- Ten Signs That You Might be a Fundamentalist By : James C. Alexander, Ph.D.
Presently, fundamentalism is a hot topic Many folks have been astonished at the level of evil perpetrated by Islamic fundamentalists, the most notable example being the events of 9/11 - Church Chairs a Long Due Makeover By : Seomul Evans
A few centuries ago, in the 1600’s you may not have been likely to find chairs in all churches If you did find seating, chances are good it would not have been in good shape because money was not readily available and churches often had their congregation stand rather than sit - Church Pews a Historical Perspective By : Seomul Evans
Picture this scenario It is about 8:00 am on a Sunday morning and you have stumbled out of bed knowing that it is your responsibility to wake up your other family members, feed them breakfast, and get them dressed in their “Sunday best - How to Choose the Best Furniture For Your Church By : Seomul Evans
Church furnishing can create the atmosphere you desire the most in your particular house of worship Carefully choosing what will work best for you and your congregation can make your church comfortable and homey, fancy and ornate, or any combination of the two - Are All Fundamentalists Extremists? By : James C. Alexander, Ph.D.
In this article, we wish to explore the nature of two words, fundamentalism, and extremism What connotation do we arrive at when we hear these words - Are the Terms "Fundamentalism" And "Cult" Equivalent Terms? By : James C. Alexander, Ph.D.
In my mind, the term "cult" is an ugly word It acquires that connotation by its usage - You Don't Have a Soul By : Kevin Forrester
What would you do if you were told that you don't have a soul What if you were told that you must develop your soul in order for you to live on past this life - Palm Sunday's Tradition Traverse Many Cultures By : Elizabeth Guide
Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of Lent It is always the start of Holy Week and the last Sunday of Lent - How Do You Become Catholic By : Elizabeth Guide
How does a person become Catholic The short answer is to contact the local Catholic Church in their community and ask to speak with the RCIA director or the Adult Education Dept - Evolution Vs. Creationism By : John Schlismann
The idea that evolution (macro evolution) is anti-God or anti Christian is a falsity too often purported by the creationist movement Evolution is soundly grounded by science and is accepted by many mainstream Christian faiths most notably the largest and oldest Christian denomination the Roman Catholic Church - Reincarnation Stories By : Richard Salva
The best reincarnation stories not only entertain us, but offer examples of how reincarnation may impact our own lives, and keys to see our own past-life influences
Here is a reincarnation story that does all three - Advent Tradition Circles Around a Wreath By : Elizabeth Guide
If you ask any Catholic, they will tell you the season of Advent is a period of penance and preparing their heart for the coming of the Baby Jesus But although not part of the Holy See’s opinion on Advent, the advent wreath, advent season and the family activities helps families stay focused on the real meaning of the season, Jesus, and not the commercialism Christmas has become - Celtic Advent Wreaths Help Keep Irish Family Traditions By : Elizabeth Guide
A Celtic Advent Wreath may be one that uses tradition advent candles or some use dark and light green tapers in place of the purple and pink The Celtic Advent and the Easter Orthodox Advent or Nativity fast last for 40 days and starts mid November but most Advent wreaths have a maximum of 5 candles - Look to the Mountains By : Eric Kampmann
What is a Trail Thought To me it is what happens when you venture outside on a clear, cold winter night and gaze into the heavens - Biblical Wisdom Defined By : Eric Kampmann
We often think of wisdom in the abstract — as if it represents a human philosophy, constructed by the hands of men, with only a theoretical application to everyday life But according to scripture, wisdom pre-existed the creation of the world and comes from the heart of God - Bankrupt in Bridgeport By : Eric Kampmann
In the preface to Trail Thoughts, I describe my early life of career building as a pursuit of the youthful dreams common in those times: "…I was drawn to Manhattan because of its magnetic energy, its endless promise and its aura of mystery" But while the initial trajectory of my life there seemed to be rising to the upper reaches of success, the reality was just the reverse - Jesse Tree and Advent By : Elizabeth Guide
