Abstract This paper explains the key concepts of Hinduism, karma, the caste system, the four permissible goals, the ways of salvation and the infinite manifestations of God, and how they affect the culture of India. The paper explains the concept behind the Law of Karma, the Hindu caste system, the different paths toward perfection, and the way a Hindu can pay debts to the gods. The paper also lists the names of the different gods and goddesses in Hinduism and describes some of the conflicts that the practices and beliefs of Hinduism have with modern society.
From the Paper "Hinduism is a complex and seemingly contradictory religion. It is also a way of life. The key concepts of Karma, The Caste System, the four permissible goals, the ways of salvation, and the infinite manifestations of God combine to create a culture immersed in ritual. Karma binds the belief in the transmigration of the soul and the hope of reaching Moksha (salvation) to right behavior. The Caste System, as delineated in the Vedas 1, serves to stratify society and eventually leads to discrimination and social strife. The Four Permissible Goals of the Hindu Religion "recognize that men naturally and therefore legitimately seek, in the course of many rebirths, four aims in life" (Noss, 178). They are pleasure, power, morality, and salvation.2 There are three ways to reach this salvation. These are the Way of Works, the Way of Knowledge, and the Way of devotion.3 Finally, the multiple faces of God serve to address the many needs of the Hindu believer."
Abstract This paper begins by examining basic Christianity and the philosophical doctrines of Jesus Christ. Examples from the New Testament that fortify Christian theological beliefs are provided . The major concepts of Buddhism are then examined, namely, self-worth, personal value, human fellowship, and the doctrines of hope. These beliefs are then compared and contrasted.
From the Paper "Since the beginning of recorded history, man has attempted to discover ways in which he could transform his primal instincts into manageable emotions which would benefit his fellow human beings. In most cases, this transformation has been accomplished through various religious systems based on polytheistic and monotheistic beliefs, philosophies and practices. Of all the major religious faiths in the world today, Christianity and Buddhism appear to have served this transformation very well, especially in regard to the ways that human beings treat themselves and their fellow men and women. Four specific aspects of these religions, based on philosophical and moral doctrines, are of great importance?first, personal worth, being how a person views his/her societal value in relation to others; second, the fellowship of man through which human beings of diverse racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds can find common bonds; third, the freedom to be a creative person which hopefully will not only increase one's personal growth but also that of others, and lastly, the role which hope plays in the lives of believers while living in a world filled with suffering and disillusionment."
Examines how the flood stories in the "Epic of Gilgamesh" and "Genesis" have many points of agreement, suggesting that they are somehow connected. Yet, there are also many differences.
Abstract This term paper compares the flood story in the book of "Genesis" in the Old Testament of the Bible and the flood story in "Gilgamesh". It identifies links between the ancient Sumerian epic and the account of Noah in "Genesis," as well as similarities between the two. Similarities include the use of an ark and sacrifices made after the floods to the respective gods.
From the Paper "The flood story recurs in many ancient civilizations, though the nature of the story may be very different in some cultures. There appear to be links between the flood story as told in the ancient Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh and the flood story of Noah as told in Genesis in the Old Testament of The Bible. Some believe the older Sumerian tale may have served as the basis for the biblical account. There is recent evidence that there may have been a great flood in the area of the Black Sea, which may have become a continuing tribal memory that was eventually embodied in The Epic of Gilgamesh and reshaped to fit the theology of the Israelites for the tale told in Genesis. The two versions of the flood story have many points of agreement, suggesting that they are somehow connected. In the flood in Genesis, the role of God differs from the role of the gods in Gilgamesh."
Abstract This paper examines how the Great Awakening can be defined as a period of religious revivalism during the mid-18th century in colonial America. It discusses how the Great Awakening was a period of religious persuasion and explosive emotion, which affected society's thoughts on religion and the individual's role in society.
From the Paper "Many historians describe the Great Awakening as an American, "Calvinist, religious revival in which converts acknowledged their sinfulness without expecting salvation." Yet, because much of Western Europe was imbued with the same type of religious emotionalism (which many texts refer to as "Quietism" ) at the time of the Great Awakening, and because the new American ideals for religion resembled European thinking, historians also agree that the Great Awakening was not an isolated, domestic phenomenon; rather, it was a component (maybe even the main component) contributing to a broader international movement."
Abstract This paper provides an overview and discussion of Sayyed Qutb, Islamic leader. A review of the controversy that surrounds him helps to show that there is, in reality, a very strong relationship between Qutb and extremist terrorist groups who claim to follow the Quranic teachings and laws.
