“You'll Find Them Both In The
Grand Canyon At Sundown”
Kenneth E. Reynolds
August 3, 2010
Author Note
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Kenneth E. Reynolds,
E-mail: janetandkenneth@yahoo.com
“You'll Find Them Both In The
Grand Canyon At Sundown”
It really doesn’t really matter what I believe. It really doesn’t matter what you believe. What does matter is that we all agree to disagree and have respect for our fellow man and woman.
Growing up in a modest home in Detroit, Michigan we went to a Christian Science Church because that is the church my father was brought up in.
Then I reached the dating age and was introduced to several other types of churches. If my girlfriend was a Baptist, I went to a Baptist Church. If she was Episcopalian then I went to an Episcopalian Church. This trend continued into my marriage. My wife was a Methodist so I became a Methodist. When I joined the Army and was assigned to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama my wife and I rented a mobile home from a Pentecostal Minister and considering we did not have a car at the time, he invited us to his church and provided the transportation. My second wife was a Catholic so I attended the Catholic Church.
After my second marriage failed, I decided to become an Atheist. I mean why not? Nothing else worked and I really had a hard time believing that if there is only one God and the Roman Catholics believe they have the mother church, where did all of these other churches and religions come from?
One thing does fascinate me about religion though. Whether you believe in the Big Bang theory or Creationism don’t you find it ironic that they both started out with nothing?
• The Big Bang is not an explosion of matter moving outward to fill an empty universe. Instead, space itself expands with time everywhere and increases the physical distance between two comoving points.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang)
God createth Heaven and Earth, and all things therein, in six days.
1:1. In the beginning God created heaven, and earth.
1:2. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face
of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters.
1:3. And God said: Be light made. And light was made.
1:4. And God saw the light that it was good; and he divided the light
from the darkness.
1:5. And he called the light Day, and the darkness Night; and there was
evening and morning one day.
(http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext99/1drvb10.txt)
My children were also allowed to choose the path that they wished to follow. Therefore one is a Buddhist, one pretty much believes in my philosophy, of no deity, one is Jehovah Witness, and one is a Wicca.
I am a serious believer in diversity. Especially religious beliefs, age, disability, ethnicity, race or sexual orientation. Just to mention a few. Yes, I am an atheist but I try to place everyone on a level playing field and respect their cultural beliefs and values.
When I started out on this quest of world religions, I had no idea that I would be involved in more religions that I could possibly comprehend. So, I decided to narrow my research down to those churches that I have touched my life, which I think will be more than sufficient to see the similarities and differences of different religions…even those that I have some knowledge of.,
So let’s start at my beginning and see why I chose to become an Atheist.
About Christian Science
Core Beliefs
Christian Scientists believe in one, infinite God who is All and all-good. They believe that God is not distant and unknowable, but that God is all-encompassing and always present, and that each individual is loved by God, cared for by Him, and made in God’s image—spiritual, not material.
Christian Scientists believe in the Bible and in Christ Jesus as the Son of God, or promised Messiah. And they believe that Jesus’ teachings and healing work expressed scientific Christianity, or the application of the laws of God—laws which are still practical and provable today, by anyone, anywhere. Christian Scientists consider the Commandments, as well as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, to be central to their lives and practice of Christianity.
Above all, Christian Scientists believe in the saving, healing power of God’s love—that no one is beyond redemption, that no problem is too entrenched or overwhelming to be addressed and healed. In other words, Christian Scientists don’t believe that salvation occurs at some point in the future, but that the presence of God’s goodness can be experienced here and now—and by everyone.
One of the best ways to learn more about Christian Science is to explore the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.