Jesse Tree and Advent are tied together where as the Jesse Tree has biblical root Some parishes defer the use of a Christmas tree to a Jesse Tree in the Altar or sanctuary area - How I Came to My 'Jonah Moment' By : Eric Kampmann
As a young man, I was drawn to Manhattan because of its magnetic energy, its endless promise and its aura of mystery To me, Manhattan was an imaginary city of glittering majesty, the city described by Fitzgerald as a place that has all the "…wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world - The Unbearable Darkness of Being Without God By : Eric Kampmann
The news is not good A Governor of a large state throws everything away for a few hours of hidden pleasure with an expensive prostitute - Nothing Gold Can Stay By : Eric Kampmann
Our culture is obsessed with the acquisition of material goods and worldly status However, in the race to attain these temporal things, people forget to pursue spiritual riches - The Priests - Their Story By : Peter Ruppert
From time to time, music seems to take a decided style change, with listeners demanding music that allows them to get back to the basics This certainly seems to be the case now as three priests have recently signed a recording deal with music legend Sony BMG - The Nicene Creed By : John Schlismann
“We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, of all that is, seen and unseen We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father - The King By : Cliff Sanders
Who comes to mind when you hear the words “the king” Some may think of Elvis or perhaps Henry VIII or King Arthur - Stop Worrying and Start Feeling Good Again! By : Verona Raymond
Does it sometimes seem like you can’t go on anymore with all the stressful things in your life Rest assured, help is always there with you - 7 Step "Tongue-in-Cheek" Guide to Never Having an Experience of God By : Margaret Paul, Ph.D.
Are you one of those people who secretly wish you believed in God Or are you one of those people who believe in God in an abstract way rather than a personal way - Does God Heal Those Who Pray or Do We Heal Ourselves? By : David E. Comings, M.D.
We have all heard stories of how people who were afflicted with serious diseases prayed to God and were healed Despite the fact that many times prayer does not help, in those cases where it was effective this strengthens the faith of those who prayed and further seals their belief that God exists - Do Atheists Have to be Anti-Faith or Anti-Religion? By : David E. Comings, M.D.
Since the religious terrorism of 9/11 a number of books have appeared by atheists that are staunchly anti-faith and anti-religion, placing many of the evils of modern society at the feet of religion These include Richard Dawkin's The God Delusion, Sam Harris' The End of Faith, Daniel Dennet's Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, and Christopher Hitchens' God is Not Great - The Night Battles and Friulian Society By : John Schlismann
Friulian society was one of superstition, a rural society in which the old traditions, many of them pre-Christian traditions died hard and were completely foreign to the non-Friulian inquisitors Many of the people in the society were uneducated and sought to explain hard times they encountered through supernatural means, such as witches and the benandanti - Ave Maria By : Peter Ruppert
Over the years, the hymn Ave Maria has been set to music numerous times The most famous of those was composed by Franz Schubert - A Vision Check With Jesus By : Mike Fletcher
Jesus is all about vision
In John 14:6, one of His classic "I am" statements Jesus said, "I am the way - Looking at the Importance of Songs in Worship By : Peter Ruppert
Historically, songs and music have always been an important part of the idea of worship Perhaps the reason for this is the ease which songs and music provide in expressing worship - Is Morality a God Given or an Inborn Trait? By : David E. Comings, M.D.
The idea that man needs God to tell us how to behave morally, to be kind and thoughtful toward our fellow man, to aid others without any promise of benefit to ourselves, is a central tenet of most of the major religions To emphasize the point, we are told that if we do not obey God's Moral Law we will spend an eternity in hell while if we do obey the Moral Law we will spend an eternity of bliss in heaven - Patron Saint Medals Are an Expression of Faith By : Elizabeth Guide
In the shape of a coin, religious medals are very common part of the Catholic persona and many Catholics own or often wear these items on chains around their neck The history of practice of wearing religious medals dates back to the early days of the church - Is There a Simple Solution to the Problem of Why God Allows Evil to Occur? By : David E. Comings, M.D.
