Ashoka Newmedia

Pagan images create feelings of freedom, excitement, and intimacy. A ring of fires blazing in the night as the moon rises...drums beating as people dry off from a ritual bath...flesh is bared and a sword is raised...Any such scenes could come from a pagan ritual, or none of them because paganism summons diversity and encourages creativity. Paganism as a religion has proven difficult for academics to define in narrow terms. Essentially a common element among people who practice pagan rituals is that very little restriction is placed upon imagination. Different groups of pagans devise their own ways of performing rituals according to their tastes, region, and ways of thinking about their sacred realms...

It isn't limited to the Christian world. There are many who believe various things about how we were created or came to be. There are those, including myself who believe wholly in the biblical account of creation. Then there are some who believe that Darwinism (which I believe is a religion in it's self) is the only plausible answer. In the realm of how the universe came to be there are those that there was this Big Bang. On my end of the spectrum, who exactly lit the fuse? I believe with conviction it was the Lord God Almighty. I have always believed that if you don't stand for something, you'll most certainly fall for anything. Forgive the cliché, but if "any way" will do, "no way" will do...

There is a popular saying; If you don't ask, how are you going to know? You've probably heard it many times. It's a true saying to a major degree in that knowledge has to be sought. We aren't born with it. And if you don't seek knowledge from the right source, you are more apt to be deceived. I've run a Christian Question and Answer web site since 1995 and have found that those things I've learned over the years do not seem to be common knowledge to the majority of those asking. Prophecy seems to be one of the number one areas that people have questions about. For instance, did you know that the Bible tells us that in the last days, danger will be everywhere. It then goes on to tell us why. It says...

What happens when one of the tenets of your religion is obeying the law and the people who are gravitating to you are illegal immigrants? That is the challenge facing the Mormon Church as they are aggressively reaching out to Latino communities around the world. But just as Cathy Lee Grossman of USAToday points out in her article on "Is Immigration a Religious Issue?", this subject can bring up some pretty heated debate on either side of the conversation. And the line definitely gets blurred over the confusion between "immigrants" and "illegal immigrants". Many people unfortunately blend them together. At some point, all churches (and in this case the Mormon Church) has to come to grips with...

-- The wedding contract -- A ketubah is a special legal document, the marriage contract, which is an integral part of a Jewish wedding ceremony. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom in relation to the bride. It was set up in ancient times by the Rabbis to protect the wife in case her husband died prematurely or divorced her in which case she would lose her financial support. To ensure the wife would not become destitute and without means the ketuba ensured that a sum of money was paid to the wife in the event the marriage ended. Nowadays a modern equivalent would be maintenance in the case of divorce. -- The Ketuba today -- Traditionally, ketubot are written in Aramaic, the...

The meaning of the word henna is a flowering plant; the origins of this name lie in the Arabic language. It is also used as a girl's name in the Muslim culture meaning blessed. In addition to traditional Muslim clothing such as hijabs and jilbabs, henna tattoos are an integral part of Muslim tradition. The plant itself is native to Africa, southern Asia and northern Australasia. It is a tall shrub or small tree that varies in height between 2 and 6 metres. It is actually a by-product of this plant that is used in henna art. The leaves are crushed together to form a paste which is applied to the skin. This paste is used to dye a range of things from hair and fingernails to leather and silk. The henna...

The recession has made life tough for many of us, it's always reassuring that bible verses with an inspirational message are just a couple web pages away. Aside from each of our own situations, whether it is job loss, foreclosure, bankruptcy or divorce, you can always find hope, inspiration and revelation in Holy Bible verses. We are all in difficult times. The good news is that these time do not last. During these challenging moments in life we typically tend to ask the Lord why? Why did I have to lose my car, my property and my family? I want you to believe that despite the difficulties, despite the hard roads faced and the challenges ahead, your faith will will help you persevere. For how can you...

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 tells the story of a father and two sons. One son learns the meaning of his father's love when he walks away from it. The other son struggles to understand such extravagant love. The first part of the story focuses on the son who rebels and demands his share of the inheritance, only to learn, rather quickly, the folly of his decision. His return home is met by a joyous father - one who sees him from afar and runs out to greet him and welcome him home. The son who was lost has now been found (15:32). In contrast, the elder son - the one who dutifully remained at home - responds to his brother's homecoming with anger and resentment (15:28). In choosing to avoid the celebration, he...

