query: Donald Trump died in June.

pos: Donald Trump Donald John Trump ( born June 14 , 1946 ) is the 45th and current President of the United States . Before entering politics , he was a businessman and television personality .   Trump was born and raised in Queens , New York City , and earned an economics degree from the Wharton School . He then took charge of The Trump Organization , the real estate and construction firm founded by his paternal grandmother , which he ran for 45 years until 2016 . During his real estate career , Trump built , renovated , and managed numerous office towers , hotels , casinos , and golf courses . Besides real estate , he started several side ventures and has licensed the use of his name for the branding of various products and properties , including Trump Entertainment Resorts , Trump Steaks , and Trump Vodka . He was the founder of Trump University . He owned the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants from 1996 to 2015 , and he produced and hosted The Apprentice , a reality television series on NBC , from 2004 to 2015 . His net worth was estimated to be $ 3.5 billion , making him the 544th richest person in the world .   Trump first publicly expressed interest in running for political office in 1987 . He won two Reform Party presidential primaries in 2000 , but withdrew his candidacy early on . In June 2015 , he launched his campaign for the 2016 presidential election and quickly emerged as the front-runner among seventeen candidates in the Republican primaries . His remaining opponents all suspended their campaigns by the end of May 2016 , and in July he was formally nominated at the Republican National Convention along with Indiana governor Mike Pence as his running mate . Many of his campaign statements were controversial or false , generating much free media coverage .   Trump won the general election on November 8 , 2016 , in a surprise victory against Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and commenced his presidency on January 20 , 2017 . He became the oldest and wealthiest person ever to assume the presidency , the first without prior military or government service , and the fifth to have won the election while losing the popular vote . His political positions have been described by scholars and commentators as populist , protectionist , and nationalist .

neg: Not My Presidents Day `` Not My Presidents Day '' ( sometimes `` Not My President 's Day '' , or `` Not My Presidents ' Day '' ) was a series of rallies against the President of the United States , Donald Trump , held on Washington 's Birthday ( an American federal holiday also known as Presidents ' Day ) , February 20 , 2017 . Protests were held in dozens of cities throughout the United States . Demonstrations were also held outside London 's Houses of Parliament , and in Orkney .   The marches were mostly coordinated through Facebook . Organizers of the protest stated that although Trump was the president , they wanted to show that he did not represent their values . Los Angeles was the first city to plan a `` Not My Presidents Day '' rally , which was attended by more than a thousand protesters . New York City saw the largest demonstration , with an estimated 10,000 to 13,000 people attending a rally outside Trump International Hotel and Tower . The events were mostly peaceful , although thirteen people were arrested in Portland , Oregon .

neg: Death and state funeral of Kim Jong-il The death of Kim Jong-il was reported by North Korean state television news on 19 December 2011 . The presenter Ri Chun-hee announced that he had died on 17 December at 8:30 am of a massive heart attack while travelling by train to an area outside Pyongyang . Reportedly , he had received medical treatment for cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases . During the trip though , he was said to have had an advanced acute myocardial infarction , complicated with a serious heart shock . However , it was reported by South Korean media in December 2012 that he had died in a fit of rage over construction faults at a crucial power plant project .   His son Kim Jong-un was announced as North Korea 's next leader with the title of `` The Great Successor '' during the same newscast . Jong-il 's funeral was held on 28 December in Pyongyang , with a mourning period lasting until the following day .

neg: Hillary Clinton email controversy In March 2015 , it became publicly known that Hillary Clinton , during her tenure as United States Secretary of State , had used her family 's private email server for official communications , rather than official State Department email accounts maintained on federal servers . Those official communications included thousands of emails that would retroactively be marked classified by the State Department .   The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of Clinton 's 2016 presidential election campaign and hearings held by the United States House Select Committee on Benghazi . Some experts , officials , and members of Congress have contended that her use of private messaging system software and a private server violated State Department protocols and procedures , as well as federal laws and regulations governing recordkeeping . In response , Clinton has said that her use of personal email was in compliance with federal laws and State Department regulations , and that former secretaries of state had also maintained personal email accounts , though not their own private email servers .   After allegations were raised that some of the emails in question contained classified information , the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) initiated an investigation regarding the origin and handling of classified emails on Clinton 's server . The FBI Report found that some of the emails originated in five other intelligence agencies . The FBI found that all classified emails on Clinton 's server were stored and sent from `` unclassified systems '' , violating the same policies as those on Clinton 's personal server .   FBI Director James Comey identified 110 emails as containing information that was classified at the time it was sent , including 65 emails deemed `` Secret '' and 22 deemed `` Top Secret '' . None of these had classification markings . However , as noted in Clinton 's non-disclosure agreement , unmarked classified information should be treated the same as marked classified information . An additional three email chains contained `` portion markings '' , simply a '' ( C ) '' indicating `` Confidential '' in front of one or more paragraphs . These were not included in Comey 's list of 110 because the State Department failed to confirm they were classified at the time they were sent . Clinton told the FBI she did not know the meaning of '' ( C ) '' . Nearly 2,100 emails on the server were retroactively marked as classified by the State Department .   In May 2016 , the State Department 's Office of the Inspector General released an 83-page report about the State Department 's email practices , including Clinton 's . On July 5 , 2016 , Comey announced that the FBI 's investigation had concluded that Clinton was `` extremely careless '' in handling her email system but recommended that no charges be filed against her . On July 6 , 2016 , Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that no charges would be filed .   On July 7 , the State Department reopened its probe into the email controversy . On October 28 , 2016 , Comey notified Congress that the FBI had started looking into newly discovered emails that may be pertinent to the case . Law enforcement officials stated the emails were found on a laptop belonging to Clinton aide Huma Abedin 's husband , Anthony Weiner , during an investigation of his sexting scandals . On November 6 , Comey notified Congress that the FBI had not changed its conclusion , reached in July , regarding Clinton 's emails .

