practicing Baptist, I believe that the Bible acts as a guide and living witness for all believers. The Bible shows all believing Christians how God intends human beings to live. It instructs believes that we should all dwell upon this earth, always with an eye upon our own ultimate salvation as well as the ultimate salvation of all souls. Salvation is both personal and collective, and will be understood, finally and completely with the ultimate realization of the last judgment.
In the Baptist mindset, God is a willing and active participant in all human lives, and brings us together with His spirit in our hearts. This is why Baptists know that baptism is for believers in Christ alone. I believe that it is a powerful and positive statement that in my Church, Baptism is only for those who are able to consciously declare Jesus is Lord. Baptism is not a…...

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord" -- Luke 1:39-45).
With her advanced age, especially compared to Mary's, Elizabeth also begins to have a protective role towards her younger relative and, by correlation, towards the yet unborn Jesus. Following the storyline and considering the times, Mary became pregnant without being Joseph's wife in a physical sense. Given the traditions, this may have meant that Joseph's family would have had the opportunity to kill her in order to save their honor. .

The fact that Mary chooses Elizabeth as the relative where to take refuge shows the importance of Elizabeth's character in the biblical storyline and the fact that she offers sufficient guarantees to ensure that she is chosen for that. The previously mentioned characteristics of Elizabeth blend in to ensure that she is the protective individual that…...

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Bibliography

1. Capoccia, Kathryn. The Woman who bore John the Baptist. 2000. On the Internet at   Last retrieved on June 9, 2010http://www.biblebb.com/files/kss/kss-eliz.htm .

2. HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. New York Bible Society. 1978

Capoccia, Kathryn. The Woman who bore John the Baptist. 2000. On the Internet at

" (Glass, 2013, p. 44)
In an interview with ruce Glass, Peter Enns (2013) reports that Glass stated the following of his work "Since I am agnostic I have no personal stake in Christianity's concordance with the findings of science. I have no reason to contort either of them to make them compatible. So hopefully, readers of all persuasions can conclude that the book provides an impartial analysis of the, often underappreciated, intellectual depth of the Christian faith as it is aligned with the natural world that we see around us." (p.1) Glass states that he addresses many of the "theological implications of evolution, including apparently "random" events occurring within a world under God's sovereignty, the idea of a "fallen world" with humans evolving as a population, and how evolution does not preclude the possibility of a higher order of moral reasoning that results from a direct, spiritual connection to a…...

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Bibliography

Enns, P. (2013) Exploring Evolution and Christian with an Agnostic. Patheos. 7 Feb 2013. Retrieved from:  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/peterenns/2013/02/exploring-evolution-and-christianity-with-an-agnostic/ 

Glass, B. (2012) Exploring Faith and Reason: The Reconciliation of Christianity and Biological Evolution. Retrieved from:  http://exploringfaithandreason.com/excerpts/ 

Pitinatto, K. (2014) Religion and/or Science? Winter 2014

Pittinato, K. (2014) Faith After Darwin. Winter 2014.

Bible is a Norm for the Christian Faith
Most religions are alike in a number of ways. For instance, like is the case in Islam, Christian faith and practice is founded on a number of rules, principles, and guidelines -- most of which are derived from the holy bible. With regard to Muslims, it is the Quran that acts as a compass as far as the faith of those who subscribe to Islam is concerned. This text highlights how the bible is a norm for the Christian faith.

To understand how the bible is a norm for the Christian faith, we need to first define the term "norm" as used in this context. In basic terms, for something to be regarded a "norm," it should ideally be used as a basis or reference point for something else. For instance, for a structure to hold up in construction work, a norm could…...

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References

Arinze, F.C. (2006). Celebrating the Holy Eucharist. San Francisco: Ignatius Press.

