What two main issues does St. Jude believe are a threat to the members of the Church? Explain. What examples from the past does St. Jude give describing those who have turned against God and His Church? How does St. Jude advise his readers to deal with those who are straying from the Faith? What warning does he include? Explain.

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The Catholic Epistle of St.Jude the Apostle

Compose a three page essay discussing the Epistle of St. Jude the Apostle.
– In your essay, you should discuss the following questions:
i. What two main issues does St. Jude believe are a threat to the members of the Church? Explain.
ii. What examples from the past does St. Jude give describing those who have turned against God and His Church?
iii. How does St. Jude advise his readers to deal with those who are straying from the Faith?  What warning does he include? Explain.
iv. What positive encouragement does St. Jude give to his readers at the end of his warnings?
v. Include in your essay a brief description of who St. Jude was and why his Epistle is  called “Catholic.”

Combining the aspects of Religious Symbolism with Religious Ritual, describe how the former (symbolism) is utilized in the latter (ritual) with a distinct emphasis on the outcome as to how they relate to people’s individual and/or corporate religious experiences.

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Combining Religious Symbolism with Religious Ritual

Combining the aspects of Religious Symbolism with Religious Ritual, describe how the former (symbolism) is utilized in the latter (ritual) with a distinct emphasis on the outcome as to how they relate to people’s individual and/or corporate religious experiences.

Examine one of the biblical images of salvation and define and describe the doctrine with its biblical, historical and theological contours as well as discuss how this image of salvation relates to and addresses the problem of sin.

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Image of Salvation Essay Assignment Instructions

Overview

The student will complete a theological essay that will address the relationship of human sinfulness to an aspect of the doctrine of salvation.

Instructions

Students will examine one of the biblical images of salvation (adoption, conversion, regeneration, redemption, reconciliation, justification, election, sanctification, or glorification) and define and describe the doctrine with its biblical, historical and theological contours as well as discuss how this image of salvation relates to and addresses the problem of sin. Finally, the student will apply the implications of this doctrine to the Christian life and for the student’s chosen vocation. The essay will be 750-1000 words and the formatting should be compatible with your current degree program.

Refer to the “Course Policies” in the course syllabus for the formatting expectations in this course.

Use the provided Image of Salvation Essay Template as a guide.

Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.

 

Explain the Two Great Commandments within Christianity. What is the point or message that Jesus is trying to convey with those Two Great Commandments?

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Journal Reflection 2

Journal Reflection 2 (Label A1, B(i-x), C, A2, D, and E for each section in your paper)

For this Journal Reflection assignment, you should:

(A1) Find one story from a reputable news source (CBS, ABC, CNN, NBC, FOX, BBC, or NYT only) of an issue from everyday life that could be better understood by recognizing an insight or main message from one of the stories in part (B). Summarize the recent news story (within the past six months) and the main issue presented in that news story (so, as just one example of many, it might be specifically related to the coronavirus pandemic). Include a link to the news source.

(B) Choose one of the following stories central to Judaism (and relevant to part (A) above): (i) Origin Story, (ii) Adam and Eve, (iii) Cain and Abel, (iv) Great Flood, (v) Tower of Babel, (vi) Abraham and Isaac, (vii) Jacob Wrestling, (viii) Joseph and Egypt, (ix) Pharaoh and the 10 Plagues, or (x) Hebrews’ Journey out of Egypt. Summarize the story and explain what a main point, message, or take-away is.

(C) Develop the insight from the Jewish story in the context of the recent news story. Show how the knowledge gained from the insights from the story in (B) would help to better understand or resolve the issue in the news story from (A1).

(A2) Find one story from a reputable news source (CBS, ABC, CNN, NBC, FOX, BBC, or NYT only) of an issue from everyday life that could be better understood by recognizing an insight or main message from one of the concepts in part

(D). (Note: it cannot be the same story from A1 nor the same topic.) Summarize the recent news story (within the past six months) and the main issue presented in that news story. Include a link to the news source.

(D) Explain the Two Great Commandments within Christianity. What is the point or message that Jesus is trying to convey with those Two Great Commandments?

(E) Develop the insight from one of the Two Great Commandments from (D) in the context of the recent news story from (A2). Show how the knowledge gained from the insights from that Great Commandment would help to better understand or resolve the issue in the news story (so, as just one example of many, it might be specifically related to the recent elections).

Note: Direct reference to your personal religious views should be avoided and the news stories should not directly mention religion or any religious concepts we are studying. The news stories should be on other topics from everyday life that can be better understood through the lens of a religious tradition.