The Tenets of Christian Science, Science and Health, pages 496–497
(http://christianscience.com/beliefs.html)
Baptist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Baptists are a group of Christian denominations, churches, and individuals who subscribe to a theology of believer's baptism (as opposed to infant baptism), salvation through faith alone, Scripture alone as the rule of faith and practice, and the autonomy of the local church. They generally practice baptism by immersion (as opposed to affusion or sprinkling) and disavow authoritative creeds. Baptist churches are Protestant, and some churches or individuals further identify with evangelicalism or fundamentalism. Baptists recognize two ministerial offices, pastor-elders and deacons, but not bishops. Diverse from their beginning, those identifying as Baptists today differ widely from one another in what they believe, how they worship, their attitudes toward other Christians, and their understanding of what is important in Christian discipleship.[1]
Historians trace the earliest Baptist church back to 1609 in Amsterdam, with English Separatist John Smyth as its pastor.[2] In accordance with his reading of the New Testament, he rejected baptism of infants and instituted baptism only of believing adults.[3] Baptist practice spread to England. Here, the General Baptists considered Christ's atonement to extend to all people, while the Particular Baptists believed that it extended only to the elect.[4] In 1639, Roger Williams established the first Baptist congregation in the American colonies.[4] In the mid-1700s, the Great Awakening increased Baptist growth.[4] Baptist missionaries have spread the church to every continent.[3]
The Baptist World Alliance reports more than 37 million members in more than 150,000 congregations.[5] In 2002, there were over 100 million Baptists and Baptistic group members worldwide and over 33 million in North America.[3] The largest Baptist association is the Southern Baptist Convention, with over 16 million members.[4]
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptists)
What is the Episcopalian Church and what do Episcopalians believe?
Question: "What is the Episcopalian Church and what do Episcopalians believe?"
Answer: The Episcopal Church, USA (ECUSA) is the official organization of the Anglican Communion in the United States. Most of the earliest colonists to America were Anglican Puritans, and the Anglican Church became the established church of Virginia, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia during the colonial period. After the American Revolution, the Anglican Church in America formed an independent body in 1789 and called it the Protestant Episcopal Church. On their website, the ECUSA is described as a “middle way between Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions.” Like the Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church upholds the sacraments as essential to salvation, and like Protestant churches, it denies the supremacy of the Pope as the vicar of Christ on earth.
The word “Episcopal” comes from the Greek word that is usually translated “bishop,” and points to the church's understanding that a bishop is the primary ruler of the church. Under the Episcopal form of government, the bishop's authority is equal to that of the Apostles and follows a line of succession by the laying on of hands in ordination. Priests come under the authority of the bishops and are responsible for the teaching and administration of the local churches. Throughout the history of the ECUSA, their doctrine and practice have been generally in line with that of the Anglican Church.
Over the years, the Episcopal Church has gradually accepted changes that have strained its ties with the Anglican Communion and have even resulted in schisms. In 1873, the Reformed Episcopal Church was formed over disagreements about the freedom to worship with non-Anglicans. In 2006, Jefferts Schori was elected as the Presiding Bishop of the ECUSA, the first woman to hold that office. That election strained ties with the Anglican Communion, as no other church body recognizes the ordination of women as bishops. Bishop Schori has made history in other ways, as well. While the Bishop of Nevada, she allowed for the blessing of same-sex unions in her diocese. When openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson was examined for qualification to continue in ministry, Bishop Schori voted to confirm him. At the 2009 meeting of the House of Bishops, over which Schori presided, that body voted that “any ordained ministry” should be open to gay and lesbian members as long as they were in a committed relationship. As a result of these positions on homosexuals in the church, nearly 700 dissenting parishes have formed the Anglican Church in North America, which has been recognized in full communion by the Anglican Churches of Nigeria and Uganda, which represent about 1/3 of all Anglicans worldwide. Several dioceses have also severed ties or threatened to sever ties with the ECUSA over that same issue.
Though there may be genuine disciples of Christ within the Episcopal Church, it seems that the general characteristic of the church is like the people that Ezekiel ministered to: “My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice” (Ezekiel 33:31-32).
Recommended Resource: Complete Guide to Christian Denominations: Understanding the History, Beliefs, and Differences by Ron Rhodes.
