Moslem Converts and Born Moslems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Moslem Converts and Born Moslems - Essay Example Islam, like the other monotheistic religions, was born in the Arab Middle East but unlike Christianity or Judaism, is regarded as an alien and obscure faith. The reason for the stated difference lies in that while both Christianity and Judaism were Westernized and, in more instances than not, informed and shaped Western culture, Islam, with some exceptions, remained fixed in the Middle East. Added to that, Islam was surprisingly resistant to trans-cultural transferences. For centuries, Islam, largely represented by Egypt's Al Azhar, maintained that the religion was fixed in language, culture and tradition, with the implication being that people came to Islam and Islam did not go to them. Hence, translations of the Quran were deemed misrepresentative of the faith because much was lost n translation and it was, consequently, expected that people learn Arabic as a prerequisite to their learning the faith itself, let alone embracing it. It was only upon the relaxation of the aforemention ed strictures that understanding Islam became somewhat easier, although not easy. The West, however, has only recently met Islam and the circumstance of the meeting were fiery, to say the least. The September 11th terrorist attacks only confirmed the Western perception of Islam as an incontrovertibly alien faith, a "Green Menace" and an "ancient" belief system (Esposito, 1994). Descriptors which inspire fear and suggest a persistent failure to modernize, to become part of the contemporary world (Esposito and Piscatori, 1993; Esposito, 1994). Indeed, the misunderstanding and stereotypes which surround Islam, largely instigated by the 2001, September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, have enabled the propagation and proliferation of Islamophobia. Paradoxically, however, even as Islamophobia grows, so does the number of converts to Islam, not only in the United States but across Europe. Converts to Islam and the attitudes of these converts to the religion they have embraced, is an interesting topic of exploration, because converts to Islam differ in significant ways from those who were born into this faith. While the belief system, as in the five pillars, rituals and principles have remained the same, Western converts have, largely as an outcome of the manner of induction on the one hand, and the reasons for conversion, on the other, have adopted a paradoxically usouli (traditionalist) and modernizing interpretation and conceptualization of Islam. This argument is supported by both the literature on the topic and the results of a limited survey which I carried out on 5 born Moslems and 5 moslem converts Terrorism Westerners who embrace Islam are largely regarded as having betrayed their cultural heritage, their traditions and their national ethos. Such perceptions are expressive of popular condemnation of converts and the very prominent and real fear that converts have adopted, or have rendered themselves vulnerable to the later adoption of, a militaristic, antagonistic and destructive interpretation of Islam. Objectively speaking, a minority does but the majority does not, with the difference largely determined by the reasons for c