The fist of the pacifist is not in his hand but in the mouth of Jesus. The Bible states that at the last battle, one word from Jesus will destroy his enemies. "Done!" will come out of his mouth like a sword and slay those arrayed against him. Many patriots and Christians cannot seem to wait for this final battle. They plan and execute their own death-dealing blows. God is full full full of steadfast love and longsuffering. But he does not plan to be forever-suffering. The unclean will be banished from his presence and locked in hell where they can no longer harm lovers of God. God will protect his own! His plan also includes pay-back for the wrongs suffered by the followers of Christ in a way that...

When Jesus looks at a man and when he moves around and among men, and when He sees a faith that is real and deep and which has that desire and longing to grow and mature, Jesus will be prepared to share and reveal many things to that man. There was a man in Jerusalem who wanted to go further and he is called Nicodemus. He wanted what Jesus could give. He had a thirst for that which was spiritually real. He had seen the miracles and now he was hungry for the Word of God. He was ready for something more and for something deeper. He was a man in a prominent position. He was a religious teacher. He was trained to answer theological questions. He would know all the orthodox doctrines. He would have had...

What is a miracle? Is it really nothing more than something working out the way that we had wished for or is it more? Is it the answer to our prayers. A miracle is considered to be the the positive outcome from an extraordinary event that science and logic cannot explain.Too often nowadays the word miracle is overused to describe an event that is merely positive, but lacks the elements of extraordinary and defying our understanding of the world. We say it is a "miracle" if we find our car keys, if we get a car space or even when our computer is working the way it is meant to do. All of these instances are not miracles. There is nothing extraordinary about these mundane activities that, naturally, on...

Every year on the Hebrew calendar we inevitably arrive at the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av (Tisha B'Av). It is considered on the Jewish calendar to be the most tragic day the Jewish people know. This is the date when the Babylonians destroyed our first Temple (Beit HaMikdash) in Jerusalem in 586 BCE, and the Romans later destroyed our second one in 70 CE. The Temple in Jerusalem was the epicenter of all spirituality of the Jewish people. This sacred site remains unbuilt to this day. One might ask the question: We have been living without a Temple for nearly 2,000 years. Why in the world are we still gathering in synagogues, weeping and fasting, praying to go back to the way it was so very long...

There are people who give the Rosary a bad name, they give this beautiful and wondrous devotion the pain and the stain of their own sin by praying it selfishly, desiring the opposite circumstances and/or outcomes that Jesus specifically speaks against; our own wills as opposed to the Will of the Father, which art in Heaven. Some people also, construe the Rosary, as a means of all kinds of evil and devious deeds that can be performed under the guise of overt and pious religiosity, pointing their wicked index fingers like The Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz to we, who ask the question of the sincerity of motives. Have you noticed in the world today, and we can be very sure that this...

Every time I read a parsha like Parshat Ki Teitze (and many others) that have a section dealing with lashes, I flash back to my youth and an unforgettable news story that was the talk of the entire United States. Do you remember Michael Fay? This was a young man who was caught vandalizing in Singapore, and was sentenced to six lashes with a Singapore caning rod. People wouldn't stop talking about. "How could they hurt an American citizen?" one would say. "It's their country and they have the right to enforce their laws however they choose," another would say. "I'll go there and endure the lashes for him," one well-intentioned gym teacher offered. These are three thoughts that always cross my mind...

I have a confession. I'm not as good of a person as I'd like to be. I would love to be a great person, but some times I feel like I'm only taking teeny little baby steps towards my goal, and other times I feel like I've just taken ten steps backwards. And these feelings destroy me. They make me hurt so much inside. A while ago I discovered something that I can do that makes me feel worlds better about myself. I decided to fight what I consider to be my one and only fear, and give blood for my first time. And I felt beyond good. Here I have the opportunity to perform one of the highest levels of tzedaka (charity), giving where neither the donor nor the recipient known one another. Pure selflessness...