One of the most difficult questions for priests, ministers, and theologians to answer is – Why does a kind, compassionate, personal God that answers prayers and looks out for our personal welfare, allow so much evil to occur in the world This is often called "the problem of evil - A Return to the Classic Latin Hymns By : Peter Ruppert
Throughout history, the classic Latin hymns have been an important part of the Catholic faith Two thousand years of musical development have produced a variety of hymns that encompass settings for every imaginable purpose and time - The Art of Being Present - Part II By : Julie Redstone
To truly be present, we need to be available to the moment with our whole self This requires not only an act of attention but also an act of integration so that we are drawing upon all parts of ourselves to 'be with' another - The Earth Purifies - Earth Changes, Flooding, And Extreme Weather Patterns By : Julie Redstone
It may be difficult for us to imagine how the earth which appears to us to be a solid mass of complexly interrelated parts, can have an intentionality to purify and can be undergoing a process we normally associate with human beings on a spiritual path And even if it is true of the planetary body, we may well wonder how this happens and how it can affect weather patterns - Did Man Create God? By : David E. Comings, M.D.
In an era when politicians must prove they are religious to get elected and the proclamations of their ministers can get them into trouble, when schools are urged to teach creationism, when presidents and main stream movies proclaim the virtues of Intelligent Design, when fundamentalists want to destroy Western civilization in the name of religion, and when ninety-five percent of the people in the world believe that God created man, we need to ask the question, do they have it all backward - Did Man Create God - You Can't Please Everybody By : Daryl Daughtry
There was once a man and his son going with their Donkey to the market As they were walking along by its side a neighbor man passed them and said: “You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride on - Submission With a Smile By : Lynn Powers
I used to cringe at the word, “submission” Although I love my mother dearly, I will say that she did not do much to teach me what submission really means - Did the Origin of Life on Earth Require God's Help? By : David E. Comings, M.D.
The evolution of all life on earth from a single primitive life form is straight forward and fairly easy to understand on the basis of Darwinian principles of mutation and natural selection However, the question of where the first primitive life form came from is not so easy - Are You Wondering What the Meaning of Life Is? By : Gabriel Adams
What is the meaning of life And is there just one meaning or many - Is There Life on Mars? By : Rob VandeWeghe
Are we alone in the universe or is there life on other planets And perhaps even as close our next door neighbor, the planet Mars - Angels And Guardian Angels By : Deby
Angels
Angels are messengers of the Lord and are spoken of in Hebrews as “ministering spirits” - Houston Pastor Pens First Book By : Todd A. Smith
We have all been at a crossroad at some time in our life Whether it is the death of loved one, losing a job, or a natural disaster, we have all come to a point in our life when we feel that we cannot go on, and the struggles of life are simply too much to bear - Spirituality - The Truth About Fairies- Are Fairies Real? By : Lyn Nichols
Fairies are Nature Angels, the lowest manifestation within the Angelic Hierarchy They, along with Nereids, Gnomes, Salamanders, Undines and Elves make up the Elementals - Kundalini Energy And Spiritual Enlightenment By : Lyn Nichols
The Kundalini Energy is the basic evolutionary force in every individual It’s purpose is to drive us to reach for enlightenment - Spirituality - Our Divine Psychic Gifts- Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, Clairsentience By : Lyn Nichols
A Psychic is a person who has the ability to communicate, in a variety of ways, with the Spirit World When we come into this earthly world as babies we all possess these abilities, but as we grow and are gradually re-programmed with other people’s beliefs, slowly these gifts disappear and by the age of12 most of us have forgotten that we possess these amazing abilities - Spiritual Beings - The Angels, Archangels & Elementals By : Lyn Nichols
Angels are beings of light who have chosen to undertake their learning purely on the spiritual plane They bring forth messages from the Creator to help us remember who we are, that we too are spiritual beings even though we have chosen to take on physical form - Spirituality - Beginning Your Spiritual Journey By : Lyn Nichols
Have you ever wondered what this thing we call 'life' was really all about Have you ever had the knowing that there was something more than meets the eye, but no idea what that was, or how to find out what it was - Saint Vincent Depaul An Example Of Charity By : Elizabeth Guide
