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8-90 Lecture notes on Lifestyles and Families in Religion:

 

The Holiness Movement-

      "..Holiness is a mater of both belief and lifestyle.  Its adherents believe in the possibility and the necessity of sanctification, a person is forgiven foe past sin and placed in a new relationship with God. By sanctification. that new relationship becomes a more and more evident in the persons life as the Holy Spirit continues to bring growth in grace. 

      Other peoples, however, are more likely to be made aware of someone's membership in a holiness church by their lifestyle, which reflects, in ways that vary somewhat from church to church, their understanding of how a sanctified life is to be lived.

     The use of alcohol, smoking Tobacco,and illicit drugs are universally banned among such groups. They are very careful in their language, avoiding not only obvious swearing and blasphemy, but most of the common slang used in our culture. Gambling, too, is universally forbidden to members of these groups.  Attending movie theaters, and sometimes, watching television, is not permitted.

      Dancing is avoided by most. Swimming, or swimming in mixed groups of males and females is sometimes disallowed.  Children often do not participate in physical education classes that violate their standards, such as those involving folk dancing, or those that require girls to wear slacks or shorts. 

      Some holiness students also ask to be excused from participating in regular classroom work that conflicts with their beliefs. Examples include the teaching of evolution in biology or botomy classes, sex education in health classes, or when movies are shone in class.

      It is especially important, according to the holiness teaching, that women follow a virtuous lifestyle. Womens role in the home and in the rearing of children makes them the primary transmitters of holiness. Frequently, women are discourage from cutting their hair, or at least from wearing it shoulder length. The use of cosmetics and the wearing of much jewelry is frowned upon. A simple wrist watch and a wedding band are often the only permissible jewelry.  High cut neck lines and sometimes sleeves below the elbow are the norm, and dresses or skirts are worn, rather than slacks or shorts. 

     As do sectarians generally, those "in search"  do tend to socialize with like minded people who reinforce their values and way of life, and who support them in their difference from the world.

     Marriages usually take place within the group, and children are encouraged to find their playmates among church members' children. Families anew often large, and divorce is strongly discouraged, if not forbidden. This part of socialization has the twofold affect of reinforcing the sense of community within the group, and maintaining the separation between those who are "of the world" and those who are not.

 

Amish (one part of the Holiness Movement)-

      The Amish went to maintain the culture of the late 17th century, in which the group began. They invest the smallest cultural detail with religious significance. There is absolutely no separation between religion and the rest of our own culture for the Amish.

     Every thing that is done is attributed to a divine origin and given divine sanction. Various divisions within the Amish community have lead over time to the old order, or most conservative Amish, plus several smaller and more liberal groups. 

     At the heart of Amish culture and life is their desire to remain a part from the world, to turn their backs on all "worldliness". This separatism is understood as a divine mandate, based on the declaration in I Peter 2:9 that the people of God are to be a holy, separated, and a "peculiar" People.

     It is for this reason that the Amish reject everything that the average american takes for granted: automobiles, motorcycles and bicycles; television, radios, and stereos; jewelry, including wristwatches and wedding rings; clothing fads and fashions; education beyond the 8th grade; social security and life insurance; electricity, indoor plumbing, and telephones, to name only some. Thus, the boundaries between the Amish and the rest of the culture are drawn as sharply as they can possible be. 

     Most of us probably recognize the Amish most quickly by their appearance. The men dress in very plain, black trousers, coats, and vests, with the typical low crowned and brood brimmed hat. Married men have beards and longish hair cut in a dutch bob. Young boys mirror the men in appearance, except that beards are not grown prior to marriage.

     The women and girls wear long dresses in plain, dark colors, with sparkling white aprons. Their hair, too, is worn in a typical Amish style, uncut and braided.  Indoors, their hair is kept covered by a white shear cotton cap, while outdoors it is covered by a heavier bonnet. Capes are also worn out of doors. Young girls mirror their mirrors in appearance.

     Neither men nor women wear gloves, sweaters, sunglasses, or jewelry, and women use no cosmetics. The underlying principal is that anything  that is worn must be functional and very modest.  Clothing styles have remained virtually unchanged for the past 250, since the Amish belief that changes in style are worldly and reflect vanity and pride. 

     The Amish community is based through and through on self help. If an Amish farmer is ill, he can count on his neighbors farming his land for him until he is again able to care for it, and he expects to do the same for them.

     Amish barn-raising, when nearly all the men and boys in the community gathered to rebuild a barn that has been destroyed, have become known nation wide. A substantial barn can be raised in one work day.

     The Amish won the right not to participate in the social security system. They feared that such government assistance would undermined their whole self-help attitude, which in turn grounds much of their community-centered value system.  Families take care of their own old infirm members, with assistance from others if need be. For similar reasons, they do not buy life insurance. 

     Most Amish families farm, and their whole way of life revolves around farming. As you may know, tractors are not used, with plows being pulled by horse. Other modern implements may be used, such as bailers, sprayers, and cultivators. As soon as they are  old enough, sons follow their fathers into the fields and begin learning the Amish way of Farming. Amish farm products are wildly recognized as among the best. Farming is a religious occasion for the Amish, and nothing less then the best is good enough.  In the peek seasons, women may help their husbands in the fields. 

     Most of the years, the lives of the women and their daughters, as soon as their old enough revolve around homemaking. Without electricity, chores such as sewing, food preparation, and cleaning take longer. The Amish also won the right not to send their children to school beyond the eight grade, and to educate them at home if no Amish schools were available. They are not against education; they believe that all that is really necessary can be learned by eight grade and that further education simply alienates the young from the Amish way of life."

     Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Baptists-

DO BAPTISTS APPROVE OF DIVORCE?

     "No, except for adultery. But there is no regulation among Baptist churches regarding divorce. Annual conventions of Baptists have often condemned the rising divorce rate in the United States. Each Baptist clergyman depends on his conscience in deciding whether or not to officiate at the marriage of divorced persons.  No church law prescribes what he must do."

