Marbaniang, Domenic

Aisha had her nose and ears cut off by Taliban sentence for running away from abusive in-laws TIME Cover Depicts the Disturbing Plight of Afghan Women - TIME . If forgiveness is not a divine virtue, then humanity is lost forever. Doesn't "to have a heart" refer to possessing virtues such as mercy, pity, sympathy, and compassion? Where ruthless and heartless legalism governs the lives of people, fear and terror are widespread and freedom disappears. But, where Justice is coupled with Mercy, there Truth becomes personal, Religion becomes personal, the world becomes personal; devoid of which, the world is the monster, Religion is the monster.

Written for a friend, January 2009 Factually speaking, there is nothing more relevant to the life and destiny of any people than the  Gospel of  Jesus Christ ; it delivers them from the pit of destruction and places them on the path of salvation originally charted out for them. Therefore, there is nothing more relevant than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, the problem of relevance revolves around the people’s lack of awareness of Christ as really relevant to them. Therefore, this concerns the problem of presentation or communication of the Gospel. The seed is not sown before the ground is prepared. The seed will only spring forth if the ground is suitable for it or relevant to it. Similarly, the seed of the Gospel can only find right ground in the hearts of those who are receptive to it. This receptivity is the condition of being able to find the Gospel relevant for the soul. Theologians refer to it as  preparatio evangelica or the preparation for the Gospel. That by the way was

SPEAKER - REV. R. VENKATA RAO PAULUS STATION - ALL INDIA RADIO, SHAHDOL DATE - GOOD FRIDAY, 2001 LANGUAGE - HINDI

1. They should have the calling and anointing for worship (Acts 6:3; 1Chronicles 25). Unless they have the calling, they cannot have dedication for service. 2. They should be obedient to the Choir leader (IChronicles 25:6) 3. They must be submissive to the Church authority (IChr.25:6) 4. They must be skillful in singing or in playing different instruments (25:7) 5. They must be instructed in the songs of the Lord (not attracted by worldly music) (25:7). 6. They must be dedicated to the service of the House of the Lord (25:6). When it comes to Church ministry, availability is important and signifies dedication (1Chr.9:33). 7. They should be full of joy and enthusiasm (1Chr.15:16). 8. They should have discipline in dress, posture, and order (2Chr.5:12) 9. They can be both male and female together (Ezra 2:65) 10. They must be filled with the Spirit of God (Eph. 5:18,19). 11. They should sing with grace in heart (Col.3:16).

Pure and Undefiled Religion Message by Domenic Marbaniang Itarsi Church, Sunday, August 29, 2010. Text: James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." Synopsis of Message The usual picture that one has of a religious and pious person is of some solitary sage standing aloof from the world and steeped in deep meditation. We have had people in history who lived lives like that thinking that spirituality is something that is related to the self alone. But, James tells us that true religion is something that relates and connects to people outside, here, to visit the widows and orphans in their trouble. Someone may say that I'm preaching a social gospel, but what does it matter if your spirituality is only limited to church going and other such religious activities . The Gospel is more than that. See why Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit : Luke 4:18 T

© Domenic Marbaniang, Explorations of Faith (2009 ), Chapter 1. Hebrews 11:1 - "Faith is...the evidence of things not seen." ------------------------------ The second part of this statement is parallel to the first. It modifies the first clause. Thus “substance” is “evidence” in the same manner that “things hoped for” are “unseen”. A significant truth of revelation here is that faith doesn’t need further evidence for its existence than its presence itself. Since it is the final ground of the things hoped for, it is also the evidence of the things hoped for. It is not based on anything else. It is the basis for everything that we know and experience. Attempts to base faith on rational or empirical proofs, i.e. on logic or experience, adds nothing to it. These may help to justify beliefs but cannot be the source of faith. One must not search for evidence for faith. Faith itself must be seen as the evidence for everything else. In fact, it is through the eyes of faith that meani

© Domenic Marbaniang, January 10, 2008. The Old Testament idea of religious nationalism is deeply based on God ’s covenant relationship with the people of Israel . The nation of Israel is seen as existing because of God’s covenant with Abraham and the people of Israel on Mount Sinai . Instances of religious intolerance find explanation in God’s relation to Israel as a husband’s to his wife. As infidelity in marriage is intolerable, so is infidelity in religion. The covenant relationship, however, required wilful commitment. The New Testament, however, sees this in a different light. Religion is more an individual issue than a social one. The religious individual world is separated from the political world. Jesus differentiated between the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God (Jn. 18: 36). The kingdom of this world is influenced by the god of this world, who is Satan (2 Cor. 4: 4). The world, therefore, is blind towards the gospel and is unable to recognize the lordship of