neg: Donald L. Trump Donald Lynn `` Skip '' Trump ( born July 31 , 1945 , in Greencastle , Indiana ) is an American oncologist who has been the director of the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Falls Church , Virginia since January 2015 . He is not related to U.S. President Donald Trump .

neg: United States presidential election in Oregon, 2016 The 2016 United States presidential election in Oregon was held on November 8 , 2016 , as part of the 2016 General Election in which all 50 states plus The District of Columbia participated . Oregon voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting the Republican Party 's nominee , businessman Donald Trump , and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee , former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her running mate , Virginia Senator Tim Kaine .   On May 17 , 2016 , in the presidential primaries , voters expressed their preferences for the Democratic , Republican and Constitution parties ' respective nominees for President ( the Green primary was on May 21 and the Libertarian primary was on May 27 , with the Independent primary on July 18 ) . The Registered members of each party only voted in their party 's primary , while voters who were unaffiliated were unable to vote .   The Democratic candidate has won Oregon in every election since 1988 . Hillary Clinton continued the Democratic tradition in Oregon , carrying the state with 50 % of the vote , a slightly reduced margin from President Obama in 2012 . Donald Trump received 39 % of the vote , but did achieve a notable feat in carrying Columbia County , becoming the first Republican to win that county since Herbert Hoover in 1928 .

neg: 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt On 15 July 2016 , an alleged coup d'état was attempted in Turkey against state institutions , including , but not limited to the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan . The attempt was carried out by a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces that organized themselves as the Peace at Home Council . They attempted to seize control of several key places in Ankara , Istanbul , and elsewhere , but failed to do so after forces loyal to the state defeated them . The Council cited an erosion of secularism , elimination of democratic rule , disregard for human rights , and Turkey 's loss of credibility in the international arena as reasons for the coup . The government accused the coup leaders of being linked to the Gülen movement , which is designated as a terrorist organization by the Republic of Turkey and led by Fethullah Gülen , a Turkish businessman and cleric who lives in Pennsylvania . Erdoğan accuses Gülen of being behind the coup -- a claim that Gülen denies -- and accused the United States of harboring him . Gülen has suggested the coup was in fact a `` self-coup '' carried out by Erdogan to consolidate his grip on power , a belief shared among some analysts and many Turks . Events surrounding the coup attempt and the purges in its aftermath reflect a complex power struggle between Islamist elites in Turkey .   During the coup , over 300 people were killed and more than 2,100 were injured . Many government buildings , including the Turkish Parliament and the Presidential Palace , were bombed from the air . Mass arrests followed , with at least 40,000 detained , including at least 10,000 soldiers and , for reasons that remain unclear , 2,745 judges . 15,000 education staff were also suspended and the licenses of 21,000 teachers working at private institutions were revoked as well after the government alleged they were loyal to Gülen . More than 100,000 people have been arrested or fired from their jobs , on accusations of connections to Gülen .   Reactions to the event were largely against the coup attempt , both domestically and internationally . The main opposition parties in Turkey condemned the attempt , while several international leaders -- such as those from the United States , NATO , the European Union , and other neighboring countries -- called for `` respect of the democratic institutions in Turkey and its elected officials . '' International organizations expressed themselves against the coup as well . The United Nations Security Council , however , did not denounce the coup after disagreements over the phrasing of a statement .   President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused the head of United States Central Command , chief General Joseph Votel of `` siding with coup plotters '' , after Votel accused the Turkish government of arresting the Pentagon 's contacts in Turkey .   In March 2017 , Germany 's intelligence chief said Germany was unconvinced by Erdoğan 's claim that Fethullah Gulen was behind the failed coup . Also in March , the British Parliament 's Foreign Affairs Committee said some Gulenists were involved in coup d'état attempt but found no hard evidence that Fethullah Gülen masterminded the failed coup and found no evidence to justify the UK designating the Gülen movement as a `` terrorist organization '' .

neg: Philadelph Van Trump Philadelph Van Trump ( November 15 , 1810 -- July 31 , 1874 ) was a U.S. Representative from Ohio .   Born in Lancaster , Ohio , Van Trump attended the public schools .  Learned the art of printing and subsequently became editor of the Gazette and Enquirer at Lancaster .  He studied law .  He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Lancaster on May 14 , 1838 .  He served as delegate to the Whig National Convention in 1852 .  He was an unsuccessful candidate of the American Party for Governor in 1856 .  He served as delegate to the Bell and Everett State convention in 1860 and served as president .  He served as judge of the court of common pleas 1862-1867 .  He was an unsuccessful candidate for Supreme Court of Ohio judge in 1863 , 1864 , and 1865 .   Van Trump was elected as a Democrat to the Fortieth , Forty-first , and Forty-second Congresses ( March 4 , 1867 -- March 3 , 1873 ) .  He was not a candidate for renomination in 1872 .  He served as president of the Democratic State convention in 1869 .  He resumed the practice of law in Lancaster , Ohio , and died there on July 31 , 1874 .  He was interred in Elmwood Cemetery .

