Christianity

Mysticism

Protestantism

Mormons

Jehova witnesses

Iglesia ni cristo

Born again

Seventh day Adventish

Islam

Taoism
Christianity the three Branches

Christianity is one of the religions who have so many followers. It is the biggest religion
in the world. I was raised by my parents as a Roman Catholic and it serves as a guide for me in
my life. Though there were so many people that have different interpretation in the bible the
lead to different meaning for them, I still believe on the religion of where I am right now.

When the reporters have announced and discussed that Christianity was divided into
three branches I was shocked. These were the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant. As I
was listening in the discussion, I have noticed that there were bad practices of Christianity in
the ancient times like the “indulgence” wherein it is a way to reduce the amount of punishment
one has to undergo for sins. Because of this anomaly, Reformation has occurred which was the
Protestant where Martin Luther became the later of it because he has observed this kind of
abusive practices on the Christians. For me this reformation is quite good for the people at that
time because Martin Luther do not just go with the flow of the system instead he proved to the
people that they are in the wrong system. Another one is the Orthodox which is also united by
faith just like the two who have been mentioned above. Even though this religion is
independent on its own church of where it is exact located but still has a common approach to
sacraments, liturgy and doctrine.

I observed that these three branches have only one root that is the Christianity but still
was being divided into three branches. It is maybe because of the followers of the religion
where he/she has different views on the passages that was being stated in the bible. There
were people that do not agree or follow practices or rituals because for them that is not the
right thing. Other scholars said that the bible have some lapses or errors where it weakens the
foundation of the bible.
Mysticism

There were so many different religions in the world which also have different views,
doctrines or practices of the religion. People who are really devoted in their religion are surely
following all of the practices and somehow the do’s and don’ts’s of it. Since those religions have
different beliefs, most of the people are arguing or defending that their religion is the truth and
the only way to salvation. That is why these different religions suffer war or chaos because they
just look on the outer side of their religion. But if we will go to dive deeper in our religion or
what we so called “mysticism” we will have a harmony or peace. I can say that mysticism serves
as the peace keeper of every religion even though they have vast differences to one another.

We have to respect on those differences and be open to different ideas on the other
hand. Being a good person and treating fair to other people even if they have their religion
which is unlike yours is one of the ways to have unity. Helping people who are in need despite
of your belief is worth living. It all about the wholeness within you not just on how you are good
in reading scriptures of yours but also being a good person as part of the living things here on
earth.

Mysticism is all about spreading your enlightenment through other people with a heart.
It is like what Mother Teresa did. She helps the needy people. She was being admired of her
charitable works. She was being ignited by the willingness and compassion to other people that
even though the people who are in needy that time is not the same of what her religion is, still
she help them.
Mormons

I was hooked by this because this religion for me seems like very interesting to study.
Thanks to the reporters who have discussed this religion because the interaction of my
classmates is quite smooth.

I have a best friend since when I was in high school and her religion is Mormons. Since
we were in high school and there were so many dances that we need to practice, this best
friend of mine gave us permission to practice the steps in their church. When I entered the
room I was being amazed inside because it seemed like I am in a cine or theater. All of the parts
of the church were painted white that is why it is very pleasing in the eyes. They have also
basketball court outside of the church. People or the missionaries that I have encountered
there have a good personalities because even though that you are an outsider they will treat
you like as one of the member of their church.

Family is very important in this religion and the way you serve other people especially
for the welfare of others. That is why this religion has missionaries to spread the words of God
and to serve other people. It is nice to see people who came from other country and just go
here in the Philippines wearing formal attire and have some talk in children or even in the
oldies. I really appreciate these foreigners who really exert an effort to learn Filipino language
for them to have a good communication to other people. Studying their holy book is one of
their assignments every day and all of the messages in the passage were being turn into an
action.
Jehovah’s Witnesses

In the first place I do not really have any background in this religion because the only
thing that I knew about them is that they are the people who went door to door in every
community just to give some booklet or small bible that is related in their religion and have
some talk about what is this mini booklet all about. I have noticed one time that they went into
our house to have some talk and I noticed that most of the girls have longed hair and I think
that is part of their practices or beliefs.

When I was on my way to go to school, I saw a group of woman standing beside the
street with their books being displayed with them. These books talk about their religion and
you as a person can get free books to them. I appreciate their perseverance in spreading or
sharing their gospel to other people. I think they have plenty of money for the production of
copies of their books.

At first I was wondering if the holy book that they are using is just the same as what
Christianity is using but it is the New World Translation. It is the only religion who uses this kind
of holy book. They do not use the same bible as what Christianity has because they do not
believe in so called “trinity” therefore there Kingdom Halls do not contain religious symbols.
They are really devoted in their scriptures up to the point that they have bible study with any
person who is not already a member. They are are also strict in terms of ethical and morality
like suicide which is consider as a sin to God and abortion as a murder. Members of this must
really believe in all of the teachings and doctrines. Therefore I could say that members who
openly disagree with the group’s teachings are expelled. They do not have the right to express
there thinking about certain passages and to react on the teaching.
Iglesia ni Cristo

I am familiar in this kind of religion because almost all of my neighborhoods are Iglesia
Ni Cristo. I can really see to them how they value their religion and how devoted they are. I
have noticed that they are wearing formal attire in going to their church.

I have two best friends and they are Iglesia ni Cristo and I really admire how responsible
they are in doing service in their church. Sometimes they are absent because they have
something important to do since they have a position in their church especially in youth and I
really respect and understand them in that circumstances. I see to them the compassion in
them in making their part as one of the members of this religion. There are times that we talk
about our own religions and these two are really open and also will share about their religion
too.

Iglesia ni Cristo is a non-Trinitarian, who does not believe in three person unlike the
Christianity. Since INC claims itself to be the one true church and restoration of the original
church founded by Jesus, they believe that the only way to be save in final judgment is to be a
member of church of Christ. In this belief, I could not really say that it is true since I am a
Christian. Who knows that the the only followers of the church of Christ will be save and the
only one true church. For me it is not on what religion you belong that matters instead it is all
about being a good person despite of different religions that people are into. It is all about how
you do well to others and extend or share the goodness in your religion.
Born Again

For me born again is just like the Jehovah’s Witnesses in terms of how they present their
selves through their religion. It is just like the Christianity
Islam

At first, I am really afraid of the Muslims maybe because of how they dressed up. It is
also about what other people told to me when I don’t yet study this religion. They said that
Muslim people are short tempered and they used to revenge to people who have been
mistaken on them. When I always go to the market or what we so called “bayan”, I am so very
careful on my actions like I don’t want to hit the products that they are selling because I have
always thought that they will go to do some revenge on me like they will going to punch me.

These thinking of mine change when I studied and reported Islam. It is the second
largest religion. Muslims really give value to the Quran which is their holy book. They used to
recite it with their heart because in saying the passages you need to consider the proper
intonation, pronunciation and so on. In short, they consider the recitation of Quran as an art.
Now I already know that is why in some places like in market I heard a Muslim voice which is
like singing and other Muslim people paid attention to it.

I like how they were being responsible in following the Quran. Following what must not
be done and what must be done is a step for them to salvation. All of the negative idea that I
have known to them was already diminished because I have realized that we should respect
other religions and we should not base on what other people told us about them. We as
ourselves should first do some research or study for us to know what the truth about them is.
Taoism