...Unitarian Universalism: A Visit to Hope Church Unitarian Universalism , by definition, is a religion based on the spiritual search for truth and meaning. Unitarian Universalists (UUs) do not uphold any kind of dogma. UUs became an organized religion in 1961. Hope church in Tulsa was founded in 1968. I have not been to a church service in a long time and I was very anxious. I peeked at the church’s website. The pictures shown did not do the church justice. On a Sunday morning, when I’m normally sleeping, I drove up a hill on a winding road through the woods. Though my research gave me a head’s up, my experience did not start until I reached the top of the hill. The building is quite breath-taking. The structure is incased by the land and the trees. picture 1 picture 2 The sanctuary( chapel) reminded me of stepping into a cave. The lighting is low and the room is circular. One steps down into the seating area. picture 3 The service seemed to be based on Christian and Judaic values, however, the minister pulled from several religions. The language of the ceremony is not intimidating. For someone like me who does not know the lingo of church, the sermon was soothing. The service catered to Memorial Day and the sermon was titled Living with Grief. The service started with an affirmation that I believe to be the motto of Hope,” Love is the spirit of this church and service its law. This is our great covenant. To dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help...
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...GCSE RS REVISION QUESTIONS Religion and Relationships 01 Give two responsibilities that couples accept when they marry. (2 marks) Give two reasons why couples divorce (2 marks) Give two ways in which couples can commit to each other (2marks) 0 2 Explain the ways in which religious belief might influence the choice of a marriage partner. (4 marks) Explain the attitude of religious believers to problems in marriage and divorce (4marks) Explain the ways in which religious belief might influence the choice of an abortion (4 marks) 0 3 ‘Marriage vows are out of date.’ What do you think? Explain your opinion. (3 marks) ‘Marriage is old fashioned these days’ What do you think? Explain your opinion.(3 marks) ‘Divorce is always wrong’ What do you think? Explain your opinion. (3 marks) 0 4 Explain briefly religious teachings about the use of contraception within marriage. (3 marks) Explain briefly religious teachings about marriage and divorce (3 marks) Explain briefly religious teachings about marriage and parenting (3Marks) 0 5 ‘Couples should marry before they have children.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. (6 marks) ‘There shouldn’t be an age of consent’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your...
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...Why People Come To America Coming to America has been a journey since the 14th hundredth to the 21st century. But why do people leave their native countries to immigrate to the United States? I believe that people come to America because they are determined to find a better life. Immigrants from around the world come to the United States for many reasons including better economic opportunities, to acquire a better lifestyle and to fulfill family obligations. First of all, immigrants come to the United States to obtain better economic opportunities. For instance, they would be able to get a job even if it wasn’t the highest paying job they could still get a job which would provide an income which is probably still a higher salary than what they had in their native countries. Furthermore, United States salary is higher than other countries so that you will have a better economic future. For example, you are able save money for retirement. Another reason is that immigrants will have acquired a better lifestyle. Is the fact, that you can get many education opportunities. For instance, they can go to better schools and it would be less expensive and a good education. Moreover, you will have a high quality of life. For example, you can afford to buy a house, cars and buy goods and services as well. In addition, immigrants can have freedoms especially religious freedom. Many people have different religious beliefs; however, people can practice any religion or not practice a religion...
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...Identify and briefly explain three reasons that support the claim that American society is becoming increasingly secular. (9 marks) One of the main reasons that support the claim that American society is becoming increasingly secular is the decline in church attendance. Bruce argues that America is becoming more secular. There is a decline in attendance even though statistics suggest otherwise. Opinion polls suggest attendance has-been stable around 40% since 1940. However Hadaway's research team visited churches in Ashtabula County to find in Original statistics did not match the churches. If 40% of all Americans attended Church the churches would be then full but they were not. These statistic may apply to the religious people in America however not the nation as a whole. Or also people being surveyed may be drawn into the Hawthorne effect, as it is still seen as socially desirable or normative to go to church so people who no longer attend church will say they still go if asked. Another reason to support the claim of America becoming increasingly secular is secularisation from within. Bruce argues that the manner American religion has accustomed to the modern world amounts to secularisation from within. Religion has become a form of therapy and importance on traditional Christian beliefs has declined. The change has enabled it to fit in with a secular society, so American religion has continued to be popular however it is becoming less religion. The purpose of religion...