Wustenberg, R.K. (2009). The Political Dimension of Reconciliation: A Theological Analysis of Ways of Dealing with Guilt During the Transition to Democracy in South Africa and (East) Germany. Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Defining the Christian Faith Introduction
When defining the Christian Faith, one must focus on three aspects of that faith: 1) the cognitive, 2) the relational, and 3) the behavioral. The Christian Faith is based upon a cognitive process—i.e., a determination in the mind to accept the doctrines of the Christian Church, which primarily teach that Jesus Christ is God and that the salvation comes by way of Christ and His Church. Next, the Faith is based upon the trust that the individual has in God according to the doctrines he has received: believing what he believes, he trusts God to save him. This is what is meant by “Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith has a very real relational aspect to it because it does involve leaping from where one is now to where one hopes and wants to be—which…...

"Supervisors of the team during this phase may be more accessible, but tend to remain directive in their guidance of decision-making and professional behavior. The team members will therefore resolve their differences and members will be able to participate with one another more comfortably" (Four (five) stages of group development, 2014, Washington University: 1).
During the third stage of norming "the team manages to have one goal and come to a mutual plan for the team at this stage" (Four (five) stages of group development, 2014, Washington University: 2). This may come at some 'cost' to certain team members, as they may have to give up their desire to lead the group or sacrifice certain positions that are no longer tenable. However, the critical difference of this stage is that the group can function more autonomously from the leader because members want the group to succeed, not just themselves. They…...

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References

Forsyth, D.R. (2014). Group dynamics. Cengage.

Four (five) stages of group development. (2014). Washington University. Retrieved from;

http://depts.washington.edu/oei/resources/changeModels/mc_team_development.pdf

Jacobs, E. (2012). Group counseling: Strategies and skills. Thomson Brooks/Cole.

Case Study on Death and DyingHow George Would Interpret His Suffering (with Emphasis on Fallenness of the World)George, from the Christian perspective, might see his suffering as part of living in a fallen world. The Christian faith holds that the world is not as it should be because of humanity's original sin (Genesis 3), and because of that sin, suffering and death entered the world. This does not mean that individual suffering is a direct punishment for personal sins (as the story of Job shows) but rather that suffering, disease, and death are general consequences of humanity's fallen state. They are trials to be endured and if endured faithfully one can expect to be rewarded by God, as the book of Job also shows.This perspective does not necessarily offer a specific reason why George has ALS from a theological point of view (the mystery of iniquity does remain), but it…...

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References

Introduction to Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints \\\\\\"Introduction to Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints,\\\\\\" edited by Torr, from Opposing Viewpoints in Context (2000). https://link-galegroup-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/EJ3010134156/OVIC?u=canyonuniv&sid=OVIC&xid=15c2bdc9

Ethics and Life\\\\\\'s Ending: An Exchange \\\\\\"Ethics and Life\\\\\\'s Ending: An Exchange,\\\\\\" by Orr and Meilaender, from First Things (2004). https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001442679&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Always Care, Never Kill: How Physician-Assisted Suicide Endangers the Weak, Corrupts Medicine, Compromises the Family, and Violates Human Dignity and Equality \\\\\\"Always Care, Never Kill: How Physician-Assisted Suicide Endangers the Weak, Corrupts Medicine, Compromises the Family, and Violates Human Dignity and Equality,\\\\\\" by Anderson, on The Heritage Foundation website (2015).  https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/report/always-care-never-kill-how-physician-assisted-suicide-endangers-the-weak

How would you tell his story?To begin I would tell the story of Jesus starting with his birth and context surrounding it. Here, the world was marred in sin. Since the period of Adam and Eve, the world has been plagued with sin and its surrounding consequences. Man has since been forced to repent and use sacrifices to help assuage the wrath of God. At one point in the bible, Joseph was even going to slay his own sun Isaac as a means of appeasing God and to be pleasurable in his sight. As all men fall short, and all men are sinful, Jesus was required in order to be the ultimately sacrifice. Through this death, others would be saved.The story of Jesus begins 6 B.C. in Bethlehem. His story is primarily told through the four gospels within the new testament. The books of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John detail…...

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References

1. Helen Bond, Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed, Guides for the Perplexed (New York: T&T Clark International, 2012).