I have seen this question before from many people; "You don't think any one other than a Muslim will go to heaven, right? I see the Muslim clerics telling their people to kill the non-Muslims; we Christians are the infidels according to them!" And it's true, we have all seen this. Indeed, it is a shocking statement which deserves a second look. After all, these leaders are representing a whole religion when they make these statements in the name of Islam. We need to discern the extent of the truth behind this claim. We can look to the Quran, God's final and proven scripture, to see how the non-Muslims are addressed. Does God tell us that they may experience the final peaceful and joyous abode...

When most people think of Judaica, they picture sterling silver menorahs, Kiddush cups, Seder plates, and books, books, books. Of course, all of these items fall under the Judaica umbrella, but it's important to remember the Judaica products designed specifically for children! From toys to books and media to decorated Yarmulkes, children's Judaica can be a great way to get young people excited about their religion. Young children can beef up on their knowledge of Jewish traditions with simple and fun toys designed just for them. For example, Aleph-Bet's magnetic board and letters are colorful, easy tools created to familiarize children with the Jewish alphabet. Additionally, Kidkraft produces...

p>Aristotlenism is the belief and teaching that there is a ra­tional correlation between nature and grace. Aristotle founded metaphysics. He believed that God is not transcendental. He can be known by experiences, though these are in the realms of ethics and philosophy. Ethics is the only just guide to man's behavior. To Aristotle, God is no more than we can experi­ence Him to be (a very pronounced theme in Karl Barth). Therefore, these things being true, it makes no difference what a man believes as long as he is sincere. Sincerity is the sign of an ethical man and, since reality is not an abstract essence but an individual substance that is a combination of matter and form, what a man's...

The Avraham (Abraham) of this week's parsha, Parshat Lech Lecha, is unique in so many ways. Possibly the most inspiring part of what makes him special was his ability to turn his life completely around, making so much out of so little, with wondrous amounts of success, and an uncanny ability to not look back. In fact, the first time we experience Avraham, that's not even his name. His original name was Avram, and only later do we find that God changed his name to Avraham. In my opinion one of the hardest things in life is to change who we are, even if we desperately want to, need to, and have all the resources and motivation. So many obstacles stand in the way of personal change. Sometimes the...

Prayer beads, known as japa mala by the Hindus and by yoga practitioners around the world, are used to keep count of the repetitions of prayers or mantras. The mala consists of a certain number of beads depending on the religion. The material with which it is made also varies. While chanting, one moves from one bead to another and in this way keeps track of the number of prayers said. The beads allow one to focus the mind on the chanting. If it were without beads then the attention would be partly diverted on counting. The following paragraphs describe the different types of beads and their roles in meditations in different religions. The mala is traditionally held in the right hand and used in two...

An Important Guidebook on Nurturing and Making Disciples David Arnold's "Discipleship Manual" is an invaluable tool for training and developing. Nurturing and mentoring Christian disciples preparing them for entering the heat of battle on the front lines of spiritual warfare. David's methods tried and proven approach provides effective leadership principles, and God given precepts impart a plan for spiritual growth which introduces action steps for becoming true and committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Biblically based, sound in doctrine, these guidelines are the result of experiential truth. David builds a solid foundation to help the reader understand true discipleship. He emphasizes the...

How long was the Ark in the building? The answer, which is arrived at inductively, is around 98 years; possibly a few years less. In verse 32 of chapter 5 Noah was said to be five hundred years old. It also says that Shem was already born. We have pointed out that this statement is not to be taken as a part of the iteration of the genealogies, because of the literary change in the narrative. The end of the precise defining of the genealogies was reached with Lamech, Noah's father. Lamech lived 777 years and died 4 years before the Flood. With Lamech, the genealogy ceases for a while, as we give attention to Noah, the Ark, and the Flood. The scene in verse 32 of chapter 5 was not exactly in Noah's...

Although there are a multitude of doctrines within Christianity, it could be said that its preeminent doctrine is that of grace. All faiths have a central doctrine, but it usually consists of a set of rules or bylaws. This is what separates Christianity from all other faiths, because its core doctrine is not a law. We often say this word "grace," especially in church on Sunday mornings, but how well do we really understand its meaning? It is sometimes defined as unmerited favor, but this definition only scratches the surface of its deeper meaning. Fortunately, the Bible itself provides its own definition and explanation in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. Many Christians understand that this passage explains...

