Essay About The Impact Of Religious Settlers In Religious...

Essay about The Impact Of Religious Settlers In Religious...
The places where we live today have not always been here. The way we live has not always been the same. In fact, very few places that existed
back in the colonial times exist today. If they still exist, it is because of the success gained over the years gone by after the settlers came to the New
World. Settlers came to the New World in search of many things. They came in search of gold, they came for new lives, and they came for religious
freedom.
In England, during this time period, people were being judged, separated and persecuted on the basis of their religious beliefs. There were two groups
of people that were unhappy with the Church. These groups came to be known as the Puritans and the Separatists. ... Show more content on
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The Puritans are known for founding the Massachusetts Bay Colony. These people of the journey also set out for their self–government to be a
commonwealth, which is a community founded on law and united by an agreement that the law would serve the common good of the people.
Among these people who were busy trying to remake a remarkable Christian life, there were people who didn't necessarily agree with the common
viewpoint. These people became known as dissenters. Dissenters were often persecuted for their beliefs, and just a few up and went and actually made
a difference. They are still recognized today.
In the colony of Rhode Island, there was one main dissenter who was very well known. He was the assistant pastor in Salem in the Massachusetts Bay
Colony. He had two main thoughts that got him into trouble with his community. One was the fact that he questioned the legality of the colony's
charter, since the Indians had not been paid for the taking of their land. Another point was the fact that he believed that the civil government of the
colony had no right to punish religious dissenters. He felt that people's personal views of the religion should not be punished because everyone is
entitled to their own opinion.
Soon after he stated his thoughts, Roger Williams was banished from the colony. He went off and founded Providence, which was the first village in
what is
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

Religious Oppression And Religious Persecution
Religious oppression, persecution... The noun is related to persecute which comes from Latin persecute meaning "followed with hostility" persecution
means hassling or singling out a person, or group, because of race, religion, or sexual orientation, gender, or social status to persecute.
Religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs or affiliations or
lack thereof.
When I picked my topic, I chose to pick religious oppression because I feel being raised Jewish but always believing in Jesus I was always kind of told
by my rabbis not to talk about Jesus. I feel that I've been oppressed in many ways. I feel that on my Jewish heritage side my ancestors were ... Show
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Even if Christ had not died the way he did there was no higher honor than the nature of his death and it would've always been held in the highest of
esteem for Christ.
If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed but praise God that you bear the name first Peter 4:16.
Many people might ask why did Christians and people that believed so highly in God and Jesus go through so many sacrifices and such suffering so
to give you a little bit of history Rome had accepted the deities from the Italian tribes the Asian minor in these provinces there were great territorial
gods such as Saturn and North Africa and Jehovah among the Jews these were accepted as legal religion.
Even if people felt that some of the acts that these religious tribes did odd or unreligious it was still considered tradition. There was local gods and
local goddesses that were worshiped by people in the Greco– Roman world and they were named and known as the Roman deities. Despite all of this
going on in the second century there was a Roman governor named Bithynia who lived on the Black Sea and he had no problem when it came to
executing people who claimed to be a Christian the name alone was a death warrant.
Another fact about Christianity is that we have endured hostility for over 300 years. A lot of people believe that persecution started with the Roman
authorities but in the New Testament's it tells about the problems between the Christians and the

The Pros And Cons Of Religious Persecution
"When you think yours is the only true path you forever chain yourself to judging others and narrow the vision of God. The road to righteousness and
arrogance is a parallel road that can intersect each other several times throughout a person's life. It's often hard to recognize one road from another.
What makes them different is the road to righteousness is paved with the love of humanity. The road to arrogance is paved with the love of
self."(Shannon L. Alder). This means many people are acquitted but some people still are tormenting them without any resistant. Crime, hate, torture,
and violence all lead to religious persecution. Every person in the world has its own personality and belief. These beliefs cause opponents between
people and to seek revenge these people persecute one of their enemy groups with a different belief. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This persecution didn't recoil right now, but started long ago, most of the genocide occurred because of race and religious diversity. The Burma
genocide occurred because of the abhorrence of Buddhist towards Rohingya Muslims. More than 62% of religious persecution happens towards
Muslims (Stop Religious Persecution). Every person in the world has a right to not be persecuted because of their believe. Should religious
persecution occur in any country such as: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, or Turkmenistan? Should there be violence and threat towards people because of
their belief? Is it possible to stop this tragedy event happening in many countries? Or will there be an end towards hatred, violence, and death? Every
person can give a helping hand and stand up for what they think is right. Religious persecution has consciousness towards it; many of the people and
organization work on impeding religious persecution, and each person can take an action to support towards barring persecution towards people with
different

