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Religion |
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Every religion provides an
answer to these six basic questions.
Those who belong to a particular religion share their experiences and
interpretation of life through stories. Eventually oral stories get written
down in Sacred Books. People of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions
share a common heritage in accepting much of what the Old Testament (the Hebrew
Scriptures) teach in answer to these questions. Buddhist and Hindus and others
have their own Sacred Writings. The first story of the Bible is that of
Creation.
The first three chapters
of the Book of Genesis provide an initial answer to the six basic questions
that Clifford Geertz has identified.
- Goodness
will triumph over evil for
God is a God who creates all things Good. At the end of each day, God
pronounces creation good.
- There
is a purpose to life.
Out of the
"formless wasteland covered with darkness (chaos)" God creates with a sense of
purpose, the 1st day, 2nd day, 3rd day,
etc.
- Life
will triumph over death for God is the
creator of life: fish, plants, animals and to crown creation God created
humans.
- God
created us to live in Peace.
At the
beginning there was harmony among all creation:
God and humans, people and
animals. The Man and Woman in relationship with one another best reflect God,
for they are created in God's own image and likeness.
- In addition, God has a
special relationship with men and women for God walks in the Garden and
converses with them. Yes, we can come in
contact with the Ultimate.
- Sin is the cause of suffering. Sin is not
believing that God has created us good, with a purpose and for life. It is to
act in such a way that we do not promote goodness, order and life for ourselves
or others. To sin is to break the bond of peace and unity for which we have
been created.
The message of
creation, the first story of the Bible is reaffirmed in the last story of the
Bible, the new creation. Revelation (Chapter 21:1-8).
Here the
author tells us that God will create a new heaven and a new earth. In God's new
world there will be no more pain or sorrow or death. God's dwelling will be
among the people. There will be life for the just, those who live in right
relationships (the righteous) but for the unjust a "second death".
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JESUS
Catholics, like other Christians, are
disciples or followers of Jesus Christ.
There are some important and
significant differences in the way Christians (Protestant
and Catholics) SEE, CELEBRATE and LIVE life. As Christians,
however, we are united in acknowledging that Jesus is the
one who best reveals what God is like and the one who best
shows us how to respond to God's love by the life we live.
Jesus confirms and clarifies
Genesis' initial answers to those six basic questions about
life. The Gospels show Christ doing what God did.
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- Jesus teaches
what it means to do GOOD
and how to live in PEACE
with one's neighbor (love).
- Jesus proclaims
a new ORDER (The
Kingdom of God or God's Way of Life).
- Jesus FORGIVES
SINS and teaches people how to pray and to
live rightly before God so they may live in LOVING UNION with
God.
- Jesus is
the LIFE-GIVER inviting
all to share in eternal life through the Resurrection.
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Like his
Father, Jesus brings ORDER, GOODNESS and LIFE.
He forgives SINS, RESTORES
PEACE and UNITES us with God.
It is for this reason that we acknowledge
the Risen Christ as Lord and Savior.
Grace is the theological term used to describe God's relationship with us
and our relationship with God. It is a "GRACIOUS" relationship in
that God is the first to bend down, hold us in a loving embrace and give us
life.
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