...American Intercontinental University Unit 3 - Cultural Syncretism Alisha Kinchen February 26th, 2012 Abstract This paper contains information regarding Cultural Syncretism. It is my contribution to the Unit Three Group Project. The information is provided for the group in order to explain the impact Syncretism has on individuals along with its aftermath. Cultural Syncretism When asked the question of what cultural factors caused the differences in outcomes regarding the legacies of cultural syncretism in Africa and the Americas with the resistance to cultural change Westerners encountered in China and India there had to be research conducted explaining what the factors were with definitions suffice to examining each component along with correlating with the countries of topic found throughout the paper, so without further delay the source of this information is from the following: The University of Calgary (2000)Old World Contacts. Cultural Conversion Theory Page. Cultural Factors are listed as follows: * Conversion by Voluntary Association - Co-operation & Co-existence * Conversion by Pressure - Conflict, Conquest & Coercion * Conversion by Pressure - Migratory Pressures * Conversion by Assimilation - Adoption & Adaptation * Combinations of Modes of Conversion * Syncretism & * Cultural Resistance Having reviewed the list above let us look further into how each component caused differences in out comes to occur. According...
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...What Is Spirituality Spirituality is a word that has endless definitions and means something different to everyone. Although no one definition may be the same, they all lead back to one basic idea – faith. Everyone believes that spirituality is something that you believe in and something that you feel. When I asked five very different people what their definition of the word spirituality was I got various answers. The answers ranged from being very religion based to not at all. The first person I asked was a sixteen year old girl. Her response to the question of what spirituality means she said “It means it’s a feeling about being in touch with your soul. That you believe in not just that God rules everything but that everything happens for a reason. Also, that if you are more in touch with yourself that you will be more in touch with the world and that means you will have total happiness.” At this age it is sometimes hard I think to come up with your own personal definition because you still want and are sometimes expected to follow what your parents are doing with their own spirituality. The second person I questioned was an eighteen year old girl. Her statement was that “it is the religious aspect of your personality. It effects how you act, usually making you a better person. It means believing in something bigger than yourself and having faith in humanity.” Next, I asked a friend of mine who is a twenty year old male. He answered with “It is obviously being religions...
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...Steven Lombard AIU Online 9-11-2013 Had syncretism not occurred in the Americas, how might modern culture be different? Before starting I would just like to inform every one of the definition of syncretism. Syncretism is the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief, as in philosophy or religion, especially when success is partial or the result is heterogeneous. (Sayre, H. 2013) If syncretism wouldn’t have occurred a lot of issues like religious, cultural politics, and languages would’ve been affected. (Sayre, H. 2013) The political syncretism would’ve also occurred again keeping African Americans from being able to vote, sit in the front of the bus, and go to the same schools as whites. So basically what I’m trying to say is that slavery would still exist, where blacks had no rights or even say so as to what goes on in the world that they live in. So it’s a good thing that syncretism did occur because having more than one government for the whites and blacks would be kind of crazy and we would never come to a mutual decision on anything. Another thing that came to mind is the fact that we have all different types of music that consist of how people express themselves. If we couldn’t be our own person and make the decisions that we can now make we wouldn’t have been able to make songs that we have playing now. Rap and R&B are mostly listened to by the African Americas. Rock and Country are mostly listened to by whites. Again syncretism played a big...
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...individuals to success in monetary values and in contributions to humanity. People of the skilled labor force argue that the pressure of society on the young generation to obtain the highest level of educational achievement is hindering their growth. Many writers of numerous magazines and newspapers across the United States such as Kate Lorenz, a writer for CNN, argues that there has been countless individuals who have achieved success both monetarily and in humanity that had no degree at all. I shall not argue the belief of critics that guts and determination are equally as important as education; however, I intend to raise the awareness that education is the key to achieving success. Knowledge is essential to an individual; it is not only invaluable but it is also irreplaceable and will never hinder an individual in anything that he or she wishes to achieve. The question that arises most often during the discussion about the importance of education in society is: How much education is enough for the individuals of Generation Y to obtain success? At this time in United States, a person needs at least a Bachelor’s degree to be classified as a middle class citizen. College students face the obstacles of whether they will attempt to be accepted by numerous job fields with the bare minimum or try to obtain an MBA, Ph.D, J.D, or M.D. Critics, such as Lorenz, need to take a step back and look at the true definitions of...
