Marriage and religion have always been related, and religions often address the spiritual and ethical components of marriage, but in many cae, marriage customs are based on cultural expectations. That means that while religious teachings may guide some of the taboos, vows, and underpinning ideas of what is expected of a man and woman in their marriage, the details come from the surrounding culture and society. Whether or not a marriage is arranged and the number of partners in a marriage are two aspects of marriage that are heavily effected by the surrounding culture and society.

Buddhists are as diligent about the practice of their faith as any Christian or Muslim. They also are willing to travel to spread their beliefs as missionaries. There is a strong Buddhist community spread across the globe that has organized itself into different schools and monastic traditions. Buddhism sets forth a clear set of values in the Five Precepts, gives greater meaning to life in the goals of the bodhisattva path, and views the world through both the ordinary powers found in a human’s five senses and through the extraordinary powers that Buddhists believe can be achieved through study, koans, and diligent meditation.

Church services are meant to help Christians deepen their faith and give practical advice and encouragement on how to live out their faith each day.  Church services are intended not as a time for a group of individuals to have simultaneous devotional experiences in a room together but as a time for believers to join together in a corporate experience. Church attendance has many positive benefits for Christians, but most people understand that under certain circumstances a Christian may not be able to attend services regularly. Poor health and job demands may often interfere with a regular practice of church attendance. 

Prejudices and misconceptions about Islam are common in the West, particularly since 9/11. For many non-Muslims, this religion often feels standoffish and closed to outsiders. This perception has led to the commonly held belief that non-Muslims are not allowed inside of mosques. Listen to this episode to learn a bit more about whether Muslims really do exclude non-Muslims from their houses of worship and what may be behind such exclusivity, if it does exist.

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Because Buddhism is a break-off from the Hindu faith, the teachings and practices of these two traditions can seem quite similar at times. In this episode, we explore some of the similarities between these two ancient and enormous faith traditions.

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While most Christians accept that Jesus’ death was necessary for their salvation, surprisingly, many can’t explain why it was necessary. In this episode, we will briefly examine various atonement theories and how each attempts to explain why Jesus had to die for the world to be saved.

Did you know that Answers is also a YouTube series? Watch episodes like this one and so many others right here. 

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When you hear the term “Jewish,” do you think of the religion or the ethnic group? While many people confuse “Jewish” in religion with “Jewish” in ethnic identity, this episode will help clarify whether this term refers to an ethnicity, religion, or some combination of the two.

Did you know that Answers is also a YouTube series? Watch episodes like this one and so many others right here. 

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Most non-Hindus simply assume that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion. However, in this episode you’ll learn that Hindu beliefs about God are much more nuanced than that, allowing for polytheism, monotheism, and even atheism.

Did you know that Answers is also a YouTube series? Watch episodes like this one and so many others right here. 

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