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Why the Church? (Reframing New Testament Theology)
by Joel B. Green Robert W. WallGiven the way many in the West have read the New Testament in the last century, the church might be regarded as an afterthought at best. But at the worst, it can be viewed as an unnecessary, perhaps even problematic, institutionalization of genuine faith especially in our post-denominational context. These perspectives fly in the face of the robust ecclesiological concerns and commitments of the New Testament documents when read as witnesses from, to, and for congregations of God's people. For Wall, the problem is spiritual because fewer go to find God in church. Why the church? Because this peculiar fellowship of saints, whose loving communion is with the risen One, has been appointed by the triune God as God's herald. With its sacred vocation, every demonstration of the church's oneness, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity--each eschatological mark enabled and brought to maturity by God's grace--is the concrete means to address our theological crisis. This book will contribute to New Testament studies but also serve related discussions in theology and church history. Reframing New Testament Theology is a series that fulfills the need for brief, substantive, yet highly accessible introductions to central questions and themes raised by New Testament study.
Why the Church?: Self-Optimization or Community of Faith (Cultural Memory in the Present)
by Hans JoasWhy did Christianity produce the special organizational form "church" in the first place? Is it possible to be a Christian without the church? To what extent is Christian faith in community with other believers an alternative to the mere self-optimization of individuals? In this accessible and questioning new work, Hans Joas traverses theological, church-historical, sociological, and ethical territory in search of a viable conception of the church adequate to contemporary globalized societies. Across eleven essays that draw on work by Ernst Troeltsch, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, H. Richard Niebuhr, Leszek Kolakowski and others, Joas reflects on key debates—from the failure of so-called secularization theory to explain religiosity in modern society, to the role of Christianity and the church in relation to rampant nationalism and refugee crises, and to the question of whether or not human dignity ever was, or still is, the highest value in the West. Addressing the sociology of the church as the distinctive communal formation of Christianity for the last two millennia, Joas underscores the need for Christian conceptions of church to balance theological sensibility with concrete sociological grounding. In the process, he considers the relation of a community of faith to contemporary ideas about the optimization of life.
Why the Church Needs Bioethics: A Guide to Wise Engagement with Life’s Challenges
by John F. KilnerIn a world where incredible medical technologies are possible … does “can do” mean “should do”? Why the Church Needs Bioethics helps you understand and constructively engage bioethical challenges with the resources of Christian wisdom and ministry. Three rich and true-to-life case studies illustrate the urgency of such bioethical issues as reproductive and genetic technologies, abortion, forgoing treatment, assisted suicide, stem cell research, and human enhancement technologies. Leading Christian voices bring biblical and theological perspective to bear on the incredible medical technologies available today; mobilize useful insights from health care, law, and business; and demonstrate the powerful ways the church can make a difference through counseling, pastoral care, intercultural ministry, preaching, and education. This book equips students, church and lay leaders, and people in health-related fields with the knowledge to make faithful bioethical decisions and to help foster a world where human beings are shown respect as people created in the image of God. Contributors to Why the Church Needs Bioethics include leading Bible and theology scholars, such as D. A. Carson and Kevin Vanhoozer; leaders in the areas of preaching (Greg Scharf) and ethics (Scott Rae); and 15 other experts in the fields of biblical-theological studies, ministry, communication, business, law, healthcare, and bioethics.
Why the Cross? (Reframing New Testament Theology)
by Joel B. Green Donald SeniorThe meaning of Jesus's execution on a Roman cross is one of the most divisive issues in contemporary theological discourse because issues related to the goodness of God and the place of suffering in the Christian life are at stake. Although it is important to locate that discussion in the context of the range of New Testament perspectives on the soteriological significance of the cross, it is also important that we recover the meaning of the cross as a metaphor for discipleship. In the end, the event of Jesus's death cannot be understood apart from the character of his life. This book will contribute to New Testament studies but also serve related discussions in theology and Christian formation. Reframing New Testament Theology is a series that fulfills the need for brief, substantive, yet highly accessible introductions to central questions and themes raised by study of the New Testament. A significant defining question will serve as the point of departure and will frame the discussion. Students will be drawn into an active, theological engagement with the New Testament and related materials by the subsequent analysis.
