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Religion Through the Ages, arising out of fear and wonder about life events such as birth and death, or natural events of storms and earthquakes, most people have believed in the existence of supernatural powers greater than themselves and their world around them. Even though every society has one, there isn’t a simple definition to describe religion. However, the systems of religious belief and worship do share some major characteristics. Most religions are organized systems of beliefs, ceremonies, practices, and worship centering on the faith a divine power created our world and affects our lives. Most of the thousands of religions worldwide share a belief in divine power, a doctrine of salvation, a code of conduct, the use of holy stories, and sacred rituals.
Only about 15% of the world’s population is either nonreligious or atheist. Even though there are thousands of different religions worldwide, there are eight major categories. Of the majority of our world’s population practicing religion Christianity maintains 33%, Islam 19.7%, Hinduism 13.4%, Chinese folk religions including Confucianism and Taoism 6.3%, Buddhism 5.9%, and other religions such as Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism 6.7%.
Throughout the centuries religious teachings have influenced societies. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, or the Religions of the Book, inspired by the Old Testament of the Hebrew Bible have particularly influenced culture in the Middle East and Africa before spreading worldwide. Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Shinto, and Taoism have influenced Asian cultures. While Hinduism, Shinto, and Taoism developed over the millenniums, the other five religions are based on the life and teachings of specific men. Buddhists follow Siddhartha Gautama, or Gautama Buddha, Christians follow Jesus Christ, Confucians follow Confucius, Islam follows Muhammad, and Judaists follow Abraham and Moses.
Worshippers participate in religion for a variety of reasons. For numerous people, religion is simply a part of their cultural, tribal, or family heritage providing a sense of kinship to enjoy. For some, asking for help or protection, religion gives a feeling of security from the belief a divine power watches over them. Many follow because religion promises them salvation, happiness, and life after death. For others, practicing religion gives a sense of individual fulfillment and meaning to life by providing answers to some basic philosophical questions including what is:
1. the difference between right and wrong? 2. the meaning of suffering and evil?
3. the purpose of life?
4. people’s society and world obligations?
Since ancient times, religion has inspired the arts. Religious stories are portrayed in music, paintings, sculpture, literature, theater, dance, and motion pictures. Some of our world’s most beautiful structures are places of worship.
There are numerous theories about the origins of religion. Older theories revolve around personification to explain natural forces to understand their place in the universe. Newer theories point to psychology and social control to bring order to the chaos of experience.
In the last hundred years, religion has been undergoing changes due to questioning of exactly how religion fits in our modern world. The rise of science had lead critics to cast doubt on older doctrines and question the sacred stories, myths, or legends. In addition, to them questioning dry, uninspiring dogma no longer satisfying spiritual needs, they point out traditional religions fail to deal with current social issues and support outdated moral attitudes. Still, strong conservative movements within religions believe their teachings cannot be questioned. This has led some to turn to nontraditional beliefs or faiths.
| Aramaic translation of The Lord's Prayer
Our Father who is throughout the universe,
Let Your name be set apart.
Come Your Kingdom counsel.
Let Your desire be, as in the universe,
also on the earth.
Give us bread for our necessities this day.
And free us from our offenses,
as also we have freed our offenders.
And do no let us enter our temptation worldliness,
but set us free from error.
For belongs to You the kingdom, power, and song, from ages to ages.
Sealed in faithfulness.
“Directed faith is not a vague, hazy, wishful yearning. It is a powerful belief of expectancy that causes the universe to send us wonderful things.”
~Edwene Gaines “No matter what you’ve gone through in the past, no matter how many setbacks you’ve suffered or who or what has tried to thwart your progress, today is a new day, and God wants to do a new thing in your life.”
~Joel Osteen
| The Moses Code Three and a half millennium ago, God gave Moses a gift, which changed the world. Some of the most incredible miracles in history came from applying a simple code, activating the power of the creative force of God in the world. Since then this ancient technology has largely been ignored and unused. Once again through this book and movie, The Moses Code, it is revealed. This code has the power to transform the planet, as well as add the richest blessings to your own life, when it is finally applied by humanity.
Some of the world’s best-known spiritual teachers join James Twyman in this film, offering tools on how you can apply the Moses Code to your own life. Many other films and books have focused on using the Law of Attraction to manifest material items we believe we need, e.g. houses, cars, or other possessions. The Moses Code takes the next much more important step—how do we use this law to “give” from our soul, automatically attracting spiritual blessings into our lives.
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