From the Paper "Considering that many who wrote on Sayyed Qutb and his religious and political philosophy, such as Sheikh Muhammad Nasir ad-Din al-Albaanee, Ted Thornton, Nazih N.M. Ayubi, and Ibrahim M. Abu-Rabi, all scholars of Islamic studies and history, have emphasized that the life of Sayyed Qutb and his circumstances played a major role in shaping his ideas, it is necessary to briefly identify Qutb himself. Although as Professor of Government at South Carolina University, Shahrough Akhavi writes, not much is known about the life of Sayyed Qutb, what is known is a useful source of understanding the influences upon his philosophy and political ideas (386-387)."
Tags: bin, laden, al, quaida, terror, islamic, groups
Abstract This paper explains the rise and spread of Rastafarianism and how reggae helped popularize these beliefs. It looks at different songs and lyrics by the famous Rasta singer, Bob Marley, which called for a change in attitudes towards the Rastafarians.
From the Paper "Influenced largely by New Orleans Blues, (urban American pop music of the 1940's) the style of reggae adopted rhythms which shifted their accents off beat. "This new style was called reggae, for its ragged cadence, and its lilting and mesmeric quality seemed especially suited for new dimensions of storytelling and social commentary." (Rolling Stones, March 2005: pg 72) In Jamaica, music was used as a means to tell stories or pass on tradition or information. It was because of this musical acculturation that a new form of music was initiated and the people had a catchy way to express their emotion. "It was music that gave a displaced population a way to tell truths about their lives and a way of claiming victory over daily misery, or at least of finding a respite." (Rolling Stones, March 2005: pg 70) Reggae was a form of expression.'"
Abstract This paper deals primarily with the creation myth as found in the Bible and how the story itself is a hybrid of Babylonian writings that existed hundreds of years before the writing of the "Old Testament". It attempts to show how the two myths of creation, "Enuma Elish" and "Genesis," have parallels and differences that ultimately were shaped by the cultures that recorded them.
From the Paper "Enuma Elish, the Mesopotamian story of creation, is the perfect embodiment of humanity's reliance on the gods, and also the prevailing theme of polytheism, the jealousy and greed of the gods. The kind of humanistic qualities that are given to the gods Tiamat, Marduk and Anshar will later be echoed in the quarreling of the Greek gods of Mount Olympus. The need to personify the gods and make them seem simply as more powerful humans, with all the emotions and drives that come with the human condition, is a method of further understanding a world that presented so many unknown to the unsophisticated and mystical thinking Babylonians."
Abstract This paper examines how gender roles of women vary greatly between cultures. Specifically, it looks at two that stand out the most - gender roles of women in the country of Afghanistan of Taliban culture, and the working class woman of the western culture, namely the United States. It analyzes how these roles are constantly evolving and adapting based on individual circumstances, ongoing global conflicts, and cultural adaptation.
From the Paper "By comparison American women do not have the limitations set forth by an evil dictating government or a society that views them as lesser individuals. However, that is not to say that women in the United States haven't had it rough through the course of history. Even our society has viewed women as lesser and not as great as man. One of the more prominent examples of this, is the American woman's right to vote. This right did not come into written law until the 1920s, led by skilled organizers by the names of Carrie Chapman Catt and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Stanton once said, "Resolved, that it is the duty of the women of this country to secure to themselves their sacred right to the elective franchise." (Krasner-Khait, 2004, 6p,) In addition to the right to vote, many African-American women in the United States were slaves and led a rough abusive life. "
Abstract Using Mark Juergensmeyer's book "Terror in the Mind of God" as a reference, this paper examines how religion sometimes influences its believers in such an extreme way that they turn to terrorism in the name of God. The paper examines the origins of terrorism, cultures of violence and the future of terrorism.
From the Paper "Juergensmeyer's ideas discussed in the book go against what most criminological theories of crime causation tell us. Rational Choice theory, which is the theory used almost exclusively in today's criminal justice field, believes that criminals choose to commit crime by weighing the potential benefits versus the potential risks. (Siegal, 107). This assumption that offenders make a rational informed decision affects crime prevention strategies (Siegal, 129). The religious terrorist, however, is in a cosmic frame of mind where moral religious values override any sense of legal right or wrong."
This paper explains the differences between Islamic banking and conventional banking. It argues politically, as opposed to economically, that both systems are the same.