Why the Cross?: Divine Friendship and the Power of Justice (Current Issues in Theology)
by Ligita RyliškytėIn this book, Ligita Ryliskyte addresses what is arguably the most important and profound question in systematic theology: What does it mean for humankind to be saved by the cross? Offering a constructive account of the atonement that avoids pitting God's saving love against divine justice, she provides a biblically-grounded and philosophically disciplined theology of the cross that responds to the exigencies of postmodern secular culture. Ryliskyte draws on Bernard J. F. Lonergan's development of the Augustinian-Thomist tradition to argue that the justice of the cross concerns the orderly communication and diffusion of divine friendship. It becomes efficacious in the dynamic order of the emergent universe through the transformation of evil into good out of love. Showing how inherited theological traditions can be transposed in new contexts, Ryliskyte's book reveals a Christology of fundamental significance for contemporary systematic theology, as well as the fields of theological ethics and Christian spirituality.
Why the Dalai Lama Matters
by Robert ThurmanThe suppression of Tibet's cultural heritage has the potential to set a precedent for all oppressed peoples of the world. Perched on the top of the world, changes in Tibet's ecosystem affect the entire global climate. And, most importantly, Tibet is the spiritual and physical home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, though he can never return. But why should Tibet matter to you? Tibet is more than its mountains, its monks, and its martyrs. Robert Thurman, renowned Tibetan scholar, teacher, and activist, presents his provocative, five-point plan that will enable China to win the respect of the entire world by allowing Tibet to regain its cultural, economic, and political autonomy. Thurman shows how the Dalai Lama's tireless work is the harbinger of peace for the world and essential for human survival. The book outlines several key factors that will educate and empower readers to take action: What is the history of Tibet, and how do the political, religious, ecological, and social factors affect each other?- Who is the Dalai Lama, and why does his work matter to the world? What does the China-Tibet relationship mean to the global community? What can individuals do to bring attention to this issue, and make a change where they are? How can the five-point plan be used as a model of peaceful change throughout the world?
Why the French Don't Like Headscarves: Islam, the State, and Public Space
by John R. BowenThe French government's 2004 decision to ban Islamic headscarves and other religious signs from public schools puzzled many observers, both because it seemed to infringe needlessly on religious freedom, and because it was hailed by many in France as an answer to a surprisingly wide range of social ills, from violence against females in poor suburbs to anti-Semitism. Why the French Don't Like Headscarves explains why headscarves on schoolgirls caused such a furor, and why the furor yielded this law. Making sense of the dramatic debate from his perspective as an American anthropologist in France at the time, John Bowen writes about everyday life and public events while also presenting interviews with officials and intellectuals, and analyzing French television programs and other media. Bowen argues that the focus on headscarves came from a century-old sensitivity to the public presence of religion in schools, feared links between public expressions of Islamic identity and radical Islam, and a media-driven frenzy that built support for a headscarf ban during 2003-2004. Although the defense of laïcité (secularity) was cited as the law's major justification, politicians, intellectuals, and the media linked the scarves to more concrete social anxieties--about "communalism," political Islam, and violence toward women. Written in engaging, jargon-free prose, Why the French Don't Like Headscarves is the first comprehensive and objective analysis of this subject, in any language, and it speaks to tensions between assimilation and diversity that extend well beyond France's borders.
