"Islam and the west" by Bernard Lewis - review
This book titled "Islam and the west" whose author is Bernard Lewis was published in 1993 by the Oxford University Press. It discusses the relationship between Europe and Islam and how these two are related sociologically and historically. This book shows first how Islam and Christianity are related. In fact these two religions share a huge heritage and they are sometimes described as sister religions. Even if sometimes or more often their adepts disputed, this mainly due to the message they carried to humanity. Actually, both religions saw itself as the bearer of god's final revelation to humankind, which caused a long series of conflicts, beginning with holy wars _ Jihad and crusades then continuing with the ebb and flow of Muslim empire in Europe and of European empires in the lands of Islam. In this cycles of confrontations and wars this two civilizations had conflicts that were caused by their resemblances more than by their differences. This book is concerned with the evolution between the two struggling civilization the Islamic and the European or western one. These studies are grouped according to three main topics: encounters, perceptions and responses. The "encounters" part begins with a historical survey of the interaction in war and peace, in commerce and culture between Europe and its Islamic neighbors to the east and to the south. Then, it continues with a
In what way would it be fair to describe Martin Luther as a revolutionary(TM)?
' In what way would it be fair to describe Martin Luther as a revolutionary'? To answer this question we must address the meaning of the word revolutionary. A revolutionary is defined in the dictionary as an; 1extremist; insurgent; radical and drastic. It could be argued that Martin Luther was a revolutionary in his thoughts and beliefs, but not in his actions. It is for this reason that it may be easier to leave Luther with the title of reformer. The dictionary definition for reform is to improve;2 abandon evil practices and improvement. As a reformer, Martin Luther caused a schism that changed the world of the Catholic Church forever. This essay will discuss whether Luther was solely responsible for the German Reformation or if it was a culmination of many factors. These factors may include whether Luther himself being in the right place at the right time. In addition, the Renaissance that was taking place, leaving the world and Europe ready for a change. In 1500, the only religion that existed in Western Europe was Catholicism. For many Religion was the most important thing, this being the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, the church and clergy were seen as being very corrupt, Rome was making vast amounts of money from the sale of indulgences. Indulgences were sold to the people, absolving their sins and releasing them from time spent in purgatory, all this with a
Muslim Women, throughout the centuries, have habitually been categorised, stereotyped, downsized and even degraded into a 'lower class', compared with the status of Muslim men. Through the personal translations of the Holy Qu'ran, the societal system d...
Muslim Women, throughout the centuries, have habitually been categorised, stereotyped, downsized and even degraded into a 'lower class', compared with the status of Muslim men. Through the personal translations of the Holy Qu'ran, the societal system during the coming of the Prophet Mohammed around 570AD, and general unease, Muslim women have often been denigrated into inequitable and unseen positions (Wiebke W, 1981, pg 8). Their stereotyped duties required them merely to get married (where possible), have children and raise them (again where possible), and look after all household duties. Recently, with globalisation at the forefront of our 'accepting' and 'non-stereotypical' pluralist multi-cultural societies, this notion of the inequality of women has been frequently questioned. Pakistan and Bangladesh are densely Muslim-populated countries with Islamic traditions being vital to their laws and general well-being as differing nation-states. From December 1988 with election of Benazir Bhutto to Prime Minister in Pakistan to the most current election of Begum Khaleda Zia who is still in power, the question must be raised: 'How does the appointment of Muslim women to political positions fit in with women's status in Islam?' (Esposito JL, 1987, pp 69-78). This will seek to give evidence to help answer this question and relate this to the primarily Islamic nation-states of
Evolving Traditions of Buddhism.
Evolving Traditions of Buddhism Sri Lanka, when Buddhism first arrived in the third century BCE, was a great center of Buddhist learning for the thousand years following Buddhism's arrival. Therevada Buddhism defines itself by referring to traditions and teachings that were established between the fifth and tenth centuries in Sri Lanka. Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka by Mahinda, after which there emerged three great divisions of the Sangha on the island, each of which centered on a monastery in the ancient capital of Anuradhapura. Mahavihara, great monastery, is the oldest of the monasteries and was established by Mahinda in the third century, the Abhayagiri-vihara in the first century BCE, and the Jetavana in the third century CE. None of the writings of the monks of Abhayagiri and the Jetavana monasteries survived, which makes it hard to tell how their traditions differed from those of the Mahavihara. There appeared to be a rivalry between them due to a Mahavihara opposition to their Mahayana sympathies, which is simplistic and problematic. The schools of Chinese Buddhism are divided into two categories, those that have a more or less direct Indian counterpart and those which have a more or less direct Indian counterpart and those that are native to China. The principal schools are the Vinaya, the Kosa, the Madhyamaka, the Yogacara, and the Mantrayana. Those schools
In what ways are Media representations of Islam a continuation of Orientalism
In what ways are Media representations of Islam a continuation of Orientalism? Discuss with reference to one specific Media event. This essay aims to provide an accurate picture of how today's Western media purposely produce negative, culturally constructed views of Islam and the Muslims around the world. Islam is usually presented as being medieval, 'backwards', uncivilised and irrational as well as an obscure group of people who follow a heretical religion. Using the unfortunate events from September 11 2001 as the main context, the essay will try to demonstrate how these misconceptions in the media are not the result of these events alone, but more importantly history has shown it as part of an ancient myth, created culturally dating back to the enlightenment period. To clarify this assertion, we need to refer to Edward Said's discourse on Orientalism. It illustrates how Islam was studied in the past compared to how it is shown today as the significant other. "In short; Orientalism, a Western style for dominating, restructuring over the Orient (Arab/Muslims in the middle east)" (Said: 1995: p3). In order for us to understand and appreciate what Orientalism is, let us briefly cite Dr. Said in regards to this subject: From at least the end of 18th century until our own day, modern Occidental reactions to Islam have been dominated by radical simplified type of thinking
What is Mary Shelley's relationship to the Enlightenment?
