Why Study World Religions Essay Example

Why Study World Religions Paper PHL230 Religions of the World I think that it is important to study world religions because it can help people to become more tolerant of other’s beliefs and more compassionate to other people’s causes. With so much war and misunderstanding in the world based on religious viewpoints, it is important to take the time to find out where and why people believe the way that they do. While I find that most people in the world follow a religion based on their geographical location, this is not the case in the United States. Because the US is a country where people from all over the world can come to live it is a place where many different religions are practiced. It is important, especially for people in this country, to study world religions in order to know how to relate to others who live here. Religion has an influence on many aspects of life from politics, education, and the arts. It is important that we study all religions so we get a better understanding of how and why it influences these things. I think the greatest reason to study world religions is for appreciation. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Study World Religions specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why Study World Religions specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why Study World Religions specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer I think that studying these religions I have gained a better understanding of people in other areas of the world. I also find that I see many similarities, as well as some differences, in religious ideas and rituals. I think that how we started our studies in this class, with indigenous religions we learned the basics of beliefs and where they originated. I think that because the essence of animism’s â€Å"everything is alive† theory we start to see how people first connected with God and nature. I think that most religions believe that God, or whatever they call him in that religion, is everywhere, that His hand was in the creation of all living things and that there is a purpose for everything. I also find it interesting that although most indigenous people never came into contact with anyone else, and lived in different regions of the world, many of the beliefs are similar. I understand more now how indigenous people could believe that violent weather can be perceived as a wrath from a god because of mistreatment of nature. I think that this is something that can be thought of in today’s world because of global warming. We have mistreated the land for so long and it seems to be taking revenge on us with various weather patterns. Even though in today’s world we see this as just an environmental thing, indigenous religions would see it as a god’s wrath because of the poor treatment of the land. I enjoyed learning about Hinduism and the aspects of karma and samsara I found to be the most interesting parts of the Hindu faith. I think because of the Hindu belief in these things they work towards living a more moral and respectful existence. Karma is the notion of moral consequences that are carried along with every act. (Molloy 87) Samsara is the wheel of life. It is a circle of constant rebirth, suggesting that the world is full of change. (Molloy 87) Because the Hindu believes that the things they do in life have consequences in their reincarnation it makes them try to live better so that their next life may be in a higher position. I find it interesting that in this religion what happens to the person in their next life is up to that individual himself, and it is up to that person to find their own path to their enlightenment. Hinduism is said to be a religion of one truth and may paths. This is something I also found to be different because in my religion of Christianity what happens to you after death is based only upon your belief in Jesus being your savior. The other religion I feel I became more knowledgeable about because of the studies in this class is Buddhism. I had no previous knowledge about this religion other than it existed. The most important concept I feel that I learned from Buddhism is part of the three marks of reality. These are made up of, change, no permanent identity and suffering. In no permanent identity each person and each thing is changing and made up of parts that are also constantly changing. It means that people have no permanent soul or no self. (Molloy133). In suffering it is the fact of life that when life is lived conventionally it can never be fully satisfying because of change. (Molloy pg 134) The mark of reality I found the most interesting is change. The concept of change in Buddhism has us look at life as it really is. Things change gradually and we notice the changes over time. We don’t expect change but nothing ever remains the same. Molloy132) When I learned this I looked over my life and have to admit, that much has changed over time. No matter how we try and keep things the same it is impossible. Children grow up, our body ages, our relationships change. Even things in the world things are constantly changing, landscapes change naturally from things like the tide or erosion, and seasons come and go. In Buddhism the belief is that we are responsible for accepting this and not trying to change the outside world but we need to change ourselves and the way we experience the world. Molloy 134) In studying the world religions I learned that there are similarities; they all seem to have a similar moral code. The basic concept of all religions is to treat everyone with kindness. Ahimsa, â€Å"do no harm†, is a fundamental practice found in religions like Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. This is similar to the â€Å"do unto others† concept in Christianity. People should be kind to people as they want people to treat them kindly. I feel that prayer or meditation relate in a way to each other in different religions. Meditation in religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism are a way people can achieve inner peace and improve themselves as human beings. I find that prayer also can bring peace to a person. Prayer in religions like Christianity and Judaism is the way people speak and become closer to God. So in both prayer and meditation people improve themselves and achieve an inner peace. One difference that I learned in the course would be the concepts of time as they relate to religions. Religions such as animism, Hinduism and Buddhism have a cyclical view of time. This means there is no beginning or end but everything goes in a cycle. In Hinduism this is seen in the concept of samsara you are born, live, and are reincarnated so time is always going in a circle of life. In a religion like Christianity, there is a beginning and an end to time. The belief is that one day Jesus will return and then the end of the world where non believers will be sent to hell and the believers will ascend to heaven will happen. Another difference I learned about is in the amount of gods there are or the lack of any god in some religions. In Christianity, Judaism and Islam there is one God and God alone is worshipped. In a religion like Hinduism there are several deities that are worshipped. In Hinduism there is the Brahma, god of the universe, creation. Vishnu is the god of preservation in the universe. Shiva is the god associated to destruction. There are also several other gods in Hinduism like Devi, Durga, Kali, Krishna, and Vishnu. A religion like Daoism has no definite god only a belief of the Dao which is nameless and everything is a manifestation of the Dao. (Molloy 221) I would say that by studying world religions I did come away with many things I had not thought of or knew of before. I think it was beneficial for me because it gave me a better understanding of how people in different regions of the world think. Religion has an effect on many aspects of a person’s thinking. I think because of this, myself being a psychology major, the study of world religions has been very beneficial for me. I will know how to better relate to people of other cultures and schools of thought better because of my study. Works Cited: Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the Worlds Religions, Tradition, Challenge, and Change 5th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2010.

