Theme 4 and 5

Religious Experience:
1. What is the group or individual experience in the faith?
In Christianity, there are major roles in groups, but also as individuals. On Sunday mornings, it is very common for a group of Christians to gather in church to praise God. There are also many different types of praying circles or prayer groups. Being in this environment allows oneself to feel love and feel the benefits of being with people that are possibly going through the same things as them, or have gone through them in the past. As a group, it is everyone's duty to make everyone feel welcome and to pray and worship God together, sharing opinions and discussing various topics. As individuals, we share a lot of the same responsibilities, but also have our personal relationship with God. It is important, as Christians, to pray to God on our own and keep up a good and healthy relationship. As individuals, it is also important that we do everything in our power to help others and to give back to those who are less fortunate. Whether praising God within a group setting or individually, it is always important to be respectful of others and to be open to learning new ideas. Giving back is something that is always important and can be done in a group or by ourselves.

2. What is the role of meditation/worship/prayer?
The role of worship and prayer is to bring oneself closer to God. Prayer is the way that Christians, individually and as part of the assembled church, speaks to God. This can include petition, praise, intercession, and so forth. Prayer is one of the most important aspects to a Christian's life when trying to speak to God. God does not only call us to prayer to take part in his work and to witness the transformations of others, (healing of bodies, the reconciling of relationships, the salvation of the lost, and so forth), He also calls us to pray so that we can be changed. This allows our hearts to become more similar and in sync with His heart. Although at times it may seem that God has not answered our prayers, it may simply be because He has a better plan in mind for us and everything will work out at a later time. Through all of these prayers, its only natural that one becomes closer to God, making that one of the most important relationships you could ever have.


Ethics and Moral Conduct:
What are the core ethical teachings of the religion and what significant interpretations of them exist?
In Christianity, the Bible and the Church are the core teachings. The Bible is used to explore the ideas behind the purpose of God, the truth about God, God's purpose for the earth, who is Jesus, what happens after you die, God's kingdom, suffering, giving, view of a good life, worship, prayer, family, relationships, and love. All of these things contribute greatly to Christianity, as they help to explain what Christians believe in and the reasoning behind certain things. The most important ethical teaching of the bible and of the church is giving back. God and Jesus have done so much for us, that it only seems reasonable to give back as much as we can as a way for saying thank you. During church, the pastor usually goes over these things in a sermon or relates different bible verses to help learn the meaning behind each of these topics. In more simple terms, the core teachings of the bible and of the church is to teach the word of Christ. The Bible is written in many different languages, but the overall message is the same. As one may interpret the Bible differently than others, I believe that everyone receives the same messages when it comes to what is good and what is bad, but the severity and degree of them differ. There are also different interpretations of church, as some churches are very formal and others are very laid back. This doesn't change what the church teaches and I believe that people can attend wherever they want as long as they are in a comfortable environment for them to worship and pray to God.