Vincent de Paul, The saint of charitable societies, was born in Pouy, Gascony, France around 1580 His parents Jean de Paul and Bertrande de Moras were farmers who raised four sons and two daughters - Catechism Gives Blueprint To Catholics By : Elizabeth Guide
The word catechism as a variety of meanings however the most accepted one comes from Greek and means to Echo In this application it is a way to echo or repeat the tenants of the Catholic Church - Conspiracy Theories From A Biblical Perspective By : Duane Miller
Introduction
Recently I have had a discussion online over the idea of various conspiracy theories that are floating around on the internet The particular theory that came my way basically states that the United States is no longer the United States, and that there are plans to mass imprison people who do not follow along with the U - Seven Gifts Of The Holy Spirit By : Elizabeth Guide
One of the major aspects of the Sacrament of Confirmation are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that are bestowed on the candidate when they are sealed with the Holy Spirit The candidate when participating in Confirmation accepts that their mission is to be witnesses of Jesus in their families and communities - Fruits Of The Spirit By : Elizabeth Guide
After a candidate received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and he receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Church teaches that these gifts bear fruits, the Fruits of the Spirits These fruits are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-Control and Chastiy - Penance Must Precent First Communion By : Elizabeth Guide
As children prepare for their First Communion, the church clearly also states that the child must have also celebrated their first Confession, or first penance prior to receiving their first Eucharist The Magisterium is very clear on that however, even though this was all outlined in 1977, there are still some dissenting opinions - A Look At The Eucharistic Pray By : Elizabeth Guide
There are many facets to the Eucharist prayer But it is truly the heart of the church and something that should be explained to each child receiving their first communion - The Path To Sainthood By : Elizabeth Guide
The Catholic church has people who are designated Saints So what does that mean - The New Reality Of Energy By : Julie Redstone
We have tended to think of matter as solid and of thoughts and feelings as invisible and insubstantial More like air than like anything physical - The Art Of Being Present By : Julie Redstone
There is an awakeness that comes from a clear mind, unobscured by wandering thoughts and preoccupations, and there is an awakeness that comes from a clear heart, willing to engage with life as gift and as an ever-unfolding revelation of the purpose of Creation
Such an awakened heart cannot respond indifferently to life because it sees the outstretched hand of the Creator at every turn and in every particle of experience - Heavenly Angels By : Joe Willmeth
Angels From the Bible
No figures in the Bible are as wonderful as the Christmas angels - History Of The Holy Cross By : Katie
The cross is a sacred emblem of the Christian faith It has a deep and sacred meaning for the Christian world - Overview Of First Communion By : Elizabeth Guide
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took time to spend with his apostles for the Passover meal During this time with them he, revealed the Sacrament of Communion which he told each of us to do in memory of him - Palm Sunday Around The Globe By : Elizabeth Guide
Palm Sunday is Christian observance which is celebrated around the world, though many Christian denominations In 1970 the Roman Catholic Church changed the formal name of Palm Sunday to Passion Sunday, from the Second Sunday of the Passion - Easter Sunday By : Elizabeth Guide
Easter Sunday is the most important day in all of Christianity It is the cornerstone of all Christ-based churches because it is the celebration of the day that Jesus concord death and rose from the death - Real Presence In Eucharist By : Elizabeth Guide
The Catholic Church, since its inception, has always believed in the Real Presence of Jesus in the form o the Eucharist As a child celebrates their first communion, they too are about to take part in this honored tradition - Christian Counseling Course Is Worth The Time By : Mary Swanson
Christian Counseling
Christian counseling has to be a calling If you feel you are called into this field or this type of ministry it is recommended you enroll in some Christian counseling courses - Who Else Needs To Keep The Kids Entertained? By : Tom Broadbridge
Children and grownups all over the world are enthralled and captivated by the challenges and exploits of inspiring heroes, children, people, kings that are faithfully brought to life through the power and creativity of animation
