The roots of Congregationalism extend back to 16th Century England. Some “Puritans” out to purify the Church of England of unbiblical, despotic and tyrannical practices petitioned for change within the system without much success except for receiving a Bible in their own language (The King James Version).
Some became “Independents” and formed churches outside of the Church of England’s control, and, as a result, suffered much persecution. Some felt the pressures so great that in order to worship God with a free conscience they “felt called out of England to a new land.” First they went to Holland, then to America. Sailing the Atlantic on the Mayflower, they landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620. (For more information regarding these early pilgrims, see: www.plimoth.org. In the new land they formed a new society, democratic in style. Their Mayflower Compact was the main model for the emerging documents of our founding fathers: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and our Bill of Rights.
These Pilgrim fathers and mothers carved out a community in sheer wilderness. Many died during the first harsh winters. Still, they established the Congregational Church based upon the Holy Bible rather than man-made traditions. Congregationalists founded the early universities and colleges (Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Oberlin, Olivet) in New England to teach the biblical languages, history and science to create an educated clergy and membership.
The Congregational Way insists on the freedom of Christian men and women to think for themselves. It is a “seeking way” for individuals with inquiring minds. It is not for those looking for an authoritative voice demanding conformity or for unquestioning obedience in one’s personal religious journey throughout life.
The Congregational Way has never believed that the Bible is a closed book, but it has believed that there is always more truth and light yet to come from the Creator’s holy word.
They defended the right to individual interpretation of the scriptures and called on the pastor to stimulate thinking rather than to make rules. They fought any attempt to be ruled by a bishop or by the state. They found their spiritual journey to be in a personal relationship with God. With the expansion of the nation westward in the 1800’s, Congregational churches were established throughout the nation. The First Congregational Church of Frankfort was founded in 1868.
In more modern times, there have been two major schisms, or splits, in Congregational history. In 1825, liberal theologians, who differed on the point of the nature of Christ, broke off and formed the Unitarian church--taking many of the oldest New England churches with them. In the 1950's, many congregational churches decided to merge with the Reformed and Evangelical Church to form the United Church of Christ.
The most recent development in Congregational history was the establishment of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches in 1955. It is also known as the NACCC or just the NA. This is a voluntary association of free churches, each church having one vote in the affairs of the association.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Nahua
The ancient Mexican religion is called the Nahua religion, or religion of the Nahuatl (the first natives of Mexico). It is believed to be a mixture of many different Mexican religions, practiced by many of the several native tribes on the region, like Mayans, Toltecs, Zapotecs and Olmecs, among others. As those tribes were absorbed by the Aztecs, their own beliefs may have been incorporated to their religion, creating the Nahua.They worshipped several deities, which present a resemblance with greek and Egyptian deities. They used to practice ritualistic cannibalism and offer human sacrifices to their gods. It is interesting to find the great similarities between Tezcatlipoca, the god of wind, and his Hebrew equivalent, Jahveh; and it is even more amazing to know that the Mexicans were familiar with the rituals of baptism and confession way before the arrival of the Spaniards. However, these customs, while similar to some Christian practices and rituals, presented notorious differences in symbolism and meaning. Taking a quick look at the ancient Mexican religion, it can be concluded that it was a group of senseless beliefs and legends created by barbarian tribes. However, such a conclusion couldn't be more wrong: the Nahua religion was theologically more advanced than the Greek one, or even the Roman one. In fact, the ancient Mexican religion can be compared to the Assyrian, or even the Egyptian one, due to their knowledge to astronomy and mathematics, both of which were used by the ancient priests to predict events like eclipses.After the Spaniards arrived to Mexico carrying the Catholic faith with them, the Mexican religion experienced important changes that led to the exclusion of many deities in favor of one, which was the True God announced by the Spanish priests.
However, far from being left apart and forgotten, many ancient deities were incorporated by the Mexican religion, creating a unique view of the Catholic faith. Nowadays, those deities can be found under several forms, and the rituals worshipping them are present as well.
One of the most important of those deities is “San La Muerte”, or saint death, represented by a skeleton and usually worshipped on the “Dia de los muertos”, the day of the dead.
Many other elements of the ancient Mexican culture closely relate to specific days of the year, which have a special meaning for Mexican religion.
However, far from being left apart and forgotten, many ancient deities were incorporated by the Mexican religion, creating a unique view of the Catholic faith. Nowadays, those deities can be found under several forms, and the rituals worshipping them are present as well.
One of the most important of those deities is “San La Muerte”, or saint death, represented by a skeleton and usually worshipped on the “Dia de los muertos”, the day of the dead.