Protecting Religious Expression Essay
Protecting Religious Expression Religion is an institution that has existed alongside humans for millennia and whose influence ranges from promoting
altruism to beginning holy wars. In today's age, an awareness of individualism and inalienable natural rights have created a complicated situation for
religion, which directs the deepest concept of human existence, the soul. Especially in a political context, the line between what is tolerable and what
is not is sometimes unclear. Nonetheless, religious tolerance should place no restrictions on peaceful expressions of faith–even if the ideas are
marginalized or controversial–and these expressions include ceremonies, dress, and opinions. Sadly, other religious actions provide reasons for... Show
Therein in these justifications lies a basis for the separation of church and state and freedom of religion that are written into the very Constitution of the
United States, and similar measures have been taken by most other advanced countries. In fact, several Supreme Court cases including Lemon v.
Kurtzman (1971), Lee v. Weisman (1992), and Allegheny County v. ACLU (1989), have established guidelines that are designed to prevent the
government from involving itself with religion in a preferential manner, though this is not to say that freedom of religion means freedom from religion
in the U.S., nor should that ever be the case (Bardwell 3).
The U.S. is a relatively religious country and tolerance in it or anywhere else does not mean stomping out religion's place in society but rather
creating a level playing field where many beliefs find expression (Conkle 1756); after all, "on the global stage, every religion is a minority" (Conkle
1763). Yet surveys conducted in one public state university found that more than one–fifth of the faculty did not agree that the university encouraged
sensitivity to various religious practices and holidays, and 51% disagreed that the university treated all religions equally (Bardwell 14–17). The
problem is not restricted to devout believers who refuse to let others have different views of universal truth–in fact, one study conducted by the
Christian Research Association

The Importance Of Religious Freedoms
Statistics have shown that "nearly 70 percent of the world...live in countries with high restrictions on religion" (Clark). People all around the world
are being persecuted for their beliefs in Religion or for simply not believing in what society wants them to believe. History has shown this during
World War II, when millions of Jews were killed because of what they believe in. But persecution is not just something of the past, but a issue of
present time. Such as, Islamic Extremism in the middle east that has forced citizens to become Muslim or else put to death. Religious freedoms are
important to have in a country because it leads to a stronger nation, people have the right, and without it many are persecuted for their beliefs. First
and foremost, having a diverse nation causes society to be stronger. They are unashamed, bold and outgoing in who they are as a person and in the
community. In a communist country, there is no religious freedoms, the nation is suffering. The economy is poor quality with its main goal to
"eliminate the gap between the rich and poor" (Comparing). This can result in people feeling suffocated, with no rights. For example, in the
communist country North Korea, the lack of religious freedoms brought fear to many. The World Watch List states, "Christians try to hide their faith
as far as possible to avoid arrest and being sent to a labor camp" (New). This is significant because it shows that in North Korea, religion is stolen away
from society

Religious Experiences are all Illusions
'Religious experiences are all illusions.' Discuss. Most arguments for the existence of God are 'a posteriori', seeking to move from experiences within
the world to the existence of God rather than relying on the definition of God to prove his existence. Religious experience is an interaction with God
or a feeling of connection with a higher power. It is interesting to note that William James never spoke of 'God' but of the 'spiritual', 'unseen order' or
'higher' aspects of the world. Does a person have to be sure they encountered God rather than connecting with a higher power for their experience to be
classed as 'religious experience'? The basic problem when trying to verify religious experiences is providing proof to show others that ... Show more
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We must appreciate that if God is beyond the limited physical world of objects that are known through the senses then he cannot be experienced. Otto
believed that religion must be derived from a separate being from this world. He believed religious experience was a personal experience of the
numinous that brought feelings of awe–inspiring holiness. Otto thought that the numinous couldn't be successfully described using everyday human
language as the experience is beyond ordinary experiences perceived by our senses. Words that are used tend to get close to experience but cannot
pin it down. Otto called the words used to describe the experience its schema, but believed this schema was only an attempt to find words that could
begin to describe the experience although the idea is inexpressible. Otto was developing the ideas of Schleiermacher who believed the essence of
religion was based in personal experience. He thought that religious experience is 'self–authenticating' and requires no other testing to see if it is
genuine. He believed experiences should have priority and statements of belief should be formatted to fit them. Also, James considered that religious
experiences lie at the heart of all religion. We have to consider whether religions would have been founded and held a belief so strong for so