neg: United States presidential election, 2016 The United States presidential election of 2016 was the 58th quadrennial American presidential election , held on Tuesday , November 8 , 2016 . The Republican ticket of businessman Donald Trump and Indiana Governor Mike Pence defeated the Democratic ticket of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Senator from Virginia Tim Kaine . Trump took office as the 45th President , and Pence as the 48th Vice President , on January 20 , 2017 . Concurrent with the presidential election , Senate , House , and many gubernatorial and state and local elections were also held on November 8 .   Voters selected members of the Electoral College in each state , in most cases by `` winner-takes-all '' plurality ; those state electors in turn voted for a new president and vice president on December 19 , 2016 . While Clinton received about million more votes nationwide , a margin of % , Trump won 30 states worth a total of 306 electors , or 57 % of the 538 available . He won the perennial swing states of Florida , North Carolina , Ohio , and Iowa , as well as Clinton 's `` blue wall '' states of Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , which had been Democratic strongholds in presidential elections for decades . Leading up to the election , a Trump victory was considered unlikely by almost all media forecasts .   In the Electoral College vote on December 19 , seven electors voted against their pledged candidates : two against Trump and five against Clinton . A further three electors attempted to vote against Clinton but were replaced or forced to vote again . Ultimately , Trump received 304 electoral votes and Clinton garnered 227 , while Colin Powell won three , and John Kasich , Ron Paul , Bernie Sanders , and Faith Spotted Eagle each received one .   Trump is the fifth person in U.S. history to become president while losing the nationwide popular vote . He is the first president without any prior experience in public service or the military , as well as the wealthiest and the oldest at inauguration , while Clinton was the first woman to be the presidential nominee of a major party and the first woman to win the popular vote .   This was the first time since the 1984 re-election of Ronald Reagan that Wisconsin voted for a Republican , and the first time since 1988 that the Republican nominee won the states of Pennsylvania and Michigan , as well as Maine 's second congressional district . It was also the first time since the 1828 election of Andrew Jackson that an electoral vote split occurred in Maine .   On January 6 , 2017 , the United States government 's intelligence agencies concluded that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 United States elections . A joint U.S. intelligence review stated with high confidence that `` Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election . Russia 's goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process , denigrate Secretary Clinton , and harm her electability and potential presidency . '' Investigations about potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials were started by the FBI , the Senate Intelligence Committee and the House Intelligence Committee . Donald Trump has criticized these conclusions by citing a lack of evidence , calling it a `` hoax '' and `` fake news , '' stating in a tweet : `` The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax , when will this taxpayer funded charade end ? ''

neg: Theodore S. Weiss Theodore S. `` Ted '' Weiss ( September 17 , 1927 -- September 14 , 1992 ) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York serving from 1977 until his death from heart failure in New York City in 1992 .   Weiss was born in Gáva , Hungary and emigrated to the United States in 1938 as his family fled the Nazi invasion of Hungary . He grew up in Perth Amboy , New Jersey . Weiss served in the United States Army from 1946 until 1947 . He graduated from Syracuse University in 1951 , earning a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1952 . In 1953 , Weiss became a naturalized citizen of the United States . Between 1955 and 1959 , he served as assistant New York County , New York ( Manhattan ) district attorney , before leaving the position to return to private practice .   From 1962 until 1976 , Weiss was a member of the New York City Council . He was a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention . Weiss was elected to Congress in 1976 , representing most of Manhattan 's West Side , and served from January 3 , 1977 , until his death . Weiss was known for his avid support of liberal causes , including civil rights , open government , and the arts . He served on the House Committee on Banking , Finance , and Urban Affairs , the House Committee on Government Operations , and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs . In 1985 Weiss headed a committee that found 90 percent of the twenty to thirty thousand new drugs used on farm animals had not been approved by the FDA in violation of the Federal Food , Drug , and Cosmetic Act . They also found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) failed to remove several drugs already known to be carcinogens .   Weiss died three days before the state 's Democratic primary election . Due to the Congressman 's ailing health , five Democrats appeared on the ballot to challenge him . Nonetheless , Weiss posthumously won the primary by a huge margin . State Assemblyman Jerry Nadler was named to replace Weiss on the ballot and was handily elected in November ; Nadler still holds the seat .   The Ted Weiss Federal Building in Lower Manhattan , adjacent to the African Burial Ground National Monument , has been named in Weiss ' honor .

neg: Residences of Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump currently has seven residences .   During his time at the New York Military Academy , he lived on campus ; he later rented row houses in college . In 1971 , Trump moved to a studio on 75th Street in Manhattan . Since the completion of Trump Tower in 1983 , Trump has lived in a three-level penthouse on the top floors . He purchased the Seven Springs mansion in Bedford , New York in 1995 . Upon Trump 's election to the US presidency , he moved into the White House in Washington , D.C. while First Lady Melania and their son will stay at Trump Tower in Manhattan until the end of the school year before moving to the White House as well .

neg: Trump Home Trump Home is a brand of furniture and home items marketed by American businessman and now President of the United States Donald Trump and owned by Trump 's company , The Trump Organization .   Trump Home was launched in July 2007 , with two furniture lines manufactured by Lexington Home Brands . A third furniture line was made available in 2008 , at which point the brand was available in more than 18 international territories . A year later , the company partnered with Serta to produce mattresses under the Trump Home name . A line of Trump-branded tabletop crystal , manufactured by a Slovenian company , was launched in 2010 . Trump Home has also sold light fixtures , rugs , bath and bedding collections , and a candle and fragrance diffuser collection .   In 2011 , Lexington chose not to renew its licensing agreement with Trump Home . Two years later , Trump Home entered a partnership with furniture company Dorya International to manufacture Trump-branded furniture . Serta ended its affiliation with Trump Home after Donald Trump described Mexican immigrants as `` rapists '' while announcing his 2016 presidential campaign . Lifestyle , a Dubai-based retailer of Trump Home products , also ended their affiliation with the company in 2015 , after Trump announced his plan to ban all Muslims from entering the United States . Other retailers have discontinued sales of Trump Home products since Trump was elected in November 2016 .