Why the Gospel?: Living the Good News of King Jesus with Purpose
by Matthew W. BatesWe know what the gospel is—but do we know why it is? As Christians, we often ask what the gospel is, when we should be asking why it is. Matthew W. Bates has previously demonstrated that the &“good news&” of the gospel is that Jesus is King. But in his latest book, he explores God&’s intentions: why has God issued this royal proclamation? And what role can it play in our everyday lives? As Bates observes, we find the answer in a simple but challenging realization: &“I am a horrible king of my own life.&” With examples from Scripture, literature, and personal experience, Bates explains what pledging allegiance to Jesus as ruler of our lives looks like. Living authentically according to God&’s reign conforms humanity to the image of Jesus and extends his glory and honor to all creation. Perfect for church studies, evangelism, or personal spiritual reading, Why the Gospel? invites readers to consider how we can transform our lives and communities through loyalty and devotion to King Jesus. The book includes questions to guide discussion.
Why the Jews?: The Need to Scapegoat
by Marek Halter** The latest provocative book by the international bestselling author, Marek Halter ** Seventy-five years after the Holocaust, which decimated a people several thousand years old, after we swore in an almost unanimous voice, "Never again," the scourge of anti-Jewish sentiment invades our sidewalks again, especially in Western Europe, including France, the homeland of human rights. Marek Halter, a Jew himself, asks, "Why always the Jews?" This hard-hitting essay examines all the false trials of Jews—religious or otherwise—during troubled periods throughout the world's history.
Why the Jews?: The Reason for Antisemitism
by Joseph Telushkin Dennis PragerFrom the bestselling authors of The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism comes a completely revised and updated edition of a modern classic that reflects the dangerous rise in antisemitism during the twenty-first century. The very word Jew continues to arouse passions as does no other religious, national, or political name. Why have Jews been the object of the most enduring and universal hatred in history? Why did Hitler consider murdering Jews more important than winning World War II? Why has the United Nations devoted more time to tiny Israel than to any other nation on earth? In this seminal study, Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin attempt to uncover and understand the roots of antisemitism -- from the ancient world to the Holocaust to the current crisis in the Middle East. This postmillennial edition of Why the Jews? offers new insights and unparalleled perspectives on some of the most recent, pressing developments in the contemporary world, including: The replicating of Nazi antisemitism in the Arab world The pervasive anti-Zionism/antisemitism on university campuses The rise of antisemitism in Europe Why the United States and Israel are linked in the minds of antisemites Clear, persuasive, and thought provoking, Why the Jews? is must reading for anyone who seeks to understand the unique role of the Jews in human history.
Why the Jews Rejected Jesus
by David KlinghofferWhy did the Jews reject Jesus? Was he really the son of God? Were the Jews culpable in his death? These ancient questions have been debated for almost two thousand years, most recently with the release of Mel Gibson's explosive The Passion of the Christ. The controversy was never merely academic. The legal status and security of Jews--often their very lives--depended on the answer. In WHY THE JEWS REJECTED JESUS, David Klinghoffer reveals that the Jews since ancient times accepted not only the historical existence of Jesus but the role of certain Jews in bringing about his crucifixion and death. But he also argues that they had every reason to be skeptical of claims for his divinity. For one thing, Palestine under Roman occupation had numerous charismatic would-be messiahs, so Jesus would not have been unique, nor was his following the largest of its kind. For another, the biblical prophecies about the coming of the Messiah were never fulfilled by Jesus, including an ingathering of exiles, the rise of a Davidic king who would defeat Israel's enemies, the building of a new Temple, and recognition of God by the gentiles. Above all, the Jews understood their biblically commanded way of life, from which Jesus's followers sought to "free" them, as precious, immutable, and eternal.Jews have long been blamed for Jesus's death and stigmatized for rejecting him. But Jesus lived and died a relatively obscure figure at the margins of Jewish society. Indeed, it is difficult to argue that "the Jews" of his day rejected Jesus at all, since most Jews had never heard of him. The figure they really rejected, often violently, was Paul, who convinced the Jerusalem church led by Jesus's brother to jettison the observance of Jewish law. Paul thus founded a new religion. If not for him, Christianity would likely have remained a Jewish movement, and the course of history itself would have been changed. Had the Jews accepted Jesus, Klinghoffer speculates, Christianity would not have conquered Europe, and there would be no Western civilization as we know it. WHY THE JEWS REJECTED JESUS tells the story of this long, acrimonious, and occasionally deadly debate between Christians and Jews. It is thoroughly engaging, lucidly written, and in many ways highly original. Though written from a Jewish point of view, it is also profoundly respectful of Christian sensibilities. Coming at a time when Christians and Jews are in some ways moving closer than ever before, this thoughtful and provocative book represents a genuine effort to heal the ancient rift between these two great faith traditions.