Information Systems in Global Business Today Essay Example for Free

Information Systems in Global Business Today Essay How IT drives the UPS operation worldwide. Using smart people and smart technology, UPS delivers over 14 million packages daily to 200 countries and territories, requiring the talents of 70,000 drivers who are wirelessly connected to UPS main databases located in seventeen major data centers throughout through out the world. Case United Parcel Services global operations are driven by its information systems technology. What UPS can do is largely a function of its information technology investments. Beginning as a local delivery service in 1907, UPS expanded on the West coast initially, reached New York in the 1930s, and went international in the 1970s. Today, UPS delivers over 14 million packages daily to 200 countries and territories, requiring the talents of 70,000 drivers who are wireless connected to UPS main databases located in seventeen major data centers throughout through out the world. A multi-year, multibillion dollar investment in technology drove the growth of UPS over the last twenty five years beginning in 1990. This investment enabled the development of the DIAD, the Delivery Information Acquisition Device. DIAD is a key element in UPSs business technology platform. Company spokesmen say that UPS revolutionized the package delivery business in 1991 when it developed and deployed the first Delivery Information Acquisition Device, known as the DIAD. More than twenty years later, UPS continues its pioneering development efforts with the fourth generation of the DIAD the DIAD IV. To ensure maximum flexibility in field transmission capabilities, DIAD IV includes multiple wireless connectivity options. Each DIAD IV features a built-in GPRS and CDMA radio, an acoustical modem to facilitate dial-up access if necessary, and 802. 11b wireless local area network connectivity to enable transmission in a UPS center. The DIAD IV also features a Bluetooth wireless personal area network and an infrared (IrDA) port to communicate with peripheral devices and customer PCs/printers. DIAD IV introduces a revolutionary new feature Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) to the handheld terminal market. UPS plans to use this technology to provide drivers with more detailed directions to pick-up and delivery points in order to improve customer service. The monochrome screen on previous DIADS will be replaced with a color screen that accommodates more information which can be displayed in an easier-to-read, more attractive manner. The color screen also enables UPS to color-code messages transmitted to a drivers DIAD. Urgent customer pickup messages, for example, can be color-coded to alert the driver. In addition, the DIAD IV contains 128 megabytes of memory 20 times the capacity of the DIAD III. UPS will use this expanded capacity to provide new and improved customer services. Like its predecessors, the DIAD IVs battery lasts an entire work day. The DIAD IV sends delivery information to the UPS data repository as soon as the delivery information is entered. Drivers simply scan the package bar code, collect the receivers signature electronically, type in the Copyright Notice This work is protected by United States copyright laws and is provided solely for the use of instructors in teaching their courses and assessing student learning. Dissemination or sale of any part of this work (including on the World Wide Web) will destroy the integrity of the work and is not permitted. The work and materials from this site should never be made available to students except by instructors using the accompanying text in their classes. All recipients of this work are expected to abide by these restrictions and to honor the intended pedagogical purposes and the needs of other instructors who rely on these materials. last name of the receiver and push a single key to complete the transaction and send the data. There is no need to activate a cell phone or return to the vehicle. Part of what makes the DIAD such a powerful tool is the system ODS (On-Demand Services) that enables communication with the driver. Every UPS driver automatically logs into the ODS system first thing in the morning. This allows dispatchers and center management to access the driver via his/her DIAD throughout the day by sending generalized text messages. Virtually all drivers start their day with a list of predefined customer pickup locations for that day. Thanks to ODS, the addition of a one-time pickup can be added to a drivers work list on-the-fly, enabling UPS to take best advantage of the geographic location of its entire fleet for servicing pickup requests. By using the DIAD, UPS eliminates the use of 59 million sheets of paper per year. The DIAD IV is the most comprehensive tracking device in the delivery industry, combining data collection and transmission technologies, digital signature capture, extensive expandable memory and rugged construction to withstand extreme temperatures and hard falls. Other Features The UPS technology infrastructure enables UPS to offer its customers many services, such as package tracking, freight planning, and freight truck packing optimization, in addition to the basic shipment of packages.

