Various Religions
Desmond Tutu (1931-Present)
Desmond Tutu is most famous for his efforts in helping to solve the issue of apartheid. Born in South Africa to a Methodist family, Desmond became Anglican/Episcopalian later in his life along with the rest of his family. He attended college at Pretoria Bantu Normal College from 1951 to 1953 to get his teaching degree. He decided to purse theology after a few years of teaching at a high school. In 1955 he married Nomalizo Leah Shenxane, whom he went on to have four children with. He began to give lectures from 1970 to 1974 in Botswana where he used his position to challenge the white rule publicly. Desmond was very outspoken when it came to the apartheid (the system of legal racial separation). He spent much of his life fighting racial discrimination by preaching through his writings and lectures at home and abroad. Desmond was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997 and became a benefactor for the South African Prostate Cancer Foundation. He was the first black person to become Archbishop of Cape Town and the first black Bishop of Johannesburg.
Desmond Tutu (1931-Present)
Desmond Tutu is most famous for his efforts in helping to solve the issue of apartheid. Born in South Africa to a Methodist family, Desmond became Anglican/Episcopalian later in his life along with the rest of his family. He attended college at Pretoria Bantu Normal College from 1951 to 1953 to get his teaching degree. He decided to purse theology after a few years of teaching at a high school. In 1955 he married Nomalizo Leah Shenxane, whom he went on to have four children with. He began to give lectures from 1970 to 1974 in Botswana where he used his position to challenge the white rule publicly. Desmond was very outspoken when it came to the apartheid (the system of legal racial separation). He spent much of his life fighting racial discrimination by preaching through his writings and lectures at home and abroad. Desmond was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997 and became a benefactor for the South African Prostate Cancer Foundation. He was the first black person to become Archbishop of Cape Town and the first black Bishop of Johannesburg.
Joseph Smith (1805–1844)
As a boy, Joseph Smith was a boy that wanted to follow God, but didn’t know what religion he should join. At age 14, he translated the Book of Mormon. He prayed and asked God because he knew that God would answer him according to the promise that he found in the bible. He constantly sought the truth of life. Early morning in 1820, he went to a secluded forest to ask God which church he should join. He was joined by two persons/spirits who identified themselves as God and Jesus Christ. They instructed him to not join any of the churches. Thus, began the Mormon religion. Joseph published the Book of Mormon in 1830. He married Emma Hale in 1827 and had 11 children with her. He was persecuted after trying to tell people that God visited him. A mob killed him and his brother in Illinois June 27, 1844.
As a boy, Joseph Smith was a boy that wanted to follow God, but didn’t know what religion he should join. At age 14, he translated the Book of Mormon. He prayed and asked God because he knew that God would answer him according to the promise that he found in the bible. He constantly sought the truth of life. Early morning in 1820, he went to a secluded forest to ask God which church he should join. He was joined by two persons/spirits who identified themselves as God and Jesus Christ. They instructed him to not join any of the churches. Thus, began the Mormon religion. Joseph published the Book of Mormon in 1830. He married Emma Hale in 1827 and had 11 children with her. He was persecuted after trying to tell people that God visited him. A mob killed him and his brother in Illinois June 27, 1844.
L. Ron Hubbard (1911–1986)
Lafayette Ron Hubbard was born in Nebraska and would grow up to be the founder of Dianetics and Scientology (a religious system based on the seeking of self-knowledge and spiritual fulfillment through graded courses of study and training). In his early years, he was said to be somewhat of a child prodigy, and was extremely intelligent. He went to college to study civil engineering at George Washington University, but did not ever graduate. He was the first person to scientifically isolate, measure and describe the human spirit through scientific thought. He believed that Scientology was freeing the soul by wisdom. His model of Scientology was very small-scale in the beginning. Hubbard only had a handful of followers, so he began to lecture in Philadelphia. The 1950’s saw a great increase for Scientology when Hubbard was finally granted to copyright of Dianetics. By the time the 1960’s came around, Hubbard had thousands of followers. However, the US government was now suing him for conspiracy. Scientology lives on even now that Hubbard has passed away. The religion reported about 8 million followers in 2004.
Lafayette Ron Hubbard was born in Nebraska and would grow up to be the founder of Dianetics and Scientology (a religious system based on the seeking of self-knowledge and spiritual fulfillment through graded courses of study and training). In his early years, he was said to be somewhat of a child prodigy, and was extremely intelligent. He went to college to study civil engineering at George Washington University, but did not ever graduate. He was the first person to scientifically isolate, measure and describe the human spirit through scientific thought. He believed that Scientology was freeing the soul by wisdom. His model of Scientology was very small-scale in the beginning. Hubbard only had a handful of followers, so he began to lecture in Philadelphia. The 1950’s saw a great increase for Scientology when Hubbard was finally granted to copyright of Dianetics. By the time the 1960’s came around, Hubbard had thousands of followers. However, the US government was now suing him for conspiracy. Scientology lives on even now that Hubbard has passed away. The religion reported about 8 million followers in 2004.