 

DO BAPTISTS SANCTION BIRTH CONTROL?

      "No parish Baptist church and no ecclesiastical convention of Baptists has ever by resolution expressed approval or disapproval of birth control or planned parenthood. Even if it had, such resolution would not be binding on any Baptist. Most Baptists would resent and repudiate any such resolution as an unwarranted intrusion  into the private life of husband and wife."

    Religions In America, Article by William B. Lipphard

 

     "..Baptists are the most likely of any of the Protestants to be fundamentalist in their religious outlook. Some, though certainly not all, are somewhat more strict in their morality than is the custom prevailing in the culture. Individual congregations can and sometimes do set standards for their members, and these standards may include opposition to drinking alcohol, theater going, and dancing, as well as a code of modesty and moderation in women's dress. There is, however, a wide range, and standards such as these do not apply to all Baptists."

     "..Believing that what is taught in the schools should reflect and reinforce what is taught in church and home, many Baptists have been quite active in the christian school movement."

     Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

CATHOLIC-

DO CATHOLICS REGARD THE HUMAN BODY AND ACT OF LOVE AS SHAMEFUL?

      "The Church puts great stress on modesty - but precisely because it disapproves so strongly of any cheapening of sex, which it regards as a sacred trust.  How could a Church that teaches the Son of God became flesh and blood regard the human body as shameful?  Far from looking upon the act of love as unclean. the church teaches that it is the means by which men share in the work of the Creator."

 

IS IT TRUE THAT CATHOLICS CONSIDER ALL NON-CATHOLIC CHILDREN ILLEGITIMATE?

     "No. It is church law that the wedding of a Catholic must be performed in the presence of a priest and two witnesses. In the case of non-catholics, the church recognizes the sacredness and binding nature of all ceremonies which mark "the conjugal union of man and woman, contracted between two qualified persons, which obliges them to live together throughout life."

 

DOES THE CHURCH FORBID INTERMARRIAGE?

     "Yes. But while never approving of mixed marriages, the church for a serious reason will lift the ban provided:

     (1) the non-catholic party agrees in writing not to interfere with the religion of the Catholics;

     (2) both parties agree to have all children baptized and brought up as Catholics;

 and (3) there is moral certainty that the promises will be kept."

 

IS A CATHOLIC PERMITTED TO GET A DIVORCE?

     "Catholics believe that marriage, by it's nature, must be a contract "till death do us part." The Church does not recognize any absolute divorce between a couple who are validly married, where one or the other would be free to marry again.  For good reasons (infidelity, cruelty), the church may approve separation from bed and board. In such cases, a Catholic may be permitted to get a civil divorce in order to satisfy some legal requirement.  He may not, however, remarry during the lifetime of the other party.

       In cases where the Church has decreed nullity-where, according to church law, there was no marriage in the first place-a civil annulment may sometimes be necessary"

 

IN CASE WHERE DOCTORS AGREE THAT A MOTHER MAY DIE DURING CHILDBIRTH, MUST CATHOLIC DOCTORS SAVE THE CHILD RATHER THAN THE MOTHER?

     "No.  The Catholic doctor is bound to make every effort to save both. Both mother and child have an inherent right to life. Neither may be killed so the other can live. This is the answer the Church has give either to a grief-stricken young husband who needs the help of his wife in raising a family, or to a royal figure who feels a greater need for a son and heir than for his queen.  Directly to take the life of an innocent is never permitted-even as means to a good end.

     The question, incidentally, is largely academic.  Statistics show that maternity deaths in the nation's Catholic hospitals are as low as any.

 

WHY DOES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OPPOSE BIRTH CONTROL?

     "The Catholic position on birth control is based on the belief that: (1) artificial contraception is against the law of God; and (2) because it is immoral, it cannot be employed as a means, even to a good end.  

     Strictly speaking, it is artificial birth prevention (by means of contraceptive devices, chemicals, etc.) that the church condemns as intrinsically evil. The proper end of the sex is procreation. The physical expression of love in marriage is surely good but is subordinated to the ultimate reason for sexual relations. The pleasure connected with sex, like the satisfaction that goes with eating, is good, too, as long as it is taken for what it is-a means to an end.    

     Basing its objections on the natural law, the church says that deliberately to frustrate the proper end of the sex act is contrary to reason, is conduct unbecoming to rational beings, and, for this reason, is immoral. Birth prevention is regarded by Catholics as being evil in itself-circumstances cannot change it into something morally good or indifferent.   

     "Natural" birth control-the so-called rhythm theory-is permitted (as Pope Pius XII stated) in cases where undue  economic or medical hardship makes family limitation imperative. His holiness, along with condemning artificial birth control, urged that the nations make greater efforts to support the present population of the world by opening underpopulated areas to immigration, by increasing food production, by sharing technical advances with the have-not nations, and by developing more natural resources."

        ..Religions In America, Article By John Cogley

  

     "..Catholics are at least as well educated as other Americans are, and there are no significant differences in family income between Catholics and non-catholics. They are married, separated, divorced and widowed in approximately the same proportions as the population in general. No longer over represented in blue-collar jobs, they make significant contributions in every occupation field."

 

     "..A key feature of life for many Catholic youngsters is that they attend parochial schools sponsored by their church. Parochial schools provide education within the context of catholic values. Education about their faith and regular participation in mass are included in their school experience. So is learning about religions other than Catholicism. They may be taught by nuns or brothers (Catholic female and male full-time religious) or by lay teachers.  The Catholic Parochial school is a focal point of the parish and a center for it`s social life."

         Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Christian Identity-

     "..1). The Christian Identity movement is a coalition of groups with two primary justify and encourage racism and violence against all people other than whites of Europe decent.  Blacks and jews are especially targeted.

      2)They emphasize the importance of paramilitary training. Christian identity includes several different groups, some of which are Aryan Nation, the Crusade for Christ and Country, the White Patriot Party, Posse Comitatus, the Christian Patriots-Defense League, and several Ku Klux Klan spinoffs.   

