Extractions: Indigenous Religious Beliefs and Cosmology of the Filipino Introduction Supreme God Filipino Trinity? Afterlife ... Ritual and Practice Introduction Besides, it is unwise, in most cases, to judge others except by the their own standards. For example, the slaughter and eating of cows would be considered a great evil by many orthodox Hindus. It would quite literally be the mark of savages. Yet, Hindus generally do not use this standard when judging non-Hindus. So, with this, let us proceed. While there somewhat of a trend going on in the ethnological circles claiming that widespread monotheistic beliefs found among many tribal peoples were due to the influence of diffusion, or by forced interpretation by missionaries, the belief in a Supreme God seems to be one of the most natural and simplest of beliefs. Indeed, very little evidence has been mustered in support of this theory and it remains simple conjecture. In the Philippines, the record of the Spanish, and the surviving indigenous traditions leave little doubt that the Filipinos had a belief in a Supreme Creator God. The name of this god varied depending on what region is discussed. Among some of the names are: Bathala, Diwata, Kabunian, Mansilatan, Makaptan, Laon, Lumauig, Mamarsua, Tuhan, etc.
Religious Freedom Home Page Defines religious freedom as the notion that people of religion can freely partake of the practices of their religion without opposition. This would not only include private devotions, but also acts of religious significance within the realm of government. The author applies the latter clause only to practitioners of Western religions. http://www.mindspring.com/~careyb/rframe.html
Extractions: Current Points of Interest Think Atheism is rational? Think again. Read Francis Bacon's Of Atheism Yes, Virginia, vouchers are constitutional. Just when you thought that the First Amendment could be abused no further: Read Lust at the Library in Loudon County Enjoy a year-old Church/State debate between Newt Gingrich and Ira Glasser. A Claremont Institute panel discusses homosexuality A separation of church and state extremist wants Christmas abolished as a federal holiday. Read all about it. Read a Library of Congress Information Bulletin regarding Thomas Jefferson's famous letter to the Danbury Baptists. Using FBI technology to uncover certain inked-out portions from the original, it presents the letter, specifically the "wall of separation" buzz-phrase, as a political statement, rather than one of principle. In the interests of fairness, read an attempt to refute the LCIB mentioned above. Patrick Fagan tells us about the importance of religion in society. Religious Freedom Home Page This page is dedicated to opposing the separation of church and state extremism which has taken all too strong a foothold in the body politic. Here, we refute the historical revisionists as well as those who would misinterpret the Constitution to make the case that the Founding Fathers wanted to divorce religion completely from government. "Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens."
Spiritual Awakenings Spiritual issues of sexuality and gender, selflove vs. selfishness, spirituality vs. man-made religions. Includes news, articles, and writings. http://SpiritualAwakenings.faithweb.com/
Extractions: , des " Journées d’études " thématiques, des journées " Jeunes chercheurs " et des sessions " Lectures en sciences sociales des religions " autour d'ouvrages récemment parus. Le colloque de l'AFSR portera cette année sur "Rites politiques et religieux des sociétés modernes". Il aura lieu, à l'IRESCO, les 3 et 4 février 2003.
Peace Prayer Web Site Resources and events for religious communities seeking peace. Includes prayers for a variety of religions. http://www.peaceprayer.org/
Extractions: Living God, we praise you for the multitudes of women, men, young people, and children who, across the earth, are striving to be witnesses to peace, trust and reconciliation. Brother Roger of Taize Bells for Peace There is still time. There is still hope. Seekers Church Peace Witness (SCPW) is inviting the religious community to ring Bells for Peace (blow their Shafarot or other public sounding) as an appeal for continued search for a diplomatic solution to the situation in Iraq. We welcome participation from U.S. faith communities as well as participation from faith communities around the world. Read the Bells for Peace Call Print a Bells for Peace Poster Seekers Church is an inter-generational, welcoming family of faith of approximately 100 people of all ages, many of whom come from a variety of Christian faith traditions. We were born out of the Church of the Saviour in Washington, DC in 1976. The life of Seekers Church is based on the belief that God calls each person to minister to some place of need in God's Creation. Questions? Please e-mail
Extractions: God Wars: which memes will adapt and win the battle for humanity's devotion? Hundreds of religions and philosophies are currently engaged in the centuries-old conflict over the hearts and minds of the human species. Some religions seek to destroy all the others; some are content with control over one group, becoming identified with ethnicity or nationality. No matter whether you think of religion as mankind's greatest characteristic or a form of self-propagating mind virus, you cannot avoid being affected by the God Wars. In these wars, religions that spew propaganda almost always beat those that do not. Religions whose missionaries circle like vultures waiting for disasters to occur in unconverted nations have constant success. International religions have an advantage, even if numbers are small, because they can recover from persecution in any single country. As you may guess, I do not buy into the liberal P.C. garbage that "all religions are paths to the same Truth". No they are not. Some religions don't even have gods. Some have countless gods and spirits that perform even the most mundane roles. Others, like Biblical Christianity and the Aztec blood cult, have bloodthirsty gods that promote violence. We do NOT all worship the same God. And this is a good thing.
