Naturalist do not believe in more than just matter, they look at things as if I cannot see it then it is not there. However, as a Christians, I believe in more and I know our God is out there helping us through our lives. Naturalist look at us as machines that all of our emotions and such are just reactions in our brains, but Christians believe that everything we do is the creation of God. Secular humanist and Christians are so different I use my religion to help stay in line. Secular humanist feel that religion is really a negative thing because it gives you rules to follow therefore you never really follow your deepest desires.
Jonathan Edwards v. Anne Bradstreet In a number of his writings, specifically “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Jonathan Edwards preaches literal fear of an arbitrary, unpredictable and vengeful God. Anne Bradstreet, on the other hand, believed (with human error) in a loving, trustworthy God. It seems almost impossible that these two views trace their origins to a common source. I will seek in this piece to uncover the fundamental discrepancy in the works of Bradstreet and Edwards. In “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Edwards brings into question the salvation of anyone who has not been “born again.” He never directly questions his own salvation, but declares that many in the congregation to which he is speaking will soon find themselves burning in hell.
RUNNING HEAD: Luther’s 95 Theses Luther’s 95 Theses HIST 101 Western Civilizations Instructor: Dorothy Slane Leslie Brooks October 2, 2011, Thesis In the 95 Thesis Luther is basically discussing his disappointment with the Catholic Church. He did not approve of the way the pope was granting partial remission of time to be spent in purgatory or any other consequences that may be given to the people because of a sin they have committed. The church was basically practicing in the selling of indulgences when they did not have the right to remit and penance for any sin or guilt. That was the sole job of their God and no one else could produce that right or charge for a right that they do not even possess. Luther was also disappointed in man and felt that they should take the consequences that go with their sins and hope that these lessons could be taught to them before it would become too late.
We see an example of one of Luther’s critical writings in Document 8. In this Document we see Luther take a strong anti Catholic stance and even go so far as to condemn the Pope. Document 9 also serves as another example and shows Luther’s being critical of the Churches officials and the need for priests by clamming “every baptized Christian is a priest already.” This last point struck a major cord with the peasants in Europe. Luther was telling them they could gain their own salvation by studying the bible for themselves. No longer would they need to be dependent on the Church.
Nor were sinners punished as frequently. Roger Williams convinced many people to break apart from the Church of England, even though he himself was an English Protestant minister. He realized that the Church was becoming too lenient and weren’t punishing those who had broken the Ten Commandments. When asked if to be the teacher of the Boston Church, he was compelled to decline, claiming that it was not separated from the English Church. He believed he had to start his own church due to the “corruptness” of the Church of England.
Luther’s 95 theses, which attacked the entire theology and structure of the Church, was nailed on the door of the church in Wittenberg. This document was an extremely effective medium which Luther used to display the corruption and power of the church, and ultimately begin the Protestant reformation. The effect of the 95 theses had caused awareness of the corruption within the Church
Ladies and gentlemen, today I am going to speak to you to unveil the corruption and unholiness of your beloved Roman Catholic Church but also why this should make you follow the ways of the renowned martyr John Wyclif and his lollard teachings. As a religion we derive from the mid to late 1300's (1382) when John Wyclif asserted his ideas on the Catholic Church to the very foundations, his initial argument was that the Bible was the only sure basis of belief and that it should be translated into the vernacular, he denied that the ridiculous traditions of the church were as important as scripture. He therefore rejected transubstantiation, advocacy of clerical marriage and denunciations of the wealth and power of the clergy. To us Lollards those arguments are correct, justified and fair. It is true that we should doubt this miraculous transubstantiation as each time this miraculous event happens it is done by a corrupt and unholy priest behind a screen.
Pascal pointed out that Aquinas’ made the assumption that the uncaused cause, which is necessary for the Cosmological Argument, was the Christian God. As there is no empirical or scientific evidence for this to be the case then his argument does have little value for religious faith. For this reason, I agree with this claim. Karen Armstrong also criticises the Cosmological Argument as she says that Christians do not need to find reason, as Aquinas is trying to do, in order to debate with science. In her book “The Case for God” she writes that religion requires leaps of faith and should accept that there is no scientific proof for the existence of God.
Also this quote states, “Not an organizer or politician, he moved men by the power of a profoundly religious faith resulting in unshakable trust in God…” This shows us that Martin Luther didn’t persuade people by organizing meetings or telling the people of the city lies, he showed people the wrongs of the Catholic Church, which sparked a new religion. Also, Martin Luther’s actions began the Reformation. Once Luther nailed his 95 Thesis to the castle church in Wittenberg, his words were copied and printed, and they were known all over Germany. The Reformation led to the founding of Christian churches that did not accept the pope’s authority. Luther wanted to reform the Church.
Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” I would agree with St. Augustine, "an unjust law is no law at all." Martin Luther King brings up examples of how Christians broke the law when it went against the laws of the church and pertains it to the situation that he is in. Dr. King’s main argument to those who have written to him is that they do not really understand the situation. From their view, it seems as though he is being radical with his actions when he leads demonstrations or sit-ins or other things of that nature. Dr. King explains that they are not there witnessing the injustices that are taking place, not only against him, but also against all people who share his color.