Why the Religious Right Is Wrong About Separation of Church and State
by Robert BostonAward-winning journalist Robert Boston lambastes the zealots of the Religious Right for spreading misinformation about the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state. Boston reveals how a band of ultraconservative religious groups with a political agenda - led primarily by televangelist Pat Robertson - is conducting a systematic war aginst the separation of church and state. The tactics of these groups are designed to exploit unfounded fears and turn the American people against the separationist principle. They will not rest, Boston says, until the United States has become a theocracy.To expose the Religious Right's blatant distortions of U.S. history and correct its skewed analysis of legal rulings, Boston objectively reviews the evolution of church/state relations in the United States and looks at how the separation principle has been applied by the courts. He also examines efforts by sectarian groups to win government support for their schools, the school prayer issue, the history of the free exercise of religion, and the controversial role of religion in the public square.Published in cooperation with Americans United for the Separation of Church and State
Why the Rest Hates the West: Understanding the Roots of Global Rage
by Meic Pearse"Why do they hate us so much?" Many in the U.S. are baffled at the hatred and anti-Western sentiment they see on the international news. Why are people around the world so resentful of Western cultural values and ideals? Historian Meic Pearse unpacks the deep divides between the West and the rest of the world. He shows how many of the underlying assumptions of Western civilization directly oppose and contradict the cultural and religious values of significant people groups. Those in the Third World, Pearse says, "have the sensation that everything they hold dear and sacred is being rolled over by an economic and cultural juggernaut that doesn?t even know it?s doing it . . . and wouldn?t understand why what it?s destroying is important or of value." Pearse's keen analysis offers insight into perspectives not often understood in the West, and provides a starting point for intercultural dialogue and rapprochement.
Why the sky is blue
by Susan MeissnerClaire and Dan are happy parents of two, until the night Claire is attacked---and becomes pregnant. While she's struggling to trust God "in all things," Dan confesses his unwillingness to be a father to this baby. They agree to pursue adoption, but what happens 16 years later . . . when the relinquished child returns? 325 pages, softcover from Harvest.