Hypocrisy Within Religious Groups : Religion
Hypocrisy Within Religious Groups Did you know that since 2012 more than 7.5 million people are no longer active in any type of religion or
religious group (Grant, 2013)? Looking back on the past as well as the rich history of faith in God that can be found throughout American History it is
almost surprising the amount of people who no longer take a claim to religion. Over the course of the last 30 to 40 years religious communities have
had cycles of high or low attendance. Now as times are changing religious centers have multiple empty seats and mainly elderly individuals that
make up the roster. This is because many people are now seeing hypocrisy laced into the religious groups' doctrine or actions of the people in the
group. By viewing first the Mormons and their treatment of women and the actual value of marriage vows it can be seeing that no worth is held on
either of these. Secondly by digging into Christianity one can clearly see that most followers of Christ do not exhibit the attitude and beliefs Christ
had. Finally by gazing into the teachings of Muslims it will be seen that though good deeds are the foundation needed to please the god Allah hardly
anything good is being done. From these three groups it is clear that hypocrisy within religious groups is the leading cause of moral decay, especially
in the United States. The Mormon Church is actually a nickname for The Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS). Over the course of 117 years this
religious group reached the

Understanding Religious Identity and the Causes of...
Saira Yamin: Understanding Religious Identity and the Causes of Religious Violence
Peace Prints: South Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, Vol. 1, No. 1: Spring 2008
Understanding Religious Identity and the Causes of Religious Violence Saira Yamin
Abstract The paper examines various scholarly works that explore the causes of religious violence. It addresses questions such as: what elements of
religion contribute to violence and protracted conflict; how does religious identity motivate groups engaged in aggressive behavior; other than threat to
and preservation of religious identity, what might be significant underlying causes of the conflict; and, what parallels could be drawn with ethnic
conflict in the construction of religious ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
204–245. Available from http://www.wiscomp.org/peaceprints.htm
2
Saira Yamin: Understanding Religious Identity and the Causes of Religious Violence
Peace Prints: South Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, Vol. 1, No. 1: Spring 2008
India. One attempt to estimate the loss of Hindu and Muslim lives at the time of partition places it at two million.3 Most recently, the Global War on
Terror (GWOT), spurred by the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and perceived by various quarters as a wider Islamist threat, has been observed as the the most
blatant manifestation of the clash of civilizations.
Figure 1 "The Clash of Civilizations" as per Huntington's thesis (1996) Greater line thickness represents greater conflict in the civilizational relationship
Huntington's theory has generated immense debate in the developments since 9/11 with the launch of the GWOT, and others incidents that have
signalled an escalation of tensions between Islam and the West. Events that point towards the salience of a clash of civilization of sorts, include the
recently released Dutch film "Fitna" featuring verses from the Quran out of their context, as evidence of Islam's hostility towards other religions. A
Dutch newspaper's cartoon caricatures of Prophet Muhammad in 2006 which had offended Muslims around the world, and
3

Robert D. Crane, "Postwar Ethnic Cultural Conflicts: Some Quantitative and

Religious Freedom Essay
Religious Freedom
America has been named the "melting pot" of the world. It houses many different cultures, nationalities, ideas and religions. There are Christians, Jews,
Catholics, Buddhists, Mormons, Hindus, Spiritualists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Islamic, plus many more. America is unique in that all these religions are
represented in a nation that is only 200 years old. And America has upheld, throughout history, that the freedom and equality ofreligion is extremely
important in order for this nation to function as a free nation. The foundations of America were set as a result of England's persecution; more
specifically, England's religious persecution. The colonists wanted to create a nation that allowed people to be free. They ... Show more content on
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Certainly, all the freedoms are equal.
On the other hand, unlike the other freedoms mentioned, religious freedom addresses a different type of need. It addresses the concept of personal
fulfillment, or perhaps, self–realization. Religion attempts to give answers to basic questions: From where did the world come? What is the meaning
of human life? Why do people die and what happens afterward? Why is there evil? How should people behave? As a word religion is difficult to
define, but as a human experience it seems to be universal. The 20th–century German–born American theologian, Paul Tillich, gave a simple and basic
definition of the word: "Religion is ultimate concern." This means that religion includes that to which people are most devoted or that from which they
expect to get the most satisfaction in life. Consequently, religion provides adequate answers to the basic afore mentioned questions.
Religion is, unquestionably, a very important part of life. The second question regardingfreedom of religion discusses which aspect of religion should
be considered equal: the structure or substantive content of religion, or the individual conscience of that religion. Because of the diversity and impact
that religion has in the lives of Americans, the individual conscience should be treated as equal, not the structure or substantive content of the various
religions. No two religions are alike, just as no two people

Religious Experiences are in the Mind of the Believer Essays
Religious Experiences are in the Mind of the Believer
"A religious experience is a spontaneous or induced mental event over which the
recipient has relatively little control. It is often accompanied with the gaining of
certain knowledge and the experience is always unique."[1] Elton Trueblood's
definition of a religious experience is very broad, including any experience of feelings
of 'love, power, glory or strength from God.' This differs from a simple experience
which can be defined as "an event or series of events participated in or lived through,
especially one that makes a powerful impression on the mind and sense."[2]
It is obvious that religious experiences ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When people try to describe an experience
of God they tend to make comparisons which raises problems philosophically, and
many argue that the analogies have weaknesses.
The definitions of mystical experience used by researchers and clinicians vary
considerably, ranging from Neumann's (1964) "upheaval of the total personality" to

