Abstract
This paper reviews Richard Fletcher's book, "The Cross and the Crescent," which presents a history of the relations between Muslims and Christians. The reviewer sees Fletcher's work as coming at an opportune times, since today the West often feels a sense of hysteria regarding anything related to Islam. The reviewer sees the "The Cross and the Crescent" as providing important information about Islamic civilization and culture, presenting the Arab world in a more comprehensive way. The reviewer also describes the Muslim view of the Christian world, and concludes by citing Fletcher's opinion that both cultures influenced each other.

From the Paper
"Fletcher's book focuses on the attitude that the Muslims had regarding to the Christians and vice-versa more than to purely historical aspects. For example, he pays not so much attention to the historical events of the crusades, but to the effect they had on the Muslim population. The book provides a valuable insight to Islam and to the relations between Islam and Christianity."

Tags:Cross, and, the, Crescent, Richard, Fletcher, Christianity, Islam, West

Abstract
This paper reviews and analyzes Robert Allison's book," The Crescent Obscured," that discusses the earliest American encounter with Muslim nations following independence from Great Britain. The review addresses the book's main points, and discusses the sources used. The review stresses American contact with the Muslim world in both an historical and cultural context.

From the Paper
"In "The Crescent Obscured" The United States and the Muslim World historian Robert Allison's intention appears to be to put the American contact with the Muslim world into historical context as well as into cultural context. What Allison is trying to accomplish are two factors to reveal the long history of America and the Muslim world a history that began centuries before..."

Tags:Muslims, Americans, Barbary, Algiers, slavery

Abstract
This paper explains that, although Christianity and Islam developed some six hundred years apart, they share similarities such as beginning in the Fertile Crescent and being led by the philosophy of one man --- Jesus Christ of Christianity and the Prophet Mohammad of Islam --- and being presented in a written format, which aided their spread. Next, the author examines several socio-economic factors and political conditions within the Middle East which facilitated their expansion. The paper concludes that the teachings of Christianity and Islam diverged long before the beginning of the modern era in that Christianity follows the gentle philosophy taught by Jesus Christ but Islam follows a teaching of great violence and bloodshed.

From the Paper
"Before the emergence of Islam, Christianity, with the assistance of its many believers, had managed to spread from the Middle East in what is now Israel to many regions of Europe, where it soon became the official religion in the form of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. But in the beginning, Christianity was somewhat limited to the city of Jerusalem in which the established church "initially preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ only to the Jews", but after Christians began to be persecuted for their beliefs by the leaders of Judaism, many believers "scattered to the surrounding countryside of Judea and Samaria" and eventually spread their beliefs further east and west."

Tags:resurrection, established church, urban missionaries sword

Abstract
The paper relates how throughout their long history, the Jewish people have often been the object of persecution and prejudice. The paper looks at how Cohen's book, "Under Crescent and Cross: The Jews in the Middle Ages", maintains that during the Middle Ages, Jews living in the Arab world were more tolerated and less persecuted than those living in the Christian world. The paper shows how Cohen proves his thesis with historical research and solid arguments, discussing his historical findings. The paper discusses the significance of this work in the field of Jewish studies.

From the Paper
"The author begins by "debunking" several myths on both sides of the debate, so he can level the playing field. He indicates there were misunderstanding and misinterpretations on both sides of the debate, and that Jews and Arabs have both helped perpetuate some of these misinterpretations. He then begins to compare life in the Christian world opposed to that in the Islamic world, and begin to sort out the information regarding Jews in both worlds. For example, he notes that in the Christian world in the Middle Ages, most Jews lived under the mantle of serfdom that decreed who they worked for, where they lived, while Jews in the Arab world did not serve and serfs, and could choose to live wherever they wanted (Cohen 46). Thus, Jews in the Arab world had better living arrangements, and were better off in that regard."

Tags:Arabs, Christians, Islam, persecution, toleration

Abstract
This paper provides an overview on the Islamic religion. The author describes the origins of Islam and the founder, Prophet Muhammad as well as the fundamental beliefs and practices Muslims around the world keep. The paper examines Islamic symbols such as the crescent and the moon star and discusses Islamic theology by comparing Islam to Christianity and Judaism, the two other Abrahamic religion. The author also touches on the topic of Islam in modern day and explains how the teachings of the Quran have been misinterpreted by terrorists in the name of Allah, giving many Westerners a jaded view of Islam and Muslims as a whole. This paper includes pictures.

Outline:
Origin
Scripture Analysis
Theology
Present Time
Reactions
References

From the Paper
"Women were considered inferior to men, slavery was common, and the nation was ruled by religious "men of God" through fear and ignorance. So while I think, fundamentally, Islam teaches great things, there is a lot of growing up to do in the Islamic World in general and especially the Middle East. Stoning a woman to death because a husband "thinks" she is having an affair, genital mutilation, Jihad, terrorism, segregation, flogging, and many other atrocities being performed are all acts of ignorance that should not be tolerated in such an advanced society."

Tags:religion, practices, beliefs

Abstract
Food production plays a critical role in the development of people because more consumable calories means, quite simply, more people (Diamond 88). In the case of Eurasia, the continental axis meant was orientated east-west and thereby permitted Fertile Crescent crops to quickly "launch agriculture over the band of temperate latitudes from Ireland to the Indus Valley and to enrich the agriculture that grew independently in eastern Asia" (Diamond 185). Unlike the Americas, Eurasia's axis provided it with the "widest band of land at the same latitude, and hence the most dramatic example of rapid spread of domesticates" (Diamond 186).

