Religions Spread Through Conquest Essays (2402 words) - Culture

Religions Spread Through Conquest When studying history, both in a professional and academic sense, we try to make connections between civilizations and time periods. Historians have attempted to discover universal constants of human nature, a bond that forms from continent to continent, human being to human being. Is there a constant quality that all peoples posses, and is reflected in all civilizations? Indeed, it is extremely difficult to make generalizations about centuries of modern history. To say that something is true of all of history is virtually impossible, as a counter-example exists for just about anything that can be said of any group of civilizations. To say that all religions are spread by violence is equally unfair and untrue - because contrasted religions has been spread in exceedingly diverse regions of the world, by vastly different cultures. Islam, as a prime example, has been characterized inequitably by historians and the media as a religion of violence. To put it bluntly, as this article does, "Islam was mainly spread through Arab territorial conquests (Sudo, 4)." However, upon examination, it is not fair to make the generalization that Islam is a religion of violence, and one notices when looking at world religion on a whole, one finds that Islam was no more violent than any other religion. In fact, not only is Islam not a fundamentally violent philosophy, but we can also see that many other religions normally considered "non-violent," such as Christianity or Hinduism, have been spread through bloody conquest. Thus, in searching for a universal constant of history, we ought not fall into the "fallacy of abstractions," as Sydney J. Harris keenly puts it, and assume that because of isolated incidents and conflicts of territorial ambitions, that all religions have violent tendencies. Islam has, throughout the centuries, been somewhat a victim of circumstance - indeed it has been perceived by many as oppressive and cruel. This belief originated over a thousand years ago, when Islamic peoples first threatened the western world. As they slowly undermined Byzantine authority, Christians became terrified of their presence, resulting in widespread animosity and aversion. Hindus and Buddhists of the South Asian subcontinent lived under Islamic law for hundreds of years (Ahmad, et. al., 186), and eventually, in the twentieth century, split the region into angry factions (Ahmad, et. al., 207). Mohammed, the prophet of Islam, was a great warrior. This invariably lead defeated peoples to believe that he begot a cult of war and violence. Over the centuries, it also has developed the ability to instill a sense of holy purpose onto its believers and soldiers, where they go into a battle of certain death for their faith in the jihad, or holy war. Even today, the jihad is still a potent source of conflict and aversion, as the many of the problems in the Middle East center around the issue of Islamic Fundamentalism and the jihads. Originally, Islam was perceived by western historians as a religion of violence and conquest; "by preying on the caravans of the Quraish, [Mohammed] weakened them to the point of submission (Mohammed and Islam, 1)." In fact, Mohammed was a warrior, aristocrat, and brilliant strategist - a stark contrast to many other holy men of history. He was forced to both defend his cities and force submission, as the passage had shown, because of the strong military powers of his religious predecessors and oppressors, the pagans of the Middle East. Islam means "submission" according to the Islam discussion in class - and one might assume that the submission was attained through military and forceful means. In fact, while Mohammed preached peace from 610 to 622 AD, he attracted few converts and was persecuted by the current ruling paganistic regime. After the visions of 622 AD, he realized that his cause was even more urgent than before, and only at that point did he begin to utilize his military skills (Class Discussion). However, despite the more violent nature that his quest took, even after the revelations by Gabriel in 622 AD, "by reciting his revelations aloud, Mohammed made many converts, (Mohammed and Islam,1)." Mohammed was not a purely violent man, but also a great speaker and demagogue (Mueller, 2). He did