Sonnet 116 Theme Analysis Essay Essays

Sonnet 116 Theme Analysis Essay Essays Sonnet 116 Theme Analysis Essay Paper Sonnet 116 Theme Analysis Essay Paper â€Å"Sonnet 116† . William Shakespeare’s most celebrated sonnet. describes the tests true love faces. but besides how no affair what. love is an of all time present hope. Love is invariably being tested through outside forces. and time’s ineluctable influence upon it. For love to work and be strong. the twosome must â€Å" [ a ] dmit impediments† and defects as clip goes on. and jobs occur ( 2 ) . These hindrances can be the breakage point for a twosome. or they can turn in assurance through them. Love that â€Å"alters when change finds† will neer hold the strength to confront life’s many obstructions together ( 3 ) . These obstruction will include efforts to â€Å" [ flex love ] with the remover to remove† . through things such as households and distance ( 4 ) . For illustration. love â€Å" [ T ] hat looks on tempests† will fall into the enticement of false love and promises ( 6 ) . Along with people. clip wants to to the full act upon love. Equally long as â€Å"Love’s non Time’s fool† . the love has a opportunity at endurance ( 9 ) . Time is an of all time present clock that can normally have on down on a relationship. Even when love is â€Å" [ tungsten ] ithin his flexing sickle’s compass come† . the trial don’t terminal ( 11 ) . Equally long as love grows. there will ever be challenges act uponing it. from the minute it begins to the minute infinity starts. To two people. love is an of all time present hope for the remainder of the universe. It is â€Å"an ever-fixed mark† on the skyline and in the Black Marias. supplying a feeling needed to do it through the challenges life throws at us ( 5 ) . It is really much the visible radiation in the dark that people refer to during difficult times. After a long twenty-four hours or hebdomad. love â€Å"is the star† that gets us through the mess things may experience like ( 7 ) . That particular feeling’s â€Å"worth’s unknown. though its tallness be taken† because no 1 else can of all time be genuinely understand two people’s devotedness for each other ( 8 ) . Love besides gives â€Å"rosy lips and cheeks† to the people it effects ( 9 ) . Love shows life in one of its purest signifiers. Love will â€Å"bear out. even to the border of doom† . to the last breath and beyond if it is true love ( 12 ) . William Shakespeare believes that if what he wrote â€Å"be mistake [ †¦ ] no adult male of all time loved† in the true sense of being in love. The love that is true in all signifiers. through the tests and to the really best minutes.