     This movement believes that it is the birthright of white Europeans (whom they call Israelites) to be the wealthiest, most powerful nations on earth and to dominate other countries in ways, using whatever force is necessary to accomplish that goal. The basis is not the covenant that is so important in Judaism, in which the people of God are pledged to obedience and brought into being as a nation by God's choice, but race.

     The biblical interpretation that serves as a theological backing for their views is complex and idiosyncratic. When the Lost Tribes of Israel were carried off into captivity, they did not remain in Assyria. They escaped in several waves and moved westward, across Asia Minor, into Europe, the Scandinavian countries, and the British Isles (density, 1941). This identity of the Lost Tribes and modern-day British/German/Celtic countries, including the United States, is the key to their understanding of their role. 

     Jews are believed to be the offspring of Satan.  Blacks and other people of color are referred to as pre-Adamic, that is, a lower form of life than whites.  Pluralism of any sort is seen as a great evil.

    

     ..Identity followers claim that mankind has already entered the period of tribulation. They teach that it is of great importance to be ready to take up arms in God's cause. Being ready to fight for the coming Kingdom has distinctly racist and anti-Semitic overtones in Identity.  In Idaho, for example, pop-up targets bearing the Star of David symbol have been seized."

         Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Christian Scientists-

DO CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS CALL IN A DOCTOR AT CHILDBIRTH?

     "Yes. The Christian Scientist makes sure that someone who possesses the necessary skills is present at childbirth. The Christian Scientist does not presume to do what he is neither trained nor licensed to do."

 

WHAT IS THE ATTITUDE OF CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS TOWARD BIRTH CONTROL?

     "There is a whole chapter on marriage in Mrs. Eddy's book, in which this statement occurs: "Marriage is the legal and moral provision for generation among human kind." Mrs. Eddy explains that marriage will continue subject to moral regulations needed to secure increasing virtue until mankind attains the spiritual understanding which discerns the perfect spiritual creation, untainted by matter. In accordance with this teaching, married couples are free to follow their own judgement as to having children and as to the number they have."

      ..Religions In America, Article by George Channing

 

     "..Christian Scientists believe that all that god creates is good, since a good God could not create that which was not good. Therefore, the only real reality that the evils of sin, sickness, and death have is that which we give them, because our erring human thought attributes to them a reality they do not have. Christian Scientists rely on the power of god for healing rather than on medical treatment, although the church does not pressure those whose lesser faith leads them to see a physician.  Such people are not dismissed from the Church but are simply encouraged to strengthen their faith in God's healing mercy.

      Christian Science practitioners are specially trained by the church to assist those who seek Christian Science healing through prayer and counseling, and Christian Science in-patient facilities provide supportive care to the seriously ill while treatment is performed. Healing by prayer, Medication, and spiritual counseling is not thought to be miraculous, but divinely natural, an integral part of the harmonious order of the created world as God means it to be."

       Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Congregationalist-

DO CONGREGATIONALISTS FAVOR BIRTH CONTROL?

     "On this matter they have made no official statement.  They believe that marriage is a holy estate, whether or not it results in the birth of children. In general, however, they do believe that the use by man of the brains which God has given him to invent means of preventing conception is not contrary to God's will."

 

WHAT IS THE CONGREGATIONAL ATTITUDE TOWARD DIVORCE?

     "Though the Congregational Christian Churches have never made a joint official pronouncement on divorce, it is safe to say that they regard the current divorce habits of the American people as a scandal. They are endeavoring to meet this disorder by giving youth better training in the Christian Understanding of marriage. They do not oppose legal divorce after a couple entered into the tragedy of spiritual divorce."

 

WHAT IS THE PLACE OF WOMAN IN CONGREGATIONALISM?

     "Here the Congregational view differs from many others. So far as ecclesiastical status is concerned, no distinction is made between men and woman. In a situation in which an ordained woman can give better service than an ordained man, the Congregational Churches give ordination to a woman of the proper spiritual qualifications. Only about four per cent of the Congregational Christian ministers are women and of these less than one-third are pastors of churches."

       ..Religions in America, Article by Douglas Horton

 

Disciples of Christ-

WHAT ARE THE DISCIPLES' VIEWS ON DIVORCE?

     "There is no central church authority on this subject.

In practice, ministers and congregation of the Disciples of Christ differ in their attitudes to divorce. Some believe that the questions propounded to Jesus by the Pharisees on this subject were "trick" questions concerned with then-current Jewish law, and that what Jesus answered must be viewed in that light. Some ministers and congregations take the Master's answer as binding to this day, and therefore oppose and remarriage of divorced persons. Others are willing to consent to the remarriage of any innocent party to a divorce obtained on the ground of adultery. Still others, perhaps a majority, believe that divorce has become a legal function of the state, and do not hesitate to remarry any person to whom the civil government has accorded the right of remarriage."

 

WHAT ARE THE DISCIPLES' VIEWS ON BIRTH CONTROL?

     "The old Disciple rule is that where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where they are silent, we are silent.

     There can be no doubt, however, that a majority of Disciple ministers believe that birth control is justifiable under certain circumstances. The one sure test of this attitude rests in the fact that no disciple minister can be muzzled, either by the Brotherhood at large or by his own congregation. By the terms of his ordination, each considers himself empowered, as were the prophets of old, to denounce whatever he considers amiss in the life of his people-and silence seems to give at least a modified consent. In general, Disciples are content to leave matters such as birth control to the individual consciences of husband and wife."

       ..Religions in America, Article by James E. Craig

 

Episcopalians-

DOES THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH PERMIT DIVORCE?

     "In America, the "canons" (or church law) do not recognize divorce, but do provide a number of grounds for annulment-the ecclesiastical declaration that no marriage has in fact existed because of some factor that made such impossible. A bishop may permit a divorced person to remarry if certain conditions are met. He may also admit to Holy Communion persons who have been divorced and remarried -if they can prove that they are in good faith, are struggling to live a Christian life, and have demonstrated their stability and repentance."