10 Facts on the Geography of Beijing China

10 Facts on the Geography of Beijing China Population: 22,000,000 (2010 estimate)Land Area: 6,487 square miles (16,801 sq km)Bordering Areas: Hebei Province to the north, west, south,  and part of the east and the Tianjin Municipality to the southeastAverage Elevation: 143 feet (43.5 m) Basics About Beijing Beijing is a large city located in northern China. It is also Chinas capital city and it is considered a direct-controlled municipality and, as such, it is controlled directly by Chinas central government instead of a province. Beijing has a very large population at 22,000,000 and it is divided into 16 urban and suburban districts and two rural counties.Beijing is known as being one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China (along with Nanjing, Luoyang and Changan or Xian). It is also a major transportation hub, a political and cultural center of China, and was host to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Geographic Facts The following is a list of ten geographic facts to know about Beijing.1)The name Beijing means Northern Capital but it has been renamed several times in its history. Some of these names include Zhongdu (during the Jin Dynasty) and Dadu (under the Yuan Dynasty). The citys name was also switched from Beijing to Beiping (meaning Northern Peace) twice in its history. After the founding of the Peoples Republic of China,  however, its name officially became Beijing.2) It is believed that Beijing has been inhabited by modern humans for about 27,000 years. In addition, fossils from Homo erectus, dating back to 250,000 years ago have been found in caves in Beijings Fangshan District. Beijings history consists of struggles between various Chinese dynasties which fought for the area and used it as Chinas capital.3) In January 1949, during the Chinese Civil War, Communist forces entered Beijing, then called Beiping, and in October of that year, Mao Zedong announced the creation of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and renamed the city Beijing, its capital. 4) Since the founding of the PRC, Beijing underwent many changes to its physical structure, including the removal of its city wall and the construction of roads intended for cars instead of bicycles. Most recently, land in Beijing has developed at a rapid pace and many historical areas have been replaced by residences and shopping centers.5) Beijing is one of the most developed and industrial areas of China and it was one of the first post-industrial cities (meaning its economy is not based on manufacturing) to emerge in China. Finance is a major industry in Beijing, as is tourism. Beijing also has some manufacturing located on the western outskirts of the city and agriculture is produced outside of major urban areas.6) Beijing is located at the tip of the North China Plain (map) and it is surrounded by mountains to the north, northwest,  and west. The Great Wall of China is located in the northern part of the municipality. Mount Dongling is Beijings highest point at 7,555 feet (2, 303 m). Beijing also has several major rivers flowing through it which include the Yongding and the Chaobai Rivers.7) The climate of Beijing is considered humid continental with hot, humid summers and very cold, dry winters. Beijings summer climate is influenced by the East Asian monsoon. The average July high temperature for Beijing is 87.6 °F (31 °C), while the January average high is 35.2 °F (1.2 °C).8) Because of Chinas rapid growth and the introduction of millions of cars into Beijing and surrounding provinces, the city is known for its poor air quality. As a result, Beijing was the first city in China to require emissions standards to be implemented on its cars. Polluting cars have also been banned from Beijing and are not allowed to even enter the city. In addition to air pollution from cars, Beijing also has air quality problems due to seasonal dust storms that have developed Chinas northern and northwestern deserts due to erosion.9) Beijing is the second-largest (after Chon gqing) of Chinas direct-controlled municipalities. The majority of Beijings population is Han Chinese. Minority ethnic groups include Manchu, Hui and Mongol, as well as several small international communities.10) Beijing is a popular tourist destination within China because it is a center of Chinas history and culture. Many historic architectural sites and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites are within the municipality. For example, The Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City,  and Tiananmen Square are all located in Beijing. In addition, in 2008, Beijing hosted the Summer Olympic Games and sites constructed for the games, such as the Beijing National Stadium are popular.To learn more about Beijing, visit the municipalitys official website.Sources: Wikipedia.com. Beijing - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing