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...2 Abstract: Based on the breathtaking and scenic film Baraka, directed by Mark Magidson, this essay examines what makes us human internally and externally. Drawing on articles consistent in humanity and compassion exploration, biological research, chimpanzee research and analysis, and a look at our distant Neanderthal ancestors, we can combine the crucial pieces of humanity to look at it as a whole. Baraka depicts not only diversity, but importance of religion, ritual, traditions, and culture in the world. At first, the film seems to be a jumbled mixture of images and non-verbal sounds, but in fact it is strategically linked and results in one final theme: Life. 3 For centuries, humans have made themselves superior over our predecessor: Earth. While science has proved that the earth,with its animals and nature, have existed long before we have, we continue to oversee its power and lose our humanity. Our humanity, in my opinion, is not what makes us human biologically, but rather internally and cognitively. According to the dictionary, humanity is described as "the quality of being humane" and followed by words such as compassion, brotherly love, understanding, sympathy, and consideration. Is humanity an instinct, something we are born with? Or is humanity learned, taught, and projected? There are many things that we can relate to being human. Biologically, the DNA that lies within the cells that make up our physical body can tell whether we...
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...Eco-feminist principles refer to principles derived from the concept of eco-feminism. Eco-feminism refers to the union of radical ecological movement that seeks to champion the civil rights of women (Gregory and Giancola 378). Ecology is the study of living organism in relation to the environmental systems such as social ecology and economic ecology. Social ecology explores the symbolic, psychological, and ethical issues affecting the relationship between human beings and the environment. In most cases, eco-feminists surveys issues affecting women in the society such as political rights, access to employment, and other civil rights that are entitled to women. Nonetheless, women rights are still contemporary issues in the modern society because of the social alienation and discrimination of women in the society because of the patriarchal societal systems. For instance, the western culture does not advocate for equality for women as far as gender sensitivity is concerned. According to Gregory and Giancola, the issues affecting women in the society are ecological crisis dated from the 20th century (377). Therefore, Eco-feminism offers an alternative that society needs to adopt and embrace to foster equality without oppression of women. As such, there are varied Eco-feminist principles outlined by world ethics. The first Eco-feminist principle is reshaping of the dualistic concept of reality (Gregory and Giancola 382). The concept of reality focuses on the biblical fact that women...
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...of Latin. I wanted to take a look at Italy and their language to determine how it changed from Latin and how it spread based on different influences as well. The Italian language happens to be the closet language to Latin now (Latin Language, 2012). The Latin language came from Northern Europe and expanded along side of the growth of the Roman State. Latin was also influenced by other languages that were spoken and continued to develop over time. There were many differences when it came to the use of Latin in writing and how it was used when speaking due to the education or lack of education of individuals. Another influence of the Latin language was religion. The Greek and Latin fathers of the Church had come together to create the definition of the Christian doctrine (Sayre, 2012). The ways of communication through the Western Church were all dependant on the Latin language. The Greek books of the New Testemant and the Hebrew Bible were both translated into Latin which then also became the bible of the Roman Catholic Church. The language spread to others through their religion as they came together to create a language of common understanding. When the Roman Empire gained more control and began to take over, the Latin language began to take more control as well....
