Understanding The Distributions Of Religions - 942 Words

To understand the distributions of religions, beliefs must be separated first. Universalizing religions are religions trying to appeal to all people globally, not just to one culture or location. Ethnic religions appeal primarily to one group of people living in one place. Atheism is the belief that there is no God and Agnosticism is the belief that the fact that there is a God or no God cannot be proven. Christianity is a universalizing religion. It is the dominant religion in North America, South America, Europe, and Australia. Countries with a Christian majority exist in Africa and Asia as well. There are three major branches of Christianity–Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodoxy. In Europe, Roman Catholicism is the dominant†¦show more content†¦In Europe, Muslims account for only 5% of the population, and most of them emigrated from African colonies where they adopted the religion to Europe. In North America, the number of followers varies from 1 to 5 million. Most of these followers emigrated from Asian, African, and Arab countries. Buddhism is clustered in East and Southeast Asia. Similar to other religions, there are three branches–Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana. Mahayana Buddhists live primarily in China, Japan, and Korea and make up 56% of Buddhists. Theravada Buddhists live primarily in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand and make up 38% of Buddhists. Vajrayana Buddhists live primarily in Tibet and Mongolia and make up 6% of Buddhists. An example of an Ethnic religion is Hinduism, which has 900 million adherents. Most of them live in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Other ethnic religions include Confucianism, Taoism, Primal-indigenous, African traditional, Spiritism, and Judaism. Different religions have different origins. Theravada Buddhism believes that Buddhism is a full time occupation, so a Buddhist must renounce worldly goods and become a monk. Mahayana Buddhism split from Theravada about 2000 years ago and claims that it is less demanding and all-encompassing. Vajrayana Buddhism emphasizes the practice of rituals, known as Tantras. Christianity is founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Same Sex Marriage Should Be Legal - 1997 Words

Marriage, by definition, is the legally or formally recognized union of a man and a Woman (or, in some jurisdictions, two people of the same sex) as partners in a relationship. In some cases, marriage between two people of the same sex is more commonly known as gay marriage. Here in the United States of America, it is believed that every citizen should have inalienable rights, yet LGBTQ communities are constantly denied of their human rights as an American. Due to their sexual orientation, they are discriminated and gay marriage is viewed as inhumane. Whether a person is Caucasian, Negro, gay, straight, transgender or queer, they need to be given all equal rights as citizens of the United States. In fact, as of October 21, 2014, same-sex marriage has been legalized in thirty-two states in the United States: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Washington, Maine, Maryland, California, Delaware, Rhode Island, Minnesota, New Jersey, Hawaii, New Mexico, Ore gon, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, Nevada, West Virginia, North Carolina, Idaho, Alaska, Arizona and Wyoming (â€Å"Gay Marriage Pros and Cons† (2014). There are several reasons as to why people are against the legalization of same-sex marriage, yet the three most prominent are the possibility in the rise of divorce rates, the possible legalization of all marriage, and the development of a child in a same-sex partnership household (â€Å"Gay Marriage ProsShow MoreRelatedSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1288 Words   |  6 Pages Marriage is not precisely the same as it used to be interpreted. For example, women used to be their husband’s property. Sometimes the women were forced to marry whoever their parents wanted them to marry and most of the time they couldn’t leave the marriage. Nowadays women have more freedom. They can vote, they can run their own business, and they can marry whichever man they want to. The laws change as the people’s mind change. As they get more comfortable with the idea, they become more openRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal Essay1475 Words   |  6 PagesSame sex relationships relate to when a man or woman are attracted to someone of the same gender of themselves. It is being rejected as same gender marriage denies the obvious purpose between a man and a women which is procreation (Richardson-Self, 2012). Denying same sex couples the legal right to get married, could mean that they are being denied their basic human rights to enjoy human benefits (Richardson-Self, 2012). However, the opposing view is that if gay marriage was granted the legal rightsRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1403 Words   |  6 PagesSame-Sex Marriage â€Å"I now pronounce you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  At some point in a person’s life, they have heard or will hear those words. What follows, however, has changed somewhat over the years; although, the commitment has remained the same. Those words historically indicate that until the death of a spouse, that couple shall remain together. Who should be able to determine whom that spouse is for that person? Some people judge others