Many Uses of the Word ;Con in Spanish

Many Uses of the Word ;Con in Spanish The Spanish word  con,  pronounced much like the English word cone, not like con, is one of the most commonly used prepositions. In most uses, it is the equivalent of the English word with.   The word  con is more versatile than the English with, however, and it may be used in places where with might not be used in English.  For example, con can be paired with certain verbs, can be used to form phrases that function like adverbs, indicate conditions, and form contractions. Con Used With Certain Verbs Con  can be used with various verbs where a different preposition  or none at all would be used in English. Such usages are unpredictable and need to be learned along with the verbs. Spanish Sentence English Translation Verb Combination Es necesario acabar con el escndalo. It is necessary to put an end to the scandal. acabar con/put an end to Para comer, basta con cinco dà ³lares. In order to eat, five dollars is enough. basta con/is enough El coche chocà ³ con el tren. The car crashed into the train. chocà ³ con/crashed into Puedo contar con mis amigos. I can count on my friends. contar con/count on Tengo que enfrentarme con el problema. I have to face up to the problem. enfrentarme con/face up to Me espanto con las hormigas. I am frightened of ants. Me espanto con/to be frightened of Muchas veces sueà ±o con la guerra. I often dream about the war. sueà ±o con/dream about Quiero encontrarme con mi madre. I want to run into my mother. encontrarme con/to run into When used with the verbs above, con could be understood to mean with, but it would be awkward to translate it literally that way. Con Used to Form Phrases That Function Like Adverbs In English, with can be used to form adverbial phrases, but but such phrases using con are far more common in Spanish. In some cases, such adverbial phrases  are used in preference to or instead of synonymous adverbs. This list below is far from complete. Spanish Sentence English Translation Adverbial Phrase/Literal Meaning Habla con intensidad. He speaks intensely. con intensidad/with intensity Me preguntà ³ con cortesà ­a. He asked me courteously. con cortesà ­a/with courtesy Vive con felicidad. She lives happily. con felicidad/with happiness Anda con prisa. She walks fast. con prisa/with speed No reacciona con miedo. She doesn't react fearfully. con miedo/with fear Nos abrazamos con carià ±o. We hugged affectionately. con carià ±o/with caring Comenzà ³ las tareas con buena cara. He began his homework optimistically. con buena cara/with a good face Bailan con confianza. They dance confidently. con confianza/with confidence Hablaron con calma. They spoke calmly. con calma/with calm Habla espaà ±ol con fluidez. She speaks Spanish fluently. con fluidez/with fluency Se viste con humildad. He dresses humbly. con humildad/with humility Da su opinià ³n con libertad. She freely gives her opinion. con libertad/with freedom Te quiero con locura. I love you madly. con locura/with craziness Estamos esperando con ilusià ³n. We are waiting hopefully. con ilusià ³n/with hope Juega fà ºtbol con ganas. He plays soccer enthusiastically. con ganas/with gusto El perro duerme con frecuencia. The dog sleeps often. con frecuencia/with frequency Con Used to Indicate a Condition Sometimes when followed by an infinitive or a noun, con can have a variety of translations to indicate a condition being met or not. Translations for con in this case can include if, despite, and by. Spanish Sentence English Translation Meaning of Condition Con decirle que no tengo dinero, todo estar bien. By telling him that I don't have money, everything will be fine. con decirle/by telling him Con todo, no est enferma. Despite everything, she's not sick. con todo/despite everything Con correr puedes verla. If you run you can see her. con correr/if you run Con Used as a Contraction When con is followed by the pronoun mà ­ or ti to say with me or with you, the phrase is changed to conmigo or contigo, respectively. Spanish Sentence English Translation Contraction Ven conmigo. Come with me. conmigo/with me Vendrà © contigo. I will come with you. contigo/with you Key Takeaways Although con is the usual  equivalent of the English preposition with, it is often used in situations were with is not.Con is frequently paired with numerous verbs in unpredictable ways.Con is also frequently used with prepositional objects to form phrases that function as adverbs in situations where English would more likely simply use an adverb.