Greesley's (1974) "spiritual force that seems to lift you out of yourself" to
Scharfstein's (1973) "everyday mysticism." William James created four
characteristics which he believed will enable people to identify mystical experiences,
a term that is used in a vast variety of contexts. These include ineffability, noetic
quality, transciency and passivity. From James' four characteristics, mystical
experiences are concerned with noetic quality and transciency. Noetic quality refers
to knowledge that is gained through intuition and perception however not in the
conventional manner, whilst transciency refers to the duration of the experience; it
appears that most religious experiences last between a few minutes and two hours.
However the effect and the significance are out of proportion to its physical duration.
The fact they can last up to several

The History of Religious Conflicts in America Essay
The History of Religious Conflicts in America
Throughout its history, the United States has characteristically remained a country of two things: a country of immigrants, and a country of unmatched
religious diversity. And yet when compared with the rest of the world– where these two very factors alone have so often engendered horrible religious
wars and decades of enduring conflict – the history of religious conflict in the United States seems almost nonexistent.
That is not to say the United States has been immune to its share of conflict explicitly rooted in religion. This paper explores the various manifestations
of religious conflict throughout the history of the United States, from the Revolutionary War to the attacks of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Due to the distance from England and the room in the colonies, many religions were able to establish themselves in America, colony by colony. For
example, Anglicans, who conformed to the Church of England, populated Virginia. Massachusetts was home to the Puritans. Pennsylvania was full of
Quakers. Baptists ruled in Rhode Island. And Roman Catholics found a haven in Maryland, where they could establish themselves amid the other
colonists' protestant majority. Each of these colonies maintained a distinct religious character and favored one religious denomination's power.
The American colonists saw the revolution not only as a war for political independence, but to protect the religious diversity of the thirteen colonies.
Put in other terms, it was a war for religious independence and freedom. To sever ties with Mother England would be to ensure that the various
Christian denominations could co–exist on the American continent. The conflict was, in part, a conflict that pitted the various American religious
denominations against the Church of England, who wanted to impose a uniform, Anglican religion on the colonies.
Early Religious Persecution
The period after the Revolutionary War saw a lot of infighting between the various states and Christian denominations. Virginia, which was home to the
largest portion of Anglicans loyal to the Church of England, was the scene of notorious acts

Impact Of William Penn On Religious Freedom
William Penn's Influence on Religious Freedom
In March of 1681, William Penn was given the ownership of a large piece of land which we today call Pennsylvania (Document A). As a teenager
in the 1660s, Penn was kicked out of Oxford for expressing his religious views and not attending the religious services that were required. He then
joined a radical religious group known as the "Quakers" who were persecuted in England Only 13 years before he was granted Pennsylvania, Penn
was held captive for his religious beliefs and the King requested that Penn publicly deny his beliefs. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania,
established a colony based on the idea of religious liberty, equality, and self–government which served as the foundation of America's constitutional
rights in a secular government wherein all citizens have the rights to freely practice their religious beliefs; these ideas still impact the government's
inaction concerning citizens' religious practices.
William Penn believed that the key principle of religious toleration was respecting religious liberties and promoting peace. Penn believed that respecting
these individual liberties would produce economic prosperity and construct a strong government controlled by the people. Penn places these ideas into
real–world practice by establishing the colony of Pennsylvania, and by making religious tolerance not only a law but a key tenet in his colonial
constitution. Penn recruited adventurers and prosperous supporters

Religious Freedom Essay
The United States of America was founded with a credo of religious freedom. They hoped to change the vicious cycle of religious persecution and
intolerance that had been swirling through Europe for centuries. Over the last two hundred years this legacy has been shredded and stained. Our
religious freedoms have been taken away by people who have twisted what our country was founded to protect. The North American continent was
settled by thousands of refugees from different religious persecutions from all around the globe. An excellent example is that of the Pilgrims, who fled
from England after they were persecuted for starting their own church instead of attending the official Church of England. Although it was nearly two
hundred... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Many of Washington's fellow statesmen expressed similar feelings. In his famous letter to the Danbury Baptists, Thomas Jefferson reassures the
Baptists of their right to religious freedom by saying, "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he
owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions, I contemplate
with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should `make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and state." In addition to these personal letters,
the founding fathers left a clear picture of their views in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. As Thomas Jefferson so eloquently put
it, "We hold these truths to be self–evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that
among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." With this one statement he not only puts forward the idea of unalienable rights, he also
clearly states the belief of many of the founding fathers in a Creator. Fifteen

