S/P/304. Three Jewels in Buddhism

The paper examines the concept of "refuge in the Three Jewels" central to the Buddhists belief explaining the idea behind seeking refuge, and discussing the historical and religious figure of Buddha (Siddartha Guatama), the teachings of Dharma, and the monastic community and Sangha. The meaning of enlightenment and meditation in Buddhism is explained.

S/P/168. Altered states of consciousness in most religions are drug induced. Discuss.

The paper examines altered states of consciousness from the perspective of their role in various religions. A review of literature is offered on religious rituals and shamanistic practices including the use of plants and fungi, dancing, meditation, sweating, and other techniques of obtaining ecstasy.

S/P/169. Discuss the main functions of witchcraft beliefs in societies worldwide.

The paper examines the practices of witchcraft relating the history of witchcraft in different cultures, the functions of witchcraft, witchcraft beliefs around the world, witchcraft practices in African, Latin American and Asian countries, etc.

S/P/102. Does Hume establish that we should not believe testimony regarding miracles?

This paper analyses Hume's argument in his essay 'Of Miracles' that human testimony is unable to prove a foundation for any system of religion. The essay will present an argument against Hume's view, showing that Hume's position against testimony in the case of miracles is a circular one. The basis of such a critic will be seen to rest upon what is considered a natural law, and the inductive principle.

S/P/98. Critically examine the proof Descartes gives for the existence of God in the Third Meditation.

This essay carefully and critically examines the proof that Descartes posits for the existence of God in the third of his Meditations; reference is also made to Descartes' first Meditation. Descartes' work is critiqued in the light of Silverman, Foucoult and Derrida. The essay is fully referenced in Harvard format.

P/P/347. Islamic practice of Dhikr, remembrance of God

The paper examines the ritual Islamic practice of ËDhikrÌ, or remembrance of God. The religious meaning of Dhikr is explained; the mystical experiences and the techniques associated with the ritual are described; the role of Dhikr within Sufism is identified.

P/P/333. Sufism as Islamic mysticism

The paper examines the concept of mysticism focusing on Sufism, or the understanding of the divine and the relationship with God/Allah. The role of Sufism as a form of Islamic mysticism is discussed highlighting the ideas of devotion and faith, the Sufi practices of invoking the divine within an individual, etc.

P/P/332. Role of Christianity in contemporary culture

The paper argues whether religion has a place in contemporary culture critically reviewing the theological theory of Paul Tillich and discussing the key themes and symbols of Christianity, the meaning of free will, salvation, fate, etc.

P/LI/69. Roots of witchcraft: interpretation of language metaphors

The paper examines the history of political, religious, and social approaches to witchcraft focusing on the 16th century work The Discovery of Witchcraft by Reginald Scot. The representations of witchcraft in language are discussed looking at the outcomes of the metaphorical interpretations of the Bible by demonologists, the allegory of EveÌs temptation by the serpent, etc.

P/P/320. Attitudes to violence in Islamic jurisprudence

The paper looks at the justification of violence within classic Islamic jurisprudence defining the concept of Jihad, reviewing opposing attitudes to violence within Islamic faith, applying the theory of evolution to the development of Islamic communities, relating the teachings of Muhammad, interpreting the verses of Qur’an referring to the use of violence by Muslims, etc.

P/P/281. Dissertation: religious practices in Brazil and in London

The dissertation examines the features of Candomble religion brought by African slaves to Brazil comparing it to the religious practices of African-Brazilian population in London. Literature on the origins, concepts and rituals of Candomble is reviewed; qualitative research of the primary data collected though interviews is conducted. Conclusions are made about the influence of the British cultural and technological environment on Candomble.

P/P/279. Portrayals of love in Hebrew Bible

The paper explores the theme of the love in the Hebrew Bible reviewing academic literature related to Bible studies and discussing the examples of Yahweh’s divine love for Israel, the human love between a man and a woman in the Song of Songs, the love between friends Jonathan and David, etc. The paradoxes of God’s love being mirrored in the human relationships are discussed.

P/P/269. Parallels between Marxism and Christianity

The paper discusses the theory of historical materialism by Karl Marx from the perspective of Christianity showing resemblance between religious and materialistic ideas and reviewing academics’ commentaries on this parallelism.

P/P/268. St. Augustine and cosmogony of Manichaeism

The paper examines the beliefs the Manicheans, a medieval religious sect, through the perception of St. Augustine reviewing his life and ideas expressed in the Confessions.

P/P/219. Does conceivability entails possibility?

The paper reviews phisicalist and metaphysical opinions on whether conceivability entails possibility referring to the ideas of Hume, Jablo, Chalmers, etc., and discussing Chalmers ‘Zombie Argument in more detail.

P/P/164. On scientific truth

The paper takes a philosophic insight in the problem of attaining truth through scientific ways. The mechanisms and functions of science are outlined; the pursuit of truth as a human activity is discussed. Various approaches to the concept of scientific truth are reviewed including the understanding of science as a form of culture; the role of the intellectual in relation to science and truth; the ideology of science and its relation to theological truths, etc.

E/P/10. HEGEL'S CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

The purpose of this essay is partly, to explore the reasons behind Hegelian bias against Islam. How far does the Euro-centric view of the world inspire Hegel's views on the destiny of man (essentially European man)? How much unacknowledged is the practical knowledge of Muslim thinkers, and how far does this lack of acknowledgement make a drastic impact on the destiny of Islam itself? The essay also explores the extent to which Hegelian version of Christianity is God or man-centred. Basing the line of argument on Hegel's views on Christianity, the essay also makes an effort to elucidate Islam in its founding principles, and how it explains certain concepts in a better way than Hegel's Christianity.

P/P/128. God Vs Evil debate

The paper seeks to find a philosophic explanation to the existence of evil in the world created by God. The author of the essay wonders why the good omnipotent God cannot eliminate evil, and addresses what seems to be a logical inconsistency between the beliefs and the reality. The roots of the paradox are disclosed; the concepts of free will and God's reason for evil are discussed.

P/P/124. What is a miracle?

The paper is a philosophic discourse on the concept of 'miracle'. An interpretation of various definitions of a miracle is given, including those by Hambourger, Hume, Coleman, etc. It is argued that in certain conditions it is easier to give a supernatural explanation to an event rather than a natural one.

P/P/122. Universe design

The paper gives an insight into the philosophic and scientific attempts to explain the order of the world. The author analyses the theological theories of Newton and Hume revealing the argument about the Universe design and commenting on various hypotheses including the Darwinian theory of evolution.

P/P/56. Hermeneutics

The paper discusses whether hermeneutics challenges traditional concepts of science and if so, in what ways. The paper discusses these issues using research examples.

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