Discuss the Hindu concepts of Atman and Brahman. Explain the notion of Hindu enlightenment (Moksha), and how Atman and Brahman relate to enlightenment.

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Journal Assignment 1

Journal Reflection 1 (label a, b, c for each section in your paper)

For this Journal Reflection assignment, you should:

(a) Discuss the Hindu concepts of Atman and Brahman.

(b) Explain the notion of Hindu enlightenment (Moksha), and how Atman and Brahman relate to enlightenment.

(c) Find two different examples from everyday life that help illustrate how an understanding of these three Hindu notions (Atman, Brahman, and Moksha) would change the way people act or behave. These two separate examples must be specific recent events (i.e. from the past six months) from the news (choose a news story from: CBS, ABC, CNN, NBC, FOX, BBC, or NYT only; a link to the story must be included for each). So you might consider, as just one example, a news story directly related to the coronavirus pandemic, such as people who refuse to wear masks, etc. Be sure your examples are not too general, and that you explain the examples before going on to apply the three concepts to each. The idea is, from the lens of Hinduism, how would a devout Hindu (as described in the textbook) approach the specific case that is discussed in the news article (again, with special reference to each of the three Hindu notions of Atman, Brahman, and Moksha). Your personal views are not required (you should just apply Hindu concepts to the examples) and be sure the examples are appropriate and do not directly mention any religion or any religious concepts we are studying.

How are evil actions presented? Is evil shown in a way that disgusts the reader? Or is it made attractive to the reader? Are the consequences of evil actions shown to be what the Bible says they will be?

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The Gift and Calling of God

I. The Introduction:
Introduce the title, the author, and the subject or theme of the book in the first sentence.

Example: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott recounts the girlhood experiences of Jo March and her three sisters. Get your readers interested in what you are going to say perhaps with a striking statement, a quotation, or some background information. If the book has a setting (time and place), you might include it.

Example: Set in New England around the time of the Civil War, this classic novel provides a glimpse of daily life in a nineteenth-century American household. Though fictional, it reads like a true story, because the main characters are fashioned after the author’s own family. The character Jo March resembles Louisa herself. Close your introductory paragraph with a statement of opinion. Choose one aspect of the book a moral, a concept, or a principle that made an impression on you. Ask yourself, “What did I learn from this book? Would others benefit from it? And if so, how?” You will discuss this statement in the body of your report.

Example: Though the experiences of the March sisters, one can learn to appreciate the family that God has given him or her.

II. The Body

A. Begin with a short, concise summary (synopsis) of the book, including only the main points or key events. Limit this synopsis to several sentences.

1. For a fiction book, write a summary of the plot. The plot is the sequences of actions that make up a story. The plot begins with a conflict involving main characters. Sometimes, the conflict involves two people. Other times, the conflict involves the main character and a variety of people and circumstances. In some stories, conflict may be at work with the character.

Example: In the story Little Women, each of the March sisters faces her own conflict with self as she tries to “be good.”
After you have stated the conflict, recount the events that develop the conflict to the point at which one of the opposing forces is about to prevail over the other. This is called the climax. Following the climax, relate the events that resolve the conflict.

2. For a biography, relate the chief incidents in the subject’s life.

3. For a nonfiction book, write a summary.

B. In the succeeding paragraphs of the body, use incidents, details, and quotations that support the opinion you stated in the introduction. Prove your point.

Example: In the opening scene, the March sisters are bemoaning their poverty when Beth gently reminds them how rich they really are: “We’ve got father and mother and each other.” Though lacking in material comforts, the girls gradually learn to appreciate the treasure they have in a loving home. Mother’s gentle words and Father’s letters from the battlefront remind them of the things that matter in life: relationships, kind words and loving deeds, and personal growth and maturity. Meg learns about the emptiness of material wealth when she visits Annie Moffat and tries to fit in with her frivolous and worldly friends. Jo learns to forgive when Amy burns her precious books. Beth teaches
them all about selfless giving when she reaches out to help a poor widow and her children and is stricken with a deadly fever. As each girl struggles with her personal weaknesses, she learns to appreciate more
fully the family that God has given her and the values they share.

III. The Conclusion:

A. Begin the conclusion with a restatement of your opinion. (Avoid the temptation to use the same wording that you used in your introduction.)

Example: Of the many lessons to be learned from Little Women, the importance of family relationships is one that no reader should miss. Everyone can learn to appreciate his or her siblings and parents from the example set
by the March sisters.