From the Paper
Guns, Germs and Steel: 8 Questions (answered in the body of the paper) Food production plays a critical role in the development of people because more consumable calories means, quite simply, more people (Diamond, 88). In the case of Eurasia, the continental axis meant was orientated east-west and thereby permitted Fertile Crescent crops to quickly "launch agriculture over the band of temperate latitudes from Ireland to the Indus Valley and to enrich the agriculture that grew independently in eastern Asia" (Diamond, 185). Unlike the Americas, Eurasia's axis provided it with the "widest band of land at the same latitude, and hence the most dramatic example of rapid spread of domesticates" (Diamond, 186).

Tags:guns, germs, steel

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that Akira Kurosawa's 'Throne of Blood' is more than just an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth. The film is a visual feast with riddled rich symbolism. The writer maintains that it is that symbolism that makes 'Throne of Blood' so memorable. The writer notes that 'Throne of Blood' has a somewhat misogynistic tone that portrays females as socially subservient and spiritually evil. Crescent moon symbols combined with frequent intrusions from the natural world imbue 'Throne of Blood' with pagan symbolism and supernatural elements. The writer maintains that Kurosawa succeeds in solidifying this eerie atmosphere by transforming one of Shakespeare's most disturbing tragedies into high cinema.

From the Paper
"Filming in black and white also suggests the moral choices between good and evil. Washizu seems incapable of distinguishing between good and evil, symbolized by the mist that clouds his vision at several points in the film. He had once remained loyal to his best friend and to his Lord. Until Asaji poisons his mind and suggests that Miki is plotting against him, Washizu's moral choices are sound. Later his choices are clouded by delusional thoughts and the central character descends into a spiral of murder, madness, and mayhem. Ironically, the witch and Asaji are both shrouded in white, which is usually a color symbolizing purity and goodness. Asaji is the most directly evil character in Throne of Blood. Her white face and clothing do not symbolize purity as much as they signify the thematic connection between her character and the witch. The witch appears bathed in white light, which emphasizes her otherworldliness. Neither good nor evil, the witch simply tells Washizu what she sees. It is Asaji who tells Washizu how he should act. Both the witch and Asaji influence Washizu and sway him from one moral pole to the other."

Tags:Asaji, supernatural, good, evil

Abstract
This paper discusses that the Holy Month of Ramazan, which starts after the crescent of the new moon is spotted in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is believed to be the most blessed of Islamic observances because it involves the month in which Allah (Muslim God) opened the Holy Qur'an (the divine book of Muslims) to Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). The author points out that the Ramazan ritual includes refraining from consumption, ingestion, and sexual contact from dawn to dusk as a way to accomplish the spiritual practice. The paper explains that Muslims believe that the most significant contemplation in performing a fast, as in any act of loyalty, is to search for closeness to God, as well as search for His happiness and pardon.

Table of Contents
Thesis Statement
Introduction
Review of Related Literature
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The month of Ramazan is a chance to expand and build up character of patience and self-control, to manage annoyance and a scorching or hateful language. Ramazan is an occasion to stimulate sympathy and harmony with others and especially with the underprivileged. The Muslims are advised to be more open-minded in charity all through Ramazan and are obligated at the closing stages of fasting to give Zakat al Fitr (charity), an amount to facilitate all Muslims to allocate in the character of affection, fondness and brotherhood."

Tags:character, fasting, dawn, dusk, pakistan

Abstract
This paper explains that, in the Shah Faisal Mosque (or Masjid), one of the most beautiful mosques in the world, the Qiblah wall is very beautifully decorated with glazed tiles. The dome of the mosque has a huge golden crescent on it, the grand chandelier is spellbinding, and beautiful reflection pools add to the beauty of the mosque. The author reports that he was surprised to see that there are not any seats in the mosque, which is very distinct from a church. All Muslims sit on the floor, using a prayer mat, and are treated as equals in the mosque and in prayer. The paper reports that no one talked during the prayers because, during prayers, they are supposed to be facing God and praying to Him; no one made any prayer movements before the Imam finished his.

From the Paper
"There is a wall inside the mosque called the Qiblah. This is where the wall faces the city of Makkah. All mosques have the Qiblah. It lets people know that they are standing in the right direction to pray to God. I also found out that the minaret is a symbol of olden times. They were made so that people could hear the call of prayers called the azaan. There is a crescent moon on the dome, which indicates the direction of Makkah."

Tags:women, qiblah, prayer, equality, mausoleum

Abstract
This paper explores the possibilities for increased awareness, preparation and response to natural disasters, given the recent history of these events around the world. The paper gives a general overview of natural disasters and discusses the ability of private citizens and local, state and federal agencies to prepare for them. The paper goes into detail about some aspects of Hurricane Katrina and what could have been done differently to prepare for her.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Natural Disaster Overview
Community Preparedness for Disaster
Katrina, an Exercise in Ineffective Preparedness
Recommendations by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Disaster Preparedness
Early Warning Technology
The Future

From the Paper
"There is only one thing for certain; disaster will strike again. Meteorologists have noted that the period of reduced activity that occurred between 1971 to 1994 ended, and predict that three or more major hurricanes, rating Category 3 or higher, can be expected each year in the Atlantic, Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico (Beardsley, 2005). Earthquakes will continue to occur, as will tsunamis, wildfires, flooding, and the plethora of other disasters that affect communities around the world. Only through increased preparedness will the citizens of the world be protected from these unavoidable, inevitable events."

Tags:hurricane, tsunami, microelectromechanical, monitoring