The Pros And Cons Of Religious Toleration
After the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, many European states struggled to decide what they would do with the diverse religious
cultures of their peoples. Some sided with religious toleration, making their decision based on righteous ideals or the concept of tranquility within their
nation. Others, however, saw religious liberty as a gateway to distress and harmful to the unification of their respective state. Even then, other European
nations, remained neutral, accepting other religions only out of compromise. By the eighteenth century, these precepts on religious toleration became
solidified, making freedom of religion a right rather than a preference of nobility.
Furthermore, many of the European states promoted toleration to benefit not only the spiritual beliefs of man, but also to unite and preserve peace
within said nations. This concept is seen in Document 5 as Henry IV of France, who has just regained footing after the Thirty Years War, declares the
Edict of Nantes, which allows Protestantism or the "Reformed religion" to coexist with Catholicism. In this document the author believes this
declaration is pertinent to maintaining peace and to eliminating any trouble between diverse civilians. This idea was further presented by author
Voltaire (Document 11) who through his work, Letters Concerning the English Nation, similarly understood that a multitude of religions would create
peace whereas one religion would allow the government to become

Australia 's Present Religious Tradition
Australia's Present Religious Landscape Christianity as the major religious tradition:
Christianity is the major religious tradition today and has been since around 1945. Many of the British who first came to Australia, either as convicts
or free settlers were Christians. They formed the huge base for Christianity to rise to the top religion in Australia before they began to let more
immigrants enter. In the 1947 census, 88% of the population (not including Aboriginals because they were not considered in the census) stated they
were Christian. The remaining 12% was mostly people who didn't respond to the question. Today not much has changed the percentage of Christians
has slightly decreased because of a rise in new religions. In the census of 2011 it is seen that out of 21.5 million people just under half, 42% classed
themselves as Christian and around 8% said they were of a different religion. The number of people who said they had no religion was hugely
increased at around 25%per cent. Today, even with the growing amount ofIslam Buddhism and Hinduism, Christianity still remains the major religious
tradition.
Immigration
Immigration has easily had the largest and most significant effect on Australia's religious landscape and has managed to see Australia become a vast
multi–cultural and religious community. Immigration has taken several years to make significant changes to the Australian religious landscape. After
the early settlers arrived and began to set up churches and

The Passionate Subject of Religious Liberty Essay
The concept of religious liberty is at the core of global attention in recent times in the light of religious extremities in different aspects of national
existence. The subject of religious liberty is a particularly touchy and sensitive issue as it evokes passion, devotion and unbridled allegiance amongst
adherents of various religious beliefs. Although an aspect of the broad concept of human liberties and equality, it is a subject which commands special
attention as religious tenets play a vital role in defining certain liberties and equalities in various societies.
Gender inequality for instance is an integral part of certain religious beliefs which subjugate females to less commanding roles subservient to men.
Furthermore, sexual ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For instance, the trend towards criminalization of homosexuality in most African countries is predicated on the prohibition of such sexual orientation
and practice by Christianity and Islamic religions.
Regardless of which ideology a state adopts, a common issue which arises is the protection of religious liberty of the people of the state. Religious
liberty simply means the freedom of citizens to practice their chosen religion without fear, harassment, or suppression either by virtue of state policy
or as a result of religious intolerance by fellow citizens or groups. Religious intolerance is a constant problem in most countries of the world today as
adherents of various religious beliefs attempt to suppress adherents of other religious under the misguided belief of the superiority of their religious
belief over others. Such religious 'Nazism' based on misguided claims to superiority of particular religions have wreaked havoc in places such as the
Balkans where genocide was committed on religious basis and even the Hindu–Islamic strife in India and Myanmar have deep rooted religious
colorations arising from religious intolerance by adherents of different religious beliefs.
In non–secular states, religious liberties of citizens are restricted and curtailed in favour of the state religion adopted. In such states, the struggle for
religious liberty is a constant battle

Coercion Or Conversion And Religious Differences At Uic
Coercion or Conversion Interfaith relationships are complicated on a college campus, because so many religious peoples who want to express and
practice their personal religious beliefs. A frequent issue that is often encountered on college campuses is the issue of interfaith cooperation between
student groups. An example of this is when a group of students feel that a certain faith is being pushed upon them or they cannot practice their own
religion in peace. We encounter this issue in our case study "Coercion or Conversion? Grappling with Religious Difference at UIC". Our case study
illustrates the fear of several students. The students fear that if this particular religious group joins their interfaith organization, that they will be
coerced into joining the group's popular religion and abandoning their own religion. However, this case study allows the opinions of each side of the
argument to be explored, so an unbiased observer can articulate a solution which is best for both groups. At the University of Illinois at Chicago, an
issue arose when the evangelical Christian group called Campus Crusade for Christ wanted to join their campus's interfaith organization, the Religious
Workers Association (RWA). However, the RWA has certain sets of rules set forward to protect each religious denomination, which includes their
Convent. Cru agreed to all of the convent except for a certain phrase, which says "We will... not initiate personal religious opportunities designed to

