Abstract
This paper explores the rise and rapid expansion of Islam during the seventh and eighth centuries, which was primarily due to the multi-faceted appeal of Islam as a way of life and not just a religion. The paper explains the political vacuum that had been created for the Arabs through exhausted and internally dissatisfied neighbors and finally the zeal, tolerance and order in which the Arabs went about their expansion. These factors created an environment in which an expanding and adapting vision of Islam was seen a positive and beneficial force for individuals as well as societies and nations.

From the Paper
"The multi-faceted nature of Islam in the way that in transcended traditional religious boundaries to included moral, legal and social issues broadened its appeal to society and was crucial in the success of its development. As a religion, what was most attractive about Islam lay in the straightforward nature of its beliefs. Unlike other religions of the time, the monotheistic character of Islam presented a unique simplicity that was relevant and applicable to daily life. "The heart of the Islamic faith is the belief in one god who is directly involved in the affairs of humanity" (Voll, 1982:7). Furthermore, through the Koran, it offered a moral code by which people could live their life."

Tags:byzantine, empire, koran, muhammed, society

Abstract
This paper presents a debate regarding the emphasis placed on Hildegard of Bingen's spirituality. The paper considers whether her spirituality was visual, theological, or both, and suggests that an understanding of Hildegard's spirituality can best be obtained from the perspective of the culture and society of the time in which she wrote. The paper also details her history, her visionary accounts, her art, and her early feminist work.

From the Paper
"Interest in Hildegard of Bingen has increased in recent times and especially interest in her role as visionary. Although Hildegard's spirituality was based on visions, it was the very fact that she believed these visions were of divine origin that allowed her to be led to God through them and thus achieve spiritual satisfaction. Therefore, Hildegard's spirituality did not give any more emphasis to either the visual or theological, but rather accepted a combination of both as each was dependent on the other for completion. It is also important to remember that religious writers such as Hildegard were often affected by the contemporaneous issues which surrounded them and they sought to address these issues in their writing. Thus, for a comprehensive reading of Hildegard's spirituality, visions and theology, her work must be viewed through the culture and society of the time in which she wrote."

Tags:bingen, hildegard, spirituality, visionary

Abstract
A detailed explanation of the tenets and history of Gnosticism and the New Age movement, including a larger 'compare and contrast' section outlining similarities and differences between the two movements. Issues explored to determine the similarities between the two religion include God, knowledge, creation myth, evil, mysticism, heaven, dualism, nihilism, Jesus, and spiritual doctrines. Offers a thorough comparison of these two religious movements.

From the Paper
"Is it possible to draw similarities between two religious movements that have been contrastingly described as "dualistic, anti-cosmic and nihilistic" and "concerned with holism, life and healing"? These respective distinctions between ancient Gnosticism and the contemporary New Age movement, although perhaps not specifically explanative of spiritual concepts, are generally indicative of the basic themes that underlie each religion. Consequently, it can be asserted that the principles which these two spiritual movements are founded upon are unrelated, almost contradictory and, in this way, it would be inconsistent to assert that similarities can be drawn between ancient Gnosticism and the contemporary New Age movement. Although there are certain areas of spirituality where these two movements appear to superficially converge, causing certain scholars to proclaim their belief in a "subterranean umbilical cord" between Gnosticism and the New Age movement of the West, the extent to which the foundational aspects of these religious movements are contrary implies that most doctrines held by each will be conflicting at the most basic of levels. It is imperative to the assessment of possible parallels however, that the nature of these two movements be ascertained at the outset, as the origin, history and world-view of both affect spiritual doctrines and thus any further conclusions."

Tags:mysticism, god, myth

Abstract
This paper explores Bonaventure's understanding of the soul's ascension to God and includes an examination of cultural specificity and its effect on Bonaventure's writings.

From the Paper
"In his work "The Mind's Road to God", Bonaventure shows the practical value of the three fold ladder of spiritual ascent by explaining the individual steps involved in the process and demonstrating how each uniquely leads to that which Bonaventure finds most desirable - the soul's ascension into God. However, to completely understand the ideas underpinning Saint Bonaventure's spiritual philosophy, it is important to possess both a basic knowledge of his background and an understanding of the contribution this background may have made to his writings."

Tags:saint, augustine, italy, franciscan, order, seraphic, doctor, monk

Abstract
This essay focuses on two major features of Hinduism that impacted on Siddhartha Gautama : dharma and nirvana. The paper examines predominantly Buddhist texts in order to analyze the negative and positive responses they had on Gautama's teachings. However, since both terms can have widely varying meanings attached, depending on sect, especially within Buddhism, and usage, only a general overview is practical in this short essay.

From the Paper
"At the time Siddhartha Gautama (c. 560 BCE - c. 480 BCE) was born both Western and Eastern civilizations were experiencing a sharp rise in intellectual and religious development, and India was no exception. Born into the kshatriya, or warrior caste, in the predominantly Hindu region of north-east India, raised in luxury and well educated, Gautama took advantage of the developments of this period and attempted to reinterpret traditional Hinduism."

Tags:buddhism, hinduism, history, india, religon

Abstract
This essay begins with a history, since the end of World War II, whereby attendance rates in all major denominations, such as the Anglican, Catholic and Presbyterian churches, have fallen dramatically. The paper then examines the demographic and cultural profiles, to understand that this phenomenon is the effect of the changing face of Australian society. This brief history of Australian religious practices states that rather than becoming a more secular society, Australian religion is more dynamic than doomsayers would have the populace believe.