Argument essay (research paper) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Argument essay ( ) - Research Paper Example Individual nations require embracing a common culture for mutual understanding. Many cultures exist across the globe. The individual nations have a tendency to practice unique customs. The complexity of the cultures can be a huge barrier to the quest to realize a common culture. Some cultures with strong ideologies are associated with the global conflicts. In fact, the link of certain cultures with wars has been a major concern by powerful nations such as the United States (Dittmer 78). In this respect, a number of complex relations influence the comprehension of the contemporary culture. The media, interculturalism, and globalization have endeavored to promote the mutual cultural understanding. In this regard, the media has continued to portray the values embraced by different cultures. Similarly, globalization has attempted to bring nations with varying cultures together with the intent of shaping the economic and political agendas. However, the efforts to enhance cultural awareness face tremendous challenges. Communication barriers hamper the comprehension a nd incorporation of cultures of different nations. Communication barrier is a major drawback to the realization of a common culture. Different cultures have their way of communicating and interpreting of the messages. Notably, the organizations that operate overseas face the challenge of miscommunication. Consequently, the miscommunication tends to jeopardize cohesion, trust, and teams that outsource. Essentially, the cultural barriers amount to communication challenges in both written and verbal forms. In fact, the communication challenges prompt organizations to invest a lot of effort in decoding and encoding messages. The investment aims at increasing the slow interaction between the multinational companies and the locals. The extent of how the employees in virtual teams reveal their intentions through explicit verbal communication is greatly

Islamic midterm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Islamic midterm - Essay Example Today the building is a Cathedral. The Malwiya tower, which is the most distinguished feature in the mosque, was constructed entirely by brickwork. The use of brickwork is attributed to the Mesopotamian architects and artisans. It was constructed in the 9th century CE when the Islamic architecture was in its initial stages and was not established as it was in later centuries. The Mesopotamian architecture is evident in this monument because the early Muslims were from Arabia and the Arabs were not great architects or builders, you cannot find many notable pieces of architecture in Arabian peninsula before Islam or in the early days of Islam, this is the reason that the Arab Muslim conquerors relied solely on the Mesopotamian architecture while constructing the capital city of Samarra (which was later abandoned due to water shortage) and its monuments. Another feature of the tower Malwiya is the spiral ramp that recalls the ziggurats of Mesopotamia. The ziggurats also had the exposed staircases leading to the top of t he building and same is the case with the Malwiya tower of the Great Mosque of Samarra. The ziggurat were part of temple complexes i.e. places of worship of the Mesopotamians and same is the case with the mosque as it is the place of worship of the Muslims. So it is correct to say that the Mesopotamian architecture which was the native architecture of the building is evident in the architecture of the Great Mosque of Samarra however Islamic architecture is not missing altogether. The construction involved the styles of the local culture but the architecture as a whole is distinctively Islamic because primarily the structure and the plan of the building is strictly based on Islamic structure of a mosque. An Islamic mosque is essentially supposed to have a courtyard in the centre, it is not present in the centre of the building but it is there in the mosque. Also the minaret is

Learning and perception Essay Example for Free

Learning and perception Essay Learning and perception can be related regarding the sensory abilities of the human mind to understand, calculate, and assign learning experiences to our sensory motors. For instance, a child will stay away from a stove if he/she is burned by an eye. At this typical age, a child is unaware of the concept of heat or hot but they can register thousands of experiences through their use of touch. In perceptional learning, human instincts are the accomplices in discovering new and exciting experiences through sensory (Freeman, 1991). According to Freeman (1991), learning has an impact on our ability to perceive experiences accurately. As an example, a child that views domestic violence on a daily basis may assume it is natural. This child could develop an ineffective sensory to pain by observing and experiencing it from a violent adult. In turn, the child may develop an innocent perception that pain is equal to normal. His or her learning of domestic violence is different from others so his or her perception of violence may not affect their judgment during a violent occurrence with others (Perception, 2006). Another obvious connection of learning and perception is the human’s ability to adjust oneself to the visual make up of others in a social surrounding. Debutants contribute to the development of young women and men. Their intentions are to teach social etiquette for proper associations mainly available in higher social classes. For instance, a debutant from a wealthy family may see a debutant from an underprivileged home as an equal if financial status was not a factor. The visual perception of the reality is seen only superficially. As the learning of the financial status of both debutants are known, the image might change one’s perception of the underprivileged Debutant. The relationship between perception and learning is evident in every day life in which people learn of their surroundings and act accordingly (Freeman, 1991). Works Cited Freeman, Walter J. â€Å"The Physiology of Perception† Scientific American, Vol. 264 (2) 78-85. Perception. Accessed on December 15, 2008 at http://www. a2zpsychology. com/PSYCHOLOGY_GUIDE/Perception. htm.

