Bible · Christianity · Culture · King James Version · New Age · Sociology of Religion

Graven Images

What doth the Bible say? “Image” first mention is the image of God – “our image” (Gen. 1:26) First mention of “graven” image is Exodus 20:4 “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that… Continue reading Graven Images

Christianity · Culture · Family · Religion · Self and Society

The Family: Biblical Parenting and Godly Children

We began this discussion of the family dealing with the husband’s duty to his wife. We followed up talking about the wife’s duty to the husband. Now, I want to focus on the parents’ duty to their children. There are several variations of homes represented throughout our culture, and many of us have or are… Continue reading The Family: Biblical Parenting and Godly Children

Bible · Christianity · Culture · Family · King James Version · Religion · Self and Society

The Family: The Role of the “Help Meet”

We previously discussed how a marriage in God’s eyes is between one man and one woman as they become one flesh. We also looked at several verses detailing how a husband is to LOVE (which is more difficult for men), CLEAVE (hold on to), PROVIDE (be a breadwinner, but also provide emotional/spiritual security), HONOR (respect),… Continue reading The Family: The Role of the “Help Meet”

Bible · Christianity · Culture · Family · Ideal Types · King James Version · Religion · Self and Society

The Family: Marriage and the Role of Husbands

It is often said that the Lord established three institutions – religion, civil government, and the home. The Devil has sought to destroy these institutions ever since their initiation. We are seeing a real time attack on all of these as we look around society today. Biblically based churches are losing ground to false gospels… Continue reading The Family: Marriage and the Role of Husbands

Culture · Self and Society · Social Science · Society · Sociology · Sociology of Religion

Culture as Both Product and Practice

CULTURE AS A PRODUCT  Hall and Neitz (1993) provide an inclusive definition of culture that describes it as 1) ideas, knowledge (correct, wrong, or unverifiable belief), and recipes for doing things; 2) humanly fabricated tools (shovels, sewing machines, and computers); and 3) products of social action that can be drawn upon in the conduct of… Continue reading Culture as Both Product and Practice

Christianity · Culture · Religion · Sociology · Sociology of Religion

The Case for the Cultural Study of Religion

RELIGION AND CULTURE  Rituals, symbols, and myths have been at the forefront of the Sociology of Religion since Durkheim (1915) wrote of the prominence of beliefs, rights, and rituals in the worship of social life. Naturism, animism, and totemic beliefs are mostly bygone religions – relics of a pre-industrialized world, but Durkheim predicted that religion… Continue reading The Case for the Cultural Study of Religion

Bible · Christianity · Culture · End times · Prophecy · Religion · Self and Society · Social Science · Sociology · Sociology of Religion

American Secularization and Media Depictions of End Times

INTRODUCTION  Media Influence  Art has always had an influence on society, even if that influence is more indirect than the artist intended. In the “age of mechanical reproduction” (Benjamin 1969[1936]), the aura of art may not be as strong as the medium of film and television has eclipsed the close distance of the stage. The… Continue reading American Secularization and Media Depictions of End Times

Bible · Christianity · Culture · King James Version · Religion

The Church (Part 1): Trail of Blood

Most of us know the difference between The Christian Church and the local church. One is spiritual, and the other is physical. When COVID hit last year, I heard many Christians appeal to the Church as an excuse to abandon their church – because the “Church is not a building." However, the local church has… Continue reading The Church (Part 1): Trail of Blood