From the Paper "This study will examine Taoism in terms of the impact of that religion of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu. The study will compare these two men's philosophies and ideas as they relate to Taoism, and will explore the implications of their thoughts for governing oneself and others. Also included will be the consideration of the relationship of their approaches and contemporary counterculture.
A comparison with the conformity of Confucianism shows the non-conformity to be a clear reflection of contemporary counterculture. The latter rejects the traditional culture just as Taoism rejects Confucianism. It is no surprise, then, to find the contemporary counterculture leaning toward Taoist thought, Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu in its attempts to find an alternative world view and a fresh, radical, individualized and more ..."
Abstract A discussion of the Yanomami Indians who are shielded by forests, live in almost complete seclusion and are believed to be the last culture to have come into contact with the modern world. This paper examines their family and kinship, food gathering, religion, and their uncertain future. The author also looks at how modernization has already changed much of their traditional lifestyle.
From the Paper "The Yanomami have nuclear families, with what anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon calls a ?male supremacist culture.? Despite the fact that there are more males than females, they prefer sons to daughters, especially as firstborn children. In fact, a firstborn girl may be killed, while a son is usually allowed to live. Furthermore, even though there are not even enough women for each man, 25 percent of the men practice polygyny (Kottak 201).
The Yanomami live in small, concentrated villages, where several nuclear or extended families live under circular shelters called shabono. There could be as much as 65 people living in a shingle shabono, relatives by consanguinity or alliance (Chagnon 1997: 56)."
Abstract Study and investigation on the role and treatment of women in Islam nations show that Muslim societies and nations generally disregard the inalienable rights of women, as set out by the United Nations on Women's Rights. This stance is developed and proved in the paper, by discussing what these "inalienable" rights of women are and what steps feminist movements have taken for the preservation of the good welfare of women in these kind of societies.
From the Paper "Another article from the said issue of TIME Magazine is an article titled "The Women of Islam" by Lisa Beyer. This article offers a summarized view and report on the treatment of women in various Islamic nations. Iran is said to be "progressing" towards a greater consideration of the society towards its women by gradually removing the practice of segregation between men and women in public places; Malaysia now allows women to obtain and secure professions that are previously held exclusively by men, such as public (political) and corporate positions, although women are still required to wear head coverings; Egypt is allowing women to be granted divorce on her own initiative, although there are still restrictions, such as not being able to "leave the country without her husband's permission"; Saudi Arabia remains oppressive and discriminatory with its laws against women such as the prohibition for women to ?drive cars or fly anywhere without permission,? segregation in sex for job opportunities, and covering one's self completely in public; Pakistan also violates women rights by giving them an unfair hearing and trial during rape cases, wherein men are always favored against that of women; and lastly, Turkey is considered the most liberal Muslim nation today because of the equal opportunities it provides for women and men, such as the equal opportunity to acquire education, jobs, and other privileges of the country's citizens (Beyer 200140-7)."
Abstract This paper discusses the Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism views of the Holocaust which the author points out affected not only the Jews but also many other groups of people. The author states that many Nazi activities were sadistic torment which Christianity views as sinful; Islam does not condone torture and Buddhism vehemently opposes. The author believes that of the three religions, the reaction of Christians in Germany may be the most troublesome.
From the Paper "Given that the Holocaust was a multicultural and multi-religious event, it is interesting to consider how some major religions might view the events. Christianity teaches that all murder is against the law of God. However, most Christian religions allow the execution of criminals by state governments. This is why we have individuals who protest executions but rarely hear about entire denominations protesting such events. So then, would Christian religions condone the events of the Holocaust because it was an event sponsored by the German government?"
Abstract Discusses conflicts between religioius practitioners of Peyotism and American laws and society. First Amendment protection vs. traditional use of psychedelic drug (peyote/mescal). History of Peyotism; its rites & ceremonies. Its religious significance. Its social & cultural characteristics. The Ghost Dance. Sense of identity. Actions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) & traditional Christian missionaries. Current legal status of the religion of Peyotism.