The Annandale Booth Restaurant Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Annandale Booth Restaurant - Case Study Example It is the duty of a chef or head cook to appoint and train prep persons and dishwashers (Bradach, 1997). Moreover, a chef or head cook is also responsible for the equipments, menu and also for the buying supplies as well. One chef is adequate for Brooks. The kitchen staff the kitchen staff of a restaurant may comprise of the following persons, such as, bread and pastry baker, vegetable, fry or a sauce chef. Moreover, each chef or cook is assigned with a specific task and has a specific job designation as well. Brooks needs at least 3 kitchen staff which can support the head chef. Kitchen workers the kitchen workers are assigned with the following tasks, such as, go after pots and pans, sit and strain soups and sauces and also to weigh and measure the ingredients as well. Moreover, they are also required to clean, peel, and slice vegetables and fruits and also to prepare salads as well. Waiter/waitress – the waiter or the waitresses in a particular restaurant are equired to perform following task, such as, serve food adn beverages, prpeare itemized chekcs and also to take customers orders as well. Moreover, they are aslo required to ensure that the person who comes to purchase alcohol or tobacco products are not under age. Brooks needs at least 4 of them on a shifting basis. Dishwasher – a dishwasher is required to supply pans, pots, utensils and aslo to clean the dishes as well. Moreover, they may also require to clean the kitchen and remove the garbage as well. In this regard, two dishwashers would be optimum for the Brooks. This method for employee selection could be highly helpful for brooks as they can recruit experienced employees for their new office and can havea headstart for their new office. Internal sourcing involves issuing an advertisement which can allow employees to have an idea regarding an available position in the organization, for which they can send their job applications. Internal sourcing has been the most common and

Juvenile Charged as an adult and discuss life leading to criminal Research Paper

Juvenile Charged as an adult and discuss life leading to criminal background - Research Paper Example According to deputy attorney general, the case will also serve as an example to others who have the intension of commiting a similar. However, the manner in which this case was handled and ruled created severe criticism from human right activist, media, family members, and other professionals. According to critics, despite the nature and magnitude of the case, the boy was supposed to be treated like a minor in a juvenile court. There were some background information and experiences that forced the case to be moved into adult court systems. Up to that time, Jordan was the youngest suspects to be charged with homicide in the country. The essay below will address some of the background information that directed Jordan brown case to adult court (Nitespinr, 2010). To start with, in Pennsylvania, the law does not provide the lower age limit for murder charges. Due to this, a minor can be charged as a grown up person in a criminal homicide. The laws that operate in Pennsylvania therefore allowed Jordan to be charged with murder case the same way an adult can be charged in any court. On the other hand, according to University of Texas lecturer Lyndon Johnson, in most states across the country, the law permits children to be prosecuted in adult courts. Most of these laws were passed in 1990s and 1980s when juvenile crimes were at the pick. Additionally, in the initial stage of the case, Jordan failed to acknowledge his guilty. Despite of the available evidence, Jordan and his family declined to accept Jordan wrongdoing. According to Anthony Krastek, the deputy attorney general, it was very complicated for the boy to get the required counseling and counseling in the situation where he declines to acknowledge his guilty. As stated by the deputy attorney general, counseling services are only granted to suspect who acknowledge their guilty. On the other hand, the prosecutor informed the court