Foundation: Myths Of Rome

Foundation: Myths Of Rome Although the foundation of Rome cannot be traced back using scholarly articles instead archaeological records have been used to provide immense data using settlements, religious sites and material dated back to the foundation of Rome. We have retrospective accounts from Livy and Virgil. The reign of Augustus was a time that used the foundation myths and the retelling of them to unify Rome due to the fragmented state that Rome was in after the civil wars. The use of the myths was used to unify Rome as one and to relate to the people that they all had and have common origins. By doing this Augustus was using myth to promote a message, not only of political union but of a union that the people originated from one beginning, to further drive this point he built statues of much grandeur and restored the hut of Romulus. Romulus and Aeneas in his imperial imagery; for instance, he erected statues of these figures in his new imperial Forum, and ostentatiously restored the thatched hut of Romulus on the Palatine after it was destroyed by fire. (Block 2 Page 108) By retelling the foundation myth stories Augustus was appealing to the moral side of the peoples nature by suggesting that all of Rome should be in unity and that tradition should be remembered and recognised. He was billing himself as Romes second founder hoping to unify Rome in a more peaceful age. In my opinion this is most definitely a use of myth for moral messages and perhaps a way to control the people in his reign. In some of the accounts written by Livy, whom is thought to be a friend of Augustus but also a truthful person, it states that Livys writing does reveal that he was an advocate of the morality associated with the Roman republic. At the same time, however, he was frequently optimistic about the new imperial era. (Block 2 page 110) Perhaps also Livy is a tactician, while supporting his friend Augustus his scepticism of the super natural elements and of the foundation myths of Rome, are evident for he suggests that the wolf that suckled Romulus and Remus was in fact a prostitute with the nickname of wolf. However Livy in his accounts of myth does show recognition and makes use of some mythical characters such as Aeneas, Romulus and Remus. Augustus used many of the writings from the accounts of Livy including the curule chair and the purple boarded toga to promote a unified Rome for example. On the reverse of a coin it showed Augustus with the inscription reading, He restored the laws and rights of the Roman people. (Block 2 Page 112) This is another demonstration of how Augustus used myth supported by the writings of Livy to unify Rome. The inscription on the coin represents this and refers to all Roman people. Neros use of myth Nero in his reign was a great entertainer and I am certain used myth as a vehicle for communication with the people of Rome. Nero was using the characters to project the parallels between him and his power as an Emperor of Rome and perhaps to influence how he was thought of. This is exemplified in the reference of Suetonius were he writes of Nero singing of the myth of Niobe to link him with the god Apollo. Nero planned to rule by following the example of Augustus so Nero was therefore following the close association that Augustus had with Apollo. This would also help us to understand that myth was being reused to keep the morality and belonging of the Roman people unified. Nero also associated himself with another god Sol by having images of him pictured in a radiate crown which would show the link to Sol. Being seen by the people of Rome was important for a ruler, and, without mass media, public events were always a stage for the emperor; how an emperor behaved in front of and toward the crowd enabled a dialogue between rulers and ruled. Nero wanted the people to see him as a god and used the similarities of himself and Apollo to create peace. Even in official coinery Nero can been seen akin to Apollo in the way he is presented as Apollo Citharoedus, advancing right in flying robes, playing lyre which he did often. Nero justified his own singing by observing that singing is sacred to Apollo (Primary Source 2.6, p. 39). (Block 2 page 143) In the reign of Nero even the Elite were made to perform and this perhaps allied Nero with the lower classes of Rome and allowed him to reach further to masses and become more popular. Nero used myth as an entertainment tool and would use themes of tragedies to perform to. It has been noted that Suetonius recorded Nero being involved in the ballets about the Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus. He would sing about Niobe. Many of the rulers of Rome have used myth for different ends, in the case of Augustus he wanted to unify Rome and improve the strength of the empire by using myth to communicate of the origins of Rome by unifying the people the empire would be stronger. Nero in comparison was so taken up with the theatre and performing that he used it as a vehicle to promote himself to all of Rome, some believed he was claiming a god like status through the performance of myth and the production of relics depicting him as the gods Apollo or Sol. Flavian Amphitheatre The Amphitheatre was an in important stage for myth and by using the amphitheatre as a performance arena myth was able to reach wider audiences. The players in the arena would impersonate characters from myth although in some circumstances the endings to the myths may be dramatised to entertain the audience. The audience would have to have prior knowledge of myths to identify characters from their props, such as Juno characterised by holding a diadem and sceptre. This meant that it was no only the elite that were aware of the myths but most of society. Political and Moral use of myth It is known that Rome was decorated elaborately with temples, pictures, buildings and statues. This decoration was often dedicated to the gods and myths. It is shown myth was not only understood by the elite but by the all Romans as they were encompassed by all this imagery even in as far as the very coinage that they carried in their pockets. It is clear from the findings of many a signet ring, and images of the gods expressed in many ways in the guise of Emperors, that these rings could also be significant indicators of political allegiance to the Gods and therefore the Emperors who were represented as them. Therefore it is likely that political allegiance and identity were also communicated through the medium of myth. It has been stated that at heart of most political points are rhetoric, myth and symbolism. This will only work if myth is believed and can be a cause of unrest if the general public have access to other sources of information. Myths are a source of propaganda still used and allied with today A number of the myths were rewritten in Augustuss reign and this could be why he used them to help retell the myths and stories in a way that would support him throughout his reign, because at this time it was a period in which there was a great unrest and war in Rome. By focussing on the concept of the origins of Rome this would optimistically allow for the conflicts to dispel and develop into a unified peaceful focus for an integrated Rome. It needs also to be noted that the writings by Livy from the period of the rein of Augustus, do not all lend themselves to support Augustus and all of his ideals. From the view of Livy he interpreted the rape of the Sabine women as a politically motivated attack, a way to increase the population of Rome because they did not have women folk so the women had a dedicated use being that of reproduction. This act also cemented the relationship the Sabine villages in time after the attack, because now their daughter had offspring that were Roman and Sabine and the women acted as political mediators between both sides resulting in a combined relationship and an extension t the Roman Empire. Myth has been woven into to political life and it was a vehicle of communication between ruler and subjects. Theatrical performances that linked myth to the reality of contemporary life allowed stories to be a method of communicating with the public. The all important image to that of an Emperor was signified in many ways by having statues built of themselves in poses and with props that were representative of Gods. Myth at home The representation of myths in Villas echoed that of the imperial Rome, the example of the Roman Villa decorated highly with images taken from myth. It seems that myths had an importance to the Roman people because they are pictured on very mundane items as well as the precious, from wall paintings, pottery and silverware to combs and other everyday items. Myth is referred to in epitaphs and funerary monuments from the rich to the poor although it is not a claim to be a God it does show the widespread use of myth and how important it was to people of Rome. Myths were symbols for people to associate themselves with and present their knowledge beliefs and their own identity. Conclusion Myths were used to communicate moral and political messages but they were also retold for entertainment purposes. It is evident that rulers used myth to try and establish some type of hold and control over society. The Emperors wanted and needed to have a united Rome and used myth to retell of a time of greatness. By relating to myth the rulers are establishing an identity with myth and the ideology that is presented in a story form, this then increases a persons awareness of the correct way to behave or to warn of consequences should they behave like the characters in the myths. Although the use of myth appears to be very wide spread I believe that rulers would use the stories and adapt them to fit their own purpose, by doing this it would allow a firm control of the people from both a political and moral standing. The Romans appeared to have been surrounded by myth because it was displayed in many forms from statues and monuments created by the emperors to the items of pottery that would be used in many houses. It was used as propaganda allowing for each ruler to place their own interpretation and spin depending on their own needs and requirements. The evidence that shows how important myth was to the Romans and still exists in funerary monuments and the use of myth has provided a tool for rulers to use as a medium to deploy messages to their subjects, due to their beliefs, significance and meaning to Roman people. (Word Count 1954)