 

WHAT IS THE EPISCOPALIAN ATTITUDE TOWARD BIRTH CONTROL?

     "The Anglican Communion has spoken, through its conference of bishops at Lambeth, on birth control, saying that when practiced without selfish motives, it is permissible. There has been much discussion of the "moral theology" of contraception, but no more clearly defined has yet been taken."                       

     ..Religions in America, Article by W. Norman Pittenger

 

     "..In their lifestyles, Episcopalians are culture affirming. Historically, the Episcopal Church has been the church of the upper classes, and to some extent, it still is.  Along with the Presbyterians, Episcopalians rank at the top of such socioeconomic status indicators as education and income. They are often leaders in their communities.  They are among the most liberal of Protestants both theologically and morally, and they are among the strongest advocates of civil liberties for all people."

       Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Faith Assembly-

     "..The new church existed for some time without attracting much public attention. Then a public health nurse noticed that the infant mortality rates and the death rate for women in childbirth were much higher for Faith Assembly members than the population at large. The investigation that followed thrust the Faith Assembly into the public eye. 

     Freeman taught the complete avoidance of all conventional medical care, and reliance upon prayer to Jesus for all healing. He told those who listened to him that if they die, or if their children died, it was because their faith was deficient. One of Freeman's own daughters and her husband left the group after their baby died.

       Freeman himself died in 1986, and leadership passed to the remaining son-in-law. Under his leadership, the group's views moderated somewhat. While they continued to teach and practice reliance on religious healing, they became less opposed to medical care, especially for children. In part, this came about because the deaths of children led to several court cases and a number of convictions on charges raging from child neglect or abuse to manslaughter."

      Religions in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

GREEK ORTHODOX-

DO THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES ALLOW MIXED MARRIAGES?

     "Marriages within the faith are preferred and encouraged, but mixed marriages are permitted-if the non-Orthodox has been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity (even in another Christian denomination), and if he or she agrees to baptize the children of the marriage in the Orthodox church.

     An Orthodox who marries outside the church is denied participation in the sacraments, and is not allowed to be a sponsor at an Orthodox wedding or baptism."

 

DO THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES PERMIT DIVORCE?

     "Though Orthodox churches believe in the essential indissolubility of marriage, divorce is permitted as a last resort, in certain cases, and after all attempts for reconciliation by the clergy have failed.

     Typical are the canons of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which allows divorce only for the following reasons: adultery, fornication or immoral acts; treacherous actions and threats against life by either of the spouses; abortion without the consent of the husband; impotence, existing prior to marriage and continuing for two years; abandonment of a wife or husband for more than two years; apostasy and the falling into heresy; or incurable insanity, lasting four years after marriage.

     Remarriage of the innocent party is permitted, though not more than three marriages are allowed.  In addition to the civil divorce of the land, a church separation, granted by an ecclesiastical court of an archdiocese, is required."

 

WHAT IS THE VIEW OF ORTHODOXY ON BIRTH CONTROL? 

     "Though birth control is not mentioned in the binding seven ecumenical councils, it has been repeatedly disapproved of by Orthodox synodical and patriarchal pronouncements and encyclicals."  

  ..Religions in America, Article by Arthur Douropulos

 

Hare Krishna-

     "..Four Rules of conduct must be followed to the letter. No meat, fish, or eggs may be eaten. No intoxicating drinks or plants may be used. There must be no gambling nor illicit sexual activity.

     Krishna devotees are an unusual site on the street corners of many major cities and in airports.  They often dress in saffron or orange robes, and the men have shaven heads topped by a ponytail. They often play tambourines and finger cymbals. 

     While those who live in the Temples follow a rigid schedule of devotion and work, there are also opportunities for those who cannot or do not wish to enter this fully into the community. Temples are always open to visitors, who are welcomed into a world that may make them feel as if they have been magically transported to India itself."

         Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Jehovah's Witnesses-

WHAT IS THE ATTITUDE TOWARD DIVORCE?

     "Divorces may be obtained only on the ground of martial unfaithfulness.  Adultery is a violation of God's law.  If a Witness obtains a divorce on other grounds and remarries, he must be expelled from the congregation."

 

WHAT IS THE ATTITUDE TOWARD BIRTH CONTROL?

     "The purpose of marriage is the rearing of children.  Jehovah's Witnesses regard birth control as an entirely personal matter."

     ..Religions in America, Article by Milton G. Henschel

 

     "..The Witnesses believe that the time is near at hand when God will severely punish the wicked. God is presently gathering together the righteous ones, in order to spare them from the disaster that will take place in the universal battle of Armageddon described in the book of Revelations in the Christian New Testament.

     Those who are gathered out are called to separate themselves from the world and form a theocracy, a community under the rule of God. To maintain this separation insofar as possible, the Witness avoid involvement in the political process by neither voting nor running for public office.  They do not serve in the military. Technically, they are not pacifists; they claim that they would fight in God's war.

       They do not salute the flag nor sing the national anthem. They believe that to do so is to worship the nation and make and idol of it.  Oaths of any sort are forbidden.  In an extension of the Christian Old Testament prohibition against drinking blood, they do not accept blood transfusions.   

     Jehovah's Witness children do not participate in school celebrations of holidays such as Easter and Christmas, nor do their families mark these holidays, believing that non-Christian elements have overwhelmed their biblical message.  Nor do they celebrate birthdays.  To do so is believed to focus too much honor on the person whose birthday is being celebrated and take honor away from God."

         Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Jews-

DOES JUDAISM OPPOSE INTERMARRIAGE?

     "Practically all religions are opposed to marriage outside their faith. Religious Jews oppose intermarriage for the same reasons. When husband and wife disagree on an issue as basic as their religious creed, the prospect for a lasting and harmonious relationship may be harmed."