Why the World Doesn't Seem to Make Sense: An Inquiry into Science, Philosophy, and Perception
by Steve HagenThe bestselling author of Buddhism Plain and Simple ponders what we truly know about reality. Why the World Doesn&’t Seem to Make Sense is an eminently down-to-earth, practical, and non-technical response to the urgent questions posed by contemporary science and philosophy. This revised and updated edition of How the World Can Be the Way It Is includes new scientific understanding and clarification of some of its more complex ideas. Steve Hagen aims for an intelligent general audience not necessarily familiar with modern or classical physics, philosophy, or formal logic. Hagen takes us on a journey that examines our most basic assumptions about reality and carefully addresses the &“paradoxes of the one and the many&” that other works only identify. His primary purpose is to help us to perceive the world directly—as it is, not how we conceive it to be. Through this perception each of us can answer profound moral questions, resolve philosophical and ethical dilemmas, and live lives of harmony and joy. Praise for Why the World Doesn&’t Seem to Make Sense &“For those who are certain that objectivity and intellect are the ground floor of all knowledge, this can be a valuable tripe to the sub-basement.&” —Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance &“An unusually stimulating and exhilarating book, of profound value to those seeking to clarify the essential nature of everyday existence—in short, all of us.&” —Peter Matthiessen, author of The Snow Leopard &“Read this book: it will change how you look at things.&” —Nick Herbert, PhD, author of Quantum Reality &“Hagen cuts cleanly through the duality of mind and body, perception and conception, science and religion, and takes us on a spell-binding journey through what we know—and what we only think we know—that ultimately provides a fresh, effective, and remarkably simple grounding for our lives. . . . Original, breathtaking, and beautiful.&” —Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones
Why There is No God: Simple Responses to 20 Common Arguments for the Existence of God
by Armin Navabi Nicki Hise• "Science can't explain the complexity and order of life; God must have designed it to be this way." • "God's existence is proven by scripture." • "There's no evidence that God doesn't exist." • "God has helped me so much. How could none of it be true?" • "Atheism has killed more people than religion, so it must be wrong!" How many times have you heard arguments like these for why God exists? Why There Is No God provides simple, easy-to-understand counterpoints to the most popular arguments made for the existence of God. Each chapter presents a concise explanation of the argument, followed by a response illustrating the problems and fallacies inherent in it. Whether you're an atheist, a believer or undecided, this book offers a solid foundation for building your own inquiry about the concept of God.
Why This New Race: Ethnic Reasoning in Early Christianity
by Denise BuellWhy This New Race offers a radical new way of thinking about the origins of Christian identity. Conventional histories have understood Christianity as a religion that from its beginnings sought to transcend ethnic and racial distinctions. Denise Kimber Buell challenges this view by revealing the centrality of ethnicity and race in early definitions of Christianity. Buell's readings of various texts consider the use of "ethnic reasoning" to depict Christianness as more than a set of shared religious practices and beliefs. By asking themselves, "Why this new race?" Christians positioned themselves as members of an ethnos or genos distinct from Jews, Romans, and Greeks. Buell focuses on texts written before Christianity became legal in 313 C.E., including Greek apologetic treatises, martyr narratives, and works by Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Tertullian. Philosophers and theologians used ethnic reasoning to define Christians as a distinct people within classical and ancient Near East society and in intra-Christian debates about what constituted Christianness. Many characterized Christianness as both fixed and fluid-it had a real essence (fixed) but could be acquired through conversion (fluid). Buell demonstrates how this dynamic view of race and ethnicity allowed Christians to establish boundaries around the meaning of Christianness and to develop universalizing claims that all should join the Christian people. In addressing questions of historiography, Buell analyzes why generations of scholars have refused to acknowledge ethnic reasoning in early Christian discourses. Moreover, Buell's arguments about the importance of ethnicity and religion in early Christianity provide insights into the historical legacy of Christian anti-Semitism as well as contemporary issues of race.
Why Tolerate Religion?: Updated Edition
by Brian LeiterWhy it's wrong to single out religious liberty for special legal protectionsThis provocative book addresses one of the most enduring puzzles in political philosophy and constitutional theory—why is religion singled out for preferential treatment in both law and public discourse? Why are religious obligations that conflict with the law accorded special toleration while other obligations of conscience are not? In Why Tolerate Religion?, Brian Leiter shows why our reasons for tolerating religion are not specific to religion but apply to all claims of conscience, and why a government committed to liberty of conscience is not required by the principle of toleration to grant exemptions to laws that promote the general welfare.
Why Tongues?
by Kenneth E. HaginKenneth Hagin believes that the infilling of the New Testament believers with the Holy Ghost should be the pattern for Christians today. In Part 1, he discusses speaking in tongues in the book of Acts of the Apostles to show that speaking in tongues was evidence of people being filled by the Holy Spirit. In Part 2, the author explains the 10 reasons why modern "Believers" should speak in tongues. To make his points, the author first quotes Biblical scriptures and then explains them in terms of his Christian, theological understanding.
