Religion of Arts: "Shine a Light" at Bhcc

My analysis of "Shine a Light" was absolutely amazing. The performances was solid, students at Bhcc perform acting, orals, and dancing to speak for social justice.

The religious themes appeared in the performances were hope, faith, imagination, and symbol of colors. One aspect that all the performances had in common is the theme of suffering. A girl tells a story about how she  was sexually abused. Another girl talks about how her system is crashed down. A group of people dances through the effects of aids. For the symbol of colors, one of the performers was dressed in white to represent purity and how he is going to reach heaven soon because of aids. Another performer played the piano and sung, "imagine" by John Lennon.

The performer had chosen to sing this song because the song is about the power of thought or the power of imagination. I believe it is more than just a song. It’s a song, which made us realize the potential of love in our hearts and respect for life. Through social justice the performer wanted us to think about the questions we had in our minds, the authenticity of religions, possessions, people, killing, and the world. Some lyrics that stuck to me were "Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do, nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too." The quote from this song is about the suffering of religion. Religions are supposed to promote help of the suffering; rather some religions leave boundaries between countries and people. People die for beliefs that are maybe not true. The "imagine" song is basically saying imagine if there was no religion to die or kill for, the world would filled with peace as one. All the performances signify aspects of suffering through social justice.

The performances can connect to religion. Religion is about love, respect, and worshipping for God and acknowledges helping the suffering, etc... But some religions are suicidal and people do anything to follow text, commands, and etc.  The performance can relate to the suffering of humans, because of religion; in the news terrorist are bombing and killing for the beliefs of their religion. Countries are fighting each other because of different religions beliefs.

The religion of Shinto!

            The exercises I will be doing researching is about a modern religion of my interest. I chosen to research, learn, and present about the religion of Shinto. The Japanese word ‘Shinto’ means, literally, “the way of the Kami”. The word Kami means, “God” in Japanese. Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion that is in a modified form by Buddhism and Confucianism. Shinto is a religion that originated from Japan. Shinto is characterized less by religious of doctrine or belief than by observance. In other words, there is no deity supreme over all. Shinto has no doctrine, no fix system of ethics. Shinto religion has many gods and the god that is the supreme of all is the Sun Goddess, known as the ruler of Heaven. 

            The religion of Shinto is an unstructured or ill organized mix of nature worship. They believe in the sun goddess and have strong views on fertility cults. Furthermore, Shintoist believes in divination techniques, such as practicing the knowledge of nature and future for supernatural means.

            Shinto practices do not have regular weekly services unlike other religions. Shintoists can visit shrines at anytime. The most popular days of the month are the first and the fifth-teen day, where many Shintoist go to visit the shrines. The religion of Shinto celebrates festivals, traditional ceremonies, and customs. Shinto festivals during the year bring millions of believers together. Many of the major celebrations are the Autumn festival, and Annual Festival. Autumn festival is a festival similar to thanksgiving. It’s a festival of appreciation and a kind of thanksgiving to life. In addition, Annual festival is a New Year celebration. The festival services offer cleansing rituals, prayers, music, dance, and food offerings. Also, on the November of 15th children of young ages go to the shrine to pray for healthy growth.

            Lastly, the uniqueness of Shinto religion, many Shintoist practice Buddhism and have a combination of Buddhist altar set up for prayer. People practicing both religions blend special elements into their lives such as Shinto-style wedding and Buddhist reincarnation and karma aspects of religion.

The picture is a Japanese shrine. 

Its a place of sacred praying for the Shintoist. Shintoist can come to the shrine anytime and pray. The shrine is important even for weddings to pray for healthy relationships and family. The shrine is a Toyokuni shrine in Kyoto.

The process information that the library offers is viable. The library offers powerful primary and secondary sources. I feel confident on my information being obtained. The only real difficulty on the information is the context. I had to use the dictionary many times due to sophisticated context.The experience with BHCC library is great and my reflection on the databases are excellent.

Religion in the Arts, Christian Song!

Come, Now it’s time to worship <----Click here for video!

            The song is a Christian song, the song is very good and lyrics are religious as well. The song is saying that it’s never too late to worship God. The time to worship God is right now. The video shows pictures of nature, flowers, oceans, mountains, clouds, and sunrises. The video is made to illustrate that God is high above heaven and its time to worship and pray to God. The song is also a reminder to devout your life to God and don’t forget to Worship God. When they say Come, it’s a meaning of joining our religion because we are the right religion. When they say its time to give your heart, it means its time to worship God and come join us. A member of a Christian religion would love this video because it’s a reminder to worship and love God. This song would make them love God more and show the power of God within the song.

