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| Saudi Arabia-Apple |
Ramadan
Cited
'The Muslim rite of fasting during the ninth month in the lunar calendar, commemorating the revelation that came to Muhammad. Nigosian (1994: 487).
'Month during which Muslims do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. The fast celebrates the month in which the Prophet received the Quran. Hopfe (1991: 462).
While at work the subject of the Algeria, Nigeria their football clubs and their participation in the World Cup 2014 arose with Muslim and Sikh colleagues in regard to Ramadan.
The Islamic colleague was stating that although he was personally attempting to follow good morality at Ramadan it was still very difficult not to lie others, not to talk in negative terms about co-workers not performing their work properly, even during Ramadan.
The implication being that even a man-made religious event could not halt human sinfulness.
I stated that 'The 'ol' sin nature interfered'.
My Muslim and Sikh colleagues appeared to agree.
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A much used series of verses on my blogs, but key Biblical concepts:
Ephesians 2:8-10
English Standard Version (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Human sin and imperfection separate finite and sinful humanity from the infinite, holy God as can be seen from the fall (Genesis 3) and from Romans 1-3. Erickson points out examples of how Jesus Christ as God-man atoned for sin within humanity and these include, sacrifice, propitiation, substitution, and reconciliation. Erickson (1994: 801-823).
Christ's atoning work is religiously, historically, Biblically and theologically connected to the resurrection which is also applied to those in Christ (1 Corinthians 15). Those in Christ are born again (John 3) and chosen/elected by God in Christ, Ephesians 1 and Romans 8. I take a compatibilistic free will position.
I have noted previously for academic, credibility reasons, I am comfortable with calling Christianity true religion and true religious faith, as in reasonable religious academia as is science and medicine.
However, religious practice, work or works of any kind does not bring salvation to anyone.
Nor does it please God to the point of bringing about human salvation. At best religious practice is simply a sign of being within true faith which according to the New Testament is found only in Christ, John 14: 6.
ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
HOPFE, LEWIS M. (1991) Religions of the World, New York, Macmillan Publishing Company.
NIGOSIAN, S.A. (1994) World Faiths, New York, St. Martin’s Press.