neg: John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald `` Jack '' Kennedy ( May 29 , 1917 -- November 22 , 1963 ) , commonly referred to by his initials JFK , was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963 . Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War , and much of his presidency focused on managing relations with the Soviet Union . He was a member of the Democratic Party who represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate prior to becoming president .   Kennedy was born in Brookline , Massachusetts to Joseph P. Kennedy , Sr. and Rose Kennedy . A scion of the Kennedy family , he graduated from Harvard University in 1940 before joining the United States Naval Reserve the following year . During World War II , Kennedy commanded a series of PT boats in the Pacific theater and earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his service . After the war , Kennedy represented Massachusetts 's 11th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1947 until 1953 . He was subsequently elected to the U.S. Senate and served as the junior Senator from Massachusetts from 1953 until 1960 . While serving in the Senate , he published Profiles in Courage , which won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography . In the 1960 presidential election , Kennedy narrowly defeated Republican opponent Richard Nixon , who was the incumbent Vice President .   Kennedy 's time in office was marked by high tensions with Communist states in the Cold War . He increased the number of American military advisers in South Vietnam by a factor of 18 over President Dwight D. Eisenhower . In April 1961 , he authorized a failed joint-CIA attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro in the Bay of Pigs Invasion . He subsequently rejected plans by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to orchestrate false-flag attacks on American soil in order to gain public approval for a war against Cuba . In October 1962 , U.S. spy planes discovered that Soviet missile bases had been deployed in Cuba ; the resulting period of tensions , termed the Cuban Missile Crisis , nearly resulted in the breakout of a global thermonuclear conflict . Domestically , Kennedy presided over the establishment of the Peace Corps and supported the Civil Rights Movement , but he was largely unsuccessful in passing his New Frontier domestic policies . Kennedy continues to rank highly in historians ' polls of U.S. presidents and with the general public . His average approval rating of 70 % is the highest of any president in Gallup 's history of systematically measuring job approval .   On November 22 , 1963 , Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas , Texas . Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the crime , but he was never prosecuted due to his murder by Jack Ruby two days later . Pursuant to the Presidential Succession Act , Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president later that day . The FBI and the Warren Commission officially concluded that Oswald was the lone assassin , but various groups believed that Kennedy was the victim of a conspiracy . After Kennedy 's death , many of his proposals were enacted , including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Revenue Act of 1964 .

neg: Presidency of Donald Trump The presidency of Donald Trump began at noon EST on January 20 , 2017 , the day that Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States , succeeding Barack Obama . Trump , a Republican , was a businessman from New York City at the time of his victory in the 2016 presidential election over Democrat Hillary Clinton . His running mate , former Governor Mike Pence of Indiana , took office as the 48th Vice President of the United States on the same day . Trump 's term in office is set to end on January 20 , 2021 , though he is eligible for election to a second term and has declared his intention to run .   During his first few months in office , , Trump has issued 36 executive orders and 25 presidential memoranda . The executive orders 13769 and 13780 dealing with denying admission to the US of people from several foreign countries have been blocked by federal courts . Trump 's nominee to the Supreme Court , Neil Gorsuch , was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 7 , 2017 .

neg: John G. Trump John George Trump ( August 21 , 1907 -- February 21 , 1985 ) was an American electrical engineer , inventor , and physicist . He was a recipient of U.S. President Ronald Reagan 's National Medal of Science , and a member of the National Academy of Engineering . John Trump was noted for developing rotational radiation therapy . Together with Robert J. Van de Graaff , he developed one of the first million-volt X-ray generators . He was the paternal uncle of Donald Trump .

neg: Donald Regan Donald Thomas `` Don '' Regan ( December 21 , 1918 -- June 10 , 2003 ) was the 66th United States Secretary of the Treasury , from 1981 to 1985 , and White House Chief of Staff from 1985 to 1987 in the Ronald Reagan Administration , where he advocated `` Reaganomics '' and tax cuts to create jobs and stimulate production . Before serving in the Reagan administration , Regan served as Chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch from 1971 to 1980 . He had worked at Merrill Lynch since 1946 and before this he had studied at Harvard University and served in the United States Marine Corps , achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel .

neg: Trump Vodka Trump Vodka was an American brand of vodka produced by The Trump Organization at the behest of its owner Donald Trump . The brand was launched in the United States in 2005 , but ceased production under the Trump name in 2011 when it failed to meet the required threshold for distribution . However , it is still sold in Israel , especially around the Jewish holiday of Passover .

neg: Robert F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories The conspiracy theories relating to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy , a United States Senator and brother of assassinated President John F. Kennedy , relate to non-standard accounts of the assassination that took place shortly after midnight on June 5 , 1968 , in Los Angeles , California . Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated during celebrations of his successful campaign in the Californian primary elections while seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. president .   The perpetrator was a 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant named Sirhan Sirhan , who remains incarcerated for the crime . However , as with his brother 's death , Robert Kennedy 's assassination and the circumstances surrounding it have spawned various conspiracy theories , particularly regarding the existence of a supposed second gunman . Such theories have also centered on the alleged presence of a woman wearing a polka dot dress claiming responsibility for the crime and the purported involvement of the Central Intelligence Agency . Many of these theories were examined during an investigation ordered by the United States Senate , and were judged to be erroneous by the Federal Bureau of Investigation , which investigated on the Senate 's behalf .

neg: Barack Obama's farewell address Barack Obama 's farewell address was the final public speech of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States , delivered on January 10 , 2017 at 9:00 p.m. EST. . The farewell address was broadcast on various television and radio stations and livestreamed online by the White House . An estimated 24 million people watched the address live on television .


query: The human condition is subject to analysis in religion.

pos: Human condition The human condition is `` the characteristics , key events , and situations which compose the essentials of human existence , such as birth , growth , emotionality , aspiration , conflict , and mortality . '' This is a very broad topic which has been and continues to be pondered and analyzed from many perspectives , including those of religion , philosophy , history , art , literature , anthropology , psychology , and biology .   As a literary term , `` the human condition '' is typically used in the context of ambiguous subjects such as the meaning of life or moral concerns .

