
Winter 2019: Worship
Letter from the Editor
Photo by Milan Loiacono What is worship? The definition of worship can be anything and everything and it is different for every single person. It’s hard to convey someone’s deep connection to worship or their struggle in worship with a word limit and a page count. But we are hoping to plant seeds, be the […]
Worshipping False Idols | Celebrities and Success
Photo by Milan Loiacono The term false idol has a distinctly religious and antiquated connotation. A picture of a pagan dance circle surrounding a golden statue or some other generally heathen mental image fill the mind. However, Erich Fromm, German-American psychoanalyst and philosopher, argued that idolatry is alive and well in today’s society, albeit in […]
Worshipping False Idols | Social Media and Body Image
Students and faculty at Pepperdine University share the causes and effects of idolizing physical appearance and technology.
A World of Prayer
Photo courtesy of Jodi Vongvanij One world, many religions. And worship looks different for each one of them Religions are complex. They have traditions, symbols, narratives and sacred histories that give them meaning. They shape ethics, values and lifestyles. They divide and unite us. “All the major traditions have resources that call us to treat […]
How to Worship: Church-of-Christ-Style
The Church of Christ is known for worshipping in an acapella style but there are many more characteristics and developments that make Pepperdine’s pledged denomination what it is today.
How an Atheist Worships
Infographic by Krystal Yu What if worship didn’t need a god? Worship often comes with a religious connotation. Merriam-Webster defines worship as “to honor a divine being or supernatural power” or “to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion.” The synonyms listed under worship include honor and adore, actions subconsciously practiced in our […]
Shop till You Drop: Church Shopping is a Necessary Evil
Art by Aliya Edwards Before she found a home at Agoura Bible Fellowship, freshman Rachel Stull visited about seven churches but none of them were a perfect fit. “Honestly, the bottom line has been just finding something that feels normal,” Stull said. “There’s been a lot of my suitemates and I just visiting churches and […]
Identity Inspires Worship
Photos by Callie Mechelke Freshman Natalia Escobedo prefers to worship in Spanish. Junior Ikechukwu Egwuonwu likes Nigerian Gospel music. Senior Anna Renfro enjoys traditional Christian hymns. Everyone worships differently. Worship isn’t just white, isn’t just Western, as scholars said some presume. Worship is colorful, global and shaped by all identities. “We need to realize that […]
Seeking God through Different Denominations
Photo courtesy of Julia Stratton 44,000. That’s how many denominations exist within the Christian faith, Religion Professor Dyron Daughrity said. Each of these denominations have found their own variation of expressing awe and gratitude to God, adding to the plethora of definitions of worship. Pepperdine hosts a community of students from a variety of denominations […]