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...Hidu. The early American history is closely tied with Hinduism. Unitarians represented as a small, liberal sect of American Christians. In the period following American Independence many writers showed interest in religious ideas and texts of India. They belonged to the social and religious community of New England Unitarianism. Later they entered a uniquely American religious movement. Transcendental writers of the nineteenth century commented on Hindu texts. During that period the Transcendentalists were not alone who was interested in Hinduism. They were considered radical by the larger Unitarian movement from which they emerged. Their interest in Hinduism combined a modest tradition of earlier Unitarian writers. Those writers had been studying works of European scholarship on India in the 1790s. Unitarians are marked that they made a decisive American transaction with Oriental thought in the beginning of the nineteenth century. The early studies of Hinduism were written by Unitarians. They introduced certain biases in the general American understanding of Indian religiosity. In their early studies Unitarians initiated two ongoing traditions of response to religious pluralism. One of the first serious American studies of Hinduism appeared at the end of the eighteenth century. "A Comparison of the Institutions of Moses with those of the Hindoos and other Ancient Nations" was published by the British Unitarian minister, Joseph Priestley in 1799. His interest in Asian religion...
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... My New Views on Religion Cesar Flores Religious Diversity in America “There is immense diversity within American Christianity—dozens of independent Protestant denominations or sects and various sub-groups within Catholicism—but the predominance of Christianity provides crucial context to any discussion of religious pluralism in the United States... Christianity may still dominate the religious landscape of the United States, but religious pluralism has now become its defining feature,” (Boisi Center 2). Christianity without a doubt has had a great impact on the United States in many different aspects. The Bible has been cited before in presidential speeches numerous times. The Bible has also been used in important events, such as, the presidential inauguration, even if it is just traditional. The use of the Bible is ironic since the United States has tried their best to have a separation between church and state. The main reason for the separation of church and state was so that the citizens of the United States could have religious freedom. This freedom has allowed the United States to be known as one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world. It is my personal experience that the lack of knowledge of other religions around me, has lead me to operate in Christian providence. Most Americans, including myself, often have a misunderstanding of the word: pluralism, and instead mean to say that they only coexist or tolerate other religions. Due to that...
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...Tim Jones Religion in the United States 13 November 2014 Unitarian Universalist I had the pleasure of attending a Unitarian Universalist service in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. At first I was intimidated by the thought of attending a religious service because I was not raised in the church, and do not currently practice a religion of any sort. My mentor, knowing my personality, suggested the Unitarian Universalist church. I had never heard of this religious organization before, so after doing some research, I realized that this was definitely the place for me to attend. I was pleasantly surprised by the service, as was my husband who is a diehard atheist. Unitarian Universalism is an organizational embodiment of the extremely liberal religious tradition in the United States (Hemeyer, 2010). The current Unitarian Universalist Association is the result of the Universalists and the Unitarians coming together (Hemeyer, 2010). To better understand the Unitarian Universalist we know today, we are going to look at origins of the Universalists and the Unitarians prior to when they merged. The Universalists believe that all persons will eventually be saved by God, which means that salvation is universal and not restricted to a certain number (Hemeyer, 2010). Universalism was already present by the time of the American colonies (Hemeyer, 2010). John Murray (1741-1815) has been referred to as the father of American Universalism (Hemeyer, 2010). He preached what may be considered the very...