From the Paper
"Since European settlement Australia has been a predominantly Christian country with at least two-thirds of the population affiliated with various denominations even until the present. However, since the end of World War II there has been a marked decrease in congregational numbers for all mainstream denominations, such as the Catholic, Anglican, Baptist and Presbyterian churches. From 1950 church attendance rates dropped from 44 percent to 25 percent in 1990, according to the National Church Life Survey. The causes of this phenomenon are debated within both the secular and religious realm and many theories have been proposed, which can loosely be divided into three main areas."

Tags:congregations, history, religion, secularisation

Abstract
This essay examines the way in which a five-hundred-year-old tradition, established by Ignatius Loyola, can still remain relevant to modern day spirituality, despite age, religious affiliation, or culture. It outlines Loyola's biography and how he came to be the Jesuit founder and to develop the "Spiritual Exercises", which have become a core aspect of Jesuit spirituality worldwide. Included, necessarily, in an explanation of the "Spiritual Exercises"are Loyola's own views on God, religion, and spirituality, and his understanding of how to know and follow the Will of God. The crux of the essay is the argument that Loyola's spirituality is still relevant in today's times due to its far-reaching and practical essence.

From the Paper
"Although having lived and died over five hundred years ago, the spiritual writings of Ignatius of Loyola have come to both directly and indirectly influence the way Christians live and view their religion today. The direct influence of Ignatius is demonstrated by the sustained existence of the Jesuit order, founded by Ignatius, who continue to maintain his Spiritual Exercises as an integral part of their spirituality. However, it is not necessary to be a member of the Jesuit order to practice Ignatian Spirituality as the Spiritual Exercises, which focus on the discovery of God's Will in relation to our lives as Christians, transcend culture and time, providing a practical contribution to Christians everywhere today."

Tags:christian, exercises, god, meditation, spiritual

Abstract
A discussion of the reasons for the decline of the mainline denominations from the 1960s to the 1980s in Australia. The paper explores how the churches have responded to this phenomenon. The major religions discussed include Chrisianity's streams of Anglican and Catholic, as well as Methodist and Protestant.

From the Paper
"After experiencing a period of steady growth and an ongoing important place in the Australian community during the 1950s and the 'remembered 60s' the mainline denominations found themselves losing numbers and influence from this point on, beginning a decline that would last throughout the eighties. According to Hilliard The 'remembered sixties' are from1964 or 1965 to 1972 in Australia (p.210). In 1961 Protestants including Anglicans accounted for 65 per cent of the population, by 1986 this was 40 per cent (Breward p.226) and by 1996 had dropped a further 2%. In the state of Victoria from 1961 to 1986 the percentage of Anglicans in the total population fell from 6.11 per cent to 4.40. Likewise Methodists and Presbyterians combined dropped from 5.28 per cent to 3.70 in the same period. (Australians: Historical Statistics, Wray Vamplew (ed.), Sydney 1987, cited in Hilliard, 1997). As for the Roman Catholic Church, Australian Sunday Mass attendance figures fell from 55 per cent to 37 per cent in the period 1966 to 1981. (Campion p.248)."

Tags:church, deline, denominations, growth, mainline

Abstract
In this essay the writer discusses Pope Leo X?s role in provoking the reformation movement. It also looks into the other factors that led to the reformation and how they and Leo X?s acts, led to Martin Luther posting his 95 theses. It explains that this act started the journey to a fully reformed faith which was totally split from the Roman Catholic Church. The writer argues that while a reformation was inevitable due to the behavior practiced by the Catholic Church, particularly its senior clergy, had Leo X not instructed Johann Tetzel to sell indulgences in the Holy Roman Empire, Martin Luther would not have posted his 95 theses.

From the Paper
"The reformation was the splitting up of the Catholic Church and the formation of new Protestant faiths. The reformation was a long time in the making. For centuries there had been growing unrest, particularly as noblemen and kings became more powerful and independent from the Pope. Many factors brought about the reformation including the lavish lives of the clergy from the Pope down to his Bishops. In a time where not many people could read and there was a large difference between the rich and the poor, the lavish lives enjoyed by the clergy were vastly different to the pitiful lives of many members of their "flock". Luxuries enjoyed by priests, who had even taken vows of poverty when entering the church, led to many people getting critical of the church and its members. The Pope increasingly became a political, not spiritual, leader more interested in gold, luxuries and land than prayers and conducting the religious duties that he was "elected" to perform. All tensions reached a climax when the Pope commanded the Papal army to siege an Italian town held by the French."

Tags:catholic, church, indulgences, theses, 95

Abstract
This paper explores the large difference between the European/Spanish opinion on gold and wealth in general and the Incan opinion. The paper begins by explaining that in Spain, gold was something that could be acquired and made, to be spent on other objects and services. The paper then looks at the area of the Andes, where all gold was the sole property of the Sapa Inca who then distributed the wealth in the form of clothes and food according to your seniority. Also unlike in Spain, the Sapa Incaes, distributed food and clothes to the needy and old from his imperial stor.

From the Paper
"Five hundred years ago two hundred Spanish conquistadors under the command of Hernando Pizarro invaded the Incan empire from the new Spanish frontier-town of Panama. Over the next 100 years the cruel, relentless Spanish and the diseases that they brought from Europe would decimate the entire Indian population of the Andes almost destroying a way of life and a culture that had been nurtured in isolation for hundreds of years. In the process the Inca lost everything - their land, gold, status and right to practice their own religion as they were Christianize and moved to forced labour camps to mine the gold that the Spanish yearned for so much. Even today most of the Indians live in the slums of the Andean cities or in isolated communities up in the mountains. In the days of the Inca, due to strict organization on the part of the Sapa Inca (Emperor), no one would ever have starved or been left homeless. Nowadays many of the native peoples of South America live below the poverty line."

Tags:america, indian, south, wealth, jewel, royal