Explore, Discover & Beconvinced! About Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Islam And Science, Women In Islam and Christianity, Muslims, chat, and radio. Astronomy. http://www.beconvinced.com/index1.htm
Aaronc - African Religions A short overview of the many Traditional religions practiced among people of differing cultural, linguistic, and ethnic groups; gives names for the supreme deity in many African languages; part of a larger site on polytheism. http://jpdawson.com/modrelg/relafri.html
Extractions: African Traditional Religions The Bushmen and Hottentots live in southern Africa and were the original inhabitants of the land when the first Europeans arrived at the Cape. Today the true Bushmen (Khoisan) are restricted to the Kalahari Desert and Namibia. Modern Bushmen pray to celestial spirits and tell myths and legends about them. They pay special attention to the moon, which comes into their speculations about the origins of death, a common African preoccupation. The Hottentots have largely become Christian and most of their ancient religious beliefs have disappeared, so much so that it was once thought that they had no former religion. Their ancient gods appear to have been a mingling of natural forces and ancestral spirits. In the sub-Saharan and forest areas there are small groups of Hamites (Caucasians, related to Europeans) such as the Fulani of Nigeria, but they are Muslims like the major Hamite groups of North Africa and the Tuaregs of the Sahara. A vast majority of Africans south of the Sahara are Negroes, and they generally have a belief in a supreme being, though their conception of his role in daily life differs according to localities. Despite the universality of belief in a supreme being in Africa regular worship is not generally given to him. There are no great temples or organized cults for him in most places, though there are a few exceptions. Yet despite this absence of formal worship and temples over most of Africa, the supreme being (or God) is a reality to many people. He is transcendent and there is a popular myth, told from West African to the Upper Nile, which says that he or the sky his dwelling place was once much nearer to the earth.
The Nine Houses Of Gaia A nonprofit organization promoting interest in Earth-based religions, both past and present. They publish the Open Ways newsletter 8 times a year, and host The Northwest Fall Equinox Festival. http://www.9houses.org/
Extractions: The Nine Houses of Gaia The Nine Houses of Gaia is a non-profit organization promoting interest in Earth-based religions, both past and present. We publish the Open Ways newsletter 8 times a year, and host The Northwest Fall Equinox Festival . For more information, look below, or send email to editor@9houses.org We have information on: February 22, 2002
Promoting Religious Understanding, Tolerance And Freedom. Provides basic information on a wide range of religions and religious movements. Also exposes religious fraud, hatred and misinformation, and provides information on hot religious topics. http://www.religioustolerance.org/
Extractions: This is a large religious web site which promotes religious freedom, tolerance and diversity as positive cultural values. The site contains over 2,500 essays and menus. But it is very different from almost all other religious sites: We do not promote our own religious beliefs. We can't because we are a multi-faith group. We try to explain the full range of religious belief in North America, from Asatru to Christianity to Zoroastrianism We report on controversial religious topics, from abortion access to equal rights and protections for homosexuals and bisexuals including same-sex marriage (our most popular topic). We try to explain all sides to each topic fairly and objectively. You will find much in this site that you will agree with, and much to disagree with. Enjoy! SOME THOUGHTS: Religious Tolerance means
Native American Religion Overview of different beliefs and rituals, the concept of religious experience and background information of Native American religions. http://www.stormwind.com/common/nareligion.html
Extractions: "Mitakuye Oyasin: We are all related. Most Indians hear this phrase thousands of times a year as they attend or perform ceremonies and for many...the phrase seems to be...a liturgical blessing that includes all other forms of life in human ceremonial activities." Vine Deloria, Jr., 1992 Background Anthropologists divide the Native American cultures of North America into seven groups: Eastern Woodlands, Southeastern, Plains, Plateau, Great Basin, Southwestern, and Northwest Coastal. Each of these geographical groupings contains many distinct peoples with only the broadest characteristics in common, each with their own culture and religious beliefs. Any attempt to briefly summarize such a rich variety of peoples as this page does is going to involve inexact generalizations: It can't be helped. Where space permits, examples appear from different tribal groups, but they do not begin to reflect the diversity of Native American spirituality. Ritual How do traditional Native Americans seek closeness/union with Spirit?