Why Trust the Bible?
by Rose PublishingRose Bible Basics series: Why Trust the Bible?Is the Bible an ancient document that has been tampered with? Has it been edited many times over the centuries and now is filled with errors? How can we know what the Bible really said when the originals no longer exist?Bestselling books that promote these doubts, such as Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why, are influencing today's news media, and these teachings are being treated as fact. Now is the time to address the topic of textual criticism in our churches and help Christians become better informed — ready to "defend the faith." "The Bible can be trusted," says author Dr. Timothy Paul Jones. The good news is that the Bible is reliable, even though it was hand copied and there are variations between texts. This ebook explains the variations and why they don’t affect the trustworthiness of the Scriptures.Dr. Jones' interest in this topic began many years ago when he came across these arguments in seminary. At first his faith was badly shaken and he wondered if he still believed. But as he dug deeper, he found answers. Dr. Jones shows the errors in critics'logic and facts —and does it in an easy-to-understand style with charts, diagrams, and explanations. This full-color ebook gives answers to the following claims by critics:•The Gospels were written long after Jesus lived by people who weren't eyewitnesses.•The stories about Jesus' life and death were not handed down reliably and not recorded accurately.•The Bible is full of textual errors, as proven by the Dead Sea Scrolls•The New Testament wasn't finalized until hundreds of years after Jesus and his disciples, so there could have been many other "Gospels" accepted and later rejected -- in addition to the four Gospels found in the Bible today.•The originals of the Bible are lost, therefore we have no way of knowing what it actually said.•The Bible was edited by people who had an "agenda" and changed many teachings.The chapter titles are How We Got the Bible; Dead Sea Scrolls; 100 Proofs for the Bible; Why Trust the Bible; 100 Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus; and the Gospels "Lost" & Found.Full color, dozens of color photos and illustrations and charts.
Why? Trusting God When You Don't Understand
by Anne Graham LotzUsing the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus from Jon 11, Mrs. Lotz gives us reasons to trust God when nothing else makes sense.
Why Truth Matters: 10 Common Doctrinal Errors
by Rose PublishingWhat is truth, and how can we know? The Bible plainly reveals the errors and false teachings that Christians will be expected to identify and defend against. Learn to recognize the counterfeits through the light of God's truth. Christians often wonder why certain religious groups are called "cults" or are said to have "cultic teachings." The answer is fairly simple. The Scripture mentions 10 key Christian beliefs that cult leaders or aberrant teachers ignore or twist. You will learn each of these 10 beliefs and be able to give examples of truth vs. counterfeit teachings. The 10 Common Doctrinal Errors include: False Gospels, False Doctrine, False Gods, False Christs, False Spirits, False Prophets, False Apostles, False Teachers, False Visions, and False Miracles.
Why Waco? Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America
by James D. Tabor Eugene V. GallagherAn account of the Waco tragedy, exploring the motivations of government agents, the media, cultbusters, the Branch Davidians, and their leader, David Koresh, and offering sympathetic explanations for the groups' possession of illegal firearms, unconventional sexual practices, and allegations of child abuse. Discusses the history of religious freedom in America, challenging stereotypes about unconventional religious groups. Includes extensive notes, and an unfinished manuscript by Koresh, plus lists of Branch Davidians who died in the attack, and those who survived.