B. Give your thoughts about the book, whether they are favorable or unfavorable.

Example: I enjoyed Louisa May Alcotts’s honest portrayal of family life. Like any ordinary family, the Marches had disagreements and quarrels from time to time, but they remained a close-knit, loving family because they recognized and practiced Scriptural principles of family life: the girls honored their parents, loved each other, and sought to live peaceable together.

You may comment on the realism of the characters, the charm of the setting, the effectiveness of the imagery, the aptness of the dialogue, or the naturalness of the action. As a Christian, you must also think about the content. How are evil actions presented? Is evil shown in a way that disgusts the reader? Or is it made attractive to the reader? Are the consequences of evil actions shown to be what the Bible says they will be?
In the body of your report, emphasize the moral, the concept, or the principle that impressed you. In the conclusion, evaluate the book according to the criteria above.

NOTE: Keep the number of pages of your Book Report to the required number of pages for your course. Points will be deducted for long elaborate Book Reports. Remember, you are not re-writing the book, you are only giving a report of the book. Your paper should be typed (double-spaced) on one side only.

How did this religion begin? Was there a founder? What was going on in the USA when this group started? How did this group relate to or react to what was going on?

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New Religions

For the “New Religions” paper, students will select one of the religious movements discussed in chapters 7&8 of the Albanese text book. (Mormons, Christian Scientists, Seventh –Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Shakers, Oneida Perfectionists, Astrology, Witchcraft, Spiritualism, Theosophy, New Thought) The student will write a 3 – 4 page paper (750-1000 words, not including works cited page) The paper should cover the following:

1. Origin- how did this religion begin? Was there a founder? What was going on in the USA when this group started? How did this group relate to or react to what was going on?

2. Creed- explanation about meaning of human life- what can we hope for? Why are we here?

3. Code- rules for everyday behavior

4. Cultus- rituals/worship

5. Community- group of people, experience as a group

Sources for the Paper
Students will use at least 2 sources identified through research in the library. You may find great information at the web sites the group sponsors, and there are a couple good books in the library as well. “Dr. Google” and “Wikipedia” are not enough for college level research. Please view the research tutorials I posted.

Form of the paper
The paper can be in “outline” form. In other words, it is ok if you have separate paragraphs about each topic, and do not have a thesis statement. You may use APA or MLA style guidelines.

Works cited and Intext Citations
Be sure to give proper credit to your sources. That means if you are summarizing, you have to let the reader know where the information is from. (You need to cite your source) If you are quoting, you must use quotation marks and include intext citations. (You need to cite your source.)

How does healing differ today from New Testament healing? Does any relationship exist between sin and disease? What is the value of “confessing your sins one to another”?

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Healing Today

Type an essay in response to the following questions. Do necessary research to complete.

1. How does healing differ today from New Testament healing?
2. Does any relationship exist between sin and disease?
3. What is the value of “confessing your sins one to another”?

Select a person from the textbook involved with Judaism and Christianity. Characterize how that individual expressed their religious beliefs through a faithful event in their life.

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Understanding the Religions of the World

Select a person from the textbook involved with Judaism and Christianity. Characterize how that individual expressed their religious beliefs through a faithful event in their life. Ensure that you articulate some key terms of Judaism and Christianity in your response.

Book- Edited by Will Deming/ Understanding the Religions of the World

Identify counseling techniques you can use to minister to a person with this issue. Then, discuss how this person/issue impacts the congregation and how you should address it in your local church. Finally, demonstrate your Final Paper.

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Transgenderism how they are treated in the body of Christ

Write a six-page paper on one of the following topics- Transgenderism,
Here are the requirements of the paper: First, define it (both secularly & biblically). Next, identify counseling techniques you can use to minister to a person with this issue. Then, discuss how this person/issue impacts the congregation and how you should address it in your local church. Finally, demonstrate your Final Paper:

Write a six-page paper on one of the following topics- Depression, Anxiety, Suicide, Child Abuse, Homosexuality, Transgenderism, or modern-day Polyamory. If you wish to study a different Topic, you must seek permission from the instructor first. It is recommended that you begin working on your final paper at least four weeks before it is due so you can seek advice from the instructor if needed and have plenty of time to conduct research and refine the paper.
Here are the requirements of the paper: First, define it (both secularly & biblically). Next, identify counseling techniques you can use to minister to a person with this issue. Then, discuss how this person/issue impacts the congregation and how you should address it in your local church. Finally, demonstrate your awareness of resources that you would recommend to this person to continue to assist him/her to overcome this struggle. Minimum of 7 sources required, may use textbooks, no more than three can be online sources. (double-spaced, 12-pt, Times New Roman, 1-inch margins, Turabian style).