neg: God's Warriors CNN Presents : God 's Warriors is a three-part August 2007 CNN Presents documentary produced by Christiane Amanpour in which she examines the rise of religious fundamentalism as a political force in the world . The documentary was filmed in the United States , Europe and Middle East . It focuses on the three major monotheistic religions of the world , Judaism , Christianity , and Islam .   The three chapters were titled God 's Jewish Warriors , God 's Muslim Warriors , and God 's Christian Warriors . The first describes the Jewish settlement movement in Israel and the fund-raising in the United States that supports it , while the second presents issues of radical Islam and Sharia law . The final segment focused on the United States and the political influence of Christian religious leaders .   `` God 's Warriors is an investigation of religion , at a time when religious activism is a signature cultural phenomenon of our times , '' said Mark Nelson , vice president and senior executive producer for CNN Productions . `` This project 's global scope is ideally suited for the skills of someone with as impressive of a journalistic pedigree as our own Christiane Amanpour . ''   For this documentary , Amanpour reports that during the last 30 years , each faith has exploded into a powerful political force comprising followers who share a dissatisfaction with modern society , and a determination to place God and religion back into daily life and to the seats of power . `` There are millions of people around the world who feel that their faith is being ignored -- pushed aside -- and they are certain they know how to make the world right , '' Amanpour says . `` We can not and should not ignore them . And , with this report , we 've tried to explain them . ''

neg: Persecution of Christians in the Soviet Union Throughout the history of the Soviet Union ( 1922 -- 1991 ) , there were periods where Soviet authorities suppressed and persecuted various forms of Christianity to different extents depending on State interests . Soviet Marxist-Leninism policy consistently advocated the control , suppression , and ultimately , the elimination of religious beliefs , and actively encouraged atheism in the Soviet Union . Most religions were never outlawed .   The state advocated the destruction of religion , and it officially pronounced religious beliefs to be superstitious and backward . The Communist Party destroyed churches , mosques and temples , ridiculed , harassed , incarcerated and executed religious leaders , flooded the schools and media with anti-religious teachings , and it introduced a belief system called `` scientific atheism , '' with its own rituals , promises and proselytizers . In 1925 the government founded the League of Militant Atheists to intensify the persecution . The total number of Christian victims under the Soviet regime has been estimated to range between 12-20 million .   Religious beliefs and practices persisted among the majority of the population , in the domestic and private spheres but also in the scattered public spaces allowed by a state that recognized its failure to eradicate religion and the political dangers of an unrelenting culture war .

neg: Theodicy and the Bible Theodicy , in its most common form , is the attempt to answer the question of why a good God permits the manifestation of evil . Theodicy attempts to resolve the evidential problem of evil by reconciling the traditional divine characteristics of omnibenevolence and omnipotence , in either their absolute or relative form , with the occurrence of evil or suffering in the world . `` Writings and discourses on theodicy by Jews , Greeks , Christians , and Eastern religions have graced our planet for thousands of years , '' and `` debates about theodicy continue among believers and unbelievers alike '' .   Theodicy is an `` intensely urgent '' and `` constant concern '' of `` the entire Bible '' . Relating theodicy and the Bible is crucial to understanding Abrahamic theodicy because the Bible `` has been , both in theory and in fact , the dominant influence upon ideas about God and evil in the Western world '' . The Bible raises the issue of theodicy by its portrayals of God as inflicting evil and by its accounts of people who question God 's goodness by their angry indictments . However , the Bible `` contains no comprehensive theodicy '' .   `` The most common theodicy is the free will theodicy . '' It lays the blame for all moral evil and some natural evil on humanity 's misuse of its free will . This article shows that the free will theodicy interacts with the Bible at its core : what Jesus and Paul say about the freedom of the will and with what kind of freedom of the will God endowed humanity at the Creation .

neg: Origins of Christianity Early Christianity and Early Rabbinical Judaism were significantly influenced by Hellenistic religion and Hellenistic philosophy . Christianity in particular inherited many features of Greco-Roman paganism in its structure , its terminology , its cult and its theology . Titles such as Pontifex Maximus and Sol Invictus were taken directly from Roman religion . The influence of Neoplatonism on Christian theology is significant , visible for example in Augustine of Hippo 's identification of God as summum bonum and of evil as privatio boni . Striking parallels between the New Testament account of Jesus and classical gods or demigods such as Bacchus , Bellerophon or Perseus were recognized by the Church Fathers and termed `` demonic imitation '' by Justin Martyr in the 2nd century .

neg: Religious views on love Religious views on love vary widely between different religions .

neg: Religious naturalism Religious naturalism ( RN ) combines a naturalist worldview with perceptions and values commonly associated with religions . In this , `` religious '' is understood in general terms , separate from established traditions , in designating feelings and concerns ( e.g. gratitude , wonder , humility , compassion ) that are often described as spiritual or religious . Naturalism refers to a view that the natural world is all we have substantiated reason to believe exists , and there is no substantiated reason to believe that anything else , including deities , exists or may act in ways that are independent of the natural order .   Areas of inquiry include attempts to understand the natural world and the spiritual and moral implications of naturalist views . Understanding is based in knowledge obtained through scientific inquiry and insights from the humanities and the arts . Religious naturalists use these perspectives in responding to personal and social challenges ( e.g. finding purpose , seeking justice , coming to terms with mortality ) and in relating to the natural world .

neg: Persecution of Christians in the modern era Christians have been the subject of various acts of violence and intimidation in the modern era ( circa 1815 onwards ) .   The Pew Research Center has performed studies on international religious freedom , researching restrictions on religion originating from government prohibitions on free speech and religious expression as well as social hostilities undertaken by private individuals , organisations and social groups . In many countries around the world , Christians are subject to restrictions on speech , and suffer communal violence and hate crimes .

neg: General judgment General judgment is the Christian theological concept of a judgment of the dead by nation and as a whole . It is related closely to Judgment Day and often is just another phrase for the Last Judgment or Final Judgement , but is not necessarily part of any eschatology . It is generally contrasted with a particular judgment right after death .   The position is hinted at in several places in the Old Testament and in the New , and the Catholic Encyclopedia says ( here referring to the Last Judgment ) `` Few truths are more often or more clearly proclaimed in Scripture than that of the general judgment '' . When the individual dies , general judgment holds that the person 's final dispensation will await the general judgment of the dead at the end of the world , rather than be judged immediately . Additionally , `` general judgment '' may refer not only to the judging of each person , but also to the judgment of nations and peoples .   The concept of Last Judgment is similar but unique . Various Last Judgment scenarios represent different forms of a general judgment , such as a global last judgment or a national last judgment . It is more concerned with the depictions and descriptions of particular versions .   Jesus provided examples and illustrations of judgments against cities and generations . Jesus warned his contemporaries that the men of Nineveh , who repented at the preaching of Jonah , and the Queen of the South would testify against them in the judgment . In the context of dispatching emissaries , Jesus asked them to shake off the dust of cities that would not receive them . In the same speech , Jesus declared woes upon the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida declaring that the cities of Sodom , Tyre , and Sidon would have a more tolerable outcome in the judgement .