The existence of God can be proved in two ways - by practical demonstration and by deduction. These two methods are employed because they are acceptable to science. In science, fact can be established by practical demonstration and knowledge can be arrived at by deduction. Let us begin with the method of practical demonstration. We are told that the earth has a magnetic field. We cannot see, hear or touch this magnetic field. However, science is able to show proof of its existence in this way. When a bar magnet is suspended so that it can swing freely on a horizontal plane, it will always come to rest with its north pole pointing approximately towards the geographic north. So, although we cannot see...

As American's living in the Twenty-first century, we are exposed to a never-ending bombardment of advertising. We see ads for a little of everything. Back when I was a child, and there used to be a family television hour. That was when networks still understood that there was much to be gained from having what we now look back and nostalgically wish for, a time when there was a defined set of values. The good guys wore white hats, bad guys wore black hats, and the good guy would save the day, get the girl and live happily ever after. The worst commercial we had to worry about was the one for Ban Roll-on Deodorant, or Timex watches. Nowadays, not only do we have to look out for ads for beer and wine...

It is not only the ministers (priests) that should purify themselves, the congregation should also. This must happen before God would come down to dwell amongst us in the fullness of His glory. There is so much filthiness in the church today. You find people who tell you they are Christians but live like devils. Today, harlots claim to be Christians. Thieves, cheats, cultists, liars are all Christians. Why? Because they bear Christian names and also go to church. And who are you to query their Christianity? They also speak in tongues like you, sing well and involve in all the charismatic displays. But did God not say that He sees beyond the outward displays, that He looks at the inside? We must all...

In the last edition, we started exploring how to stay connected with your SOURCE once you've discovered Him. I listed seven conditions that must be satisfied for this connection to be effected. The conditions are: [1] Walking in truth [2] Being faithful [3] Being diligent [4] Being a committed tither [5] Sowing ceaselessly and not sparingly [6] Believing in your SOURCE and [7] Saying with conviction whatever your SOURCE says you are. We started by looking at Walking in truth. To walk in truth means to do what the Word of GOD says, to do things according to how GOD says they are right to be done. Why? Because His Word is truth [Psalms 119:160a and John 17:17]. Okay, let's continue our journey from...

I know by now you would have been receiving the signals of victory in your situation. No power can withstand the word of God when activated. The difference between a failing and a winning Christian is just the amount of the word of God each of them assimilates and applies to their lives. There is no magic about successfully serving God and overcoming the battles of life. What you need is to absorb the promises, covenants and instructions of God and stay permanently in them. When you do this, you would be automatically turning yourself into a supernatural being on earth! You will begin to flow on a high-level divine plane. Then, tell me the enemy that will risk coming against such a Christian. You...

For several centuries, Christmas has been celebrated. New year became significant for celebrating life -having gone through the previous one healthy and alive. Christmas has had a great meaning to the most Christians. Others like the seventh day Adventists have found it insignificant. For the new year, everyone has always been involved -be it the Muslims, the seventh day Adventists and so many others. Christians consider Christmas day as the day Jesus Christ was born. Given the so many attributes to him as the world savior, son of God and founder of Christianity, Christians world over celebrate it. But all these mean nothing to Muslim counterparts and the seventh day Adventists. They will only look...

Developing Holy Love Healthily and a Relationship Apostle Burnell T. Williams Sr. in "Developing a Mature Love" provides the reader with a road map to fulfilling love in every realm of life, both physical and spiritual. In Part One, Williams speaks about the progression of mature love. He uses the parallel of this love to that of a tree. He begins with the seed which he likens to Lordship love or "Agape" love, as it relates to God and Jesus Christ. The root develops and is thought of as friendship love "Philia/Philos" love, a spiritual family love, or the body of Christ. The tree itself is kinship love, "Storge," the physical family, husband and wife. The fruit produces son-ship love, Eros, or...

In Luke 11:42-53, Jesus warned the Pharisees about six specific things that they were doing, and these warnings still apply to us today: 1) The Pharisees were tithing by giving a tenth of their spices and herbs to God, but they neglected justice and the love of God. Likewise, there are those among us today who believe that they are somehow earning points with God by tithing a tenth of their income. Because they do so, they believe that God then overlooks their failure to practice the more important things like justice and love. In this case, their tithing is nothing more than meaningless legalism. 2) The Pharisees loved the most important seats in the synagogues, and they loved to be publicly...