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...parents with those of Wahls. Unlike Wahls, I was raised by my mother and father, two parents of a very strong Christian faith. I was brought up in the church all my life, so the Bible to me is not only considered a guide but a way of life. The Bible doesn’t speak on homosexuality very often when it does, it condemns it as sin. Wahls mentions that, sexuality of his parents was rejected by the Christian faith in which they were both raised. This led them to embrace the more accepting teachings of Unitarian Universalism. This teaching is what they instilled in Wahls, which is why he considers himself a Unitarian Universalist. This is something my Christian faith would not allow me to be, because the teachings of a Christian are much more strict then those of a Unitarian Universalist. In my opinion there are more differences than similarities when comparing my life to Wahl’s life. We were both raised by parents of different sexualities. Wahl’s was raised as a Unitarian Universalist, but I was raised as a Christian. I was privileged to have both my parent’s teach me how to take care of myself. Wahl’s learned how to shave from his best friend’s dad. And he learned how to tie a tie from an article in Playboy. Although I strongly stick to my Christian beliefs, I would never discriminate against anyone for being...
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...follow a certain religion and that conveys their way of life. Religions have many values, beliefs, and aspirations among them. Worldwide many religions are practiced daily although some may be practiced more than others on a daily basis. I have learned about many aspects, values, and what the motive to practicing a certain religion may give to life. To studying certain religions in the classroom to attending churches and services of specific religions I have learned a great deal of information revolving around the true aspects of our worldwide ways of life. Among the few religions I attended in person to view what cultural values, beliefs, and aspects that individuals abided by were the Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, The Greek Orthodox Church, Unitarian-Universalist Church, and Pilgrim Baptist Church. All in which shared different views and progressions on the way of life. The Vietnamese Buddhist Temple I found to be one of the more interesting locations out of all because of the formal one on one interaction with the monk. My impression of the religion and its “world view” from the apparent architecture and artifacts was an impression that actually stunned me because of the precise actions of such an individual. The site conveyed a very neat and high class appearance in the terms of how those individuals live the daily life. The monk was very detail oriented in what he would describe as the Four Noble Truths. The monk made a very intriguing statement saying “You signed a contract to...
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...Leadership Defination of Leadership: Leadership has been described as "a process of social influence in which a person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task".[1] For example, some understand a leader simply as somebody whom people follow, or as somebody who guides or directs others,[citation needed] while others define leadership as "organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal".[citation needed] different types of leadership: * Ambidextrous leadership * Democratic Leadership * Innovation leadership * Transactional leadership * Transformational leadership Innovation leadership involves synthesizing different leadership styles in organizations to influence employees to produce creative ideas, products, services and solutions. The key role in the practice of innovation leadership is the innovation leader.[1] Dr. David Gliddon (2006) developed the competency model of innovation leaders and established the concept of innovation leadership at Penn State University. As an approach to organization development, innovation leadership can be used to support the achievement of the mission or vision of an organization or group. In a world that is ever changing with new technologies and processes, it is becoming necessary for organizations to think innovatively in order to ensure their continued success and stay competitive.[2][3][4][5][6] In order to adapt to new changes, “the need for innovation in organizations...
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...the globe but only a few have number of followers worth measuring from an economic point of view. 1. Christianity: 2.1 billion 2. Islam: 1.5 billion 3. Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion 4. Hinduism: 900 million 5. Chinese traditional religion: 394 million 6. Buddhism: 376 million 7. primal-indigenous: 300 million 8. African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million 9. Sikhism: 23 million 10. Juche: 19 million 11. Spiritism: 15 million 12. Judaism: 14 million 13. Baha'i: 7 million 14. Jainism: 4.2 million 15. Shinto: 4 million 16. Cao Dai: 4 million 17. Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million 18. Tenrikyo: 2 million 19. Neo-Paganism: 1 million 20. Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand 21. Rastafarianism: 600 thousand 22. Scientology: 500 thousand Religions have spread across the world and it is evident that they all have structure and hierarchy along with a set ideology which is followed. This helps create a cohesive group with a common objective. As we can see this is very similar to an organization or a firm which produces products and services for profit. We can correlate...