 

IS IT TRUE THAT IN JUDAISM THE HOME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SYNAGOGUE?

     "Yes.  Many times in history, Jews have been forbidden to worship publicly: synagogues and temples have been closed by law.  Yet Jewish religious life has continued intact. The center of Judaism resides in the family and the home. Jews regard the home as a fitting place of worship-just as they regard marriage as a three-way partnership between husband, wife, and God.

       Our religion is essentially a family religion.  The mother, lighting the Sabbath candles; the father, blessing his children at the table; the many happy rituals that surround holidays, the scroll (mezuzah) on the doorpost which signifies that God is in the Home-each of these is an integral part of Jewish life.

     The Catholic weekly America has said that "the disproportionately small number of Jewish children requiring public care is a tribute to Jewish family life."  Juvenile delinquency is rare among Jews and alcoholism almost unheard of. Though divorce is permitted by the laws of the Talmud, the divorce rate is far below community average. (Divorce is permitted when love and harmony have ceased to exist between a man and a woman, and their marriage has become empty and meaningless.)"

     ..Religions in America, Article by Morris N. Kertzer

   

     "..Of all the religious preference groups, Jews lead the nation in both education and income. Education has long been seen as a way to acceptance, and the Jewish community has made use of it. The second outstanding feature of the American Jewish population is that, across the board, Jews are more tolerant and broad-minded about moral issues, civil liberties. and nonbelievers than are their Christian neighbors.

       Yet another general feature than can be mentioned is the heavy involvement of Jews in social assistance programs and in occupations such as social work and professional psychology and psychiatry. The terms of the covenant and responsibility for one's neighbor translate into vocational terms, for both religious and nonreligious Jews. 

     ..As is the case with every religion, birth is the first step of the life cycle to be ritually marked. After the birth of a girl, it is the father's responsibility and honor to read the Torah at the next synagogue service. He recites the usual benedictions before and after reading and officially announces the child's name. 

     For a boy, it is more complicated; circumcisions a major jewish ceremony. Although other peoples circumcise infant boys, Judaism understands this as a visible sign of the covenant between Abraham and God, made again in each generation. It takes place on the eighth day after birth. The ceremony involves both religious and surgical elements and may be preformed by a physician or by a specially marked Mohel who has both the necessary surgical and religious knowledge. A festive meal follows. A second birth-related ceremony follows on the thirty-first day following birth. 

     In the book of Exodus, it is stated that every first-born male must be redeemed. No explanation of the reason is given. In practice the father goes to a stand-in for the priest (the priesthood having been discontinued after the destruction of the Temple) and pays five dollars, which is them given to charity. Again, a festive meal completes the celebration.    

     The next life cycle rite in the life of a Jewish Youngster is the Bar Mitzvah. Some Jews, although not all, celebrate the "Bat Mitzvah" for girls also. The words mean "son or daughter of the commandment" and mark the coming of age of the child.  The child is them considered to be an adult, responsible for observing the commandments and able to fill adult roles in the congregation. 

     This ceremony, the highlight of Jewish life for many, is preceded by intensive study. The young person is called up to read Torah before the congregation for the first time. This is a great honor. The young person may also make a speech in which parents and teachers are thanked. Especially in the United States, this Ceremony has grown in importance and is frequently the occasion for a lavish party with family and friends to recognize the person's new status. 

     In some congregations that practice the Bat Mitzval,(for girls) the ceremony parallels that for boys, while other congregations have developed distinctive practices for it.

     Some Reform Jewish congregations have as additional ceremony of confirmation at about age fifteen or sixteen. Although originally intended as a replacement for the Bar or Bat Mitzvah, it is now a separate ceremony for Reform and Conservation to live as Jews in the household of Israel.

     Marriage is the next life cycle ritual in the lives of most Jewish Women and men. Judaism places a very high value on marriage and family, and celebrating the beginning of a new family unit in marriage is very important. The Ketubah or marriage contract that spells out the responsibilities of both spouses is signed during ceremony.It is a legally valid document as well as a religious one. 

     The wedding ceremony itself is complex and reflects  the sacred nature of marriage and family life. A celebration with family and friends follows. Although divorce is permitted by Jewish law, it is strongly discouraged. In practice, actual divorce statistics among Reform Jews differ little from those among their Gentile neighbors; for Conservative and especially Orthodox Jews, the rate is somewhat lower. To be recognized as valid among traditional Jews, there must be a religious divorce as well as a legal one.

      Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Lutherans-

WHAT IS THE LUTHERAN POSITION ON DIVORCE?

     "God intends marriage to be lifelong. He established the family as the training school in which his children may learn to love and serve one another. But human sinfulness crops up in the marriage relation just as everywhere else. Some marriages become so badly eroded by infidelity and selfishness that to declare them no longer existing is less evil than to try to keep them going.

      Following the New Testament, Lutherans agree that adultery and desertion may be grounds for divorce. Christians should not legislate general principles to apply to all cases. Every case must be considered individually.  

     In recent years within Lutheran churches, there has been considerable re-study of the problem of divorce.  The main emphasis ought to be positive, on the education of people in the Christian principle of lifelong fidelity, rather than on means of dissolving the marriage relation."

 

DO LUTHERANS BELIEVE IN BIRTH CONTROL? 

     "There have not been many statements by Lutheran churches on this question, but there is no general objection to the well-known fact that countless Lutherans practice birth control. The United Lutheran Church in America in 1956 adopted a statement which included these sentences:

     Husband and wife are called to exercise the power of procreation responsible before God. This implies planning their parenthood in accordance with their ability to provide for their children and faithfully nurture them in fullness of Christian faith and life.  The health and welfare of the mother-wife should be a major concern in such decisions. Irresponsible conception of children up to the limit of biological capacity and selfish limitation of the number of children are equally detrimental. Choice as to means of conception control should be made upon professional medical advice.

     On this and other ethical questions, the Lutheran Church has little tendency to legislate. The church is not a law-making society but an agency through which the Holy Spirit shapes and directs Christian lives in their growth toward holiness."