2. Marcus Brockmuhl, ed., The Cambridge Companion to Jesus (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002).

Rowling's series of fantasy novels "Harry Potter" have had a strong impact on the contemporary society and on how people perceived fantasy novels in general. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is the seventh and final book from the series and it has generated much controversy with regard to how it tends to step away from attitudes promoted in its predecessors by introducing several Christian references. This came as a surprise for many of the series' readers, as some were inclined to believe that Rowling had introduced ideas related to witchcraft and the occult. Individuals who are familiar with Christian traditions are probable to associate many events in the books with particular Christian concepts.
Many readers are likely to find that the last book in the Harry Potter franchise is meant to play an important role in spiritually uplifting them and that it is generally intended to put across a series…...

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Works cited:

Bell, Luke, "Baptizing Harry Potter: A Christian Reading of J.K. Rowling." (Paulist Press, 2010)

Murphy, Derek. "Jesus Potter Harry Christ: The Fascinating Parallels Between Two of the World's Most Popular Literary Characters." (Derek Murphy, 2011)

Neal, Connie W. "The Gospel According to Harry Potter: Spirituality in the Stories of the World's Most Famous Seeker." (Westminster John Knox Press, 2002)

Neal, Connie, W. "What's a Christian to Do with Harry Potter?." (Random House LLC, 11 Jan 2012)

Apologetics/Worldview
Worldview refers to how one historically or personally views things and events. Since philosophy often takes a universal view of things, there might be a negative connotation to the term as far as philosophy is concerned because of its rational approach. Nonetheless, philosophical worldviews can also be classified based on rationality and so achieving some level of universal acceptance. Worldview therefore is our perspective, at a basic level, of our environment and how we experience and react to it[footnoteef:1]. This concept does not imply that every person has a specific philosophy that guides their life. Christian worldview, for instance, isn't the same thing as theology[footnoteef:2]. While philosophy is grounded on man's reason, theology gravitates towards the Bible's authority. [1: Alister Mcgrath, Mere Apologetics. Grand apids: Baker, 2012.] [2: Albert Wolters, Creation regained: Biblical basics for a reformational worldview. Grand apids: Eerdmans, 1985.]

Part II

A Christian has a simple answer to the…...

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References

Chamberlain, Paul. Why People Don't Believe: Confronting Seven Challenges to the Christian Faith. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2011.

Koukl, Gregory. Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.

McGrath, Alister. Mere Apologetics. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012.

Wilkens, Steve and Mark L. Sanford. Hidden Worldviews. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2009.

Christian Worldview Nursing
Health care in the West and worldwide has undergone very extreme changes over the past decades. However, the basic principles of nursing like caring for the sick and elderly have remained consistent. While technology has changed radically since the days of Florence Nightingale, Christian caring in the nursing profession is still a foundational principle. It is this foundational principle that I seek to express in my ministering to my patients.

Christian Worldview and the Integration of Beliefs, Values, Ethics and Service

The definition of nursing for me symbolizes a set of beliefs, values, ethics and service. Nursing is after all a calling and a vocation, not just a job. In Judith Anne Shelly's book Called to Care, she defines nursing as distinct from medicine, even though the two occupy domains that are close together.

She defines it in a way that I find very familiar and similar to my own which…...

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References

Salt and light. (2012). Journal of Christian Nursing, 29(2), 74.

Shelly, J.A., & Miller, A.B. (2006). Called to care: A christian worldview for nursing. (2nd ed.).

Downer's Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press.

At the same time, Jesus offered human beings hope for salvation. It was not just through his miracles and his teachings that Jesus proved he was the true son of God. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus illustrated that mankind is in dire need of divine assistance in overcoming evil. I look to Jesus as both role model and as symbol of hope, especially in times of darkness and despair. Jesus is all that is good in humanity: unconditional love, compassion, and kindness.
I have found that if I look to Jesus and take Him into my heart, I can overcome temptation and ill will and experience a taste of salvation. Salvation involves as much grace as it does hard work. Salvation always entails faith and unwavering belief. I believe that some suffering is essential for all human beings and that if we are willing to endure our suffering and…...