From the Paper "Peyotism is the largest religion started, organized, and directed by and for Native Americans and gets its title from the fact that members of the religion use the peyote -- sometimes referred to as mescal -- in their ceremonies, a point that has caused fascinating legal challenges between those supporting the First Amendment protection of freedom of religious practice in the United States and those who wish to prohibit the use of hallucinogenic drugs for what they see as recreational (or at least on-medicinal) purposes. Peyotism has also brought the Native Americans into conflict with mainstream society, and one might speculate that part of the reason that the followers of peyotism have been so adamant in their insistence on using it is the Indians' wish to wrest some control of ceremony and cultural identity back from the society that tried so hard for so many years ..."
Abstract Examines a theoretical orientation toward counseling that is consistend with a commitment to Christian belief. How to produce a model of psychotherapy that includes spirituality. Concerns inherent in human nature. Elements of Christian thought (concern for the other, redemption, etc.) that are consistent with standard psychoanalytic practice.
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine a theoretical orientation toward counseling that is consistent with a commitment to Christian belief. The plan of the research will be to set forth a general foundation for psychological counseling and then to discuss ways in which it is possible to derive a model of psychotherapy that includes spirituality.
How individuals perceive their place in the world and their ability to deal with the wash of experience, as well as their status vis-a-vis other individuals, is of special concern to any psychotherapist. Such perceptions have relevance to religious experience because rationalization of the connection between self and other so frequently places the individual in the position of having to sort out his or her concept of God's role in human experience. Frequently how the individual deals with what ..."
Abstract This paper examines the "father-creator" God, a "trickster" God, and a "love" Goddess of Greek, Norse and Egyptian cultures. The author believes that the "father-creator" Gods have the most in common: Greek God, Zeus, the Norse God Odin and the Egyptian God Amen-Re. The paper introduces the "trickster Gods": Norse God Loki, the Egyptian God Seth, and the Greek God Prometheus. The paper also describes the "love goddesses": Egyptian Goddess Hathor, Greek Goddess Aphrodite and Norse Goddess Freya.
From the Paper "The myths of these gods also referred to the sky. Both Zeus and Odin had palaces high above the mortal world, known as Mt. Olympus and Asgard. These palaces served as meeting places for the gods, and as observation decks. Zeus is often depicted as looking down from Mt. Olympus into the mortal world. Odin also gazed at mortals and gods similarly, from Hlidskialf, his throne in Asgard. Though he did not have a palace in the sky, Amen-Re was referred to as the "Sun" god. "
Abstract This paper analyzes the historical and personal importance of the themes and symbols in Elie Wiesel's award-winning novel on the Holocaust, "Night." The paper examines the symbolism behind the title, the main character's struggle to maintain faith in God and the "silence" of God, the inhumanity of the holocaust, and the change in the father-son relationship between Eliezer and his father.
From the Paper "Elie Wiesel's Night is a deep and dark first hand look into the horrors of the Holocaust. However, more than being just a book on the external events that occurred during this horrific period, it is a story of the internal struggle of a boy who was the only one of his family and one of the extremely fortunate people in the camps to have survived long enough to be rescued. Although the boy in Night is not Elie Wiesel himself, he writes the novel as an autobiography in which the story is virtually the same as was his own, but with some minor details changed. It is really a human document, a first-hand look into the horrific and barely believable acts of inhumanity of the holocaust, and an in-depth look into the slow, torturous destruction of a human soul. This is more than a witnessing of events, more than a historical first-person account of facts. This is a personal story that was similar to millions of others, a story of a moment in history where even God could not have existed. By analyzing the themes and symbols of this work we can better understand the impact the holocaust had on the world and the souls of humanity, the horrific historical impact, and begin to understand what humanity is truly capable of doing to its own kind."
