with a new human race. However, before the flood began, Deucalion is warned to build a boat and collect his wife, so that they alone would survive the flood.

3)     In a Sumerian tale, the gods had decided to destroy mankind. A god (probably Enki) warned the priest-king Ziusudra ("Long of Life") of the coming flood by speaking to a wall while Ziusudra listened at the side. He was instructed to build a great ship, take his family, and carry beasts and birds upon it.  And this happened, and mankind was washed away, except for Ziusudra's family, and this family re-started life on earth, along with a boatful of animals.

The similarities in the above stories all involved a man and his wife, building of a huge boat and a pre-warning of the impending flood disaster.  There was a non-human who sent a warning in each case relative to the impending danger.

 

Those that sanctify social change.

1)     The story of Abraham and Issac

2)     The story of Ontohsai

3)     Human Sacrifice

The similarities in the above stories are the involvement of young children and event of almost sacrificing.  But, very close to the end the child was saved by the particular groups "god".  A bloody decree was issued in these cases, having for its object the destruction of the child. The hurried flight of the parents takes place in each case.  The governor or ruler was hostile in each case to the mission of the young child.

 

Those that have a hero for the people to emulate.

1)     The story of a wicked and ambitious king by name of Kamsa in Mathura.

2)     King Herod the Great, in Jerusalem

Many religions revolve around a central character. This character very often is the son of the "god" the religion follows.

Go In Peace

Lesson 4 ~ Christian Ethics ~ The Covenant

Lesson 4 ~ Christian Ethics ~ The Covenant ~ The Law and The Prophets Part 2 ~ Essay

By:  Rev. Trent Murman

 

As stated in Lesson III, give three (3) reasons we turn to certain basic ideas in the Old Testament. 

The first is the light that the Old Testament can throw upon Jesus as we note what he retained, consciously or unconsciously from his heritage and what he set aside in response to higher insights.

The second is the need to understand the Old Testament as a whole and to see it in perspective, since it too is the Christian's Bible and grave errors of ethical interpretation have often resulted from lack of such perspective.

The third arises from the fact that the social teachings of the prophets supply a degree of concreteness and of social application to specific circumstances which appears only marginally in the teachings of Jesus.

Prior to the sixth century B.C., Was Israel's faith fully monotheistic?  It is now commonly believed that Israel's faith was not fully monotheistic before the sixth century B.C. and that a watershed is marked by the great declaration of the Second Isaiah in Isa. 44:6 where Yahweh is represented as saying: I am the first, I am the last, besides me there is no god.

In the Old Testament, Yahweh's covenant with Israel was not a covenant of merit. What WAS it a covenant of?  A covenant is often described as "An agreement between two or more parties outlining mutual rights and responsibilities." 

What were the two basic tests of being a Jew?  There were two basic tests of being a Jew. One was circumcision; the other was the more general requirement of the keeping of the law.

Name the code in the Old Testament which is probably the most primitive and state the book and lesson of the OT in which it is located.  The Covenant Code (Exod. 20:23-23:33), the code embedded in the book of Deuteronomy, and the Holiness Code (Lev. 17-26) — specifications for ritualistic and ceremonial observance stand side by side with those indicating humaneness and moral insight.

The Covenant Code illustrates admirable the blend of which two considerations?

The Covenant Code, which is affixed to the Exodus Decalogue, illustrates admirably the blending of moral with religious considerations, and within religion the mixture of adoration and gratitude with ceremonial observance, which characterizes Israel's faith as a whole.

 

State the name, lesson and verse of the book of the bible, where we can find the following statement: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." 

The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. (Mark 2:27.)
There is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him. (Mark 7:15.)
If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matt. 5:23-24.)

 

State three (3) observations which can be gleaned from Israel's course with reference to the law. 

The first is that the law was by no means the barren and external thing that the legalists of Jesus' time or the literalists of ours have too often made it.

Second, as the God of the Hebrews was too small, so was their moral outlook. Reference has been made to the humaneness of the codes. 