       Religions in America, Article by G. Elson Ruff

    

     "..They emphasize temperance in all things, observance of the Lord's day, and decent living. Their way of life is understood as the free and willing response of a grateful heart to God's grace. With Lutherans, the accent is always on free and grateful response more than on obedience. Good works of any sort are not expected as an outward sign of inward faith. True faith inevitably leads to works of love and charity towards one's neighbor."

         Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Methodists-

WHAT IS THE METHODISTS POSITION ON BIRTH CONTROL?

     "The general Conference of the Methodist Church has stated: "Parenthood is a christian privilege and responsibility; and the highest ideals of the Christian family can be achieved when children are wanted, anticipated and welcomed into the home. We believe that planned parenthood practiced in Christian conscience fulfills rather than violates the will of God."

     The justifying motive must be unselfish. The children we bring into the world have a right to a wholesome home life. Toward that end, the spacing of children, the health of parents and adequate economic support are factors to be considered. The Discipline recommends courses of instruction for young married couples on "life adjustments and personality problems"

 

WHAT IS THE METHODIST POSITION ON DIVORCE?

     "Methodists deplore the prevalence of divorce and seek to preserve the marriage bond by every means humanly possible. However, they recognize that situations do arise where sanctity of individual personality requires the severance of a martial relationship. They hold that those who have been wronged have the right to a second chance.

     No methodists minister should solemnize the marriage of divorced person whose wife or husband is living and unmarried: but this rule shall not apply

      (1) to the innocent person, when it is clearly established by competent testimony that the true cause for divorce was adultery or other vicious conditions which, though cruelty or physical peril, invalidated the marriage vow:

     nor (2) to divorce persons who seek to be reunited in marriage."

      ..Religions in America, Article by Ralph W. Sockman

    

     "..Their members' lifestyles differ little from those of others in their communities. Some, such as those in the Wesleyan tradition, are somewhat more strict than the prevailing culture. They often disallow dancing, going to movies, and the use of alcohol or tobacco, and require modest dress and long hair for female members.

     A prohibition against the use of alcoholic beverages was a key point of the Methodist lifestyle for decades.  For many Methodists, it still is. Others regard it as a matter of personal choice and conscience. Officially, abstinence from alcohol is no longer required of either clergy or laity."

         Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Moonies-

     "..Jesus was not able to complete his mission and bring about salvation that was both physical and spiritual, however. According to the Christian bible, Jesus did not marry, and thus could not provide the foundation for the beginning of a new and perfect humanity. Another messiah was needed.

      This messiah must be male, to reflect God's masculine nature, must marry a wife who reflects God's feminine nature, and together they will produce the children that will be the beginning of the perfected race. The key role of perfection, sinless families in bringing about the restored world order is the reason for the mass weddings for which Moon became Famous."

         Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Mormons (L.D.S.)-

WHAT IS THE MORMON CONCEPT OF MARRIAGE?

     "The Mormon believes that there can be no heaven for him without his family, and if he fully conforms to the teachings of his church, he enters into a marriage covenant that lasts not only until "death do us part" but continues "for time and eternity."  "Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord" (I Corinthians 11:11).

      Such Marriages are performed in Mormon temples.  Marriages performed outside of temples, by civil ceremony alone, are not believed to be binding beyond death unless they are later solemnized for "eternity."

      Marriages with non-Mormons are contrary to contrary to counsel, and are not solemnized in temples."

 

DO MORMONS PERMIT DIVORCE?

     "Divorce is deplored and discouraged. "Temple divorces" (as distinguished from civil divorces) may be granted only by the president of the Church for serious cause, including infidelity."

 

WHAT IS THE MORMON ATTITUDE ON BIRTH CONTROL?

     "The church has always advocated the rearing of large families, and birth control, as commonly understood, is contrary to its teachings."

      Religions in America, Article by Richard L. Evans

 

     "..They participate wholeheartedly in the programs of their church. Honest and truthfulness, chastity, benevolence, and doing good to all are affirmed. The body is given by God and is sacred, and taking good care of it is a religious act. This is the reason behind the Word of Wisdom, a health code that Mormons teach, which was revealed to Smith in 1833. The code forbids smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, drinking beverages with caffeine in them (such as coffee, tea, and many cola-type soft drinks) and taking drugs other than those prescribed by a physician for medical reasons. 

     Meat is to be used sparingly, with the emphasis in the diet on grains, fruits, and vegetables. Physical exercise is encouraged, as is good grooming. Latter-Day Saints teach that following the Word of Wisdom will lead to great Wisdom and knowledge, as well as to good health that includes moral, emotional, and spiritual dimensions along with the physical (Doctrine and Covenants 89:19-20). 

     As many of you probably know, the family is absolutely central in Latter-Day Saints' thought and practice. It is the basic unit of church and society and is held to be sacred. Local churches provide many family-oriented activities throughout the week, of both religious and a nonreligious nature.

       In addition, Mormon Families have Family Home Evening once a week, using materials provided by their church. This is a time for families to be together for study and for worship and discussion of religious matters.  They also simply enjoy being together and benefit from the interaction of parents and children. 

     Church members called home teachers visit members' homes frequently to bring message of hope and goodwill.  They are the representative of the church leaders in helping the family solve problems.  

     Marriage is valued very highly by the Latter-Day Saints. Everyone is enjoined to marry, and the requirement of celibacy is specially forbidden (Doctrine and Covenants 49:15). Adultery is grounds for dismissal from the Church, and premarital sex calls for severe repentance.

       Children, likewise, are valued, and however great a man's achievements, his highest goal and achievement is fathering children (Talmadge, 1982, 443). The family is presided over by the husband and father, who has earned at least one of the two degrees of priesthood. The family unit functions as a small church in and of itself.

       Traditional roles for men, women, and children are encouraged. The husband is the provider and leader for his family. His wife is to be the primary care giver in the home, and to be the emotional heart of the family.  Children are expected to contribute as much as they possibly can in terms of help with chores and participating in family home evening programs.