Abstract This paper discusses that Boethius? belief regards free will seems self-evident, yet some religious philosophers have held that our actions are determined by God. This paper points out that Boethius, a Platonist deriving elements from both Plato and Aristotle, considers human nature a distinct entity and argues that Christ embodied both a divine nature and human nature. The author believes that Boethius sets forth the essential paradox in Christian thought between freedom and determinism, with determinism inherent in what he calls "God's universal foreknowledge," meaning the fact that God already knows all that is to happen.
From the Paper "Boethius laments his situation and the changes that have been wrought in his life. He is now imprisoned and is forced to look within for answers, given that his outer world is no more than a prison cell. He is changed physically in that old age has come upon him too early. Happiness is to be found in conquering this inner world, represented for Boethius not only within himself but also in his writings as he conveys his inner world to others and finds ways to shape his own relationship with that inner world through the written word. Lady Philosophy suggests that the poet must seek the truth within and that since all things are ruled by reason, it is wrong for the individual to be sick with despair when he or she can seek the truth by looking inward to find God."
Abstract This paper examines how the trend of globalization fueled by new technologies and an ethic of free-trade continues to connect the nations of the world in unprecedented fashion and how Globalization relies heavily upon the spread of free-market capitalism. It evaluates how globalization is merely Americanization on a global scale and how for Muslim nations, this is a particularly alarming prospect. It examines how Muslim conceptions of human rights, gender equality, democracy and modernization do not often concur with those of the United States and the West- particularly among Islamist fundamentalists. It analyzes how the fruits of globalization such as technology, international business opportunity and access to foreign goods do tempt many Muslim leaders, thus causing a troubled split within Muslim states.
From the Paper "In these early years of globalization the cultural exchange has been decisively one-sided, with Western media images and icons infiltrating the fabric of Muslim society. In most cases, the Western value structure is inconsistent with its Muslim counterpart. Western conceptions of gender, for example, do not always gel with Muslim conceptions. Women, under Islam, are meant to be cherished; the Prophet Mohammed offers this prescription: ?Treat your women well, and be kind to them." However, Muslim society has, in many cases, used the tenets of Islam as a means to subjugate women, usually in ways the West deems wildly inappropriate. Polygamy, though uncommon, does have a basis in Islam. As do arranged marriages, which are still very prevalent in Muslim society. Muslim women are often veiled from head to foot as a testimony to their deep modesty, and in many societies the slightest indiscretion can result in severe punishments. In Pakistan, for example, it is possible for a woman who has been raped to be legitimately charged with committing zina, which refers to any form of sex out of wedlock. If she is a married woman, rape is considered adultery and can result in her being stoned to death. If she is unmarried, the rape is considered mere fornication, punishable with 100 lashes and many years of prison. In Iran, as another example, girls are legally declared fit for marriage by the age of nine, and can be sent off as brides with men five times their age."
Abstract This paper examines how in his book "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism", Max Weber brings together material published in the form of two long articles in 1904 and 1905. It looks at how in these articles Weber tries to show the beginnings of capitalism and to relate this to the spirit of the Reformation, when Protestantism developed, breaking away from the control of the Catholic Church asserted a religious independence and a different social view that had an influence on economic matters. It discusses how Weber finds that there is a connection between being Protestant and being a business leader and an owner of capital since statistics show this to be a fact in his own time and also to be a historical fact.
From the Paper "Benjamin Franklin represents the colonial era as an icon, and Weber looks to passages from Benjamin Franklin for a sense of the meaning of the spirit of capitalism. Weber finds that the spirit of capitalism involves the desire to make money and then more money and that this is combined with the strict avoidance of all spontaneous enjoyment of life, so it is quite distant from hedonism. Acquisition is the ultimate purpose of life and is no longer subordinated as the means for the satisfaction of material needs. Weber cites several cases to show how the spirit of capitalism infuses different groups in society, such as the laborer or the entrepreneur. "
Abstract The concept of Karma is arguably one of the Eastern concepts that is most familiar to the Western audience. Most Westerners equate Karma with the laws of fate. In fact, most Westerners view karma as a negative, with "bad karma" coming as a result of one's negative actions.
