Abstract
In this article, the writer looks first at Judaism, an official religion and studies its historical beginnings. The writer outlines its fundamental beliefs, rites and rituals and scriptures. The writer then takes a look at Rastafarianism, a non-official religion, and examines its beginnings, beliefs, rites and rituals and sacred writings. In addition, the main areas of the world where these religions were developed and are mainly practiced today are highlighted. In the end, the differences between these two religions are understood. The writer concludes that the parallels found between official and non-official religions prove that they have more in common than they appear.

From the Paper
"After a long journey, which crossed the Red Sea, the Jews arrived in the area of Mount Sinai. Yahweh appeared again to Moses, and was given the Ten Commandments, or laws that the Jews must obey in order for the covenant to be fulfilled. In return for their obedience and sole worship of Yahweh, the Jews were promised land and a blessing. This event shaped Judaism forever. The idea of covenant is central to the Jewish belief system, and the laws given in the Commandments are still observed throughout the world by Jews today. This brief history of the Jewish faith, from its beginnings with Abraham through to the Exodus with Moses is important to understand before studying the beliefs, rites and rituals and the holy text of the Jews.
"The Jews believe in one God, meaning that they are monotheistic. Jews throughout the world believe in strong obedience in God as a means for eternal blessing and salvation. Jews worship in their holy house, the Synagogue and study their holy scripture, the Torah. "

Tags:Jews, God, Torah, Marcus, Garvey

Abstract
This paper examines the historical background of the conflict in the Middle East between Palestine and Israel, and notes that while this conflict is promoted in the media as being a relatively ?new? phenomenon that it is actually another stage in an ongoing conflict between these two peoples. Factors that are addressed as contributing to this conflict are those of religion and politics. There is a strong slant towards the Palestinians being unjustly vilified in the media. There is a brief mention of Osama bin Laden and his involvement in the conflict.

From the Paper
"The recent hostilities between the Palestinian and the Israeli people is a negative note in what had seemed to be progress in ending the ongoing conflict between these separate people. Prior to the events of violence that were started once more in the spring of last year, the Palestinian and the Israeli people were apparently working towards a position of peace in the Middle East. However, this was not to be. The existing social tensions between the Palestinian and the Israeli people was too deeply rooted within their histories and cultures to provide a simple solution, which the negotiations that were prevalent at the time were attempting to achieve. "

Tags:accord, arab, arafat, bin, jerusalem, jew, laden, muslim, nations, osama, oslo, united

Abstract
This paper discusses the spread of Christianity in Ancient Rome. It outlines the origins of Christianity, including the response of the Jews and the impact on Jewish life in Jerusalem. It discusses the preaching of Jesus, and its continuation after his death by Paul. The paper goes on to discuss the response of Roman leaders to its growing popularity.

From the Paper
"Between the first and second centuries, Christianity gradually became the prevailing religion of Rome. The burden of how to respond to this new religion was placed upon the Roman government. Many kings or emperors of the Romans responded to Christianity in a different fashion. Over this large amount of time Christianity fought its way into the hearts and souls of the Roman people. "

Tags:Christ, Jew, Herod, Messiah, Temple, conversion

Abstract
The paper discusses the book which was written by a participant-observer of the culture surrounding a Jewish Senior Citizen Center in California. The paper shows that the novel depicts life in the Jewish ghetto for the men and women, most of them in their eighties or nineties.

From the Paper
"The Center is located near the beach in an urban California area. At one time it was in the heart of a thriving Jewish community, but the neighborhood has changed drastically, particularly in the last ten years before the research for the book was begun. Because of the age and physical condition of the members, as well as the downward trend in the socioeconomic status of the surrounding area, the Center is constantly threatened with extinction. This is one of the reasons that the author was so anxious to do this particular fieldwork."

Tags:senior, citizen, Jewish, anthropology, aging, culture

Abstract
In this article, the writer focuses on the interpretation of Abraham. The writer points out that although the figure of Abraham is central to both the Jewish and Christian traditions, the way in which Abraham's meaning is understood and applied is strikingly different. Specifically, the writer looks at the significance and meaning of Abraham in the two religions. The writer maintains that although the Abraham illustrated in the New Testament as opposed to the Abraham portrayed in the Hebrew Scriptures seems, at times, like two entirely different individuals, his significance to each faith is equally important. The writer concludes that it seems that when it comes to Abraham, Christian and Jews will just have to share.

From the Paper
"The influence and historical impact of Abraham is truly profound. The way in which the story of a simple herdsman from Ur has affected the lives of literally billions of people is remarkable to say the least. However, it would be naive to believe the legend of Abraham, once severed from its Semitic roots and subjected to the pluralistic forces of Greek philosophy and pagan mysticism, would remain consistent and unchanged . As Christianity exploded throughout Asia Minor and the Roman Empire in the first half of the first millennium, Abraham was interpreted in a new light. Different ethnicities and cultures began to 'Christianize' him, inevitably leading to a drastically different portrayal of the patriarch as compared to that of their Jewish counterparts .
"For Jews, Abraham is, through Isaac and Jacob, the founding patriarch of the Children of Israel."

Tags:faith, scripture, old, testament, new, testament

Abstract
This paper discusses the significance of gods in two different religions, specifically Hinduism and Judaism. In particular, the paper looks at how the Hindu gods and the Jewish God are extremely significant to members of those religions. The paper consists of sections on both the Hindu and Jewish significance of gods and points out common traits between the way the religions treat gods and the ways in which they differ in their practices. The paper uses MLA style footnotes but does not include a works cited page.