What Are The Differences Of Music Or Religious Music?
There exists a plethora of religions around the world that each have their own various sects, beliefs and sacred traditions. Nevertheless, most to all of
these religions retain the same ideas of the existence of higher beings that are omnipotent and omniscient. In order to worship these higher beings,
people that belong to a certain religion participate in rituals, religious holidays or perform traditional music that belongs to that religion. Music has the
power to control the emotions and thoughts of its listeners. Furthermore, religious music is able to initiate or deepen the spiritual connection between the
listener, performer, and the higher being regardless of sect. Can different genres of music that belong to various religions share similar musical or
spiritual elements? Three songs that are of distinct genres and religions indeed share the theological concepts of putting all of one's faith and trust in a
higher being, while seeking that entity for strength and refuge.
The summation of the stanzas in a particular contemporary Christian song represents a religious concept, specifically in the Christian tradition, where
in times of weakness or uncertainty, one must put all of their faith in God. "Oceans" by Hillsong United is simply a powerful story within itself,
where each stanza conveys a part of that story to its listeners. For example, the first stanza begins with the phrase, "You call me out upon the waters,
the great unknown where feet may fail." The person who

American Religious Influence
Any thorough consideration and analysis of most historical events should include the ways in which religion played a role. As a significant social
institution, religion has massively impacted most people's lives for millennia and its influence has continued into the present day. Bearing that in mind,
religion offers a useful lens through which one might view and explore history–especially huge swaths of history. Although most world religions were
established in the pre–historic, ancient, and classical eras, they continue to inspire and impact the course of human history into the present day. The
contours of modern history, from about the sixteenth century onwards, have especially been carved by religious influences. This essay will address...
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Jinnah was a part of the Pakistan Movement, which agitated for a new state for Muslims. Those within this movement typically embraced a very
conservative interpretation of the Muslim faith ("Overview of Muslim History," web). The increasing popularity of conservative and fundamental Islam
and the ways in which intellectual figures began tying it to the state has had been mirrored in other global regions in the course of the twentieth and
twenty–first centuries. Religion has played a role in American culture and society, for example, since the colonial period but it is understood there is a
distinction between church and state. In the twentieth century, that line became blurred with the Scopes trial, the invocation of religion with regard to
various international conflicts, and the rise of the Moral Majority in which conservative politicians claimed their Christian faith would inform policy
decisions (Jenkins, web). With regard to the Scopes Trial in Tennessee, the 1919 text A School History of Tennessee was raised as proof of the
religiosity of Tennesseans and, therefore, the necessity of discouraging the teaching of biological evolution. The author of book repeatedly conflates
Tennesseans' moral fiber with the ways in which the state government conducted itself:

Article Review On The And Religious Competencies For...
Name: Nicole McDuff Group # A ARTICLE REVIEW
Answer the following questions concerning a manuscript that is relevant to your project. Article reviews should be 2 pages minimum (answers single
spaced) to receive full credit and answers should be in your own words (not copied and pasted from the article). You should complete the review in this
format (therefore, answer the questions). Each member should complete on a different article related to your research topic.
1.) How would you cite the article in your reference section (in APA format)?
Vieten, C., Scammell, S., Pilato, R., Ammondson, I., Pargament, K. I., & Lukoff, D. (2013). Spiritual and religious competencies for psychologists.
Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 5(3), 129–144. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0032699
2.) What was the main topic studied?
The main topic studied in this article is that most people identify themselves as spiritual and or religious. With that being said, patients undergoing
psychotherapy are not treated nor is it included in their treatment plan. Psychotherapists are not even trained in this aspect nor do they include it in their
assessment or treatment planning.
3.) Why is it important to study this topic?
It is important to study this topic because most of the population is spiritual and or religious or possibly both spiritual and religious. This could
possibly be a great indicator of a need that can and should be addressed. To treat a patient you need an assessment and an effective