The concept of karma, however, has other significant nuances, depending on the religious tradition with which it is associated. This paper examines the similarities and differences of the concept of karma according to the doctrines of Hinduism and Buddhism. In the last section, the paper also examines how these various definitions of karma could be applied to aspects of American culture.
From the Paper "Followers of Hinduism follow a strict caste system which determines the standing of each person. The highest, most privileged castes are the Brahmin class. At the other end of the ladder are the Untouchables, who live as social outcasts. The caste one is born into is the result of the karma from their previous life. Therefore, a person who accumulates good karma through good deeds and upright living are reborn into a higher caste (Rahula 32). Conversely, a person who commits evil deeds can be punished by rebirth into a lower caste. In fact, a person could also be reborn into a lower life form, such as an animal. This belief in karma and its effects on one's present life contributes to the treatment and social outcast status of the people who are born as untouchables (Klostermeir 48)."
Abstract This paper is a brief discussion about the possible advantages that introducing prayer in a school assembly could provide. Included are considerations such as tolerance, added spirituality and lowering of violence levels in schools.
From the Paper "The Supreme Court decided against prayer in school in the case of Engel vs. Vitale on Jun 25th, 1962. Mr. Justice Stewart was the only vote against the court's decision which he remarked: ?I cannot see how an 'official religion' is established by letting those who want to say a prayer say it. On the contrary, I think that to deny the wish of these school children to join in reciting this prayer is to deny them the opportunity of sharing in the spiritual heritage of our Nation.? (religioustolerance.org, sect. 3). In this particular time in America, I feel it is important to extend religious tolerance into the schools and establish school prayer for those students whose faith require prayer throughout the day, or feel compelled to join in a voluntary school assembly."
Abstract The paper looks at the way the different religions view life after death. The paper discusses the Jewish view of the World To Come, in the Garden of Eden and it follows the four paths humans must follow after death in Hinduism in order to achieve reincarnation. The paper also examines the Buddhist position which falls between reincarnation and absolute annihilation, the Christian concepts of resurrection and hell and Islamic afterlife. It also looks at the common threads among the different religions' views.
From the Paper "Human belief in an afterlife, life after death, is found in belief systems from ancient tribal people to the UFO cult groups of today. Some fear the after-life, while others look forward to it. There are as many visions of the afterlife as there are belief systems. Some believe that when one dies, he will be met by a hoard of virgins, others believe pearly gates and streets of gold await. Humans are obsessed with theories of what exist on the other side of death, if anything at all. However, the belief in the spirit, the soul, the spiritual thread connected to God, keeps humans convinced that life continues after bodily death. Many seek proof through mystics, by trying to send and receive messages from a departed loved one. There are television programs, seminars, and volumes of books devoted to the notion that the dead can communicate to the living. Moreover, many feel and see the presence of the dead in their homes, thus, enlisting the aid of a psychic or priest to cleanse or exorcise the premises, to send the departed restless souls to God. Humans? belief in the afterlife is the basic foundation for religions and spiritual belief systems."
Tags: reward, punishment, soul, spirituality, nirvana
Abstract The paper shows that over a quarter of a century ago after it was written, Dawidowicz's "The War Against the Jews" remains a seminal work exploring how a modern, industrial country like Germany could support and enact a policy of race-based genocide and murder. Dawidowicz also sets out to explain how the Jews responded as a people to these attacks against their rights and later, their very lives.
From the Paper "Dawidowicz further writes about the limited options of many Judenrat officials, who were forced to comply in the face of an impossible situation. By this stage of the war, the Nazi-dominated Germany had amassed enough power to coerce Jewish leaders into doing as they were told. Faced with death or the destruction of their entire community, many Judenrat officials were thus forced into leading their populace to the annihilation camps."