(http://gotquestions.org/Episcopalians.html)
United Methodist Church
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of the The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the holiness revival movement of John and Charles Wesley within the Church of England.[6][7][8] As such, the church's theological orientation is decidedly Wesleyan.[9] It contains both liturgical and evangelical elements.[10][11]
In the United States, it ranks as the largest mainline denomination, the second largest Protestant church after the Southern Baptist Convention, and the third largest Christian denomination. As of 2007, worldwide membership was about 12 million: 8.0 million in the United States and Canada,[12] 3.5 million in Africa, Asia and Europe.[13] It is a member of the World Council of Churches, the World Methodist Council, and other religious associations.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Methodist_Church)
What is a Pentecostal church?
From the book, ‘What People Ask About The Church’ by Dale A. Robbins
A Pentecostal church takes its name from the Spirit's outpouring which occurred on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4. The primary distinction of a Pentecostal church is the belief that Christians can receive the same experience as the 120 did, of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in other tongues. In this same vein, the Pentecostal believes in the present day operation of spiritual gifts such as miracles, healing, prophecy, and other supernatural manifestations described in 1 Corinthians 12. They generally follow a similar form of liturgy to that found in most evangelical churches, and they place high value on praise and worship.
A Pentecostal church generally identifies with the long standing history, traditions and theological views of the Pentecostal movement which began to emerge throughout the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century. The origins of the movement are usually associated with a band of believers led by minister, Charles F. Parham. In a Bible school in Topeka, Kansas, students and teachers, along with Parham, researched the book of Acts, searching for the source of the Apostle's great power and success. They all concluded that it was because of the events that began with the Day of Pentecost. After a thorough review of Acts 2,8,9,10, and 19, they concluded that the same experience was available to them. On New Year's eve 1900, the first student was filled with the spirit and spoke in tongues. Then on January 3rd, others including Parham received, igniting a rapid growing movement. The famed 1906 revival of the Azusa Street mission in Los Angeles was a derivative of the events in Topeka. From there, it spread through the U.S., Canada and abroad.
The Pentecostals have long been known and respected for their great emphasis on evangelism and foreign missions. Some of the more well known Pentecostal fellowships are: The Assemblies of God (of Springfield, MO) with 11,689 U.S. churches, The Church of God in Christ with 15,300, The Church of God (of Cleveland, TN) with 5,776, and The Foursquare Church with 1,558. In all, there are 43,727 U.S. churches affiliated with Pentecostal denominations, with hundreds more of independent status.¹
Within the ranks of those who identify themselves as Pentecostals, there are small sects which are known for more extreme or even bizarre views. Some practice handling of snakes, or others of a Unitarian theology insist that only those who speak with tongues can be saved. These unorthodox beliefs are not embraced by the large body of Pentecostal churches or denominations, however the fanaticism of this small group of radicals has sometimes generated an inaccurate stereotype of all Pentecostals which has been exploited by tabloid TV news shows and so forth.
(http://www.victorious.org/chur45.htm)
Catholic Church
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with more than a billion members.[1] Its leader is the Pope who is head of the College of Bishops. A communion of the Western church and 22 Eastern Catholic churches, it comprised a total of 2,795 dioceses in 2008.[2] The Church defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity. It operates social programs and institutions throughout the world including schools, universities, hospitals, missions, shelters and charities.[3]
The Church teaches that it is the "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church" founded by Jesus Christ, that its bishops are consecrated successors of his apostles and that the Pope as the successor of St. Peter possesses a universal primacy of jurisdiction and pastoral care. Church doctrines have been defined through 21 ecumenical councils and the Church maintains that by guidance of the Holy Spirit, it can define its teachings on faith and morals infallibly under specific conditions.[4][note 1][5] Catholic beliefs are based on the Holy Bible and Sacred Tradition interpreted by the Church's teaching authority and detailed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Catholic worship is called the liturgy, the central component of which is the Eucharist.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church)
Atheism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Atheism, in a broad sense, is the rejection of belief in the existence of deities.[1] In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities.[2] Most inclusively, atheism is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist.[3] Atheism is contrasted with theism,[4] which in its most general form is the belief that at least one deity exists.[5][6]