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...Cité Industrielle, urban plan designed by Tony Garnier and published in 1917 under the title of Une Cité Industrielle. It represents the culmination of several philosophies of urbanism that were the outgrowth of the Industrial Revolution in 19th-century Europe. The Cité Industrielle was to be situated on a plateau in southeastern France, with hills and a lake to the north and a river and valley to the south. The plan takes into consideration all the aspects necessary to running a Socialist city. It provides separate zones for separate functions, a concept later found in such new towns (see new town) as Park Forest, Ill., and Reston, Va. These zones—residential, industrial, public, and agricultural—are linked by location and circulation patterns, both vehicular and pedestrian. The public zone, set on the plateau much in the manner of the Hellenistic acropolis, is composed of the governmental buildings, museums, and exhibition halls and large structures for sports and theatre. Residential areas are located to take best advantage of the sun and wind, and the industrial district is accessible to natural power sources and transportation. The “old town” is near the railroad station to accommodate sightseers and tourists. A health centre and a park are located on the heights north of the city, and the cemetery to the southwest. The surrounding area is devoted to agriculture. The plan itself is clearly in the Beaux-Arts tradition, tempered by a natural informality possibly derived...
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...In May 2000, the Taliban, who rule most of Afghanistan, ordered a mother of seven to be stoned to death for adultery in front of an ecstatic stadium of men and children. The year before, the House of Lords -- Britain's highest court -- had allowed two Pakistani women accused of adultery to claim refugee status in the United Kingdom, since they risked public flogging and death by stoning at home. Women today are denied the vote and the right to drive cars in several Arab states, and harsh versions of shari`a (Islamic law) punishment are spreading to Sudan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Still, the Taliban's repression remains in a class by itself: denying women the right to leave home except when accompanied by a brother or husband and forbidding them all access to public education. Not only do the Taliban seek to spread their militant vision to other states, they also demand to be left alone to implement their own religious and cultural values at home without foreign interference. Leaders in Kabul insist that they not be judged by the norms of others -- especially in the West. Of course the Taliban are not the only ones to reject outside scrutiny. Florida's government, after frying several prisoners in a faulty electric chair, has only reluctantly turned to other methods of execution to conform to the U.S. Constitution's prohibition of "cruel and unusual punishment." Yet when America's Western allies tell it that the U.S. system of capital punishment is barbaric, local politicians...
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...Metaphysics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to:navigation, search This article is about the branch of philosophy. For the work of Aristotle, see Metaphysics (Aristotle). |Philosophy | |[pic] | |Branches[show] | |Aesthetics | |Epistemology | |Ethics | |Logic | |Metaphysics | |Social philosophy | |Political philosophy | |Eras[show] | |Ancient | |Medieval | |Modern | |Contemporary | |Traditions[show] | |Analytic | |Continental | |Eastern | |Islamic | |Marxist | |Platonic | |Scholastic | |Philosophers[show] | |Aestheticians | |Epistemologists...
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...A religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence.[note 1] Many religions have narratives, symbols, and sacred histories that aim to explain the meaning of life, the origin of life, or the Universe. From their beliefs about the cosmos and human nature, people may derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle. Many religions may have organized behaviors, clergy, a definition of what constitutes adherence or membership, holy places, and scriptures. The practice of a religion may include rituals, sermons, commemoration or veneration (of a deity, gods, or goddesses), sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trances, initiations, funerary services, matrimonial services, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, public service, or other aspects of human culture. Religions may also contain mythology.[1] The word religion is sometimes used interchangeably with faith or set of duties;[2] however, in the words of Émile Durkheim, religion differs from private belief in that it is "something eminently social".[3] A global 2012 poll reports 59% of the world's population as "religious" and 36% as not religious, including 13% who are atheists, with a 9% decrease in religious belief from 2005.[4] On average, women are "more religious" than men.[5] Some people follow multiple religions or multiple religious principles at the same time, regardless of whether or not the religious principles they follow traditionally...
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