Lord Of The Flies-symbolism :: essays research papers

Symbolism is defined as the representation; treatment or interpretation of things as symbolic. In society and in particular, literature, symbolism is a prominent component that helps to illustrate a deeper meaning then perceived by the reader. Symbolism can be anything, a person, place or thing, used to portray something beyond itself. It is used to represent or foreshadow the conclusion of the story. In William Golding’s, Lord of the Flies symbolism of the main characters Ralph, Jack and Simon plays a very important role in helping to show how our society functions and the different types of personalities that exist. An examination of Simon as a symbol of good, Ralph as a symbol of the common man, and Jack as a symbol of evil, clearly illustrates that William Golding uses characters as a symbol of what is really happening in the outside world throughout the novel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First off, the common man is someone who has a balance between good and evil, a good perception of reality and strong morals. In Lord of the Flies, Ralph is the character who is perceived as this type of individual. The first example of this is Ralph’s appearance. Ralph keeps and continues to wear his school sweater while other boys run around naked. This illustrates his desire to keep the island somewhat civilized. Secondly, he does everything in his power to keep the boys working together and getting along with each other. Lastly, Ralph attempts to keep the boys under a type of domesticated. He tries to do this by making such laws as the freedom of speech. This law gave any member of the group a right to express his opinion. Unfortunately, Ralph’s attempts failed and the boys became savages.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Secondly, the evil side of a person is an unavoidable thing. It can be supressed but also can take over a person. Although everyone has an evil side, some have a harder time controlling it then others. The character of Jack was the representation of evil in the novel. First, Jack’s appearance is stereotypical of a possessed or evil person. He is tall and slender, with red hair and sports a of the slaughtered pig suggests is evil nature. This is a strange and barbaric thing to do in a civil society. Lastly, the fact that Jack black clock. Secondly, when he baptizes himself with the blood showed no remorse about the death of Simon clearly illustrates that he is the representations of evil in the novel. Lord Of The Flies-symbolism :: essays research papers Symbolism is defined as the representation; treatment or interpretation of things as symbolic. In society and in particular, literature, symbolism is a prominent component that helps to illustrate a deeper meaning then perceived by the reader. Symbolism can be anything, a person, place or thing, used to portray something beyond itself. It is used to represent or foreshadow the conclusion of the story. In William Golding’s, Lord of the Flies symbolism of the main characters Ralph, Jack and Simon plays a very important role in helping to show how our society functions and the different types of personalities that exist. An examination of Simon as a symbol of good, Ralph as a symbol of the common man, and Jack as a symbol of evil, clearly illustrates that William Golding uses characters as a symbol of what is really happening in the outside world throughout the novel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First off, the common man is someone who has a balance between good and evil, a good perception of reality and strong morals. In Lord of the Flies, Ralph is the character who is perceived as this type of individual. The first example of this is Ralph’s appearance. Ralph keeps and continues to wear his school sweater while other boys run around naked. This illustrates his desire to keep the island somewhat civilized. Secondly, he does everything in his power to keep the boys working together and getting along with each other. Lastly, Ralph attempts to keep the boys under a type of domesticated. He tries to do this by making such laws as the freedom of speech. This law gave any member of the group a right to express his opinion. Unfortunately, Ralph’s attempts failed and the boys became savages.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Secondly, the evil side of a person is an unavoidable thing. It can be supressed but also can take over a person. Although everyone has an evil side, some have a harder time controlling it then others. The character of Jack was the representation of evil in the novel. First, Jack’s appearance is stereotypical of a possessed or evil person. He is tall and slender, with red hair and sports a of the slaughtered pig suggests is evil nature. This is a strange and barbaric thing to do in a civil society. Lastly, the fact that Jack black clock. Secondly, when he baptizes himself with the blood showed no remorse about the death of Simon clearly illustrates that he is the representations of evil in the novel.