The term atheism originated from the Greek ἄθεος (atheos), meaning "without gods", which was applied with a negative connotation to those thought to reject the gods worshipped by the larger society. With the spread of freethought, skeptical inquiry, and subsequent increase in criticism of religion, application of the term narrowed in scope. The first individuals to identify themselves as "atheist" appeared in the 18th century.[7] Today, about 2.3% of the world's population describes itself as atheist, while a further 11.9% is described as nonreligious.[8] Between 64% and 80%[9] of Japanese describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, or non-believers.[10] According to a poll by Der Spiegel magazine, 45% of Germans believe in God, and a quarter in Jesus Christ.[11] The percentage of such persons in European Union member states ranges as low as single digits in Malta, Poland, Romania, Cyprus and some other countries, and up to 85% in Sweden, 80% in Denmark, 72% in Norway, and 60% in Finland.[10]
Atheists tend to lean towards skepticism regarding supernatural claims, citing a lack of empirical evidence.[citation needed] Common rationales for not believing in any deity include the problem of evil, the argument from inconsistent revelations, and the argument from nonbelief. Other arguments for atheism range from the philosophical to the social to the historical. Although some atheists tend toward secular philosophies such as humanism,[12] rationalism, and naturalism,[13] there is no one ideology or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere.[14]
In Western culture, atheists are frequently assumed to be exclusively irreligious or unspiritual.[15] However, atheism also figures in certain religious and spiritual belief systems, such as Jainism, some forms of Buddhism that do not advocate belief in gods,[16] and Hinduism that holds atheism to be valid but difficult to follow spiritually.[17]
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism)
Buddhism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha (Pāli/Sanskrit "the awakened one"). The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE.[2] He is recognized by adherents as an awakened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end suffering (or dukkha), achieve nirvana, and escape what is seen as a cycle of suffering and rebirth.
Two major branches of Buddhism are recognized: Theravada ("The School of the Elders") and Mahayana ("The Great Vehicle"). Theravada—the oldest surviving branch—has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, and Mahayana is found throughout East Asia and includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, Tendai and Shinnyo-en. In some classifications Vajrayana, a subcategory of Mahayana, is recognized as a third branch. While Buddhism remains most popular within Asia, both branches are now found throughout the world. Various sources put the number of Buddhists in the world at over a billion followers and possibly as many as 1.5 billion or 1.6 billion followers[3][4][5], making it one of the world's largest religions and possibly the second largest religion if upper estimates are accurate. Low estimates of Buddhism tend to come from sources that exclude Chinese Buddhists and refuse to acknowledge that one can combine Buddhism with other beliefs such as Hinduism in Nepal, Jainism in India, Taoism in Chinese populations, primal-indigenous beliefs in Burma and Laos, and Shintoism in Japan.
Buddhist schools vary significantly on the exact nature of the path to liberation, the importance and canonicity of various teachings and scriptures, and especially their respective practices.[6] The foundations of Buddhist tradition and practice are the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community).[7][8] Taking "refuge in the triple gem" has traditionally been a declaration and commitment to being on the Buddhist path and in general distinguishes a Buddhist from a non-Buddhist.[9] Other practices may include following ethical precepts, support of the
monastic community, renouncing conventional living and becoming a monastic, meditation (this category includes mindfulness), cultivation of higher wisdom and discernment, study of scriptures, devotional practices, ceremonies, and in the Mahayana tradition, invocation of buddhas and bodhisattvas.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism)
Beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses are based on the Bible teachings of its founder, Charles Taze Russell and his successors, Joseph Franklin Rutherford and Nathan Homer Knorr. Since 1976 they have also been based on decisions made at closed meetings of the religion's Governing Body.[1][2] These teachings are disseminated through The Watchtower magazine and other publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, and at conventions and congregation meetings.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the present age of human existence is about to be terminated with the direct intervention of God, who will use Jesus Christ to fully establish his heavenly government over earth, destroying existing human governments and non-Witnesses,[3][4] and creating a cleansed society of true worshipers. They see their mission as primarily evangelical (disseminating "good news"), proselytizing to as many converts as possible in the remaining time before Armageddon.[5][6] All members of the religion are expected to take an active part in preaching what they refer to as "the truth".[7]