From the Paper
"Hindu religion emphasises a need for release from this world. One of these methods of release is the Bhakti Marga. The Bhakti Marga is a reaction of the common people to the other more intellectual paths to release. It focuses on devotion to the gods, and is a significant part of modern Hinduism. The Hindu gods are not all-powerful immortal beings, and originally the religion was philosophically based, with little emphasis placed on worship of these deities. Over time, worship of the Hindu gods became an avenue for the less intellectually inclined people of India to participate. In developing a justification of worship to the gods, Hinduism became a more practical religion, and this helped secure its own survival in a world where there were many religions to choose from."

Tags:torah, Bhakti, Marga, prayer

Abstract
This paper explains the importance of the exodus as a central and crucial part of world history, Christian theology and the geography of the ancient Near East. It discusses the significance of the exodus with references to the Biblical text, showing the Jewish people's relationship with YHWH, their fulfillment of the covenant. The paper also discusses the partial fulfillment of God's promise of land, progeny and a blessing.

From the Paper
"There are different routes supported by many scholars, but none on their theories can be supported with evidence.21 As previously mentioned the landscape of the Gulf area has been forever altered because of the construction of the Suez Canal. Scholars are left to wonder if this alteration to the land has forever buried or destroyed the evidence needed to solidify which route was the chosen path of the Exodus from Egypt. The geographical significance of the Exodus lies in the vast distances traveled by the Hebrews in their escape from the Egyptian slave masters. The historical, theological and geographical significance of the Exodus is now clear. The sheer magnitude of accomplishment of the Hebrews, led by Moses, is awe inspiring, and it is clearly the central event of the Old Testament."

Tags:Pharaoh, Nile, River, Jebel, Musa

Abstract
This paper focuses on the covenant between God and "His" people and shows how God's covenant has translated through time and adapted itself to the people. It identifies the similarities between Judaism and Christianity, but more so, it concedes that Christianity is the type that followed Judaism by using the Old and New Testament with a specific emphasis on Paul's writings. It shows how Paul's views on Christianity and Judaism share the common bonds of the faith and provide the early Christians with an action plan as well as an understanding that Christianity was part of the plan from the very beginning.

From the Paper
"The basis of Judaism is the old covenant, which has its origins at Mt. Sinai when Moses received the Ten Commandments and recorded the other statues concerning the sacrificial system. Paul compares the old covenant to Hagar, (a slave and concubine of Abraham) in Gal. 4:24-26, and admonishes the Galatians to "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bandage." (Gal. 5:1) Specifically, the "yoke of bondage" as mentioned in Gal. 5:1 refers to the old covenant and the practice of those who turned the laws into a burden and who felt that merely obeying the laws would save them."

Tags:god, covenant, sinai, abraham, christ

Abstract
This paper discusses Jewish ethics, setting out to prove that Jewish ethics often exceed the societal expectations of a morally just individual. The author goes on to illustrate, with examples, the extent to which Jewish ethics aims to promote social and communal harmony. The paper also compares Jewish ethics to secular ethics in order to demonstrate how Jewish ethics go above and beyond secular ethics to ensure that all individuals in society are treated with the utmost respect, dignity and compassion.

Outline:
Jewish and Secular Ethics
Social and Communal Harmony

From the Paper
"In proving that Jewish ethics go beyond secular ethics to promote an overall ethical lifestyle, it would be useful to explain the two ethical traditions in greater detail. The relationship between religion and ethics is about the relationship between revelation and reason (Ashby, 1997). Religion is based in some measure on the idea that God reveals insights about life and its true meaning. These insights are collected in texts (the Torah) and presented as "revelation" (Borowitz & Schwartz, 1999). Ethics, from a strictly humanistic secular perspective, is based on the tenets of reason: Anything that is not rationally verifiable cannot be considered justifiable; it is up to the individual's logic to decide whether something is right or wrong. From this perspective, ethical principles need not derive their authority from religious doctrine. Instead, these principles are upheld for their value in promoting independent and responsible individuals--people who are capable of making decisions that maximize their own well-being while respecting the well-being of others (Nielsen, 1973). In contrast, most subsequent Jewish ethical claims may be traced back to the religious texts, themes and teachings of the written Torah. The best known rabbinic text associated with ethics is the non-legal Mishnah tractate of Avot, popularly translated as "Ethics of the Fathers" (Lazarus & Szold, 1900). These written and oral traditions guide the Jewish individual to an ethically, just lifestyle. The ethical Jewish individual is obligated to follow such principles (not just individual actions) and will be held accountable for them after their death. Jewish individuals are obligated to show compassion to all walks of life that exceeds that of the societal norm, to study and also to not only respect every individual but to genuinely respect and take care of one's own body and mind in order to respect others holistically (Bulka, 2002)."

Tags:compassion, respect, insights

Abstract
This paper examines the story of Moses as told in the book of Exodus in the Old Testament. It looks at how Moses was the predominant Israelite in Exodus and the most influential and important of all Israelites at the time. It shows how through God's command, Moses persuaded the Israelites to follow God and in return, God would deliver them from slavery and a life of suffering. It tells the story of Moses from his birth into slavery in Egypt in the Palace of the Pharaoh until he received God's covenant on Mount Sinai.

From the Paper
"Moses used his miracles to convince the influential Israelites that God had indeed sent him, and with the success of making believers out of the elders, Moses attempted to do the same with the Pharaoh; however, when Moses ordered the Pharaoh to let his people go, the Pharaoh responded with ignorance claiming that he knew no such Lord and would not let the people go because they were his servants. Moses became dismayed and asks the Lord why he continues to let the Israelites suffer; God assured Moses that he will drive them out of the Pharaoh's land. Even when Aaron performed a miracle by turning his staff into a snake, the Pharaoh was not convinced."

Tags:commandments, covenant, god, y, israelites, jewish, sinai, yahweh