Understanding Other People's Religious Beliefs
Understanding other peoples' religious beliefs in addition to our own is essential to tolerance because one's faith often define who they are. "I fully
agree that all religions lead to one truth, the Absolute truth. There is One truth. There is only one Goal, but there are various paths. Each religion is
right in its own way." (Sri Chinmoy) It is the willingness to cooperate with individuals of different faiths, different customs and of different beliefs who
you do not agree with without prejudice.
In the United States like in many other countries, the concept of religion in relation to acceptance, freedom and understanding is fundamentally a part of
our culture as a whole. Federalists, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, drafted the Bills of Rights to the U.S. Constitution in response to the
anti–Federalists such as Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry distrust in the idea of trusting Congress with our God–given or natural rights of the people.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (Constitution) and although,
over the years since the ratification of the Constitution, these rights have been twisted and turned to properly fit the social standards of the years by the
authority, their basis remain an essential part of the underlying

african american religious music Essay
African American religious music is the foundation of all contemporary forms of so called "black music." African American religious music has been
a fundamental part of the black experience in this country. This common staple of the African American experience can be traced back to the cruel
system of slavery. It then evolved into what we refer to today as gospel music. The goal of this paper is to answer three main questions. What are the
origins of African American religious music? How did this musical expression develop into a secular form of music? What is the future of African
American religious music? These questions will be answered through factual research of African American traditions, artists, and various other sources.
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
A spiritual journey dominates these songs, but the concern for physical freedom is there as well. The most pervasive image in thespirituals is that of the
chosen people for the slaves believed that they had been chosen by God just as the Israelites had. They also believed that they understood better
than anyone what freedom truly meant in both a spiritual and physical sense. The Old Testament characters that the slaves referred to in their songs
experienced deliverance by God. The slaves believed that the same God that had granted them spiritual freedom would someday loose the chains of
slavery. The wonderful flexibility of the spirituals allowed for that double meaning of freedom. For example, Frederick Douglass claimed that the
line" I am bound for Canaan" in one of the songs he frequently sang meant that he was going North, not just that he would experience the freedom of
the promised land in a spiritual sense. The flexibility and multiplicity of meanings also allowed for slaves to use these sacred songs as secret
communication. Some songs, such as "Steal Away to Jesus," were used to call a secret meeting where the people could worship without the supervision
of the whites. Other songs, such as "Wade in the Water" served as coded directions for runaway slaves. With the eventual emancipation of the slaves,
religious music of African Americans became prominently

Religious Accommodation For Public Schools Essay
Religion Debate Papers
"Freedom of religion includes both the right to manifest beliefs and practices and the right to be free from state coercion or constraint in matters of
religion ()." One of the most controversial places in which freedom of religion manifests itself is the public school. In order to protect freedom of
religion, it is important to make sense of how a school must treat religion so the school does not compromise its role within society. This paper will
establish current rulings on religion in public school and then explore what a religious accommodation is, why it may be necessary, and finally how it
will take shape within the public school system by using a multitude of examples. This paper argues that religious accommodations for students in
public schools are necessary to ensure freedom of religion. However, in order to guarantee that religious accommodation is enforceable and
discernable, it argues for a two–pronged evaluation of each scenario in order to determine the viability of the proposed religious accommodation.
Firstly, the accommodation must not infringe on the education of the other students not included in the accommodation by taking away their rights and
the accommodation must not exempt a student from the education provided by the school. By applying this two–way evaluation system to given
examples it will be concluded that religious freedom must absolutely be protected by way of certain religious accommodations provided that the school
is

Pluralism And The Problem Of Religious Diversity
There exists a vast number of religions in the world that have their own belief systems and populations of followers that, naturally, gives result to a
wide variety of religious diversity. Logically, the problem with this religious diversity is that it is hard to see how they could all be true at any rate. In
response to this problem, two solutions have been proposed: pluralism and exclusivism. Pluralism makes a claim that all of the religions are true in
their own way where exclusivism, on the other hand, makes the claim that only one religion is true in its beliefs. I will be discussing the differences
between exclusivism and pluralism in depth as responses to the problem of religious diversity as well as comparing and contrasting Christianity and
Hinduism to make a case for why exclusivism is the correct solution.
The first solution to the problem, pluralism, which is advocated by John Hick, offers that, fundamentally, deep down, all of the religions are the same
and so are all true in their own way. Hick, in his work titled Who or What isGod?, believes that the concept of God can be described as
anthropomorphic. That is, as Hick puts it, "God is a being like ourselves in the fundamental respect that we are both – God and ourselves – persons. But
whereas we are finite, created, dependent persons, God is an infinite, eternal, uncreated and omnipotent Person." (Hick). He paints a picture of who
God is by saying "that God's inner nature is beyond the range of our human

The Importance Of Religious Freedom In America
Today, in modern America, religious freedom is a right for all people, but it was not always this way. All the founders came from different religions,
and found it important to have that freedom to believe in whatever the individual wants. It forever changed the course of America. Due to one
diligent man, it has become a part of the American life of all citizens. This man believed strongly in what he wanted, and was persecuted for his
beliefs, and kicked out of many universities and schools. He became a strong advocate, and the colony he established would change the tolerance of
all people. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, established a colony based on the ideas of religious liberty, equality, and self–government
which served as the foundation of America's constitutional rights in a secular government wherein all citizens may freely practice their religious belief,
those ideas still impact the government's inaction concerning citizens religious practices.
According to William Penn, the key principles of religious toleration were religious liberty, equality, and self–government. According to William Penn:
Faith Not Force, it claims "Guided by his conscience and their teachings, Penn became an outspoken supporter and a writer in search of mutual
respect for varying religions." He became a very active supporter of this right, and continued to press for the respect or equality. Liberty is given to the
people by allowing them an environment that provides a safe place