Thom Gunn’s Donahue’s Sister :: Donahues Sister

Thom Gunn’s Donahue’s Sister      Ã‚  Ã‚   Thom Gunn was a poet who often wrote of common hardships in every day life.   Gunn’s writing style and choice of topics makes it obvious that he was writing in the middle to late twentieth century, and this is what draws people of today to his work.   I believe that not only are people able to relate better to Gunn because of his topic selection but because of the time period the majority of his work is written in.   Ã‚  Ã‚   In the twentieth century, particularly since the 1950’s or so, we have witnessed as a society; the arrival of AIDS, an increasing amount of single parent families, an increase in drug and alcohol use among young people, controversy over homosexuality, and an increasing number of instances where we, as a country, have seen that money and power can get anyone off for any crime or wrong-doing.   In â€Å"Donahue’s Sister†, Gunn writes from a point of view that more than half of our population can probably relate to because almost all of us know someone with a drinking problem or have one of our own.   â€Å"Donahue’s Sister† shows the frustration of a brother as he explains the degree of severity that his sister’s drinking problem has reached.   The poem puts us in Donahue’s body from the start so as if we are looking at her standing at the head of the stairs, drunk beyond recovery.   Although there is surely room for different interpretations, I believe â€Å"Donahue’s Sister† is written by Gunn primarily to show the destruction that addiction can do to a person or a relationship.   Ã‚  Ã‚   In this paper, I will attempt to make Gunn’s voice heard according to how I interpret the poem, and by doing so I hope to show how relevant this poem was to the decade it was written in, the 1980’s.   I also will explore some other possibilities of how this may have related to or affected Gunn directly.   In other words, what factors may have been responsible for his writing this poem.   Ã‚  Ã‚   The beginning of the poem describes the sister standing eye to eye with Donahue at the head of the stairs.   She is in her own drunken world, which is referred to as her â€Å"private world† throughout the poem.   This depiction is very accurate of a drunk who believes that they have everything under control and that the world they are in is actually better for them than the sober world; reality.

