JESUS AND MARTIN LUTHER

If Jesus and Martin luther were time-wraped to the present I think each would represent each other in different ways because each form of the contemporary christianity like the roman catholicism, protestantism and eastern orthodox are similar but different in ways. It would be like a political debate that Martin Luther wont back down from. He believe in his own views of life as God is the one that they are following. Maybe God would have given Martin Luther the Answers to the many question him and his followers could not understand. I still think that Martin Luther would have been a little more hot headed inther present if he was around today. Perhaps him and god would have been partners going around together trying to spread the word of only one form of christianity. If they were both still in this time frame there would not be diffrent forms of christianity in my opinion.

FATHER JOHN MARTIN

WHAT DO I THINK FATHER MARTIN IS SAYING?
I think what father martin is saying is that. All religions are the similar and we don't see that. He is saying that the basics are the same there are just different names for religions and different styles of worshiping. There are also different believes but it is basically all the same.

DO I AGREE WITH HIM?
I agree with him.

WHY OR WHY NOT?
I agree with him because this is how I always felt about religion. Even though most have different gods they worship and different believes. I religions still fall under the same believes because in all religions there is some type of spiritual leader they believe in such as a god or gods. All religions follow certain rules that apply. and there is always some clergy or priest in each religion to lead the word or the worship. So to me and maybe to father John Martin all religions are the same.

INTERVIEW

Stacey and I went to the Hindu temple in Yonkers, NY and we got an interview with the Clergy.

I asked what is your name?
-Sudhil Patel

I asked how long was he a clergy?
-he said about 10 years for the temple in Yonkers?

I asked are do all Hindu temple look like the one we seen?
-he said the one we were in was nothing compared to Temples they have all over. They are much bigger and more beautiful in shape and in color.


I asked what the name outside meant?
-He told me not only is Hinduism but different types of beliefs of Hinduism and the temple that we visited the temple was called Shri Swaminharayan Mandir.

I asked what the difference was?
-He said there is not much of a difference in the believe it is just that the people of the temple must follow the rules and worship the gods of Shikshapatri.

I who are your gods?
- they worship two spiritual gods that sit on the stage who they feed and treat like humans. the priest must bath them and feed them and change there clothes, even brush there teeth. they are considered saints, guru’s and they are never associated with money or women. The names of both gods are Lord Sami Nariyan and Bjatjumahraj which were the spirit gods that sat on the stage.
-The other gods that are praised are Bhagatju Manharaj, Shashtriji Manharaj, Xogiji Manaraj, and the most important Pramukhswami Maharaj because he is still alive. He is 87 years old and he was there at the temple in Yonkers some months ago. We were told that he stayed in America for 120 days this year.

I asked why do we have to take off our shoes?
-He said because the temple is considered Holy ground and a place of worship, also respect for the gods.

I asked him about the caste system.
-He got very upset with me and got a little loud and told me that they don't believe in the caste system and they all are equal. No one is better then anyone else or born into this world a certain level and that they don't follow the caste system.

I asked How do you feel about Gandhi?
-He said he has Muslim friends and they get along. He doesn't disrciminate against Muslims and he respects them. He didn't say anything about Gandhi when I asked this question. I was scared already because he just yelled at me for mentioning the caste system.

I asked him when where there worshiping days?
-Every Sunday at 4:30 pm they have a religious ritual which is called the Sunday congregation where they worship the swami and give thanks and ask for protection but in order to do so you must have no karma and do what the god ask to be done as a Hindu worshiper. but every day at 7:30 am and 4:30 am they worship the saints,deities,and gods. They can worship when ever they feel really. A lot of the worshiping is done in the temple but mostly at home.
-they practice Puja which is a religious ceremony where they feed the gods and give flowers and worship. usually some Pujas are big ceremony's that last 2 hrs with worship,chants, food, and dancing.

the last question I asked was why were the women siting in the back during worship while the men sat in the front?
-He told me because the men were not allowed to worship with the men. they had to be separate.

This interview was very interesting and I learned a little more about Hinduism. I Think this was a great experience for me because I knew so little about religion and by doing this project it really made me realize the true meaning of people are different.

ANIMATO VIDEO OF JESUS

GOD?

In class we spoke about Christianity in away that I never heard before. I always went to church just because my grandmother would make me. As I got older I stopped going to church. Just a couple of weeks ago I went to church with my grandmother. I don't know if its because I am baptist but, I never knew that god was considered a thief. And I never knew that God was killed because of that. It bothered me because if Jesus is the son of God why didn't god help him? Where is God? was he in heaven waiting for Jesus to come there? The whole story changed my perception about God and Jesus. I couldn't understand why God would even change in his currency knowing that it was not such a good idea. I had this discussion with many different people and they all say that Jesus was not considered a thief and that he was crucified because he was going around telling people he is the son of God. This is why I don't know why they teach religion in colleges let alone make it a requirement to take. I am very confused about who god is and let alone if I believe in what we are saying about him. I believe that there is a god and I do believe that we do have a creator and something that rules the after life and that looks over us. But it is just hard for me to believe things that are man made and people can control others by having people believe in what they say and do than necessarily may not be true. How do I know a religion group or a certain person didn't make that up about Jesus being a thief. I just don't know what to believe and I am glad that I was not baptised now because it is my decision to decide what religion I want to believe in.

BEING BORN INTO A BAPTIST FAMILY

I went to church with my grandmother this past Sunday. She is a member of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Tarrytown, NY. I was not my first time going but I haven't been there in a about 4 years. in early protestant reformation at the time a particular group of Christians made baptism a requirement of faith to be a church member. so people were being baptised and they felt really strong about it. After church I wanted to know if I was ever baptised and my mother told me no. so my grandmother said I will not be going to heaven and I am not gods child because of this and the only way I would get into heaven was to get Baptised or to ask god to forgive me for all my sins and pray that he accept me as his child and let me into heaven. I got so scared. So i asked my grandmother if it wasn't to late for me to get baptised and she told me no. so we are working on getting me baptised so I can be one go god's children. I don't think that is fare for my grandmother to tell me that or for that to be part of the religion. its not my fault my mother didn't baptise me. I know I am an adult now so that's why i am going to get baptised but why didn't my mother tell me or get me baptised.

HATE GROUP PROTEST AT MILITARY FUNERALS

In the city of Topeka, Kan. there are a group of protesters who shows up at military funerals to protest against the deceased. at the baptist church in Westora the protesters showed up to the funeral of Bobby R. West who recently died serving his country in Iraq. The leader of the group of protesters is a man by the name of Fred Phelps. they believe that god it killing our troops because he wants to punish our nation for being deviant. They believe if you serve the country you are a fag and god hates fags. This hate group shows up to military funerals with signs that state "God hates fags" and "God is your Enemy". They also tie the American flag around there ankle to step on it on purpose. They hate America and believe that god hates it to. I think these people are crazy. why would they want to go and protest at people at a funeral. These people are already dead and if I was someones family member and these people showed up to my families funeral to protest, there would be a big problem. I don't think I could just sit back and let them disrespect my families funeral without putting up a fight. The government is trying to put a law through against the protesting at funerals. I think the protesters should get arrested for going such an insane act.