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Reflection

Facing Temptation and Seeking Higher Value

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Today’s sermon was centered on the “Temptation of Christ”: Jesus’s journey through a desert facing the temptation of the devil. Surprisingly, in fact, this was a test from the Holy Spirit.  Our pastor told us: God knows us well. But he added. So does the devil. The sermon continued lecturing about the devil’s temptation to rain bread to Jesus as he was fasting for 40 days. This symbolizes how us humans often face temptation in different forms, which leads to a simplified life. The sermon reminded us not to live solely for earthly possessions but to feed on God’s words, as the devil symbolizes desires and worldly possessions, while bread symbolizes material wealth. We should not be consumed by the materialistic values of this world but feast on God’s teachings. However, being tested, trialed, and tempted for these earthly, human materials seemed inevitable and so prevalent at our time. This made me question: Why do I stand to be religious despite human success? This made me wonder what we all are striving for in life. Our goals.… Read More »Facing Temptation and Seeking Higher Value

My friend, Anika

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One night on an adventure trip, I was alone in a tent with my dear friend Anika, a fellow adventurer with a strong sense of faith. He confided that he couldn’t sleep well in the dark and began to pray in Arabic. His act ignited my curiosity, prompting a deep conversation about the values of our respective religions. This exchange was far more than a mere debate; it became a journey of compassion and understanding. As we discussed our faiths, I began to discern the striking similarities between Christianity and Islam. Anika’s genuine embodiment of his faith resonated deeply with my own beliefs. The pivotal moment arrived when we both questioned the exclusivity of our respective faiths. Together, we explored the possibility that different religions are like different reflections of the same truth. This experience made me question my previous assumptions and led me to a profound realization that fundamental teachings of religion, regardless of the specific faith, can provide valuable groundings for life. Thus, regardless of the pathway, I realized we all strive for the… Read More »My friend, Anika

XY graph

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 One profound journey of change that significantly impacted my core beliefs of religion occurred during an overnight church trip, specifically during an afternoon sermon. This trip made me realize the importance of humility, and altered my views about righteousness. As I sat in the congregation, the pastor began discussing the concept of getting to know God on a deeper level. To illustrate his point, he drew an XY graph, where the X-axis represented our sins and the Y-axis symbolized God.   The pastor explained that as we delve into a deeper understanding of God, we come to recognize that we are unworthy of entering heaven. The pastor then added how then Jesus was the only bridge to cover the two roads. Connecting the XY graphs with a cross. What truly shocked me was when the pastor elaborated on how people often engage in various activities to diminish the significance of Jesus as the bridge between humanity and God. He exemplified this by mentioning acts such as donating to charity, helping the poor, and performing good deeds… Read More »XY graph

My religious experience in Indonesian, French, British international schools

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 In my educational journey, I have attended various international schools with different religious affiliations.    My first international school experience took place in Indonesia, where we not only memorized Bible verses but also delved into the stories and teachings of the Bible. Classroom activities included learning chants, prayers, and participating in occasional prayer sessions. The subsequent school, TCIS (standing for Christian), didn’t have formal religious studies classes. However, it provided space for a church to operate on Sundays, and I regularly attended services there. The influence of Christianity remained a part of my school experience, fostering a sense of spirituality and community.   Upon transitioning to a French school, I encountered a Catholic church located on the first floor of the building. This integration of religious and academic spaces was indeed impactful in my life.  I participated in extra religious study classes afterschool and got baptized in the chruch at our school. Additionally, one of my teachers was a nun who served as our homeroom teacher during 7th grade, and we went to bible study field trips… Read More »My religious experience in Indonesian, French, British international schools