Many other elements of the ancient Mexican culture closely relate to specific days of the year, which have a special meaning for Mexican religion.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Satanism
Followers of Satan existed long before Christ. Modern Satanists however, bear little resemblance to the myths of the early Satan worshipers, they and their philosophies are closer kin to pagans and atheists than they are to the baby-mutilating goblins of popular lore.
Satanism as a modern organized religion did not exist before 1966. In that year, Anton LaVey and several of his associates organized a religion based on the principles expressed in the many stories of Satan, God's nemesis. In 1967 LaVey published a book, The Satanic Bible, and the Church of Satan was born.
Modern Satanism is a somewhat broad term used to describe all of the sects of Satanism. In reality, Satanism is a religion made up of many different churches and philosophies. The Church of Satan and the Temple of Set are the two largest branches. Many of these churches or orders are at odds with one another over differences in belief and practice.
Their main beliefs are outlined in the "Nine Satanic Statements" from The Satanic Bible, and the "Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth".
Satanism as a modern organized religion did not exist before 1966. In that year, Anton LaVey and several of his associates organized a religion based on the principles expressed in the many stories of Satan, God's nemesis. In 1967 LaVey published a book, The Satanic Bible, and the Church of Satan was born.
Modern Satanism is a somewhat broad term used to describe all of the sects of Satanism. In reality, Satanism is a religion made up of many different churches and philosophies. The Church of Satan and the Temple of Set are the two largest branches. Many of these churches or orders are at odds with one another over differences in belief and practice.
Their main beliefs are outlined in the "Nine Satanic Statements" from The Satanic Bible, and the "Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth".
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Quakers
Quakers claim to be a religious society but one which does not have all the answers; a spiritual path whose very institutions arise out of a friendship with Spirit and each other; a religion or form of spirituality which is not a hierarchy but a society of equals whose relationship with each other is one of friendship.Quakers are members of a group with Christian roots that began in England in the 1650s.
The formal title of the movement is the Society of Friends or the Religious Society of Friends.
There are about 210,000 Quakers across the world.
In Britain there are 17,000 Quakers, and 400 Quaker meetings for worship each week. 9,000 people in Britain regularly take part in Quaker worship without being members of the Religious Society of Friends.
Quakers believe that there is something of God in everybody and that each human being is of unique worth. This is why Quakers value all people equally, and oppose anything that may harm or threaten them.
Quakers seek religious truth in inner experience, and place great reliance on conscience as the basis of morality.
They emphasise direct experience of God rather than ritual and ceremony. They believe that priests and rituals are an unnecessary obstruction between the believer and God.
Quakers integrate religion and everyday life. They believe God can be found in the middle of everyday life and human relationships, as much as during a meeting for worship.
Quakers do not regard any book as being the actual 'word of God'.
Most Quakers regard the Bible as a very great inspirational book but they don't see it as the only one, and so they read other books that can guide their lives.
They do not celebrate Christian festivals such as Easter and Christmas.
Quaker communal worship consists of silent waiting, with participants contributing as the spirit moves them.
Although outsiders usually regard the movement as a Christian denomination, not all Quakers see themselves as Christians; some regard themselves as members of a universal religion that (for historical reasons) has many Christian elements.
Tolerance is part of the Quaker approach to life, so Quakers are willing to learn from all other faiths and churches.
The formal title of the movement is the Society of Friends or the Religious Society of Friends.
There are about 210,000 Quakers across the world.
In Britain there are 17,000 Quakers, and 400 Quaker meetings for worship each week. 9,000 people in Britain regularly take part in Quaker worship without being members of the Religious Society of Friends.
Quakers believe that there is something of God in everybody and that each human being is of unique worth. This is why Quakers value all people equally, and oppose anything that may harm or threaten them.
Quakers seek religious truth in inner experience, and place great reliance on conscience as the basis of morality.
They emphasise direct experience of God rather than ritual and ceremony. They believe that priests and rituals are an unnecessary obstruction between the believer and God.
Quakers integrate religion and everyday life. They believe God can be found in the middle of everyday life and human relationships, as much as during a meeting for worship.
Quakers do not regard any book as being the actual 'word of God'.
Most Quakers regard the Bible as a very great inspirational book but they don't see it as the only one, and so they read other books that can guide their lives.
They do not celebrate Christian festivals such as Easter and Christmas.
Quaker communal worship consists of silent waiting, with participants contributing as the spirit moves them.
Although outsiders usually regard the movement as a Christian denomination, not all Quakers see themselves as Christians; some regard themselves as members of a universal religion that (for historical reasons) has many Christian elements.
Tolerance is part of the Quaker approach to life, so Quakers are willing to learn from all other faiths and churches.
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