© Domenic Marbaniang, December 19, 2007. “All men by nature desire to know,” said Aristotle in his Metaphysics . Curiosity is instinctive to man. Anxiety, boredom, frustration, and bewilderment often accompany one’s failure to know what one wants to know. If there are shocks that upset the mind, then there are also shocks that excite the mind. Unexpected pleasures are as shocking as unexpected pains, though with opposite results. Therefore, when the intuition senses flashes of insight amidst the confusion and obstruction of the mind, the pleasure is sublime. That is why religion is so personal to believers while absurdity and vexation torture the skeptics. But belief cannot be recklessly entertained, for beliefs match their consequences; and if beliefs are false, the consequences can be disastrous. However, one can’t avoid belief, since it is the ground of all knowledge . For instance, in order to reason logically one needs to first believe in reason and logic ; similarly, in order

© Domenic Marbaniang, December 19, 2007. ‘The sense of the world must lie outside the world,’ said Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951). [1] The human problem is seeking sense of the world within the world or within one’s own self. But can man go beyond himself by himself? Can someone lift himself up by pulling up his bootstraps? The epistemic predicament of man has been just that in several cases: when he started from himself or nature he returned to himself or nature, to the extent that ‘man is the measure of all things’ was reflected in all his cogitations on man, God , and the world. A glance at monism, polytheism, materialism, and pantheism [2] will demonstrate all that man can do to limit ultimate meaning to this-worldly-reality. This has also been true of Christian theology several times. The rational entanglements of scholastic theology in attempts to rationalize revelation, and the empirical obsessions of liberal, process, existential, and charismatic theologies reflect the s

The study of major religions of the world does help us to become both a better human being and a better follower of our own faith. After studying briefly the various major religions of the world, I could realize the universality of this quest for meaning and the eternal, despite of the many scientific developments. The further development of religions is an indication that even though we have developed materially we still are in need to develop spiritually. The dissatisfaction inside and search for fulfillment is well reflected in the way the various religions are followed. The realization of this human condition spurs me even more on the search for the truth. Even as a Christian I realize that there are still many questions that are left unanswered. This, probably, helps me to be more spiritually oriented and thus be a better human being. It is amazing to find how great a role worship and belief play in a religion. Faith in a God is indispensable to life. Tolstoy said that it was fait

The Teachings of Islam The teachings of Islam resemble much the teachings of Judaism and Christianity. Authoritatively originating from Mohammed’s acclaimed revelations, they stood in stark contrast to the prevailing beliefs of the people of his own time. The people of Arabia were superstitious, polytheistic, and idolaters. Their lives were steeped in blind beliefs, immorality, blood-drenched wars, and purposeless living. In the midst of such chaos, Mohammed arose as a prophet of the One God to lead his people back to their God. The word “Islam” means “to surrender or to submit oneself for obedience to God." [1] A Muslim is one “who surrenders himself to obey God.” The name Islam is received from the Koran itself: “This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion AL-ISLAM.” [2] Mohammed tried to return his people back to God in accordance to and by the revelation, he received; they are recorded in the Holy Koran

The Four Goals of Life The four goals of life according to Hinduism are dharma (righteousness), artha (worldly prosperity or material well being), kama (enjoyment or pleasure), and moksha (liberation). [i] 1. Dharma :    Dharma is translated as righteousness, duty, law, and religion in English. In Hindu mythology , Rama, Yudhistra, and Harishchandra are all symbols of dharma – ones who symbolized the dignity and power of dharma through their lives. Dharma is a relative term – relative in the sense that it has sense only in its practical relation to each of the varnas and the ashramas . The edifice of law  dealing with the varnas (i.e., caste divisions) is called the varnasarama dharma . The varnasarama dharma , however, must be distinguished from the practice of the modern caste system. The Hindus came about with the varnasarama dharma theory for the purpose of benefit to the society. Dharma is social and relational. A cooperative division of labor in society is imperative fo

The subject of the origin of religions is not free from debate. Perspectives differ along presuppositions. Even the scientific versions are not beyond dispute. Novel discoveries are forcing us to re-examine these scientific theories of religion that were considered to be axiomatic. Much of the problem involved in the study of pre-literary religions arises because of the lack of sufficient historical information dating back to the time when religion began. What all we have that can give actual information dares from the literary period (c. 3000 BC) — the time when the great civilizations were rising and priesthood was being developed with the building of temples, idols, altars, and scriptures. Archaeological findings dating to the time before the literary period do give some idea, but the interpretations cannot be considered conclusive, since they lack absolute evidence – i.e., evidence that proves the interpretations as being beyond doubt. A stone ‘altar’ might not have really been a