The third deduction we must draw is in regard to what Jesus did with the law. Both of the foregoing elements must be taken into account to understand his attitude.

 

State five (5) deductions which can drawn from the general structure of thought of the insights of the prophets from Amos through the Second Isaiah.

The first observation to make is that the prophets, like the compilers of the law, proceeded from the assumptions of the covenant. This made their messages both religious and ethical, with an intertwining which makes it impossible to withdraw either element without losing the heart of their message.

Second, the prophets must be understood in both an individual and a social context. This is true whether what is being considered is the source or the object of their message.

Third, though explicit monotheism and universalism were a late development, their nucleus is implicit in all prophetic preaching. The ceremonialism of Israel, though understood by the people as the mark of Israel's particularity, had actually much in common with other primitive religious rites.

Fourth, the prophets saw with utter clarity the persistent fact of sin, and saw it not as maladjustment or even as failure to "hit the mark" of some objective human standard, but as sin against God.

And fifth, in everything the prophets said, they spoke to the current situation. They spoke from a perspective that was more than "current," but they never spoke in abstractions.

 

State three (3) concepts Jesus took from the Old Testament.

First, Jesus shared with Old Testament thought the general structure of God-centered moral living.

Second, his ethical principles were those of Judaism, yet with a difference in emphasis which makes their impact new.

Thirdly, Jesus took the eschatology like the ethics of his time and made it into something different. His inheritance from the prophets moralized his expectancy of divine intervention; his own sense of relationship to God gave a new turn to both eschatology and ethics.

Go In Peace

Spiritual Leadership ~ Eight Fold Path Part 2

Lesson 3 ~ Spiritual Leadership ~ Unit 1 Eight Fold Path Part 2 ~ Essay

Rev. Trent Murman

 

I sincerely feel there is an art to growing old.  It not only encompasses the physical state but also the mental state of growing old.  If you take this part of your life's journey with grace the journey will be smooth, if however, you choose to fight the aging process with everything you have, then this part of your journey will be miserable not only for you, but everyone you are connected with.  There will be those people around you that definitely boost you up and help you through your journey.  These may be your closest friends, family and work associates.  You will also have those associates that will tend to pull you down, those which may not want to see you succeed.  This could be due to their jealousy or fear of you doing better than them.  It would be in one's best interest to gracefully end those relationships which may hold you from moving forward.  Obviously, it would not be to your best interest to pursue these relationships.   There are things that lift you up or "energize" you in your everyday life experiences.  It might be a good cup of morning coffee, a run in the park or something as simple as a daily meditation time just for you to be alone with your thoughts and prayers.  When I come across something that brings me down "deflates or wears me out", I simply try to avoid that situation or person/s.  I feel if you live your life in the positive fashion and "do that which is right" every day, then you will reap the rewards.  GO IN PEACE

Lesson 3 ~ Comparative Religion ~ Interfaith Part I and II

Lesson 3 ~ Comparative Religion ~ Interfaith Part I & II ~ Essay

By:  Rev. Trent Murman

 

 "Where is the line drawn between the separation of church and state." Another way of wording it might be: "Is it appropriate for religious leaders to take political action publicly."  I have often thought about this very controversial subject especially when you see some very vocal ministers loudly expressing themselves through the media.  Many times I wonder is this what He would approve?  Is this the way He would want us to preach the word?  The thought of militantly expressing their views in the name of the church to me is not acceptable.  I believe a minister can get his word and beliefs out to the community without being a radical activist.  I believe the clergy should remain as men of God and not interfere within the political realm.  Absolutely, I strongly believe the clergy has a place within the penal system, performing last rites at the hour of death or other sacramental duties.  But, to actively go out into the public and clash against authority in an outrageous manner, this I do not believe is acceptable.  I believe you can make your convictions strong in the proper places like your pulpit.  You don't have to summon the devil, he will seek you out. 

