Introduction
As I reflect on my course on religion, I came to realize that for most people, religion is a subject where everyone has an opinion. Therefore, it has become a source of much discussion, debates and intrigue. However, it is sad to note that while people find it easy to engage in religious talks, only a few takes the necessary road of getting enough education on the matter by studying carefully the doctrines that are fundamental to religion. In this course, I was able to have the privilege of studying important concepts that are fundamental to Christianity, thus allowing me to have a deeper appreciation on my own spiritual conviction. Particularly, I was able to gain an understanding on prayer and morality. Prayer had been a normal part of every Christian’s life but my views have changed through understanding the nature of prayer and why it is necessary. I was also able to understand the Christian view on morality through this course amidst the confusion that was brought about by changing societal values and worldly influences.
Prayer
First, I will discuss what changes were wrought to me in understanding the principle of prayer. Prayer is present in almost all religious faiths as it is a means of communicating between man and Deity. There are currently many definitions of prayer but one of the most functional definition we can find is that prayer is a conversation between man and a loving God .
In the bible, there are many references on the importance of prayer. However, the most enlightening are those that are contained in the New Testament which reflects Jesus’ own explanation on the nature of prayer. One of the definitions of prayer provided in the New Testament is that prayer means remaining or abiding in God. This definition is illustrated in John 15:1-17 where Christ identified Himself to be the vine and the Father as the vineyard’s keeper. The people are then the branches which must obey and abide by the vine and the vineyard’s keeper . In addition to this, the Bible likewise makes many references to Jesus praying to the Father. Some notable examples are found in Luke 11:1-20 where Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer and explained to the people our relationship with the Father, to whom our prayers are directed and in John 17 where He offered the great intercessory prayer before He was crucified. From these two examples, it can be learned from Christ Himself that prayer enables us to petition God and express our feelings to Him.
Morality
With the increasing influence of media, it had become confusing what morality really means and whether it really is a changing principle. Through this course, I was able to appreciate the Christian view on morality, as it was taught by Christ and recorded in the Bible. As part of the new generation, understanding the principle is very important for me because I have to hold onto something which is true and logical, instead of just being swayed by influences on every direction that profess to preach the truth.
In its theological sense, morality has been linked with the will of God. C.S. Lewis, one of the most celebrated Christian philosophers have provided that morality should always conform to the Moral Law which God has set. According to him, as Christians, the “Moral Law tells us the tune we have to play: our instincts are merely the keys” . In the bible, we can find these moral laws in the form of commandments. Perhaps one of the most comprehensive passage that covers morality can be found in Exodus 20:3-17 also known as the Ten Commandments. In these verses, we can find God’s laws on how we should behave towards God and towards our neighbors. Another definition could be found in the New Testament where a lawyer asked Christ which is the greatest commandment. Christ replied that the first greatest commandment is: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” and that the second is “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” These passages are found in Matthew 22, verses 37 and 39, respectively.
Conclusion
As a student of Christianity, I have come to realize the importance of prayer in a deeper sense. What used to appear to me as a mere traditional practice now became clearer as a privilege instead of a duty. When I understood the true relation we have with the Supreme Being we address in prayer, I became more enthusiastic to say my prayers to offer heartfelt gratitude and express honest desires. Hence, prayer became a source of comfort and hope to me because I am talking to the most powerful being in the universe, who I call Father. At the same time, the principles of morality became clearer to me. I did not anymore look for specific lists of things I should and should not do. Instead, it was enough for me to be guided in my everyday decisions by principles and laws that are both timeless and applicable to all circumstances. These things that I have learned allowed me have a deeper understanding of my religious conviction. By learning about these important principles, I became more than a believer. Instead, I became a learning believer because I thirst for spiritual knowledge while doing my best to live according to my beliefs.
Bibliography
Glavich, M. K. (2008). Prayer First!: A New Agenda for Catholic Schools. New London, CT: Twenty-Third Publications.
Johnson, K. W. (2001). Prayer Works. USA: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Lewis, C. S. (1980). Mere Christianity. New York: Harper Collins.