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...Book critique: two views on women in ministry ___________________ A Paper Presented to Dr. Dietmar Schulze Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary ___________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course THEO 530 Systematic Theology II ___________________ by Peter Heikkinen February 17, 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………..….1 SUMMARY…………………………………………………………………………………….1-3 EGALITARIAN EQUALITY…………………………………………………………..1-2 COMPLIMENTARIAN ROLES…………………………………………………….…2-3 CRITICAL INTERACTION……………………………………………………………………3-6 CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………....6-7 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………………....8 Introduction Within Christian controversial topics that divide the Church as a whole Woman in Ministry is one of the most divisive. The two main sides of this debate are; egalitarian’s who believe there are no role differences in gender to authority or teaching in the church biblically. The complementarian view also known as the traditional view holds that men have a position of authority before God in church teaching and authority in the church and home governing. James Beck gathers four New Testament scholars two for each side on the issue and sets out to show case two arguments for each side and room for rebuttal in consideration of the New Testament scripture dealing with woman in ministry. With my own view being that of a soft complementation; women have a role in teaching and authority...
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...A hero is an individual who alters a society in a progressive way and becomes irrelevant when the society is changed due to a lack of purpose due to the new culture’s different needs for advancement; Grendel, in Grendel, written by John Gardner, is an excellent example of this ideology by showing the replacements of role models in society. When the hero is unaware of their status, they make rash decisions affecting the society they are shaping. This time period, in a sense, is the beginning of Joseph Campbell’s quest cycle, before the inciting incident. While the humans scrutinize Grendel, he identifies their abilities and the depth of their thinking. He studies them as well, discovering that, “Suddenly I knew I was dealing with no dull mechanical...
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...Phoenix Introduction to Cross-Cultural Psychology Culture plays an important part in one’s life as it relates to the field of psychology. Culture enables one to define him or herself and differ from one to another, and helps one survive. Culture facilitates self-expression, through language, appearance, and behavior. Culture exists everywhere and is a product of one’s environment. The significance of culture and its influence by oneself and others will be explained in this paper. In addition, the role of critical thinking in cross-cultural psychology and the scientific method involved with cross-cultural research will be addressed, and defined. Definition of Cultural and Cross-Cultural Psychology Culture is learned, passed down, from generation to generation and strongly influences individual behavior. It is an existing element in one’s environment, shaped by oneself and many others. Culture either shapes or influences one and is what makes one human. Psychology is the study of human behavior and performance; therefore, it is vital that the cultural and cross-cultural aspects are considered in determining the cause of one’s actions. Behavior is affected by sources both biological and environmental in nature but these do not entirely explain human behavior. There must be an acknowledgement of the social-cultural conditions, in which behavior occurs. Thus, cultural psychology looks...
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...learn to do something that other animals cannot do. He must somehow become a man with a purpose through his writings.” This not only gives Jefferson a chance to reclaim his humanity, but “he can record history, tell his story, and bring about changes to his environment” (McKinsey 80-81). This journal’s relevance goes beyond Grant and Jefferson to set an example for the rest of the community. Jefferson’s case shows a major injustice to black people and the mentally delayed. By discovering Jefferson’s innocence, both in the crime and in maturity, it yields an opportunity for change to happen. Through the entries themselves, Grant is able to see the impact he has made on Jefferson’s soul. The entries date up to his walk to the execution room, so despite not being present at the time of his death, Grant can read his final thoughts during an incredibly different time. At the end of his life, Jefferson writes, “i cry cause you been so good to me mr wigin an nobody aint never been that goot to me an make me think im sombody” (Gaines 232). Coming from a man who would not speak to Grant for weeks, this statement means more than he could have ever imagined. As Grant leaves the courthouse later that day, heartfelt tears fall from his eyes. Throughout the novel, Grant struggles with his relationship with society’s definition of a black man. As an educated black man, he has no rise over any plantation worker, which internally upsets him. This mindset was originally instilled in him by a former...