Respect Atticus Essay

â€Å"It is far better to be trusted and respected that is to be liked.† In the story To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is told from a child’s point of view, a girl name Jean Louise Finch that goes by the nickname Scout. Atticus Finch, her father, is the lawyer defending a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been accused of a crime. This story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama around the 1930’s. Atticus Finch does not care about age, appearance, or even skin color. He is not afraid to be himself and he is the same inside the house as he is on the streets. As the story progresses, Atticus presents himself as kind, wise, and calm. All the qualities which make him an admirable and respected leader throughout Maycomb. First, Atticus proves that he is one of the kindest men in Maycomb. He does not yell or swear and he treats everyone how he wants to be treated. One day, when Scout comes home from school, she tells Atticus that her teacher Miss Caroline does not want her father to teach her how to read anymore. Scout loves to read with Atticus and does not want to stop, so she explains to him that she would like to quit school. Atticus really didn’t like that idea so he makes a promise with her saying that they can keep reading together as long as she stays in school. Rather than threatening to punish his daughter for even thinking of that idea, Atticus speaks respectfully to Scout. Atticus always wants his children to come to him for advice so, that they grow up being kind and compassionate towards each other. Atticus also shows kindness when he tries to make Dill, Jem and Scout friend, feel better. After running away from home, Dill hides under Scout’s bed, cold and hungry, and Atticus decides to help him. Instead of telling Dill to go home without food, he talks to Scout. He says, â€Å"Scout, we can do better than a pan of cold corn bread, can’t we? You fill this fellow up and when I get back we’ll see what we can do.† Later on, Atticus realizes that Dill has a difficult home life, and with his kindness, he looks out for him as if he was his own child. Being kind is a way to be respected, because if you’re mean and mad all the time people won’t even acknowledge you. Next, Atticus is considered wise because he is able to use things he has been taught toward his children and others in distinct ways. When Mrs. Dubose, the Finch’s elderly neighbor dies, Atticus uses her death as an opportunity to teach Jem and Scout a lesson. Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict who was dying of old age. She wanted to die clean of any drugs even though with her giving up caused her much pain. Atticus believes her decision shows true courage and bravery. He explains this to his children, â€Å"‘I want you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you even begin, but you begin anyways and you see it through no matter what.† Atticus respects Mrs. Dubose for her courage as much as Mrs. Dubose respects Atticus for his wisdom and good advice. Atticus thinks when Tim Johnson had shot that rabid dog that does not make him brave. Also, Atticus wisdom never gives up during the trial. During his closing statement he says to the jury, â€Å"A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up. I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God do your duty.† Atticus was trying to remind the jury that Tom is a human being with a family. That was a wise way for Atticus to end his defense strategy at the trial, because his statement leads the jury to deliberate for hours rather than minutes. Atticus defending Tom Robinson was unacceptable in the town of Maycomb. People respected him because he stood up for what he believed was right. He believed that the court was the only place what provided equal justice but it didn’t. He had real courage to do something that other people were scared of. Additionally, Calm is another way to describe Atticus Finch. He never overreacts under pressure even in the worst situations. The day Atticus hears that Tom Robinson was shot, it was a horrible day for him, but he knew what he had to do. He had to stay calm and tell his family what had happened. Atticus explains the tragedy to Calpurnia, his cook, by saying, ‘â€Å"Depends on how you look at it. What was one Negro, more or less, among two hundred of ‘em? He wasn’t Tom to them, he was an escaping prisoner.† Atticus could have become angry with the guards that shot Tom, but instead he takes the time to see Tom’s death from the guards’ point of view. Staying calm is important, especially when dealing with someone who is unreasonable. For an example, Bob Ewell, the father who accused Tom of raping his daughter Mayella, is one of the meanest men anyone could come in contact with. Instead of being mature and talking to Atticus when he was upset, Bob decides to take his anger out on Atticus and spits on his face. Atticus controls his actions by simply wiping his face and walking away. He could have become mad but he maintains his self control. Atticus stays calm, even in the most difficult situations. That’s what makes him so respected by so many people. People doesn’t want a leader that over reacts or doesn’t stand up for what he believes. They want somebody that’s responsible and willing to stay strong in any circumstances. Throughout the Story, Atticus shows that being Kind, wise, and calm is the best way anyone can live his life and be respected. Atticus approaches the worst times with warnings and thoughtfulness while continuing to take care his children. Scout and Jem learn through their father that everyone makes mistakes and that resolving the problems takes skill and patience. Atticus’s experiences serve as important life-lessons for his children rather than situations too challenging to handle. His reminder to walk in someone’s skin rather than judging him teaches his children that all people can be misunderstood just as easily as they can be appreciated. People supported his actions and respected his courage. They just don’t have their own courage to speak up for justice. Atticus’s views towards the blacks in the community are not socially acceptable; however, so people criticize him for these bad choices or risks.