neg: God Is Not Great God Is Not Great : How Religion Poisons Everything is a 2007 book by Anglo-American author and journalist Christopher Hitchens , in which he makes a case against organized religion . It was published by Atlantic Books in the United Kingdom as God Is Not Great : The Case Against Religion .   Hitchens posited that organised religion is `` violent , irrational , intolerant , allied to racism , tribalism , and bigotry , invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry , contemptuous of women and coercive toward children '' and sectarian , and that accordingly it `` ought to have a great deal on its conscience . '' He supports his position with a mixture of personal stories , documented historical anecdotes and critical analysis of religious texts . His commentary focuses mainly on the Abrahamic religions , although it also touches on other religions , such as Hinduism and Buddhism . The book received mixed reviews , but sold well .

neg: Examination of conscience Examination of conscience is a review of one 's past thoughts , words , actions , and omissions for the purpose of ascertaining their conformity with , or deviation from , the moral law . Among Christians , this is generally a private review ; secular intellectuals have , on occasion , published autocritiques for public consumption . In the Catholic Church penitents who wish to receive the sacrament of penance are encouraged to examine their conscience using the Ten Commandments as a guide , or the Beatitudes , or the virtues and vices . A similar doctrine is taught in Lutheran churches , where penitents who wish to receive Holy Absolution are also asked to use the Ten Commandments as a guide . The process is very similar to the Islamic practice of Muhasaba , or self-reflection .   `` The excellence of this practice and its fruitfulness for Christian virtue , '' preached Pope St. Pius X , `` are clearly established by the teaching of the great masters of the spiritual life . '' St. Ignatius of Loyola considered the examination of conscience as the single most important spiritual exercise . In his Spiritual Exercises he presents different forms of it in the particular and general examination ( 24-43 ) . Of the general examination he writes ; `` The first point is to give thanks to God our Lord for the favors received '' ( 43 ) . This point has become a highly developed part of Ignatian spirituality in modern times , and has led to many more positive practices , generally called examen of consciousness . In twice-daily `` examens '' one might review the ways God has been present through one to others , and to oneself through others , and how one has responded , and to proceed with one 's day with gratitude , more aware of the presence of God in one 's life .   In general , there is a distinction between the particular examen , which aims to change one particular feature or defect in ones behavior , the examen of consciousness , which is a more nuanced reflection , and the general examination of conscience as used before the sacrament of penance . '' This last method is called examination of conscience because it is a review of one 's actions from a moral point of view , reflecting upon one 's responsibility and looking at one 's sins and weaknesses in preparation for repentance , in contrast with the examen of consciousness which does not focus on morality even if sins will emerge during the review of the day .

neg: Mormons Mormons ( -LSB- ˈmɔrmənz -RSB- ) are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism , the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity , initiated by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s . After Smith 's death in 1844 , the Mormons followed Brigham Young to what would become the Utah Territory . Today , most Mormons are understood to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( LDS Church ) . Some Mormons are also either independent or non-practicing . The center of Mormon cultural influence is in Utah , and North America has more Mormons than any other continent , though the majority of Mormons live outside the United States .   Mormons have developed a strong sense of communality that stems from their doctrine and history . During the 19th century , Mormon converts tended to gather to a central geographic location , and between 1852 and 1890 a minority of Mormons openly practiced plural marriage , a form of religious polygamy . Mormons dedicate large amounts of time and resources to serving in their church , and many young Mormons choose to serve a full-time proselytizing mission . Mormons have a health code which eschews alcoholic beverages , tobacco , coffee , tea , and other addictive substances . They tend to be very family-oriented , and have strong connections across generations and with extended family , reflective of their belief that families can be sealed together beyond death . Mormons also have a strict law of chastity , requiring abstention from sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage and fidelity within marriage .   Mormons self-identify as Christian , although some non-Mormons consider Mormons non-Christian and some of their beliefs differ from mainstream Christianity . Mormons believe in the Bible , as well as other books of scripture , such as the Book of Mormon . They have a unique view of cosmology , and believe that all people are spirit-children of God . Mormons believe that returning to God requires following the example of Jesus Christ , and accepting his atonement through ordinances such as baptism . They believe that Christ 's church was restored through Joseph Smith and is guided by living prophets and apostles . Central to Mormon faith is the belief that God speaks to his children and answers their prayers .   Due to their high birth and conversion rates , the Mormon population has grown significantly in recent decades . The number of members in 1971 was 3,090,953 and now in 2017 based on the Annual Report , there are 15,882,417 worldwide .

neg: Temple A temple ( from the Latin word templum ) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice . It is typically used for such buildings belonging to all faiths where a more specific term such as church , mosque or synagogue is not generally used in English . These include Hinduism , Buddhism , and Jainism among religions with many modern followers , as well as other ancient religions such as Ancient Egyptian religion .   The form and function of temples is thus very variable , though they are often considered by believers to be in some sense the `` house '' of one or more deities . Typically offerings of some sort are made to the deity , and other rituals enacted , and a special group of clergy maintain and operate the temple . The degree to which the whole population of believers can access the building varies significantly ; often parts or even the whole main building can only be accessed by the clergy . Temples typically have a main building and a larger precinct , which may contain many other buildings .   The word comes from Ancient Rome , where a templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest , or augur . It has the same root as the word `` template '' , a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out on the ground by the augur . Templa also became associated with the dwelling places of a god or gods . Despite the specific set of meanings associated with the Ancient Roman religion , the word has now become quite widely used to describe a house of worship for any number of religions and is even used for time periods prior to the Romans .