for their sexuality and how it is affecting them, but they never stop andRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1144 Words   |  5 PagesGay Marriage There are many issues the revolve around same-sex marriage. Many issues like: Whether same-sex should be legalized and should there be an amendment on same-sex marriage? There are multiple side to view this, but gay marriage but in my opinion gay marriage is socially accepted. it should be legal and it does affect American teens in a broad spectrum of ways. There have been a lot of issues on whether or not same-sex marriage should be legal or not. According to Burns, â€Å" The unionRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal998 Words   |  4 PagesSame sex marriage ought to be legalized on the grounds that it is uncivilized and unmerited. Marriage is a commitment between two people that cherish one another. In almost every country and culture, marriage is a commitment of loyalty and love. Marriage is an authority contract gathering two individuals together, furnishing them with profits of holy matrimony such as tax cuts and clinical privileges. The debate throughout most countries today is whether or not the rights of these profits and commitmentsRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1659 Words   |  7 Pages Same-sex couples can hardly remember a time where they were not fighting for their right to marriage in the United States. After several court cases, California Proposition Six, and their struggle against the Defens e of Marriage Act (DOMA), same-sex couples found their way into U.S. society. Many misguided studies appealed to those opposing same-sex marriage, but after several years of integrating in society, same-sex couples found the support they were looking for. Before the Supreme CourtRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal899 Words   |  4 Pages In the United States, same sex marriage became legal nationwide on June 26, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court overruled the court in favor of same sex freedom and marriage. The victory of same sex marriage came to be recognized from the Obergefell v. Hodges case which was submitted when an American Ohio man was denied and regretted to get his name on his late husband’s death certificate. Same sex marriage has been a controversial social issue in the United States for several decades. SinceRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1491 Words   |  6 PagesSame sex marriage is one of the most debatable issues in the modern world. Marriage has been accepted as the social union between a man and a woman for the past thousand years. Homosexuality was viewed with scorn, and marriages among same sex couples were prohibited in most cultures across the globe. However, gay relationships are slowly obtaining acceptance, as homosexuals have come to be expressive in fighting their rights to marry in the early 90’s. As homosexuality grows in acceptance in theRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal2253 Words   |  10 Pages1776). The recognition of same-sex marriage is an issue influenced by numerous factors, and debates continue to arise over whether people in same-sex relationships have the right to marriage. Marriage provides many benefits, legally, financially, and personally. Same-sex marriage can open up those in same-sex relationships to tax benefits and financial demands comparable to those afforded to and required of people in opposite-sex marriages. Same-sex marriage also gives them legal pr otections, such asRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal892 Words   |  4 PagesLove Same sex marriage is now allowed in all states across the country. But it took years and years for this â€Å"issue† to be finally laid to rest. The first state to legalize same-sex marriage was Massachusetts in 2004. There was not a last state to legalize gay marriage. The supreme court realized how many states were now legalizing it, so they just had all of the states left legalize it as well. ProCon.org supplies information that â€Å"Twenty-six states were forced to legalize gay marriage because

Khalifa Ali Free Essays

string(111) " Uhud and the Ditch and his awe inspiring success at Khyber earned him the title of â€Å"Lion of God†\." Introduction Ali was born to Abu Talib himself a renowned Quraish chief and custodian of the Holy Kaaba. Abu Talib’s father, Abdul Muttalib was the son of the great Hashim. Ali’s mother was Fatima, daughter of Asad who too was a son of Hashim. We will write a custom essay sample on Khalifa Ali or any similar topic only for you Order Now Fatima was a cousin of Abu Talib. Thus both of Ali’s parents were Hashemite, which was considered quite prestigious. Ancestry of Ali The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was Abdul Muttalib’s grandson. His father Abdullah was Abu Talib’s brother, which therefore made Abu Talib the prophet’s uncle and Ali his first cousin. Birth of Ali Although his exact date of birth is not confirmed tradition says, Ali was born on the thirteenth of â€Å"Rajab† in the 28th year of the Elephant Era (whose commencement is marked by Yemen’s ruler Abraha’s failed attempt to invade Makkah and destroy the Kaaba) The Holy Prophet of Islam was born in the Year of the Elephant which according to scholars corresponds to the year 571 A.D. If we calculate then, Ali must have been born around 599 or 600 C.E. His birth was quite an unusual one. That day, his mother Fatima visited the Kaaba for pilgrimage. It was