The Grade Inflation Epidemic Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Topics

The Grade Inflation Epidemic      Ã‚  Ã‚   It's June, and another graduating class is hoping, among other things, to achieve high grades. Of course, "high" is a subjective target. Originally a "C" meant average; today however, the expectations and pressures to give and receive "A's" and "B's" takes its toll on teachers and students alike. This nullifies the value of the traditional grading scale and creates a host of entirely new problems. The widespread occurrence of grade inflation seriously affects the credibility of secondary and post-secondary education in America.    The definition of an acceptable grade has changed significantly over the years. Grade inflation seemed to begin in earnest in the late 1960s after the bombing of Cambodia. Male college students who failed their classes would lose their deferments for the draft. Some professors gave higher grades so their students wouldn't have to go to war. The cause of the problem wasn't the compassionate professors, but the national policy of linking the deferments to academic success (Hambert).    Unfortunately, along with the astounding cost of college education, comes a pressure for students to compete for scholarship dollars. Faced with losing the means of paying for their schooling, students will go to just about any length to assure good grades. Often clear ethics and morals take a back seat when it comes to doing whatever it takes to pass a course with a good grade. Any teacher with a heart would reconsider a poor grade that would cost a student the funding to complete their education. While some students might earn terrible grades in History, they may make terrific doctors someday. It seems absurd for a grade to have the power to sabot... ...set up to serve - the student.    Works Cited    Dwyer, Victor. "Are We Cheating Our Kids?" Mc'Clean's Magazine 14 Mar. 1994: 44-54 Franey, Lynn. "Inflation Pumping Up Students GPA's." Spokesman Review 20 May 2001: A4+. Hambert, Craid. "Desperately Seeking Summa." Harvard Magazine May 1993: 36-40 Mattern, Elizabeth. "Officials Debate Grade Inflation." Daily Camera 25 May 2001 http://www.thedailycamera.com/buffzone/news/131grad.html Moore, Patrick. "Grade Inflation at Public Universities: Who Profits, Who Pays?" UALR I. May 2001. http://www.ualr.edu/~epmoore/inflation.html II. Pitsch, Mark. "States Seek Goals 2000 Aid for Existing Efforts." Education Week Vol. XIV (1994): 17+. Srinivasan, Kalpana. "Forum to Address Grade Inflation." Yale 25May 2001 http://www.yale.edu/ydn/paper/3.27/3.27.95storyno.FE.html