       Through a special sealing ceremony that takes place in temples, husband and wife, along with their children, may be joined for eternity.   

     The Mormon emphasis on the family involves the extended family through many generations, as well as the nuclear family of those presently living. The Church sponsors  one of the largest genealogical libraries in the world and assists millions of people with research into their family backgrounds. 

       Faithful Mormons engage in Temple work on behalf of ancestors who died without being able to follow the ordinances for themselves. This is believed to be a great benefit to those who have died and confers a blessing on the living as well. 

     Latter-Day Saints emphasize education for both men and women. Mormon children attend public and private schools but also participate in church educational programs that emphasize religious education. Home study courses are available for those in isolated areas.

       A basic goal of the church is that every member will be able to read, write, do basic arithmetic, and study the scriptures and other uplifting books (Pressbook, 7).  

     Self-sufficiency is another trait encouraged by the Latter-Day Saints. A detailed program of personal and family preparedness for self-sufficiency  is spelled out, including education, career development, financial management, and home production and storage of necessities (sewing  gardening, food preservation, and the manufacture of some household items). These preparations will help individual families through hard times.

       The emphasis on self-sufficiency is balanced by readiness to help others who cannot help themselves. The church maintains storehouses, administered by local bishops, that are used to help those who have exhausted their own resources. The church also sponsors an employment clearinghouse, social services, and other assistance programs that weave together into and amazingly comprehensive program of assistance for both members and nonmembers.

      Mormons who receive assistance through these services are expected to work to help earn what they need and to help others who are in need. "There is," as the Pressbook states, "no dole. Instead, independence and freedom from idleness and its attendant evils are encouraged" (p. 10)."

        Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

  

New Age Movement-

     "..The New Age philosophy is monistic (underneath the apparent diversity of life, there is but one reality). The same universal energy aminates everything that is. This energy is psychic or mental in nature rather than physical.

     The most important religious act is getting in touch with life force through ritual and meditation. New age believers seek communion with sacred reality.

     ..Most followers of the New age believe in some form of the Eastern teachings of Karma and reincarnation. Karma is a moral law of cause and effect; our actions inevitably lead to certain reactions. Karma can be distinguished from reward and punishment. There is no outside agency that rewards or punishes. There are simply the naturally occurring results of our actions. There results occur both in this lifetime and in future lives. 

     Reincarnation means that we have more than one earthly life to live. Our situation in a particular life is determined by the karmic carry-overs from the preceding lifetime. How we live in the present helps to determine the future.

     Cooperation is more important than competition, and much more to be desired.

     Research into parapsychology (extrasensory perception studies and near-death experiences, for example) is also part of the New age movement. Interest is psychic development has lead to the production and distribution of audiotapes, videotapes, and tapes with subliminal (below the level of conscious awareness) messages designed to assist in self-development.  

     Nontraditional health care practitioners treat many Mew Age followers who are disillusioned by traditional medicine and want therapies that are more holistic (attending to the entire person - not just the disease, and are usually less invasive)."

      Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Presbyterian-

DO PRESBYTERIANS PERMIT DIVORCED PERSONS TO REMARRY?

     "Yes, but with important safeguards. No Presbyterian minister may remarry persons who have been divorced less than twelve months. Divorce is permitted to the innocent party on Scriptural grounds (adultery) and such innocent party may remarry. It is also permitted in case of "such willful desertion as can in no way be remedied by the Church or civil magistrates." 

     In other circumstances if the Presbyterian minister is in doubt as to what ought to be done to avoid injustice, he can consult his presbyterians committee on Divorce.   

     Presbyterian churches are seeking to curb this widespread evil by a more careful examination of persons presenting them selves for marriage and by organizing groups of young people in "Preparation for Marriage" classes."

 

DOES THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FORBID BIRTH CONTROL?    

     "The Presbyterian Church does not legislate for its people on personal moral issues. Nothing in the Church's teaching, however, can be construed as forbidding an intelligent, conservative and unselfish employment of birth control. The commandment of God to our first parents, "Be fruitful and multiply," was given at a time when the world was underpopulated.  Presbyterians do not believe this precept is relevant today when overpopulation in many areas produces hunger and famine."

      ..Religions in America, Article by John S. Bonnell

  

     "..The belief that God is sovereign over all of life propels Presbyterians directly into the world as they find it, with the mandate to make it better.   

     Calvinistic teachings about the value of hard work and frugality made Calvinism a useful element in the life of the colonies and the new nation. Presbyterians are to this day found in the ranks of the more highly educated and economically better off. They count among their members a disproportionate number of society's leaders, whether in government, business and industry, or education."

       Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Protestant-

HOW DO PROTESTANTS VIEW DIVORCE?

     "All Protestants recognize divorce as a lamentable failure of marriage-as God has intended it and as those joined in marriage have pledged themselves to maintain it.  Beyond that, Protestants differ as to when and under what circumstances divorce is justified."

 

HOW DO PROTESTANTS VIEW BIRTH CONTROL?

     "Virtually all Protestants believe that sexual union is a divine provision, not only for the propagation of children but also for the deepening and sanctifying of the spiritual union of husband and wife. An increasing number of protestants favor an intelligent and consecrated use of means to assure the number and spacing of children which will best further the divine intention for the family ("planned parenthood")."

     Religions in America, Article by Henry P. Van Dusen

 

Quaker-

HOW DO QUAKERS GET MARRIED?

     "Friends practice a simple wedding ceremony without music or ritual, held in connection with a Meeting for Worship. The bride and the groom "marry each other" in the presence of God. Their families and their friends are witnesses. Permission is obtained from the meeting to secure "oversight" of the marriage, called "passing meeting." In Pennsylvania and other states, a special marriage-license form certifies to a legal marriage. This form is signed by witnesses, rather than an ordained minister or official.