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...Children’s Literature on Folklore Folklore originated as stories told around the campfire and passed down by word of mouth. Because these stories originated orally, many times they have no known authors. These stories were almost always fantasy and involved magic or animals that talked. There are six subcategories that fall under Folklore in Children’s Literature. These subcategories are: folktales, tall tales, fables, myths, epics/ballads/legends and religious stories. One subcategory that falls under Folklore is Folk tales. A folk tale is a tale or legend originating among a people or folk, especially one forming part of an oral tradition. Folk tales are often part of the oral tradition of a group and are usually told rather than read. They are passed down from one generation to the next. They may be stories that grew out of the lives and imaginations of people. Folk tales can take on the personality of the storyteller and the story can take on the characteristics of the time and place in which the story is told. The themes are universal and timeless and may contain supernatural elements, imaginative characters, focus on action, have a simple sense of justice, have happy endings and contain fundamental wisdom (Chen, 2009). There are seven types of folk tales, each with their own characteristics to set them apart from one another. Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti by Gerald McDermott is a beast tale. It is a beautifully illustrated folk tale from the...
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...Humanity & Social Sciences Journal 3 (1): 57-64, 2008 ISSN 1818-4960 © IDOSI Publications, 2008 On Defining African Philosophy: History, Challenges and Perspectives Olatunji A. Oyeshile Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria INTRODUCTION The definition of philosophy has remained a perennial philosophical problem and there is little agreement as to what it is. Rather, what many seem to agree on is the descriptions of philosophy, that is, what it encompasses which will provide the basis for our definition. In the same vein, it has been difficult to define what African philosophy is, rather most philosophers have contented themselves in describing what African philosophy is. According to Sogolo, “the controversy over what constitutes an African philosophy tends to dominate sometimes so much that it forms almost the entire content of the course” [1]. In this paper, the attempt is to say what African philosophy is, inspite of the seeming unending polemics in the sphere and practice of African philosophy. In doing this, we shall start by attempting to describe and possibly define what philosophy is. Subsequently we shall be in a position to define African philosophy by looking at the origin of the debate on African philosophy which was as a result of the charge of irrationality leveled against the Africans. Let us recall that many European scholars mostly anthropologists and sociologists in the like of E. Durkheim, Auguste Comte, James Frazer, Sigmund Freud...
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...and death Abstract This paper is about confronting America’s fear of the issues of aging and death. Over the years, American culture has grown uncomfortable with matters of growing old and death. The basis of this thinking is rooted in the mind and influenced by society. There is an ever increasing desire that’s rampant across our nation to remain young. This can be seen in the media, marketing for different products from makeup to apparel. Americans want to remain young for as long as they possibly can. In 1984, the band Alphaville came out with the song “Forever Young” to express America’s heart cry. However, aging and death is a part of life and a direct result of the fall of man. Aging and death were not the original condition of humanity, rather punishment that resulted from rebellion against God’s commandment. This paper examines why there is aging and death, America’s response to it, and a solution to rightly mature in the process. Since long ago America’s heart cry has been to stay young forever. In 1984, the band Alphaville came out with the song “Forever Young” to communicate the nation’s desire. In cities across the country and around every turn, materialism is vocalizing the longing for youth everlasting. This constant struggle with “wants” versus “reality” has left individuals searching for ways to cope. In addition, the lifespan of human beings was not always an average of eighty years. One thing to take into consideration when researching this topic is when and...
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...Compare and contrast the legacies of cultural syncretism in Africa and the Americas with the resistance to cultural change Westerners encountered in China and India. What cultural factors caused the differences in outcomes? What legacies have the differences in types of encounters and degrees of cultural change left today? Had syncretism not occurred in the Americas, how might modern culture be different? If cultural syncretism had taken root during early encounters in China or India, how might they be different today? The quest for wealth and power brought Europeans to Indian shores in 1498 when Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese voyager, arrived in Calicut (modern Kozhikode, Kerala) on the west coast. In their search for spices and Christian converts, the Portuguese challenged Arab supremacy in the Indian Ocean, and, with their galleons fitted with powerful cannons, set up a network of strategic trading posts along the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. In 1510 the Portuguese took over the enclave of Goa, which became the center of their commercial and political power in India and which they controlled for nearly four and a half centuries. Economic competition among the European nations led to the founding of commercial companies in England (the East India Company, founded in 1600) and in the Netherlands (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie--the United East India Company, founded in 1602), whose primary aim was to capture the spice trade by breaking the Portuguese monopoly in Asia...
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