Abstract The writer explains that the emergence of Islamic banking is an example of how religion has become subservient to economic needs, and more specifically, how Islam has become subservient to capitalism. The paper explains that although advocates claim that Islamic banking is distinctive from interest rate banking, such methods are merely window dressing - a way for the banks to legitimize themselves. The writer explains that in Shariah, Islamic law, people are prohibited from charging and receiving interest. The paper draws parallels between conventional banking systems and the new modes of so-called interest-free banking. The paper states that Islamic banks have been mimicking conventional banks, pushing for short-term, low-risk investments that are similar in quantity and risk to those obtained by other conventional banks. The writer explains that the methods used to evade interest prohibition include mislabeling interest under the false pretense of administrative costs and delegating puppet banks to alleviate responsibility from Islamic institutions. The writer challenges the advocates of this system who claim that it is Shariah-compliant. In summation, the writer states that it is evident that in the current Islamic system, Islamic beliefs have taken a second place to the capitalist system. Table of Contents: Introduction Lack of Sources for Islamic Banking Same Method, Different Name Murabaha is Not Profit Sharing Using Puppet Banks The Ulama Power Vacuum Advocates Conclusion Bibliography
From the Paper "During the 80s, Muslim countries such as Sudan, Iran and Pakistan underwent the growth of Islamic banking due to an oil boom and the need for Muslim communities to establish a unique economic presence in the new international economic order (Pipes, 1982:45; cf. ICO: 1982). By 1995, 144 public and private banking institutions had been established claiming to practice a?"Islamic bankinga"? (Shaik, 1997:118). However, this paper will argue that Islamic banking is conventional banking in disguise. Islamists have merely used the former to bypass religious restrictions to meet their capitalistic needs in a manner that is compliant, and sometimes even not compliant, to interpretations of the Shariah. Such assertions can be supported by examining characteristics of the current Islamic banking system. Nazih N. Ayubi has written about religion being subservient to the state. In this particular case, the evolution of Islamic banking has become an example of Islam being subservient to capitalism."
This paper analyzes the similarities and differences of Jesus Christ and the Prophet Mohammed while also examining the basic fundamentals of both the Christian and Islamic faiths.
Abstract This paper delves into the lives and historic accomplishments of Mohammed, considered by many to be the greatest prophet of all times and Jesus, regarded by his followers as the son of God. This paper details the various similarities between the two men including the fact that both were known to spend much time in solitary contemplation and spiritual thought. Both Jesus and Mohammed preached the belief in one God. This paper also examines the dramatic differences between the two which centered around divinity. While Mohammed is seen as the most important prophet to the followers of Islam he is not regarded as a deity. On the other hand a large portion of Christians believe that Jesus is the true son of God and the cornerstone of their faith. This paper also discusses the similarities and differences in Islam and Christianity. The writer contends that followers of both Islam and Christianity feel it is their duty to spread the word about their religion in an attempt to convert others.
Table of Contents:
The Life of Jesus
The Life of Mohammed
Differences Between the Two Men
Evangelism
Sources
From the Paper "Mohammed (Arab for "the praised one") was born to Abdallah and Amina of the family of Zuhra. He had a difficult childhood. Born into poverty, his father died around the time of his birth. When he was six years old his mother also died, and he was adopted by his grandfather, Abd-Al-Mutallib. When his grandfather died only two years later, he was adopted by his uncle, Abu Talib, who raised him and remained an important person to him for the rest of his life. Not much more about his childhood can be confirmed but when he was 2t, he married Chaddidja, a rich widow and trader. He traveled with her via caravan to fairs. This life of business made him a wealthy man, and he was able to spend much of his time alone in meditation."
Abstract This paper compares the lives and deaths of Jesus and Muhammad, providing an overview of their legacies as reflected in religious belief and practice. The paper includes a detailed biographies of each prophet. The paper concludes with a discussion of the impact that their deaths had on their religions.
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to compare and contrast the lives of Jesus and Muhammad in relation to their respective religions. The plan of the research will be to put the biographies of Jesus and Muhammad into historical context and then discuss the impact..."
Abstract This paper presents a personal comparison between Judaism and Christianity, based largely on a Christian person's attendance at a Reform Jewish ritual service. The author is also informed about Judaism through an interview with a Jewish woman. The paper discusses the beliefs and practices of each religion.
From the Paper "For Western culture, Judaism was a foundational historical example as well as a religion. In that regard, Johnson's central thesis is that the books of the Old Testament, from Genesis to Jeremiah, illustrate the gradual emergence of a philosophy that..."
Abstract This article looks at the effects of personal, cultural and organizational values on decision-making in a person's personal and professional life. It explores the difference between ethnic culture and corporate culture and looks at how corporate culture colors decision-making at work.
From the Paper "Personal and cultural values affect decision making in a person's personal life because they define who the person is and how they will react to different situations. Different cultures often have vastly different value systems such as the respect for elders in Eastern cultures, the faith-based beliefs of different religious groups such as Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus. These factors play a major role in the way people think and how they approach problems. In some cultures, it is customary to seek the advice of elders in decision-making whereas ... "
Abstract This paper examines the role of religion and explains its role of in the settlement of the American Colonies. The writer discusses religious persecutions in Europe. The writer also looks at the Puritans concept of religious freedom in the New World.
Tags: Religion, american, colonies, founders, pilgrims, puritans, quakers, religious freedom, persecution, beacon on a hill, william penn