Why Wait?: 24 Reasons to Wait Until Marriage to Have Sex
by Rose PublishingWhy Wait? is a best-selling abstinence education booklet for Christians. It discusses one of the biggest challenges among teens and singles: pre-marital sexual activity. This bestselling full-color ebook presents 24 reasons--12 biblical and 12 medical and emotional--to think twice before risking health and happiness on sex outside of marriage. Emphasizing God's plan for marriage and his prohibition of sex outside of marriage, the ebook presents sobering statistics on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and offers sensible information that helps people make an educated decision about their lives. A Basic Abstinence Education Program for Churches, Sunday School Classes, and Youth GroupsAlthough many public school students receive sex education in school, Christians have a distinct view of the sacredness of sex that is usually not presented in a classroom setting. This Why Wait Pamphlet is a very basic abstinence education overview from a Christian stance that presents a Christian viewpoint on human sexuality in a simple 1-2 hour discussion. Many churches divide the students by gender to discuss these topics once a year, often in April or May, when public school address the issue, but it can be used any time.The reality is that many students today have experienced sexual contact already. Some have been taken advantage of. Others were pressured or coerced. Some have simply been naive. This grace-filled pamphlet also helps those who want to be assured of God's constant love and good plan no matter what they have experienced. It is never too late to treat yourself with respect and expect others to do the same.Abstinence Education from a Christian Point of ViewTeens and single adults ask themselves, Why Wait? Why does God care if I have sex? Everyone else is doing it. In fact, these many people are often surprised to discover that God does have very good reasons for us to wait for sex until marriage. The pamphlet presents 12 of God's compelling reasons to wait, but also provides ideas for those who have not, as well as an encouraging section on "second-time virginity."Abstinence Education: Medical FactsThe ebook also offers "Quick Facts from Medical Science." For instance--Did you know that:* STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) cost $8.4 billion each year to treat in the United States alone?* Two-thirds of people with STDs are less than 25 years old?God's Design: Sacredness of Sexuality Within MarriageGod's design for sexuality limits it to marriage. While that view might seem extreme these days, his plan is a wise one, allowing time for true love and tenderness to grow and have its appropriate place in life. Sexuality can be misused and abused. It belongs to mature people who are committed to one another through marriage.24 Reasons to Practice Abstinence Before Marriage* 12 Biblical reasons to wait, with verses of Scripture that inspire and encourage* 12 health and emotional reasons, including issues of pregnancy, STDs and personal regret* Nine ideas for "keeping out of trouble," such as* Group dating* Staying away from places where "making out" is encouragedBiblical Reasons for Abstinence Before Marriage3 Examples from the Why Wait Pamphlet* Having sex with a person creates a kind of "oneness" that God intended for marriage only (1 Cor. 6:16). This oneness is not just physical; it is emotional and spiritual, too. God created sensuality in a loving marriage to build intimacy and trust, and to bond the couple. * To test the commitment of the other person. Some people promise marriage just to get sex, and then they back out of their commitment. Many people have sex with people they would never marry (Proverbs 5:3-12).* The Bible says we should run away from sexually immoral situations (1 Cor. 6:18). When you feel yourself being tempted, get away!Health & Emotional Reasons for Abstinence Before Marriage3 Examples from the Why Wait Pamphlet* To avoid death by fatal sexually transmitted diseases, such as AIDS, which cause more than 18,000 deaths annually.* To increase your chance of a happy, lasting marriage. People who have sex
Why We Are Who We Are: An Insightful Glimpse into Our Human Roles, Soul Personality, and Karmic Mandates
by Meetu BishtWe all have come across moments in life when we ask ourselves, &‘Who Am I?&’ and &‘What&’s my life purpose?&’ But often, we simply stop after the inquiry and spend our lifetimes chasing some dream—financial, personal, or societal—without thinking of the bigger picture. This way, we miss out on uncovering the deeper reality of life, its real purpose, and most importantly, why we are who we are. After her highly successful book, Living Spirituality, Meetu Bisht delivers an insightful text that brings us closer to understanding why we live the life that we live, the true purpose of our unique individual journeys, and the ways in which we can progress and evolve. The book elaborates on concepts such as soul personality and karmic mandates and also explains how our tendencies and certain karmic factors are responsible for our individual life scenarios and destinies. Why We Are Who We Are is relevant for all those who are keen to get a deeper understanding of their inner state and grow spiritually by living a life of greater meaning and purpose and by becoming a higher version of the self.