Religious References

What kind of influence does religion have on society? Society and Culture are bound together by codes of behavior, and by tacit agreements to live together in harmony. Some cultures identified themselves by their Religion; i.e.,

their religion was the centre which held the culture together. Home, farming, relationships, marriage, birth and death, these are all common events in cultures; often these events have a religious significance. ships, marriage, birth and death, these are

all common events in cultures; often these events have a religious significance.

Religion gives transcendental meaning and purpose, and often, a goal to aspire to when life is complete. So many cultures have bound themselves together in common

that they might all achieve the goal of life in common, by providing those social structures which bind religion and man. The word religiare (from which we get our

common word Religion) means to bind back. Religion often gives codes of behavior for society and culture, such as the Ten

Commandments. Another example is "Love God, have morality in society, and abhor sin". All religions have values. Values are guides to behavior, such as do good, avoid wrong. All religions have the five human values, Truth, Right Conduct, Love, Peace

and Non-violence at their core. These are values which sustain the very core of family, home, society, nation, and world.

The ExorcistOriginally a novel by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist eventually became a classic horror movie of its time. Using stunning effects, director William Friedkin portrayed a frightening story in which a young girl is possessed by a demon and proceeds to commit heinous acts against her parents and the priests who work hard to exorcize the demon.

Three actual Catholic priests served as consultants on the set, helping the cast to realistically portray the Catholic rituals for exorcisms. Linda Blair, the young female actress who played the possessed girl, did a phenomenal job as she cursed, blasphemed, and ridiculed God, mutilating herself with a wooden cross and crab-walking backwards down the stairs of her home.

The movie held the pubic riveted in its first release, and again when it was digitally remastered in 2002. It stunned the uneducated public that Catholics truly believe in demon possessions and exorcisms, and that the Assyrian demon Pazuzu is actually a fabled pagan God.

U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday

"Trenches dug within our hearts, And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart" -- Matthew 10:35: "For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her

mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." "Wipe the tears from your eyes" -- Revelation 21:4: "He will wipe every tear from their

eyes..." "We eat and drink while tomorrow they die" A brilliant ironic take on I Cor 15:32 "If the

dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." The "how long" cry is too frequent in the Bible to cover in full, but here are some prominent examples:

Ps 6:3 "My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?" (This is the same line Bono says he used in "40," too.)

Ps 94:3 "How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant?" Habakkuk 1:2 "How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out

to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?" (submitted by Rev. Beth)

St. Joseph’s Oratory

Montreal holds interest for those many tourists who enjoy visiting religious structures around the world.

St. Joseph’s Oratory atop Mont Royal has the second largest dome in the world, following only St. Peter’s in Rome. This unusual work of devotion by Brother Andre was

constructed at his urging and holds his very heart, preserved in a glass case inside. Montreal also is home to a church named Notre-Dame, but unlike many of that name

around the world, it is a respectable rival for its more famous cousin in Paris. Filled with amazing wood and marble carvings, and offering a stellar view from the balcony inside,

tourists will want to put it high on their list.

The Creation of Adam

The Creation of Adam is painted by Michelangelo circa 1511 that appears on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It illustrates the Biblical story from the Book of Genesis in

which God the Father breathes life into Adam, the first man.God is depicted as an elderly bearded man wrapped in a swirling cloak while Adam, on the lower left, is completely naked. God's right arm is outstretched to impart the spark of life from his own finger into that of Adam, whose left arm is extended in a pose mirroring

God's, a reminder that man is created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26). Another point is that Adam's finger and God's finger are not touching. It gives the

appearance that God, the giver of life, is reaching out to Adam and Adam is receiving.

Your AssignmentDirections: Your task is to find Religious References in your own life. What are your

interests and how is Religion an influence in your favorite pass times? Your assignment MUST include the following:

It must be typedAssignment must have a cover page with your name, course number, date and title:

Religious References You must include THREE religious references to your assignment. Your references may come from any medium you choose. (ie. Movies, books, video games, art, music etc...)

Each of the references must include the following:A heading (ie. Music, television, art etc...)

A short description of your interest How your particular interest has a religious references. It’s not enough to say that

the U2 song has religion in it, but rather, you must describe how your interest is teaching us something new about a given religion.

Pictures related to your interest.