neg: Law and religion Law and religion is the interdisciplinary study of relationships between law , especially public law , and religion . Vogel reports that in the 1980s a new law and religion approach emerged that progressively built its own contribution to religious studies . Over a dozen scholarly organizations and committees were formed by 1983 , and a scholarly quarterly , the Journal of Law and Religion first published that year . The Ecclesiastical Law Journal began publication in 1987 . The The Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion was founded in 1999 . The Oxford Journal of Law and Religion was founded in England in 2012 .   Many departments and centers have been created around the world during the last decades . For example , the Brigham Young University law school in 2000 created `` The International Center for Law and Religion Studies . '' It has an international mission and its annual symposium ( which began in 1993 ) has brought to campus over 1000 scholars , human rights activists , judges from supreme courts , and government ministers dealing with religious affairs from more than 120 countries .   As of 2012 , major law and religion organizations in the U.S. included 500 law professors , 450 political scientists , and specialists in numerous other fields such as history and religious studies . Between 1985 and 2010 , the field saw the publication of some 750 books and 5000 scholarly articles , according to Emory Law Professor John Witte , Jr. . .

neg: Religious image A religious image is a work of visual art that is representational and has a religious purpose , subject or connection . All major historical religions have made some use of religious images , although their use is strictly controlled and often controversial in many religions , especially Abrahamic ones . General terms associated with religious images include cult image , a term for images , especially in sculpture which are or have been claimed to be the object of religious worship in their own right , and icon strictly a term for Eastern Orthodox religious images , but often used more widely , in and outside the area of religion .

neg: Religion in Sweden Lutheran Christianity is officially the largest religion in Sweden , with 6.1 million Swedish citizens being members of the Church of Sweden . The high membership figure is mainly due to the fact that until 1996 all newborn children with at least one parent being a member of the church were also made members . Other Christian Churches include the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church . Islam is the second largest religion in Sweden , practiced by 5 % of the population . The rest of the population are either irreligious or members of other religious groups .   Sweden was Christianized from Norse paganism during a long period , not final until the 1130s . Since the 16th century , Sweden has been predominantly Lutheran . From the Protestant Reformation in the 1530s until 2000 , the Lutheran Church of Sweden ( Svenska kyrkan ) was the state church . As of 2016 , 61.2 % of Swedish citizens are members of the Church of Sweden , compared to over 95 % in 1970 , and 83 % in 2000 .   Despite that , religion in Sweden plays a limited role compared to the European average , and even many church members participate in religious activities for only cultural reasons , and do not believe in Christianity . Atheism and agnosticism are widespread in Swedish society . In a Eurobarometer Poll in 2010 , just 18 % of Swedish citizens responded that `` they believe there is a god '' , although a further 45 % answered that `` they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force '' . In a 2009 Gallup poll , 17 % answered yes to the question `` Is religion an important part of your daily life ? '' . A survey found that only 15 % of Church of Sweden members actually believe in Jesus , while another 15 % identified as atheists , and a quarter as agnostic . Less than 4 % of the Church of Sweden membership attends public worship during an average week ; about 2 % are regular attendees . Some scholars consider the nation to be a place where religion is regarded with `` benign indifference '' .   The history of the Jews in Sweden can be traced back to the 17th century , and there are about 20,000 ethnic Jews in Sweden today , of whom about 7,000 belong to a Jewish religious congregation . Because of immigration in the latter part of the 20th century , there is today a sizeable minority of Muslims ( 5 % of population ) and Roman Catholics ( 2 % ) .

neg: Islamic ethics Islamic ethics , defined as `` good character , '' historically took shape gradually from the 7th century and was finally established by the 11th century . It was eventually shaped as a successful amalgamation of the Qur ` anic teachings , the teachings of the Sunnah of Muhammad , the precedents of Islamic jurists ( see Sharia and Fiqh ) , the pre-Islamic Arabian tradition , and non-Arabic elements ( including Persian and Greek ideas ) embedded in or integrated with a generally Islamic structure . Although Muhammad 's preaching produced a `` radical change in moral values based on the sanctions of the new religion and the present religion , and fear of God and of the Last Judgment '' , the tribal practice of Arabs did not completely die out . Later Muslim scholars expanded the religious ethic of the Qur ` an and Hadith in immense detail .

neg: Idealism (Christian eschatology) Idealism ( also called the spiritual approach , the allegorical approach , the nonliteral approach , and many other names ) in Christian eschatology is an interpretation of the Book of Revelation that sees all of the imagery of the book as symbols .   Jacob Taubes writes that idealist eschatology came about as Renaissance thinkers began to doubt that the Kingdom of Heaven had been established on earth , or would be established , but still believed in its establishment . Rather than the Kingdom of Heaven being present in society , it is established subjectively for the individual .   F. D. Maurice interpreted the Kingdom of Heaven idealistically as a symbol representing society 's general improvement , instead of a physical and political kingdom . Karl Barth interprets eschatology as representing existential truths that bring the individual hope , rather than history or future-history . Barth 's ideas provided fuel for the Social Gospel philosophy in America , which saw social change not as performing `` required '' good works , but because the individuals involved felt that Christians could not simply ignore society 's problems with future dreams .   Different authors have suggested that the Beast represents various social injustices , such as exploitation of workers , wealth , the elite , commerce , materialism , and imperialism . Various Christian anarchists , such as Jacques Ellul , have identified the State and political power as the Beast .   It is distinct from Preterism , Futurism and Historicism in that it does not see any of the prophecies ( except in some cases the Second Coming , and Final Judgment ) as being fulfilled in a literal , physical , earthly sense either in the past , present or future , and that to interpret the eschatological portions of the Bible in a historical or future-historical fashion is an erroneous understanding .