 

GO IN PEACE

Lesson 2 ~ Christian Ethics ~ Churches, Bible and New Testament ~ Essay

Lesson 2 ~ Churches, Bible and New Testament ~ Essay

By:  Rev. Trent Murman

 

Define "Christian Ethics" as used by the author in Lesson I.

My understanding of Christian ethics encompasses self-morality, the Bible, the New Testament and the ethical insights of Jesus.  I believe your ethics is something that is instilled within your bringing up.  It may remain the same throughout your life, however, when you become an adult and start making decisions about your own life your ethics may change.  The ability to reason and change your thought patterns is the best gift from Him and it does separate us from other primates. 

 

Define "Agape love."

Agape love is the selfless love of one person for another without sexual implications, according to the online free dictionary.  This would definitely describe the love Jesus had for all peoples during his short time on earth and spread throughout the lands he preached on.  His agape love as we have been taught is everlasting. 

 

Define "Christendom." (per online Wikepedia)

Christendom - the collective body of Christians throughout the world and history (found predominantly in Europe and the Americas and Australia); "for a thousand years the Roman Catholic Church was the principal church of Christendom"

Christianity body - a group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity; "the whole body filed out of the auditorium"; "the student body"; "administrative body"

Christian church, church - one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

church - the body of people who attend or belong to a particular local church; "our church is hosting a picnic next week"

 

Why is the Church called to be the "conscience of the State?"

"Conscience of the State", I believe this refers to the bringing of morality into the community by way of the church.  I believe the church has the obligation to guide and direct persons and holding them to their moral ethics.

 

The Bible is the fountainhead of Christian theology.

Should we look to the Old Testament for our ethical foundations? Yes, but with discernment.   Explain:  I believe the Old Testament sets the parameters concerning morality.  This we cannot do away with.  Remembering the Old Testament was Jesus' Bible which he used and referred to in his teachings.

 

Why do most Christians find the New Testament more authoritative for their faith and living?  The New Testament records the historical revelation of God in Christ.  But we need both the old and new testaments for comparison and use in everyday life. 

 

T/F? It is agreed that in the case of an Old Testament passage, one must examine and expound it in relation to the revelation of God to Israel both before and after its own period. Then the interpreter should turn to the New Testament in order to view the passage in that perspective.  This is a true statement the relevance should be checked and verified in both cases.

T/F? It is agreed that in the case of a New Testament passage one should examine it in the light of its setting and context; then turn to the Old Testament to discover its background in God's former revelation. Returning again to the New Testament one is able to see and expound the passage in the light of the whole scope of Heilsgeschichte.  It is agreed that in the case of a New Testament passage one should examine it in the light of its setting and context; then turn to the Old Testament to discover its background in God's former revelation. Returning again to the New Testament one is able to see and expound the passage in the light of the whole scope of Heilsgeschichte.

As defined in Lesson II, what is "Christian Ethics?"  ? It is the systematic study of the way of life set forth by Jesus Christ, applied to the daily demands and decisions of our personal and social existence.

Go In Peace

Spiritual Development ~ Lesson 1 ~ Rev. Trent

Lesson 1 ~ Spiritual Development ~ Life with Clarity and Purpose ~ Essay

By: Rev. Trent Murman, OSM, OSF

 

Clearly identify what you want, so you can go after it with clarity; access internal resources, and inquire of the part of you which already knows. My ultimate purpose in life is to work with active duty and discharged veterans from any war or engagement to return to civilian life or continue with his/her active duty duties in a safe and holistic minded intentions.  Marshal the Content, Focus, and Direction of your thoughts so you can unfold to your identified purpose.   My thoughts at this time are definitely in the completion of the Chaplaincy Program at the seminary.  So far all my energies are focused in that direction.Maintain the intentional and internal resources needed to stay the course, and fulfill your own personal Higher Purpose.   I keep constantly reminding myself of the need to stay on course and complete the necessary requirements to accomplish this goal.  Since the want to work with our heroes is so great in my mind, I am sure this will not be difficult for me to follow. 

Go In Peace