during her pilgrimage that she felt maternal pains and retired to a corner of the Kaaba and that is where Ali was born. Thus, Ali had the unparalleled honor of being born in the House of Allah bestowed upon him. The Name Legend goes that when Ali was born the Holy prophet and his wife Khadija came to see the infant. That the little boy had not yet opened his eyes was a matter of great worry for everyone. But when the prophet Muhammad held him in his hands young Ali opened his eyes, making the prophet the first person he saw after birth. The Holy Prophet named him ‘Ali’ the derivative of Allah, since he was born the Ka’aba. Physical Appearance Ali was of a moderate height. He held a gracious face which reflected his personality. His facial features were striking with a straight nose and a beautifully formed mouth. He possessed commanding eyes, full of light and luster.   It was as if rays of spirituality   beamed through him , and there was a certain sense of personal magnetism that attracted people towards him. As a young man, Ali was handsome, while in his later age, he became bulky with his gray hair of the head giving way to baldness. His beard, which was often dyed red, remained thick and luxuriant. Marriage of Ali Initially when the Holy Prophet migrated to Yathrib he went alone but later Yathrib was named ‘Medina’ in his honor and he called his family and other Muslims there as well. At that time the prophet’s beloved wife Khadija had expired and he had married a woman called Sauda. A year later, he married Abu Bakr’s ( Islam’s first Caliph’s)daughter Ayesha. The Holy Prophet’s youngest daughter Fatima was also old enough to be married by that time. Abu Bakr and Omar both asked for her hand in marriage but there was no answer on the part of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. In those simpler times, age differences were not a concern in marriage. Khadija had been fifteen years older to Muhammad and he himself was much older to Ayesha at the time of marriage. It is thus important to note that this was not the reason the Prophet Muhammad remained silent to these proposals but it is reasonable to conclude that he was waiting for God’s approval and guidance in making this decision. After the Battle of Badr, it was Ali’s turn to ask for Fatima’s hand in marriage and he did so. The Holy Prophet replied that he needed Fatima’s consent. When he consulted Fatima she remained silent, a   sign of approval. The prophet also received a revelation signifying Allah’s approval of the marriage. Both families also mutually agreed. The marriage of Ali and Fatima is said to be the perfect one. Indeed two pure and blessed souls unified and bonded together. Hafsa, a daughter of Omar and later a wife of the Holy Prophet described Fatima as an exemplary woman, one who’s face shone like the moon and who married a man with a superior personality. Induction of Ali as a member of the family of the Holy Prophet When Ali visited the Holy Prophet from the desert where he had been living, the occasion was also attended by a close few including Abu Talib and his family. The Holy Prophet loved Ali very much so much so that he requested Abu Talib to place Ali under his care. Abu Talib agreed to entrust Ali with the prophet because he knew he would care for him better than anyone else could. It is believed that the Holy Prophet did this to relieve Abu Talib’s increasing financial worries. However, this view seems to be untrue because Abu Talib was a Quraish chief and a trader. And had he been in any financial trouble the trouble he prophet would surely have helped him. Therefore it seems that it was because of the prophet’s fondness of Ali that he took him under his responsibility. Abu Talib would often visit and Ali would meet his parents everyday. The Holy Prophet kept Ali as a younger brother with much affection. Companionship of the Holy Prophet: The period of Ali’s life which was spent with the Holy Prophet can be termed as the period of education and action. It was during these 32 years, from Ali’s birth till the demise of the Holy Prophet, that Ali received his education under the loving care of the Last Prophet of Allah; embedded in himself the values of Islam; and acquired all the attributes that contribute to greatness. After the migration to Medina, he came to be known as a valiant soldier. His spoils in the battles of Badr, Uhud and the Ditch and his awe inspiring success at Khyber earned him the title of â€Å"Lion of God†. You read "Khalifa Ali" in category "Essay examples"   He acted as the Governor of Yemen, and acquired good deal of experience as an administrator and judge, acquiring fame for his wise and well reasoned judgments. The First Three Caliphs and Ali: At the time of the demise of the Holy Prophet, Ali was a young enlightened, experienced, wise and valiant man. Despite all his qualities, Ali was passed over in the election for a caliph, as Abu Bakr took the state of affairs under his control. Ali would have to wait for 24 years before he could hold the office of caliph. During these years, Ali acted as an adviser to the caliphs in office. This was a period of inaction and contemplation, inaction on the political front as Ali kept aloof from politics and contemplation on the spiritual front as this period of Ali’s life was spent mostly in seeking spiritual perfection through prayer and remembrance of God. The Caliphate of Ali: Following Uthman’s assassination, Ali took office as the next caliph of the Islamic empire. His term was a short one, marred by political upheaval, defections of close aides and civil war.   