So, is the idea of an Animated Kid's Bible so far fetched - Fasting Without Prayer Is Just A Diet By : Lynn Powers
True biblical fasting requires prayer You can pray without fasting but you can’t fast -God’s way – without prayer - How To Effortlessly Raise Funds For Your Church By : Todd I. Nelson
Most churches and religious organizations depend on the collection plates every Sunday to provide the majority of the funding needed to keep the church alive After all, there are a lot of expenses when it comes to running a church - Coming Together In The Light By : Julie Redstone
The oneness that is shared by all of life can be perceived on many levels – in the whisper of a beloved, in the smile of a child, in the fragrance of a flower, in the graceful dance of a leaf as it falls from a tree – all of these gestures of life can touch the heart and cause it to embrace life in its fullness, to experience something of the mystery of connection that resides within all living things - How Easter Day Is Selected By : Elizabeth Guide
As I look at the temperature seeing its 36 degrees in my old NJ neighborhood I noticed that Easter 2008 is the earliest that I can remember, although I do remember an Easter snowstorm when I was a small child in the 60s - The Rosary And Penance By : Elizabeth Guide
The Blessed Mother appeared to three children in Fatima in 1917 Our Lady made three requests one of which was penance - When Politically Correct Becomes Incorrect By : Todd A. Smith
Doesn’t it seem that everything in the world revolves around being politically correct From religious views to moral values, some people teach others to bite their tongues when it comes to their convictions and beliefs - What Is Spiritual Purification? By : Julie Redstone
Spiritual purification is not an intellectual process, but one that is initiated by the creative power of light - the very force of Creation that was manifested at the beginning of time and that furthers Divine intention throughout time
Spiritual light travels across all dimensions of reality, both physical and non-physical, affecting one's body as well as one's consciousness - What Is A Pyx By : Elizabeth Guide
As the Eucharist Ministers to the sick approach the altar they each have their Pyx to carry the Eucharist to the sick or homebound of the parish But what is a pyx and why does it have such a funny name - History Of The RCIA By : Elizabeth Guide
RCIA The return of the Catechumenate
When trying to put together a solid timeline of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), you have to go back to the early church at the point when the 12 Apostles were in charge of it, directly They would go though the towns and countries spreading the Good News and would come upon small communities where individuals would come together in small groups and study the works of Jesus - The Liturgical Calendar By : Elizabeth Guide
Though each calendar year there are seasons in which the church enters Just like summer, winter and fall, the church also has seasons - RCIA Process Is A Call For Conversion To All By : Elizabeth Guide
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults or RCIA is something you may see advertised in your parish bulletin but not really know something about You may be asked to be a sponsor but not really know what it means or if you can even participate in the process - Halloween Costumes For Kids Of The Christian Faith That Are Appropriate By : Paul Hulse
If you are a devout Christian, you want to keep your kids away from any negative influences during Halloween Witches and devils are very inappropriate for young Christian kids, and the theme of Halloween itself is too pagan for your children to celebrate - God's Perfect Design For Christian Men And Women In Church Based On Bible Authority By : Bill Naugle
The book of First Timothy in the Bible is about God's established Authority here on earth God has a perfect design for church order and government that will produce the most powerful results of the gospel being preached by Men since the days of Jesus walking here on earth - Book Review: Trail Thoughts – A Daily Companion For Your Journey Of Faith By Eric Kampmann By : Simon Barrett
Eric Kampmann is an interesting character, he heads up two publishing concerns, Midpoint Trade Books, and Beaufort Books Beaufort Books made the headlines last year as the publisher of the very contentious O - Spiritual Awakening And The Reshaping Of Identity By : Julie Redstone
There are certain times in life when one wishes that the limitations of self could be other than they are, and that the personal characteristics and attitudes that have been troublesome in the past could simply disappear