International Reconciliation Coalition The greatest wounds in human history, the greatest injustices, have not happened through the acts of some individual perpetrator; rather through the institutions, systems, philosophies, cultures, religions and governments of humankind. http://www.reconcile.org/
Extractions: September-October 1998 by Greg Koukl I n the children's book, The Blind Men and the Elephant , Lillian Quigley retells the ancient fable of six blind men who visit the palace of the Rajah and encounter an elephant for the first time. The first blind man put out his hand and touched the side of the elephant. "How smooth! An elephant is like a wall." The second blind man put out his hand and touched the trunk of the elephant. "How round! An elephant is like a snake." The third blind man put out his hand and touched the tusk of the elephant. "How sharp! An elephant is like a spear." The fourth blind man put out his hand and touched the leg of the elephant. "How tall! An elephant is like a tree." The fifth blind man reached out his hand and touched the ear of the elephant. "How wide! An elephant is like a fan." The sixth blind man put out his hand and touched the tail of the elephant. "How thin! An elephant is like a rope." An argument ensued, each blind man thinking his own perception of the elephant was correct. The Rajah, awakened by the commotion, called out from the balcony. "The elephant is big," he said. "Each man touched only one part. You must put all parts together to find out what an elephant is like."
Nowthink Articles and information on alternative religions. Focuses on Jehovah's Witnesses and Bible Students, along with other theological issues facing the Church. http://www.nowthink.com/
Extractions: Welcome To "nowthink.com" PRAY FOR AMERICA IN THESE TROUBLING TIMES Thank you for visiting 'nowthink.com'. This site will focus on doctrinal problems and issues facing the church. The last two centuries have exploded with non-historic teachings and theology. With the rise of liberalism on one hand and new religions on the other the question comes to mind, "Who has the truth?" The first series of articles will primarily be focused on the numerous splinter groups and followers of Charles Taze Russell, known as Bible Students , the Christadelphians, etc . Theological research topics called position papers will also be part of this site. Some of the topics will include the holy Trinity, deity of Christ, and the afterlife. My personal theological position is strongly grounded in the evangelical tradition. Any comments or questions are welcomed. Thank you once again, Robert C. Hill, ThB. , MA in Theological Studies NEW BOOK: AWAKENING OF A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS: ESCAPE FROM THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY, by Diane Wilson. http://www.dianewilson.net
Habeeb's Links To World Religion Sites Christianity Online. The Buddhism world. Bible Gateway. Guide to Zen Buddhism. Religion at the Root. (PLO) Palestinian Liberation Organization. http://salem.k12.va.us/shs/ss/worldreligion.html
Extractions: Christianity Buddhism Virtual Christianity Buddhism Studies Christianity Online The Buddhism World ... The Apostle Paul Judaism Islam Yom Kippur Resources Islam USA Jewish Holiday Recipes Ramadan on the Net ... Holiday of Shavuot on the Net Hinduism Hindu Calendar Hindu Festival Activities Story of Diwali Intro to Hinduism ... The Caste System Religious Conflicts Sudan Conflict Northern Ireland Conflict BBC: Overview of Conflict Irish Republican Army History Slavery in Sudan BBC: History of Northern Ireland ... Irish Republican Army Balkan Conflict West Bank/Jerusalem Conflict Slobodan Milosevic The Jerusalem Problem Kosovo Liberation Army Overview of Conflict ... About the West Bank Kashmir Conflict BBC: Overview of Conflict Another Overview of the Conflict CNN: Overview of the Conflict options ...
A Divine Universe A fresh perspective on enlightenment and the understanding of the universality of major religions Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Baha'i and Judaism. http://hometown.aol.com/blakewalk/page1.html
Extractions: Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.