Takaki History

1. What surprised you or what did you learn as you read Takaki's piece? The laborer has no name. When they get into the island, they have a small brass disks with their identification numbers on it. Worker was called by number, but never by name 2. What were the conditions like for Hawaii's laborers? The laborers were brought to Hawaii as cheap labors. Their labor enables the planters to transform sugar production into Hawaii's leading industry. Low wage, long working hour. 3. What was the ethnic makeup of Hawaii's immigrant workers? How was this exploited by plantation owners? 923: Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians: 16. 3 %Caucasians 7. 7%Chinese 9. 2%Japanese 42. 7% Portuguese: 10. 6%Puerto Ricans: 2. 2%Filipinos: 8. 2% 4. What were some of the ways the plantation owners used to keep the workers â€Å"under control? † Were these attempts always successful? How did the workers respond or even counter some of those methods? Paternalism: Designed to pacify labor's unrest and served to maintain a racial and class hierarchy. Coercion: Punish the workers. control workers with authority. (fines, arrestment, physical punishment: whip) Occupational structure stratifying employment according to race.Supervisory: white, 1900, contract labor system still worked, under contract were bound by law to serve 3~5 yrs. Organic Act of 1900 abolished the contract labor system 1904, Hawaiian Sugar Planters restricted skill position. â€Å"exclude Asians. Were not white hence ineligible to become citizens† Establish central labor bureau to set wage rates. Utilized a multitiered wage system to pay different wage rates to different nationalities. Divide-and-control system Provide incentive for bonus system. Paid once a year (similar to the year-end bonus) President Theodore Roosevelt prohibit the passage of Japanese from Hawaii to the mainland.Fight back violentlycounterfeit couponspretend illness/workingresorted to opium and alcohol desertion from service Striking mainly by Japanese : Most important event of â€Å"blood unionism†: Japanese Strike of 1909, Portugese 22. 5 per month, japanese 18 A transformation from sojourners to settlers, from Japanese to Japanese American. They succeed. 1920 strike: 1909: Japanese has 70% of working force, 1920 Japanese: 44% Filipino: 30% – first major interethnic working-class unity. Head of Filipino union start the strike but the planters offered him a bribe and he called off the strike. Divide and control) The strike was not succeed. During 1920: the planter enlisted Hawaiians, Portuguese and koreans as strikebreakers. Japanese and Filipino have formed Hawaii Laborers' Association (multiethnic class) Housing Pattern: Pyramid and sewage system, managers, spanish, japanese and Filipino Divide and control: organization of camps into different nationalities After 1909: planters improve the conditions of camps (abandon barrack system to provide cottage) 5. What were some of the specific ways the workers t ried to deal with their hard labor and lifestyle? Be specific.Small bit of extravagance and a reminder of homeland (Japanese plants bonsai, gardenn and flower around their cottage) traditional hot baths, furos (tubs) resorted to opium and alcohol Sport (baseball) gambling (Chinese Japanese) Taxi-dance (Filipino) Religious activities: Christian and Buddhism (not only a spiritual requirement but also a broad need for ethnicity) National identities (festivals): Chinese new yearJapanese traditional festival of SoulsRizal Day Filipino Also food: Chinese (bao) Japanese (sashimi or sushi or tofu) Filipino abodo (stewed garlic pork), Korean Kimchi . What were some of the ways the workers assimilated into Hawaiian American culture and on the flip side, how did the different ethnic heritages and cultures of the workers become assimilated into Hawaiian society? Hawaiian dish Chinese-Hawaiian Parents Workers of different nationalities began to acquire a common language: pidgin English (combinat ion of Hawaiian, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese and other languages) 7. We will discuss the concept of the â€Å"model minority. † In the articles, do you see examples of the possible origins behind this concept?Model minority, also  overachieving minority  or  overrepresented minority  refers to a minority  ethnic,  racial, or  religious  group  whose members achieve a higher degree of  success  than the population  average. It is most commonly applied to ethnic minorities. This success is typically measured in income,  education. In the  United States, the term is associated with  Asian Americans, primarily Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean Americans. 8. Throughout the course of the semester, we will be discussing in greater detail the idea of â€Å"the American Dream. Does Takaki's narrative of the Hawaiian laborers fit into the idealistic image of the American Dream? Why or why not? life should be better and richer and fuller for ev eryone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement† regardless of  social class  or circumstances of birth. I don't think the Hawaiian laborers completely fit into the idealistic image of the American dream, there are still discrimination in the working class. Most sojourners original plan is to make enough money and go back to their own countries for better life.They didn't actually arise their standard of living in Hawaii. However, Hawaii becomes their home. Different from the continent, racial divisions is less. and they constituted a majority of population (different from the mainland. ) Also, their children were having higher education at Hawaii. Children of immigrant workers learned about freedom and equality and they are looking for better occupation to work (in the article, photographer, engineers, businessman†¦.. etc)