Often, efforts of will to eradicate these undesirable emotional habits and tendencies are found to be unsuccessful, and after a short time of seemingly positive improvement, one reverts to the old patterns and ways of being - Alpha And Omega - The Purpose Of History By : Julie Redstone
'Alpha' and 'Omega' – Christian symbols that carry with them essential features of the Christian mysteries, belong not only to the Book of Revelation and its prophesies concerning the Christ They also belong to the world at large and to its need to develop a picture of the goal and purpose of human experience - Springtime For The Soul By : Julie Redstone
Springtime for the soul brings with it the beginning of new possibilities for awakening, and for realizing the greater expression of the deeper self on all levels of manifestation
It uncovers dormant perceptions and allows them to flourish in the new warmth of the spiritual sun - The Christian’s Secret By : Dianne Ronnow
The book and dvd “The Secret” has become popular with people I work with lately I viewed the dvd and was disappointed to find out that it really is no secret - The Egg Is Empty! By : Lynn Powers
My kids love a good Easter egg hunt And, I’ll admit, I love to give them one - Take Control Of Your Words By : Karen Jaworski
Or…they will take control of you As Matthew 12:34 NIV says…for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks - The Unpardonable Sin By : Michael Bradley
"Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" - because they said, "He has an unclean spirit" (Mark 3:28-30)
"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men - Healthy Lifestyles, Science, Bliss - Science Shows, Play Nice By : Jack Danger
As we have discussed, that news from those scientists at the University of California is such great news They measured thousands of people at various stages and ages of life and found there were eight common virtues shared by those who reported the happiest and most fulfilling lives and best health for their age group - The Biblical Roots Of The 12 Steps By : David Mark
It has often been assumed that the 12 Steps are original ideas brought to humanity through the thought and speech of Bill Wilson The fact that Wilson attributes them to Rev - The Rite Of Water Baptisim By : Michael Bradley
As Christians, one of the first rites I believe every born-again believer should observe, either at the moment of being saved in the Lord or sometime shortly thereafter, is to be baptized with water You can either be baptized with water at the moment you are receiving your gift of eternal salvation from the Lord or you can be baptized with water at a later date - Life Is A Journey From I To We By : John Penberthy
One Saturday afternoon when my daughter was not quite three I strapped her into the child seat on my bike and we rode down to our neighborhood ice cream parlor We bought a double scoop of Mint Chocolate Chip in a cup and shared it - How To Get Started In Spirituality - Part 15 By : John Harricharan
God wakes up at 330 am in the morning - Joy - The 2nd Fruit Of The Holy Spirit By : Michael Bradley
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22)
In the rough and tough world we live in with all of the crime, disorder and bad things that can happen to anyone of us at anytime - many Christians have lost a lot of their joy in the Lord as a result of some of the beatings they have taken in this life - The End Of The World? By : Britt Gillette
Since the beginning of human history, speculation about the end of the world has fascinated mankind Myths and stories about the end of the earth exist in almost every religion and culture ever known - Bible Prophecy By : Britt Gillette
Calls have recently been made for a predictions registry, a means by which we might hold modern-day prognosticators accountable for their predictions Those who build a strong track record of specific and correct predictions concerning the future would establish greater credibility than those who maintain a poor record - Is The Singularity The Rapture? By : Britt Gillette
In the near future, the advance of human technology will become so rapid the unaided human mind will be unable to comprehend its implications The point in time at which this occurs is generally known as “the singularity,” and many believe it will usher in a new and exciting era for the human race - Armageddon: What The Bible Says By : Britt Gillette
Through the centuries, the human race has been fascinated with the concept of Armageddon During that time, the word has been separated from its original biblical context - Why Global Government Is Inevitable By : Britt Gillette
According to the bible, in the last days, a unified global government will rule the world The head of this global government, the Antichrist, is one of the more infamous figures in human history, and not a single individual on the face of the earth will lie outside of his jurisdiction:
“And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation
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