What is Mary Shelley's relationship to the Enlightenment? The Enlightenment broadly means the new wave of ideas and attitudes which surfaced during the late seventeenth an eighteenth centuries. They attempted to break free from old ideas and institutions such as the Catholic church. The Enlightenment had many facets, it was involved in science, philosophy, religion, politics, society, economics and nearly every other aspect of life. A number of philosophers during this time were interested in the notion of "the state of nature", this is a hypothetical situation of what human life was like before society was formed. It was argued that in the state of nature the human soul was fully exposed, this could help the present society to create a peaceful, harmonious and virtuous framework to live in. The conceptions of the state of nature varied greatly, from Hobbes' bloody war against all to Rousseau's belief in the noble savage - satisfied with the most basic requirements. Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus in 1818. It is about a young scientist who manages to create a living monster. However, the monster is then left to its own devices and cast out of society. The monster becomes bitter and takes revenge on its creator. The book can be seen to have a number of interpretations, it was written towards the end of the Enlightenment period and so draws from this
Discuss the role of the holy spirit in Christian faith.
DEPARTMENT : OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY NAME : EDGAR ODHIAMBO REG NO : B31/GV/10337/2021 UNIT CODE : UCC 122 UNIT TITLE : INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL THOUGHTS AND ITS APPLICATIONS TASK : THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH LECTURER : DR.STEPHEN NJOROGE DUE DATE : 18/07/2022 THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………… 3 THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH The Holy Spirit Is a Source of Revelation, Wisdom, and Power………4 God bestows the Holy Spirit on His people so that we may understand Him better…………………………………………………………………...4 All Truth, Including Knowledge of What Is to Come, Is Guided by the Holy Spirit…………………………………………………………………...4 The Holy Spirit Gives Spiritual Gifts to Believers……………….…...5 The Holy Spirit Is a Seal in the Lives of Believers……………………5 The Holy Spirit is the sign that we have been adopted as God's children…………………………………………………………………5 When a Christian is weak, the Holy Spirit assists them and prays on
Evaluate the ways in which emotion might enhance and/or undermine reasoning as a way of knowing.
Evaluate the ways in which emotion might enhance and/or undermine reasoning as a way of knowing. In order to start this essay I must first define the two most significant words as I understand them and afterwards I will explain the question. Emotion and reasoning are the words that have greater importance in the question from my point of view. Emotion is a mental state that happens unexpectedly rather than through conscious effort and is often followed by physiological changes, in this case, a feeling (e.g.: joy, sadness, respect, hate and love. Reasoning can be the use of evidence or arguments used in thinking or argumentation and it can also be the use of reason, especially when used to form conclusions, assumptions, or judgments. As a result reasoning will lead us in the way we react to different situations. The question wants us to evaluate in details, the many different ways in which emotion is able to influence on the way a situation is reasoned, either by making it harder or easier and therefore resulting in a better or worse way of knowing. I significantly believe that emotion can influence on the way most people would reason, either in a positive or in a negative way and therefore I believe it may considerably enhance or undermine reasoning as a way of knowing. In order to evaluate the question, three points of argumentation will be stated, analysed and then
Although there is no passage in the Bible which explicitly states the absolute dominance of male over female, one is indisputably left with the feeling that men have a stronger connection with the Christian God
Ekaterina Anguelova If God Is Male, then the Male Is God Religion, since the beginning of human civilization, has always been one of the most influential factors for the shaping of society. Its impact has gone far beyond the mere intrusion of culture and lifestyle, for it has been and still remains a strictly formulated mindset which governs the everyday behavior of the majority of the planet’s population. In fact, religion has had a more influential role in determining the social roles and stereotypes of genders than any other field of cultural studies. Nearly two millennia after the supposed death of Christ, we still haven’t resolved the conflict between the seemingly egalitarian teachings of Jesus and the history of sexist bans and prosecutions of women which were to follow in later centuries. It seems that Christianity, although its promotion of equality and love for all human beings alike, has actually failed these virtues by endorsing symbolic and ritual practices which denigrate femininity by denying women an unmediated relationship with the various aspects of the divine. But is it truly so? In order to examine the question of the misbalance in gender egalitarianism, we first must consider the societal structures which are connected to Christianity and whether or not they might favor an inequality between the genders. The first religions
Depiction Of Marginal Society In Mahabharata.
Ridhima Saxena FSLE 2(60918) Mahabharata Assignment 3. Professor: Ms. Viraj Shah Depiction Of Marginal Society In Mahabharata. The mainstream Hindu society in Mahabharata comprised of mainly four castes: Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Apart from these four basic orders, there were other castes that emerged from either the intermixing of these four classes,came in during foreign invasions or were celestial beings and Nagas. Such communities were not included in the mainstream Hinduism and thus remained marginal to it. There are various depictions of these marginal societies in Mahabharata and their constant interaction with the four main groups. The famous marginal tribes that have been mentioned over and over again in the epic are Kiratas, Nishadas, Sakas, Pallavas, Shabars,Barbars, Yavanas, Dramids and Mlechchas. Some marginal castes were also based on their profession, like fishermen, milkmen, Aranyacars, while some were on the basis of their character, like Nagas. Celestial beings included Gandharvas, Apsaras, Gods et cetera who lived in heaven (swarga lok-in the sky) and demons (asuras/danavas) and genies (daityas) were either found in dense forests or below the ground (paatal lok). The existence of various marginal tribes in India is explained in the form of various stories depicted in Indian literature. One of the most famous accounts that we come