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Introduction The early and medieval Christians have no theological or legal (in terms of biblical) perspectives in their perceptions of Islam, Prophet Muhammad and Muslims. Contrary to the Qur’an and Muslims who theologically, and legally perceived Christians and Christianity perhaps because of Christianity’s antecedents. Islam theologically presented a series of quandaries to early and medieval Christianity, such that some of them viewed Muslim's as pagans and some as heretics or schismatics. The Christian polemicists hardly used the term Islam or Muslim to identify their rivalry, instead, the preferences to terms such as ‘Saracens, Hagarenes, Arabs, Turks, Pagans, Moors or simply, those who follow the Law of Muhammad’ were prevalent. This writing aims to examine by typologies, the polemics of Christians that cover from the 8th century to the 15th century and discussing Christianity's arguments from the perspectives of:   St. John Damascene (675-753) Heresy and Heresia...

Table of Contents The Pawnee The Holy Corn Tirawa and the Stars Culture of the Stars The religious beliefs of the Pawnee Native American tribe stand out as practices that are primarily Astro-theological and astronomical. As such they use or interpret the laws or culture of the stars to determine when it was safe to plant corn. Accurate calculation of these laws or cultures means a better harvest for the people. They were possible because Tirawa was their causer, teacher, and sustainer.   Corn is an essential crop that is not only a means of subsistence living for the Pawnee, but it is also a symbolic mother through her, and with her, the sun goddess, Shakuru blesses the people. The Pawnee The Pawnee are a North American Indian tribe who originally lived in Nebraska and northern Kansas before finally settling in today’s Oklahoma. Linguistically, they belong to the Caddoan family and call themselves the Chatiks si chatiks , meaning “Men of Men.” As with many Native American I...

Table of Contents The Nez Percé People Catholic Teachings on Angels The Spirit, Weyekin in Nez Percé Tribe This writing is to briefly identify and recognize some cultural values of the Nez Percé tribe, especially their belief in Weyekin, often described as a personal guiding angel. The concept of a guiding angel provokes Catholic teachings about angels and comparison with the Nez Percé Weyekin, as the guiding spirit. But that will be a new piece of writing for the future. There can be a cross-cultural gleaning of ideas from nature, beliefs, and interactions.     The Nez Percé People The term Nez Percé, meaning “pierced nose” is the French coinage to describe the Nimiipuu tribe. The term Nimiipuu, meaning “we, the people” is a name the tribe used for themselves and their language, a part of the Sahaptin family. Early contacts with the Europeans, especially French explorers made the name Nez Percé popular because they unfairly adopted the name Nez Percé and u...

Table of Contents Comanche: Who are they? Different Bands of the Comanches Calumet: Peace-making and diplomatic object What will bring us peace? Many often ask. For the Comanche of Native America, their belief and adulation of calumet is a trait our world should consider and if necessary, adopt moving forward. In this piece, a brief description of the Comanche people will guide us through examining why calumet is important in their society and tradition. It must be stated that calumet is not a tradition solely practised by the Comanche. Like most Native American tribes, they consider not only the symbolism of the calumet, but also its efficacy in uniting tribes, and warring people, or even can be a safe passage for an enemy if carried as an olive branch. Comanche: Who are they? The name Comanche comes from the word ‘Ute’ which means “anyone who fights the other all the time.” The word can also mean “the enemy.” For the Comanches, they call themselves “Nermurnuh” meaning the "t...

Table of Contents Creation Hypotheses and Earth-Diver Myths Creation from nothing and the Dove’s Olive leaf in Judeo-Christian Traditions The mating of Earth Mother and Sky Father in A’shiwi Tribe’s Creation Account. Arapaho Creation Myth Diving into the Bottom of the Waters Conclusion The Arapaho are a Native American people. According to scholars, their presence was first noticed circa 3,000 years ago in the western region of the Great Lakes, along the Red River Valley, which could be now Manitoba in Canada, and Minnesota in the United States. They were popularly agrarians and spoke the Arapahoe language. My main interest is in their understanding of how things came into being. That is, how the Flat Pipe creates in the Arapaho tradition.   Many different creation hypotheses are closely related to the ‘earth-diver’ creation myth. Examining a few of these will help us better understand the Arapaho creation hypothesis. Creation Hypotheses and Earth-Diver Myths The creation hyp...