Ali was accused of involvement in the assassination of Uthman by Amer Muawiya, who mounted an anti Ali campaign. The results were the Battles of the Camel, Siffin and Nahrawan. During the course of these battles, many of his closest aides betrayed him and defected. The list of betrayals is long and includes Ali’s brother, cousins, mother in law and the whole cities of Medina and Basra. The Kharijites who had originally supported Ali also seceded and Ali was finally martyred by a Kharijite. Ali’s concept of God In his various sermons, Ali has dwelt upon on the various attributes of God in a skillful way. Extracts from some of his sermons are as follows:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"All praise is due to the creator of the world whose wisdom is hidden. The various subjects of nature openly confirm his existence. He is not surpassed in strength and superiority. He is the nearest to us. No one can be nearer to us than He. His distance height has not segregated Him from His creation, and His nearness has not established His equality with His creation. He is that sublime and matchless Being in comprehending when the intellect cannot reach the bottom of His attributes, yet nothing prevents a person from comprehending Him. He is that being whose existence even an atheist feels in His heart of hearts. Undoubtedly God is free and sublime and bears no comparison with anyone, then how can anyone have the audacity to deny Him.† Father of Sufism Ali’s religious devotion and nearness to God has earned him the title of â€Å"Father of Sufism†. Most of the Sufi orders claim their descent from Ali, and according to Ali Hajjweri, Ali is ranked very high in the line of Sufism.   Ali is considered the Shaykh as regards the principles and practices of Sufism, as stated by Junayd of Baghdad. Communion with God At times, Ali would pray the whole night sobbing out of love and fear of God. For Ali, the purpose of knowledge was to awaken the spiritual faculties that every man possesses which in turn enable man to find his true and inner self.   Ali observed that man could only enjoy communion with God if he would stop being proud, embody discipline, overcome his lust and submit to the Will of God. He stressed on the people in his various sermons to lead a simple and pious life and not to indulge blindly in the pleasures of the world as the case was before Islam.. Ali said, â€Å"Man is a wave in the boundless Sea of God. As long as man’s vision is clouded by ignorance and sensuality he will consider himself a separate entity, different from God. But when the veil between him and God is lifted, he will then know what he really is, the wave will then merge with the ocean†. Ali on the Spiritual Front: Ali was a wealth of knowledge. Several of the traditions (Ahadith) of the Holy Prophet are narrated by him. He was one of those companions of the Holy Prophet who used to learn the verses of the Quran as they were revealed. Later, after the death of the Holy Prophet, Ali also used to give sermons. In one such sermon, he explains the attributes of God with skillful oratory. Excerpts â€Å"All praise is due to the creator of the world whose wisdom is hidden. The various subjects of nature openly confirm his existence. He is not surpassed in strength and superiority. He is the nearest to us. No one can be nearer to us than He. His distance height has not segregated Him from His creation, and His nearness has not established His equality with His creation. He is that sublime and matchless Being in comprehending when the intellect cannot reach the bottom of His attributes, yet nothing prevents a person from comprehending Him. He is that being whose existence even an atheist feels in His heart of hearts. Undoubtedly God is free and sublime and bears no comparison with anyone, then how can anyone have the audacity to deny Him.† In another sermon, he reflected on the transitory stature of this world by remarking â€Å"For the wise, the world is a shadow, which may appear at one moment, and soon disappear.† In another sermon he makes profound remarks by stating â€Å"Many men buy clothes, which instead of being worn by them are used in their coffin. Many persons build houses that instead of becoming abodes become their graves. No one has lived forever in this world, and no one has invented such a medicine which may make men immune from the clutches of death†. In another sermon, he discusses heaven and hell, stating his anxiety on man’s subservience to lust, the excess of his longings. In yet another sermon, he termed the world as superficial, mortal and perishable. Conclusion Shakespeare once remarked â€Å"Some people are born great, some achieve greatness while some have greatness thrust upon them†. As far as Ali goes, he achieved greatness through his excellent education under the watchful eye of the Holy Prophet, his absorption of Islamic teachings and virtues, his thirst for knowledge, bravery on the battlefield and the spiritual perfection that he embodied. Greatness need not be confused with success. From the political point of view Ali may seem like a failure that was unable to quell the civil strife that raged his people and was eventually slay Ed. Instead Ali’s greatness is of an unworldly nature for he set out to spiritually perfect those around him, in times of affluence and wealth. Ali was a man of remarkable qualities and principles. His personality embodied an unusual mix of spiritual perfection, bravery, knowledge and humbleness. He was one of those few people of his time, who could stare in the eyes of death so much that even death would start fearing of him He was an administrator, a judge, a philosopher, a statesman, a general and above all an exemplary for those seeking spiritual perfection. How to cite Khalifa Ali, Essay examples