Edward and Graham's famous Sermons

Edward and Graham's famous Sermons

            The similarity between sermons is that both Edward and Graham have powerful respect for God. Edward and Graham make it vibrant that hell is not fake and many people are very close to going to hell.  Sinners are America’s greatest sermons, the importance of Grahams, which he preached over 160,000 people, have heard about the preaching of Billie Graham. Both are fascinating because they both share the significances of people having fear of going to hell if many do not obey God. Edwards says, “There is nothing that keeps wicked men, at any one moment, out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God." The quote is very unique and it is a powerful saying. Graham and Edwards vastly make it clear that sinners are going to hell and there is no hope. Both of them convinced many people that people use God for back up rather than devoting to God in High matters. Grahams writes, “Think of the Divine Justice and the wrath of God against sin, and God is under no obligation to keep you out of Hell right now.” The quote is illustrating that God is powerful and never goes against God. God has the power and he has the right to not take sinners out of hell, if he doesn’t want too. God is divine and has full of wrath and justice.

            The difference between Graham and Edwards’s sermon is that Edwards preaching is more frightening. Edwards sermon is indeed fearful, nasty, and cruel. Edward is doesn’t sugar anything and gets straight to the point for sinners. Edwards states, “The devil stands ready to fall upon them and seize them as his own, at what moment God shall permit him.” He is implicating that God has a contract with the devil and will left him get them anytime he wants. God makes the choices in the sinner’s lives. Edwards saying is definitely cruel and he’s playing with people’s minds. He’s making people feel sad and basically brainwashing them. Edward negatively set illustrations in people’s head that God is fearful and dominate. In contrast Graham made many changes in his sermon to show a loving God rather then a fearful one. In addition, both Graham and Edward preached the same message. 

Islam I and II

          The most important similarity between Islam and Christianity is that both major religions believe in one God. Islam and Christianity are profoundly similar in adoration, submission, and supplication. Both religions have powerful adoration for god and only God. Islam and Christianity both have a submission that presents a proposal of god. Furthermore, both religions ask or beg God to bring food, guide us to the right path, amen, and etc. Overall both religions ask God to look over the people and fulfill gaps in life. The importance of similarity is that both Islam and Christianity are monotheistic.

         One of the most important differences between Islam and Christianity is that Christians believe in the trinity and Muslim’s do not. Muslims believe that Jesus is real, but is not viewed as a God. While Christians believe that Jesus is God. This is one of the most important differences in Christianity and Islam. Islam considered or seen Jesus a prophet and a servant of God. Another difference is that Muslims believe that Jesus was taken up to God and God raised him. While Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on a cross. Many different beliefs can lead people of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam in religious wars. 

Religion in the arts, Lao Tzu Poem!

"Watch your thoughts,
they become words,
Watch your words,
they become actions,
Watch your actions ,
they become habits,
Watch your habits,
 they become character,
Watch your character,
it becomes your destiny."


      The quotation is from a famous religious philosopher and his name is Lao Tzu. The first line is about the thinking of thoughts, the second line is about the thoughts that become words and words become action. And actions become habits, the habits develop characteristics and the character becomes your destiny. The significances of the quote is about a persons thinking and way of thinking. For example, A bad way of thinking can lead to many stages, such as developing the negative habit, obtaining bad characteristics, and the destiny becomes negative.
      In contrast, this could be vis versa . Thinking positive can lead to positive actions, which can lead to good habits, and which will eventually make a good character. The positive character makes his destiny positive.
      Overall, the author Lao Tzu's quotation is very meaningful. He is basically saying that if we think negatively, then our destiny will end up negatively. The importance of the quote is to realize the thinking before any action. Think before any action. The action can be lead to a negative destiny. Another example, I think about robbing a bank, next day i rob a bank, get caught, and now I'm in jail for life.
      The quotation is very special because the content is small, but the quote has depth and meaning.The quote always sparks a positive vibe, whenever I recite it. I read this special quote whenever I'm feeling down and I will carry it for the rest of my life. Very special!

"The Saying of Jesus", Novak, Ed.

The “ Saying of Jesus” in Novak, ed., I choose the quote, Love One Another, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. In response, this quote is very interesting to me. Jesus created a new commandment and is telling his disciplines to love one another. Such as he has vast amount of love for his fellow disciples. The importance of the quote is that Jesus wants his disciplines to learn to love each other. By doing what Jesus says, the disciplines will set great examples for people and enemies. I absolutely agree, Jesus by himself cannot set positive action to everybody, so it’s significant that he reach out to his disciplines to do the job and others will spread the vibe as well. My personal aspect, I’m in a volunteer program in Boston and I took a class on positive action and by the time I left the class I started to spread positivity within my family. Also spread positivity at school. I learn the knowledge of positive action and it leads me to act positive and stay positive.