Table of Contents The Unborn Child Mary, the Virgin Mother Joseph, the Foster Father The Shepherds The Angels The Three Wise Men The Donkey King Herod The Soldiers The birth of Christ brings with it a collection of characters to life, recognition, light, fame, or infamy. His birth recognizes the contraries in the different characters on the stage of life. It is a binary of low and high, small and great, poor and rich, daft and smart, good and evil, and foolish and wise. These characters played active roles in his coming:  The unborn child, Mary, the Virgin Mother, Joseph, his Foster Father, The Shepherds, The Angels, The Three Wise Men, The Donkey, King Herod, and The Soldiers. How do these characters and their roles reflect who I am and my thinking this Christmas and every day of my life? The Unborn Child He is an unborn child in Mary’s womb. Before he dwelt among us, he was first in the womb of a woman called a virgin. Probably, Mary was faced with the problems most women f...

In Christ, Jesus is the reconciliation of the idea of God’s Chosen People and God’s Gentile Pagans. This is the general theme of this Second Sunday’s readings of Advent. Before Christ, there was this separation between the two. But it is not godly to suggest that between the chosen people and gentile pagans God had favourites. Of course, in different contexts, such as the Virgin Mary found favour in God’s eye does suggest that she was favoured by God among other women. In her case, she was prepared from time to play the mediatrix, and to be the mother of the ‘Son of God’. According to Saint Paul: For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified (Romans 8:29-30). We see such favour in the case of Abraham whom God called out from his home, from among his ...

Not everyone was thrilled at the news of the birth of Jesus. Many were worried about the news of his birth. King Herod was unhappy with the news that a new king was coming to take over what he considered his own. He was furious and premeditatively unleashed a massive execution of infants to ensure that the newborn King was killed. That was how he understood the birth of Jesus, a King coming to take his place. If Herod interpreted his birth as that, imagine what it meant to hundreds of women who lost their children at the hands of Herod. The angels shout 'Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favours!' How much peace did those women know when their children were brutally murdered by Herod? Ironically, the Wise men from the east considered the newborn child as king and brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. Unbeknownst to them, one of their gifts, myrrh would be used first in the burial of the children murdered by Herod. His coming brought p...

No time is too late for God to show his might, love, empathy, and care. He does care and wants to identify with us. Zechariah didn't see it coming. It wasn't a lottery, but he won the greatest affectionate draw in biblical history, following in the footsteps of Abraham. That's one of the implications of the nativity. The coming of 'God with us' opens every door. No time is too early for God. Humans exist in time and space, but God doesn't. 'Why me?' Mary asked. 'I'm but a virgin.' Doing the impossible in the eyes of mankind is a way God puts his stamp on the envelope of salvation history. He posted his good news of redemption through an innocent, childlike, simple girl. His Son is the Good News because he's salvation himself. Then the new and old met; the virgin and the barren embraced; the young and the elder entertained. Her greeting was simple but powerful. She said: 'Hello Elizabeth!' The child in her womb leaped for joy...

Every year we anticipate, expect, and approach the four weeks before Christmas with the wholeness of memory that is past, experience that is in the present, and a hope that looks to the future. Advent comes every year. Is it taken for granted? I do not think so. Like every other thing that happens once a year, it is expected, imagined, and welcomed. A typical example is a birthday. When your birthday comes, it is a day you remember and celebrate no matter how big or small the celebration is. It is momentous and symbolic. You cast your mind back to the birthdays of yesteryears, compare the previous with the now, and perhaps, imagine what the future birthday will be like. Advent stands for the coming of something or someone important. In Christian tradition, it is the expectation and preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. It is also a time for dedicated prayers and spiritual preparations for the celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas. In Western Christianity, it marks the ...

Reflecting on the life of Jesus and participating in it, Thomas a Kempis’ Imitation of Christ seems to be a perfect manual of practice. It instructs on what you should be and do to imitate Christ. Thomas spells them out in his book and Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr lived it out. The content of this reflection is: The Concept of the Imitation of Christ Musing One Musing Two Musing Three Acts 7:55-60 Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice,  covered their ears and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks  at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell to his knees and c...