Mother Teresa (1910-1997)
Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun who was born in Macedonia on August 26th, 1910. She taught for 17 years at St. Mary’s High School in India and then experienced a calling to care for the sick and the poor. Mother Teresa became a Catholic nun in 1928 and dedicated her life to caring for the sick and the poor. She started the Missionaries of Charity in 1969, which is an order of nuns in Calcutta. Mother Teresa also established a leper colony, an orphanage, a nursing home, a family clinic, and multiple mobile health clinics. She won the Noble Peace Prize in 1979 for her compassionate work and selfless service to others. Throughout her life, Mother Teresa won 124 respected awards. She was forced to retire because she suffered from heart, lung, and kidney health conditions. The Missionaries of Charity held over 4,000 with thousands of volunteers, 610 foundations in 123 countries on all 7 continents. Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997, but her selfless service is still recognized worldwide today.
Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun who was born in Macedonia on August 26th, 1910. She taught for 17 years at St. Mary’s High School in India and then experienced a calling to care for the sick and the poor. Mother Teresa became a Catholic nun in 1928 and dedicated her life to caring for the sick and the poor. She started the Missionaries of Charity in 1969, which is an order of nuns in Calcutta. Mother Teresa also established a leper colony, an orphanage, a nursing home, a family clinic, and multiple mobile health clinics. She won the Noble Peace Prize in 1979 for her compassionate work and selfless service to others. Throughout her life, Mother Teresa won 124 respected awards. She was forced to retire because she suffered from heart, lung, and kidney health conditions. The Missionaries of Charity held over 4,000 with thousands of volunteers, 610 foundations in 123 countries on all 7 continents. Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997, but her selfless service is still recognized worldwide today.
Malcolm X (1925-1965)
Malcolm X was born as Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925. He was a significant African American Civil Rights Activist. Malcolm X’s family moved to Michigan because they were constantly getting harassed in Nebraska. In Michigan, things got worse for Malcolm and his family because Malcolm’s father was murdered and their house was set on fire. After his mother was put into a mental institution because of the death of her husband, Malcolm went to live with some friends. Malcolm X was the only African American student in his class so he dropped out of school when he was 15 years old. He later worked with the leader of the Nation of Islam, but then stopped because the leader betrayed his own philosophy. Malcolm X wanted to incorporate the American Civil Rights Movement into society. On February 21, 1965, three men of the Nation of Islam assassinated Malcolm X before he was about to give a speech. Malcolm X has been known and thought of as a hero to many activists over the years and still today.
Malcolm X was born as Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925. He was a significant African American Civil Rights Activist. Malcolm X’s family moved to Michigan because they were constantly getting harassed in Nebraska. In Michigan, things got worse for Malcolm and his family because Malcolm’s father was murdered and their house was set on fire. After his mother was put into a mental institution because of the death of her husband, Malcolm went to live with some friends. Malcolm X was the only African American student in his class so he dropped out of school when he was 15 years old. He later worked with the leader of the Nation of Islam, but then stopped because the leader betrayed his own philosophy. Malcolm X wanted to incorporate the American Civil Rights Movement into society. On February 21, 1965, three men of the Nation of Islam assassinated Malcolm X before he was about to give a speech. Malcolm X has been known and thought of as a hero to many activists over the years and still today.
Dorothy Day (1897-1980)
Dorothy Day was born on November 8, 1897 in New York. She was an American journalist, social activist, and devout Catholic convert. She participated in numerous protests and supported women’s suffrage. Dorothy Day was also arrested several times for participating in these protests. She worked as a journalist for many years and co-founded The Catholic Worker, which was a newspaper. The Catholic Worker promoted Catholic teachings and faced issues from the public such as social justice. Dorothy Day also established many Catholic settlement houses to help people who were less fortunate or in need. She spent most of her life committed to her philosophy, views, beliefs, and faith. Dorothy Day received numerous honors and awards and was admitted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in New York. She died on November 29, 1980 in one of the houses she helped start.
Dorothy Day was born on November 8, 1897 in New York. She was an American journalist, social activist, and devout Catholic convert. She participated in numerous protests and supported women’s suffrage. Dorothy Day was also arrested several times for participating in these protests. She worked as a journalist for many years and co-founded The Catholic Worker, which was a newspaper. The Catholic Worker promoted Catholic teachings and faced issues from the public such as social justice. Dorothy Day also established many Catholic settlement houses to help people who were less fortunate or in need. She spent most of her life committed to her philosophy, views, beliefs, and faith. Dorothy Day received numerous honors and awards and was admitted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in New York. She died on November 29, 1980 in one of the houses she helped start.