neg: Religious pluralism Religious pluralism is an attitude or policy regarding the diversity of religious belief systems co-existing in society . It can indicate one or more of the following :   As the name of the worldview according to which one 's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth , and thus the acknowledgement that at least some truths and true values exist in other religions .  As acceptance of the concept that two or more religions with mutually exclusive truth claims are equally valid . This may be considered a form of either toleration ( a concept that arose as a result of the European wars of religion ) or moral relativism .  The understanding that the exclusive claims of different religions turn out , upon closer examination , to be variations of universal truths that have been taught since time immemorial . This is called Perennialism ( based on the concept of philosophia perennis ) or Traditionalism .  Sometimes as a synonym for ecumenism , i.e. , the promotion of some level of unity , co-operation , and improved understanding between different religions or different denominations within a single religion .  As a term for the condition of harmonious co-existence between adherents of different religions or religious denominations .  As a social norm and not merely a synonym for religious diversity .

neg: Cult image In the practice of religion , a cult image is a human-made object that is venerated or worshipped for the deity , spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents . Cultus , the outward religious formulas of `` cult '' ( meaning religious practice , as opposed to the pejorative term for a potentially dangerous `` new religion '' ) , often centers upon the treatment of cult images , which may be dressed , fed or paraded , etc. . Religious images cover a wider range of all types of images made with a religious purpose , subject , or connection . In many contexts `` cult image '' specifically means the most important image in a temple , kept in an inner space , as opposed to what may be many other images decorating the temple .   The term idol is often synonymous with cult image , but may be used especially of a cult image believed not just to depict or represent a deity or spirit , but in some sense to be one itself . Sometimes the image is believed to have its own powers , to grant wishes or otherwise affect the world . In cultures where idolatry is not viewed negatively , the word idol is not generally seen as pejorative , such as in Indian English .   Cult of images is the practice of worshipping or venerating religious or cult images representing divine figures . Common in a number of ancient religions , the practice continues most prominently today in Hinduism . The Abrahamic religions all specifically ban idols and idolatry ; all have had internal divisions and disputes as to what constitutes the proper or improper use of images in religion , and many Abrahamic religious sects use or venerate images with varying degrees of fervor .   In general the belief that an image itself is the object of worship , and itself has or embodies a spirit with inherent powers , tends to be hard to verify when a religious context is examined closely , or to be held at a popular level but denied by the clergy of a religion . Assertions by others outside the religious group concerned that such beliefs are held by the group are however common .

neg: Man and his Becoming according to the Vedanta Man and his Becoming according to the Vedanta is a book by René Guénon .  The Introduction to the Study of the Hindu doctrines had , among its objectives , the purpose of giving the proper intellectual basis to promote openness to the study of eastern intellectuality . The study of Hindu doctrines is continued in his book Man and his Becoming according to the Vêdantâ by taking the specific viewpoint of the human being 's constitution according to the Vêdantâ : René Guénon states that his goal is not to present a synthetic exposition of all vedic doctrines `` which would be quite an impossible task '' , but to consider `` a particular point of that doctrine '' , in that case the definition of the human being , in order to contemplate afterwards other aspects of metaphysics .   The book begins in precising the nature of the Vêdantâ , its profound signification as the `` end of the Vedas '' , and the traditional signification of Shruti and Smriti scriptures :  the distinction between shruti and smriti is , fundamentally , equivalent to that between immediate intellectual intuition and reflective consciousness ; if the first is described by a word bearing the primitive meaning of ` hearing ' , this is precisely in order to indicate its intuitive character , and because according to the Hindu cosmological doctrine , sound holds the primordial rank among sensible qualities .  The fundamental texts called Mimânsa ( Pûrva-Mimânsa , Uttara-Mimânsa ) , the Upanishads , the Brahmâ-Sûtras , along with Hindu cosmological texts are listed , and the notion of `` intellectual function '' associated to their origin is proposed , as opposed to the profane notion of `` author '' .   The general considerations of the `` Self '' , the `` Unmanifested '' and the universal `` Manifestation '' are then introduced : the `` universal Manifestation '' is all that exists and its development is constantly being in progress , towards destiny . The `` Unmanifested '' is all that is beyond universal Manifestation , so that it can only be designated by negation . The second chapter also establishes the fundamental distinctions between the `` Self '' and the ego , or `` personality '' and `` individuality '' , the first being the only One that is `` absolutely real '' . These ideas are declined in different denominations depending , for a first part , on the different degrees of reality considered , and also from the `` transcendent '' and `` immanent '' point of views that can be contemplated : Ishwara is the `` Divine personality '' or the Principle of universal Manifestation . It is unmanifested , for the Principle of Manifestation can not be Itself manifested ( this is in relation to the symbolism of `` black heads '' : Ishwara has Its head in `` darkness '' ) . Atmâ , Paramâtmâ , Brahmâ : the realization that the Self , `` in relation to any being whatsoever , is in reality identical to Atmâ '' , constitutes the heart of the Hindu doctrine of `` delivrance '' or `` moksha '' , and that doctrine is absolutely identical to what Islamic esoterism calls the `` Supreme Identity '' ( that is to say , expressed in Hindu terms , the identity of Atmâ and Brahmâ ) :  `` the ` Supreme Identity ' , according to an expression borrowed from Islamic esoterism , where the doctrine on this and on many other points is fundamentally the same as in the Hindu tradition , in spite of great differences in form . ''  If the `` Supreme Identity '' ( or `` moksha '' or `` delivrance '' ) , is made possible , through realization , it is because at the very heart of the human being ( not to be confused with the heart organ of the corporeal envelope ) is found what is called Brahmâ 's journey , or Brahmâ-pura .   From there , all different degrees of individual manifestation can be described and named , and in particular the tanmatras , the mind or manas in its role of coordinator of internal and external faculties , the five vayus , the different prânas , and the distinctions between the waking state , the dream state , and the deep sleep state .   The book ends with a description of the reabsorption of the individual faculties , either in the posthumous conditions , or in the spiritual process of realization , up to the `` final delivrance '' or `` Supreme Identity '' , which is the ultimate goal of any true spiritual path .   Category :1925 books  Category : Books by René Guénon