     After the legal license has been obtained, the couple go to the meeting house on the appointed wedding day. The bride and groom repeat their vows to each other. The certificate of marriage is read publicly. The certificate is signed by all who witnessed the marriage. The whole ceremony is in the form of a meeting for Worship. Prayer may be offered, poetry recited, or a message given suitable to the occasion. Silent waiting bathes all those present.  After the meeting, there is a reception for the newly married couple.

 

DO QUAKERS PERMIT DIVORCE?   

     "Divorce is contrary to the "Disciple of Friends."  Marriages are promises to love, cherish, and obey until death. Since divorce is legal, however, there are divorces within the Society-but not nearly as frequently as would be expected statistically.   

     Quakers have committees on family relationships and offer marriage counsel to deal constructively with family problems and prevent family breakdown. Marriage study, education, advice, and friendly interest apply to the entire membership-not only to those in martial difficulties."

 

WHAT IS THE QUAKER POSITION ON BIRTH CONTROL?

     "This is a matter for the individual conscience.  Friends, like other Christians, have always regarded marriage as a continuing religious sacrament, not merely a civil contract. Education for marriage and parenthood has long been a concern of Quakers, particularly as part of their stand for the equality of women and the religious basis of all family relationships."

     ..Religions in America, Article By Richmond P. Miller

 

     "..The idea of a spark of the divine in every person has two very important consequences. It meant that the individual's conscience was absolutely sacred and could not be violated. The usual religious liberty in William Penn's colony of Pennsylvania was a direct result of Penn's conviction that every person had an absolute right to worship God according to the leading of the Inner Light.  It also meant that all persons, without exception, were equal.  

     These beliefs led to some of the distinctive attributes of the society. The sanctivity of individual conscience means, for example, that people cannot be drafted into the military against their will. The Society of Friends is among the best known of the historic peace churches. The advocate conscientious objection from military service and pursuit of peace in all of life.

     ..Among strict Quakers, even titles such as Mr. and Mrs. are not used.

     The American Friends Service Committee (often known by its initials, AFSC) has an outstanding record of relief work in both wartime and peace. Wherever there is a disaster, at home or abroad, AFSC volunteers can usually be found helping people pick up the pieces and begin to put shattered lives back together again.

     The friends have never actively sought converts. They are content to be a quiet presence in the culture, seeking worship and live in their own way, free from interference, and granting the same privileges to others.

       Although the "thee" and "thou" of plain speech and simplicity of traditional Quaker dress have largely disappeared as the Friends moved closer to mainline religion, they remain distinctive in their emphasis on the Inner Light and for their thoroughgoing pacifism (advocacy of peace).

         Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

    

Satanism-

     "..The church of Satan teaches that those things, such as pleasure seeking, vengeance, and pride, which the Christian Church has usually condemned as sins, are actually virtues.

     ..The followers of Satan have developed a religious framework for a hedonistic (pleasure-seeking) life, without violating laws. For the most part, they maintain a very low profile in society.

      ..The second form of Satanism consist of ritual magic groups. These small and loosely-organized groups believe that people can use the power attributed to Satan to enhance their own power. These groups are responsible for much of the animal sacrifice, sexual rituals, desecration of grave, and human sacrifice that are attributed to Satanism. They are not connected with the Church of Satan.  Participating in these groups is often a way that their members act out psychological and emotional disturbances."

         Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Scientology-

     "..The larger goal of Scientology is a clear planet.  Scientology teaches that this would bring about permanent freedom from war, pollution, insanity, drugs, and crime of all types.

     Scientology takes a well-known and widely experienced fact of human existence-the negative effects that past events, long since buried and forgotten by our conscious mind, can have on us-and presents a way of overcoming it.

       Its high-tech, science fiction-oriented way of describing the process, its promise of freedom that extends beyond the confines of space and time, and the upbeat and intensely optimistic nature of its followers are attractive to some."

         Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Seventh Day Adventist- 

WHAT IS THE ADVENTIST POSITION REGARDING DIVORCE?

     "Briefly, it is the Biblical position, enunciated by Jesus Christ when HE said, "Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, commiteth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matthew 19:9). Seventh-day Adventists believe that this counsel is very clear and that members who knowingly depart from it should not continue in the fellowship of the Church."

     ..Religions in America, Article by Arthur S. Maxwell

 

     "..Seventh-Day Adventists have become known for their support of sound health practices, because they believe that the body is the temple of the holy spirit. Good health practices are a religious obligation. They abstain from the use of alcohol and tobacco as well as illicit drugs, and they advocate sound health practices such as exercise and proper nutrition. They encourage a positive mental outlook. Many are vegetarians. For several years, they have sponsored a very successful stop-smoking program that is open to the public.

      Seventh-day Adventists practice a conservative lifestyle as they await the return of Christ, which is believed to be near at hand, although they do not speculate about the exact date. Men's and woman's roles emphasize the traditional over the innovative. Church and church-sponsored activities play a large role in most of their lives. Especially in some areas of the country, they have begun to develop their own school system."

      Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett

 

Unitarian-

WHAT IS THE UNITARIAN POSITION ON DIVORCE?

     "Unitarians recognize no specifically theological doctrine as regards divorce. This question is referred to the individual's conscience, intelligent and common sense.  The church is always ready to offer counsel and advice, in keeping with its ethical and spiritual ideas."

 

WHAT IS THE UNITARIAN POSITION ON BIRTH CONTROL?

     "Most Unitarians are strong advocates of birth control in a world that is threatened with a population explosion."

     Religions in America, Article by Karl M Chworowsky

 

The Way-

     "..The Way offers a thirty-three hour tape and film course called Power for Abundant Living (PAL). With further instruction, people may become members of The Way Corps, which is a leadership program, or the worldwide missions program, Word Over The World (WOW). The American Christian Press publishes its written materials. The group has often been the target of deprogrammers when parents have charged that their children were being held by the group against the childrens' will."

         Religion in America by Julia Mitchell Corbett
















The end of the 1990 study 




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