They endeavor to remain separate from secular society, which is regarded as a place of moral contamination and under the control of Satan the Devil, refusing any political and military activity and limiting social contact with non-Witnesses.[8] Members practice a strict moral code, forbidding adultery, premarital sex and homosexuality. Drug abuse, smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol are prohibited, as are blood transfusions.[9] Discipline within congregations is maintained by a system of judicial committees, which have the power to expel members who breach organizational rules and demand their shunning by other Witnesses.[10] The threat of shunning also serves to deter other members from dissident behavior.[11][12]
Watch Tower Society publications teach that Jehovah's Witnesses alone represent true Christianity and for that reason they refuse all ecumenical relations with other religious denominations.[13] Members are expected to attend all congregation meetings, as well as regular large-scale conventions, which are highly structured and based on material from Watch Tower publications.[14]
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beliefs_and_practices_of_Jehovah's_Witnesses)
Wicca
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wicca (pronounced [ˈwɪkə]) is a Neopagan religion and a form of modern witchcraft. It is often referred to as Witchcraft or the Craft[1] by its adherents, who are known as Wiccans or Witches. Its disputed origins lie in England in the early 20th century,[2] though it was first popularised during the 1950s by Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft", and its adherents "the Wica".[3] From the 1960s the name of the religion was normalised to "Wicca".[4]
Wicca is typically a duotheistic religion, worshipping a Goddess and a God, who are traditionally viewed as the Triple Goddess and Horned God. These two deities are often viewed as being facets of a greater pantheistic Godhead, and as manifesting themselves as various polytheistic deities. Nonetheless, there are also other theological positions within the Craft, ranging from monotheism to atheism. Wicca also involves the ritual practice of magic, largely influenced by the ceremonial magic of previous centuries, often in conjunction with a liberal code of morality known as the Wiccan Rede, although this is not adhered to by all Witches. Another characteristic of the Craft is the celebration of seasonally based festivals known as Sabbats, of which there are usually eight in number annually.
There are various different denominations within Witchcraft, which are referred to as traditions. Some, such as Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca, follow in the initiatory lineage of Gardner; these are often collectively termed British Traditional Wicca, and many of their practitioners consider the term "Wicca" to apply only to these lineaged traditions. Others, such as Cochrane's Craft, Feri and the Dianic tradition, take primary influence from other figures and may not insist on any initiatory lineage. Some of these do not use the term "Wicca" at all, instead preferring to be referred to only as "Witchcraft", while others believe that all traditions can be considered "Wiccan".[5][6]
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca)
Like I stated in the beginning of this essay, It doesn’t matter what I believe in but, I would like to borrow from one of my favorite song writers, Bob Dylan when he wrote Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie:
“You can either go to the church of your choice
Or you can go to Brooklyn State Hospital
You'll find God in the church of your choice
You'll find Woody Guthrie in Brooklyn State Hospital
And though it's only my opinion
I may be right or wrong
You'll find them both
In the Grand Canyon
At sundown”
Dylan, B. (1963, April 12). Bob dylan. Retrieved from http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/last-thoughts-woody-guthrie
And that my friends makes as much sense to me as being religious.
References Page
Atheism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism
Baptist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptists
Buddhism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism
Big Bang http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang
Catholic Church http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church
Christian Science http://christianscience.com/beliefs.html
Dylan, B. (1963, April 12). Bob dylan. Retrieved from http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/last-thoughts-woody-guthrie
Episcopalian http://gotquestions.org/Episcopalians.html
Holy Bible http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext99/1drvb10.txt
Jehovah’s Witness http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beliefs_and_practices_of_Jehovah's_Witnesses
Pentecostal http://www.victorious.org/chur45.htm
United Methodist Church http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Methodist_Church
Wicca http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca
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