Censorship - Banning Books :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Literature has long been an important part of human life. We express our feelings with ink and paper; we spill out our souls on dried wood pulp. Writing has been form of release and enjoyment since the beginning of written language. You can tell a story, make yourself a hero. You can live out all your fantasies. You can explore all of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and share them with the outside world. But just because you can write, don't think you are uninhibited! It doesn't matter who you are. If you write a book, paper, or other work of choice, somebody is going to contest you. Some one isn't going to like what you have to say, and they will try to cause a stir. Don't try to deal with issues of racism, sexism, murder, sexuality, etc. That will only get you banned, barred, or burned. Controversy is a trigger for argument, so if you write about something controversial, people will have something to say about it. It doesn't matter whom the book was written for, about, or by. For example, you can't write about racism in America. We don't have any of THAT, do we!? I remember well my ex-boyfriend reading Of Mice and Men. It was required reading for his Senior English class. However, in the 1990's, this book was challenged and banned in many schools across the country. The book deals with a mentally challenged man who kills some one, and, in the end, is killed himself by his "best friend." And don't think the language was overlooked! All kids love the "Harry Potter" series. But they don't know that by reading it they are "indulging in sinful and Godless acts" or that these books are putting them on the fastest train to Hell. I own A Clockwork Orange, Lord of the Flies, To Kill a Mockingbird, Twelfth Night, and Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, all of which have been or are banned. What's going on here? The most frequently challenged and/or banned books in 2001 were: ? The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling, for its focus on wizardry and magic. ? Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, for using offensive language and being unsuited to age group. Censorship - Banning Books :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays Literature has long been an important part of human life. We express our feelings with ink and paper; we spill out our souls on dried wood pulp. Writing has been form of release and enjoyment since the beginning of written language. You can tell a story, make yourself a hero. You can live out all your fantasies. You can explore all of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and share them with the outside world. But just because you can write, don't think you are uninhibited! It doesn't matter who you are. If you write a book, paper, or other work of choice, somebody is going to contest you. Some one isn't going to like what you have to say, and they will try to cause a stir. Don't try to deal with issues of racism, sexism, murder, sexuality, etc. That will only get you banned, barred, or burned. Controversy is a trigger for argument, so if you write about something controversial, people will have something to say about it. It doesn't matter whom the book was written for, about, or by. For example, you can't write about racism in America. We don't have any of THAT, do we!? I remember well my ex-boyfriend reading Of Mice and Men. It was required reading for his Senior English class. However, in the 1990's, this book was challenged and banned in many schools across the country. The book deals with a mentally challenged man who kills some one, and, in the end, is killed himself by his "best friend." And don't think the language was overlooked! All kids love the "Harry Potter" series. But they don't know that by reading it they are "indulging in sinful and Godless acts" or that these books are putting them on the fastest train to Hell. I own A Clockwork Orange, Lord of the Flies, To Kill a Mockingbird, Twelfth Night, and Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, all of which have been or are banned. What's going on here? The most frequently challenged and/or banned books in 2001 were: ? The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling, for its focus on wizardry and magic. ? Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, for using offensive language and being unsuited to age group.