Vodafone Uk Essay free essay sample

This essay assess the external business environment of VODAFONE UK using the four headings of a PEST analysis; political, economic, social and technological it will provide information gathered from several researched sources relating to the four topics and will then go on to draw a conclusion based on the evidence provided. VODAFONE UK, Registered in Newbury Berkshire Vodafone UK is a British born multinational telecommunications company witch is headquartered in London and is part of the Vodafone group and behind CHINA mobile it is the world’s second-largest mobile telecommunications company however nationally it has 19. million subscribers which is third largest in the UK behind EE and o2. POLITICAL, It was alleged by the magazine private eye in September 2010 that it had ran an investigation and found Vodafone UK was involved in tax avoidance activities and that the company was placing its profits in a Luxembourg subsidiary. This lead to angry protests outside Vodafone fla gship store in Oxford Street as well as a number of other stores across the UK from October 2010 right up past April 2011. We will write a custom essay sample on Vodafone Uk Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It eventually paid ? 1. 25 billion in taxes following a legal battle with HMRC. In recent months the UK government has increased the pressure on large businesses and multinational companies by aiming to tighten the loopholes which currently exist for tax avoidance schemes. In the media in recent weeks other well known name brand businesses including the likes of Starbucks and Google have been alleged to have been involved in tax avoidance activities. ECONOMICAL, Mobile phone service providers including Vodafone are now facing economic issues relating to the increased cost for buying mobile phone licences. Back in 2000 Vodafone and its competitors took part in an auction which involved selling the 3G licence this auction managed to raise ? 22. 5 Billion pounds for the UK government. Currently being discussed to take place around the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013 is the next auction selling the latest 4G licences which is expected to raise a lot more money than the previous 3G auction. The high price Vodafone UK will expect to pay for these licences have a direct economic impact on there business within areas such as costing and pricing as well as having increased competition. SOCIO-CULTURAL, Some of the socio-cultural issues regarding Vodafone as a business are society has issues regarding minors, children under the age of 18 using mobile phones which enable them to access adult content via the internet from there mobile device adult content which would include pornography displaying many flashing images of a sexual nature other forms of adult content would be gambling and instant access to violent games. The rise of mobile phone thefts is another social issue that Vodafone faces as a company. TECHNOLOGICAL, The mobile phone is constantly increasing in its designs and features in what you can actually do with your mobile phone for example when mobile phones were first introduced its sole purpose was speaking and designed to make and receive phone calls. Due to advancing technologies today’s mobile phone can do so much more than that some of the present day features in a mobile phone are the use of a camera to instantly take a photo the same camera can also be used to make an instant video another feature on a mobile phone is the text messaging which instantly became popular you no longer have to speak with someone you can now just send someone a quick message which could be more convenient, other new features include the ability to instantly access the internet via Wi-Fi. With the advancing technologies and added features this has a direct impact on the market in terms of customers and sales in other words sales increase when a new feature is developed for the mobile phone. CONCLUSION, With the information provided in this essay using a PEST analysis the evidence would suggest firstly the political influence on Vodafone as a leading brand with a huge customer base should continue to act under the government guidelines and be seen to be paying there due taxes in order to prevent any future public outcry and maintain a good image that reflects Vodafone as a company with good morals. Secondly economically the information provided suggest that with increased costs on licencing Vodafone must remain competitive with its prices in order to stay ahead of there market rivals. Thirdly from a social view point Vodafone could be doing more in terms of user protection in relation to persons under the age of 18 it could choose to implement more content security and restricting children from being able to access adult material it could also endorse more public awareness through its advertising campaigns. And lastly Vodafone as a multinational telecommunications company must continue to invest in the advances of new and exciting technology in order to stay competitive with its market rivals with increased sales and an ever increasing customer base.