Faith: Philosophy
Paul Tillich

Paul Tillich was one of the most famous theologians of the 20th century. He represented the 20th century movement called neo-orthodoxy. Most of Tillich's work is represented in a series of transcribed lectures. Tillich's work contains volumes of historical details and theological connections. One of his most important works is the three volume systematic theology, which details theology from 1951 to 1963.

Tillich's Theory

Tillich's theology was that God exists or that God is a being. He identifies God as being itself. He quotes "God is being-itself, not a being." Tillich's theory is different from the other theologians. He does not believe in the existence of God. Theologians believed that there is no external factor in the existence of God. The general feeling is that God has not been derived from any source nor is He dependent on anything.

Argument and Example

According to Tillich, it wasn't a good idea to believe…...

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Bibliography

1. Paul Tillich, Systematic Theology, vol. 1 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1951), 205, 209, 237.

2. Paul Tillich, Systematic Theology, vol. 2 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1957, Page 6)

3. William Rowe, Religious Symbols and God (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1968), 76-77

4. Forrest E. Baird, "Descartes' Epistemology." New Jersey: Upper Saddle River, 2000.

Christian doctrine evolved to contain a variety of philosophical perspectives and theological analyses. Early shapers of Christian thought and discourse included Irenaeus, Clement, Tertullian, and Origen. Each of these figures shaped Christian discourse and changed the doctrine of the religion indelibly. Because each came from a different historical and cultural milieu, and used different languages to express their ideas, Christianity became a complex and even diverse faith.
Irenaeus's theodicy provided the fundamental features for how Christians would address the problem of evil: how an omniscient and benevolent God would simultaneously allow, condone, or even seem to encourage evil. The importance of theodicy to the evolution of Christianity cannot be underestimated, as subsequent Christian theologians have built upon the teachings of Irenaeus to better resolve the problem of evil. John Hick in particular has provided modern Christians with a sound theodicy built on the foundation of Irenaeus's teachings. However, it was not…...

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Works Cited

"Origen." Christianity Today. Retrieved online:  http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/scholarsandscientists/origen.html

At its core, McGrath's work is an attempt to take a logical structure to the deeply rooted mysteries of the bible. His purpose is to draw conclusions regarding the nature of Christian Theology through the application of scientifically derived, systematic logical constructs. Does he succeed? In some ways yes, he does expose the complexities-or contradictory-ideals that have persisted since the dawn of the philosophy. McGrath is very adept at drawing parallels that can cause an individual to question the very nature of Christian Theology. Ultimately, however, in my opinion, McGrath takes full advantage of his analysis to not simply lay open the main theories of Christianity to be picked at and over analyzed but rather, through analogy makes the supposition and the case-quite persuasively-that Christians think the way they do because of an unrelenting, unwavering trust or "faith" in a divine presence they cannot…...

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Incorporating Faith and Spirituality in Pastoral Counseling

Pastoral counseling, grounded in the principles of religion and spirituality, offers a unique approach to providing guidance and support to individuals navigating life's challenges. By integrating faith and spirituality into the counseling process, pastoral counselors empower individuals to access inner resources and connect with a sense of purpose and meaning.

1. Provide a Safe and Supportive Environment:

A pastoral counselor creates a safe and supportive environment where individuals can openly explore their faith and spiritual beliefs without judgment. This environment fosters trust and encourages dialogue that integrates religious and secular perspectives.

2. Facilitate Self-Reflection and Meaning-Making:

Pastoral counselors....

The Puritan Dilemma

The Puritan dilemma, a core tension within Puritan theology and practice, emerged from the inherent conflict between the pursuit of personal salvation and the demands of communal life. As a religious movement that emphasized strict adherence to biblical principles, Puritanism placed a strong emphasis on individual accountability and the need for constant self-examination. However, the Puritan commitment to community and the belief in the importance of collective worship also presented challenges to the primacy of individual conscience.

The Call for Personal Salvation

Puritanism was founded on the central tenet of predestination, the belief that God had elected a chosen few....

1. The Teleological Argument: A Divine Design Implies a Designer

2. The Cosmological Argument: From Contingent to Necessary Being

3. The Ontological Argument: Existence from Essence

4. The Moral Argument: Morality....