What Is Religion Essay -- essays research papers

What Is Religion What is religion? According to an Oxford dictionary, religion is the belief in the existence of a supernatural ruling power, the creator and controller of the universe, who has given to man a spirtual nature which continues to exist after the death of the body. Religion appears to be a simple idea on the surface, but in reality it is a very complex system of ideas that many base their lives upon. There are many religions in the world. Christianity seems to be the one religion believed widely in the modern world. However, this is not the case in a group of five people in a World Religion class. These five people share common knowledge on several aspects of religion, yet they have some major conflicts. The focus of this paper is to explore the ideas and beliefs of the group, analyze the importance of religions dialogue, and to discuss the challenge of religious pluralism in the contemporary world. The first group member states her firm Christian views. Melissa recognizes all the religions of the world, but she holds Christanity to be the only true religion. To her, Christianity is the only way one person can attain salvation. All other religions are false and those who do not follow Christanity are misguided and will not attain salvation. It is only through Jesus Christ's death on the cross that one can repent, be forgiven, and attain salvation. Melissa feels that others who are non-Christians believe that their religion is true. Afterall everyone is brought up to believe in the faith or religion they are taught. If this was not the case, no one would have any beliefs. Although their religions are not true religions Melissa respects their views of being true. Quite similar to Melissa's opinion, Jason feels that there is only one true religion in the world, which is Christianity. However, he recognizes that there are many other religions in the world in which their followers believe are true. He does not believe that one should criticize others for their beliefs, and that they should respect each person's beliefs even if they are different from his. For Jason, Christianity is the true religion. It is the only religion that he believes Has the right answers for... ...ecially if their views do not necessarily agree with someone else's views. We think trying to understand different religions takes compassion and understanding. Often, people fear the "unknown." So, another way to meet the challenge of religious pluralism is through education. People can learn about different religions and respect the diversity that exists. Further, to help understand a different religion, our group thinks that going to check out different religion services will give people personal experience of that different faith. People do not have to feel they have to accept the other religion, but going to visit another service will broaden their horizons. We believe that if society can respect the religious diversity in the world, the challenge of relgious pluralism can be met. W.C. Smith says it best, "Unless men can learn to understand and to be loyal to each other across religious frontiers, unless we can build a world in which people profoundly of different faiths can live together and work together, then the prospects for our planets future are not bright" ("The Christian in a Religiously Plural World" 11).

Siddhartha Dualism vs Monoism

Western thought also states that e must live moral and just lives, free of sin. If I had to decide which philosophy is more forgiving and nurturing towards people, I would have to say that the Eastern realm of thought is less biased than the Western thought. Although I do not believe in a certain faith or god, Eastern thought appeals to me greater as opposed to the biased Western thought. The divine nature of the Eastern faith is more lenient and clear on underlying their concept and principles of a moral life. Western philosophy, as stated before is more biased towards its own beliefs.Western thought states that in order to reach salvation, you must follow the bible and live by Its guidelines and that you only get one chance at redemption and that everything else Is evil and a sure way to damnation. Eastern thought Is more lenient towards achieving the ultimate goal. Monism states that you don't have to be a monk or a spiritual man to achieve salvation but you can learn to achieve s alvation introspectively through your own way. Where as Dualism weighs people on sin, Monism weighs people based on Karma. Karma is the basic concept that every action will have an equal reaction in the future.Dualism states that we are all Judged by our Karma. Monism is clearer on the cycle of life and says that our Karma will determine what we will be reincarnated as. Western thought however states that we are weighed by our bad actions and that we only get one more chance at redemption or we do not reach salvation at all. To sum It up, monism has a very forgiving policy on redemption. In Western faith, It Is said that after one has parted from the physical world, he or he shall be Judged by the ultimate Judger to see If he or she Is worthy of salvation.In Eastern faith, once one has parted into the spirit world and has reached enlightenment, he or she shall live in everlasting bliss and get answers to all his or he questions. In all honesty, I think the afterlife is an illusion a nd that once we part from this world, it's over. The afterlife seems to be a little farfetched and too vague for it to be true. And even if there are spirits resembling about, we never seem to see them come alive. Eastern thought however seems a little more reasonable and self- explanatory rather than the west's notion of the afterlife.There are many deferent faiths in this world that millions believe in. Religion is a very powerful, very influential force in the world. There are many different view, different morals and different guidelines. One thing they all have in common Is the goal to reach salvation In an unknown afterlife. There are many evils that come from religion but good can also come from It as well. No belief Is true, there Is no one proper way how to live one's life. Society may set the laws and regulations that