Religious Freedom in a World of Religious Restrictions
Religious Freedom in a World of Religious Restrictions About half a decade ago John F. Kennedy spoke these famous words: "tolerance implies no
lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others" (1930). Nowadays the issues of tolerance,
oppression and persecution are still relevant, especially with regard to religion. Even though globally and nationally religious restrictions are increasing,
without most Western people's awareness, there is hope for an increase in religious freedom in the future.
RELIGIOUS RESTRICTIONS INCREASING WORLDWIDE
Statistics World Wide
Religious restrictions are on the increase globally the PEW research conducted in 2011 uncovered (Pew Research Center 2012). The ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the PEW research North Korea was not included even though it is the most religious restrictive country because the researchers did not have access
to the specific, timely information needed for their research (Pew Research Center 2012). Kim Jong–II dictates the country, and demands god–like
obedience from all the country's citizens. The government sponsored some religious groups to give the appearance of religious freedom, but in reality
there is no religious freedom whatsoever. Worshipping in public or private, carrying religious material and speaking about religion is not legal, and can
result in systematic torture and imprisonment. There are an estimated 400,000 Christians in North Korea, of whom 40,000 are estimated to be held in
prison camps. If one member of the family is discovered to be a believer the entire family is arrested and punished, often put into prison camps. Prison
camps basically work the prisoners to death, through starvation and physical exhaustion. The solution that the North Korean Christians long for is that
all North Koreans will become Christians, but they do appreciate the pressure the international community applies on the North Korean government
(Class 2009).
My Own Experience Why bother worrying and writing about religious persecution, Canadian citizens are not persecuted for their religion? Because
humankind is one, there should be justice for everyone. And yes, it is true that in

Religious Intolerance Under The Mongols
As shown throughout the course of history, the empires of rulers who embraced the concept of religious tolerance almost always experience a
prolonged period of peace and growth. The Ottoman Empire under the leadership of Osman advocates for a policy of religious tolerance and
benefits from a period of rapid territorial growth and a highly disciplined military comprised of cavalry and janissaries (#). The Yuan Empire under
the Mongols is well known for exemplifying a high religious tolerance towards its diverse populations ranging throughout most of Asia and into
Eastern Europe (#). The Chinese from the late Ming Dynasty are introduced to the latest European science and technology through various cultural
exchanges with Christian missionaries that are made possible because of the religious tolerance policy (@). As shown above, religious toleration
fosters cultural exchange of trading goods, ideologies, and science technologies. It also allows for the diversification of religion as a source of
accommodation for the heterogeneous populations within an empire. Forced religious unity not only introduces chaos, such as religious persecutions,
to an empire, but also placing it at risk for economic and political stagnancy. Shah Ismail of the Safavid Empire best represents the epitome of religious
intolerance. With Shi'ism as the only accepted form of Islam, other forms of Islam such as Sunnism and even deviant Shi'ism are heavily suppressed.
The Shi'ites Safavids launches a series

Religious Intolerance
Religious intolerance
1. Introduction notes
"Religion is like a pair of shoes.....Find one that fits for you, but don 't make me wear your shoes." George Carlin
2. Definition of tolerance:
1. The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others.
2. The ability or willingness to tolerate the existence of opinions or behaviour that one dislikes or disagrees with.
3. Definition of tolerance according to the 19th century British historian Arnold Toynbee: for a religious establishment to persecute anotherreligion for
being "wrong" ironically puts the persecuting religion in the wrong, undermining its own legitimacy.
"A person born in Egypt or Pakistan is very likely to be a Muslim; one ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
And he also said: Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found
for a span of forty years.
d. The Prophet was asked, "Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?" He said: There is a reward for kindness to every living
animal or human.
e. We can witness that the Prophet, peace be upon him, saw a funeral procession pass by. He stood for it. When he was told that it was the funeral of
a Jew, he replied: Was he not a soul?
7. What does Islam say about if how to treat people
a. Killing women, children, old people, or any civilian even in war is prohibited in Islam.
b. Respect other religions:
"There is no compulsion in religion..."
(Qura'an, Chapter 2, Verse 256) "
If God had willed, He would have made you all in one nation and one religion), but that He (God) left you in different religions to compete in good

deeds and society benefits. The return of all of you is to God; then He (God) will inform you about that in which you differ"
(Quran, Chapter 5, Verse48)
c. Be honest.
8. Islamic tolerance towards other religions
"And do not abuse those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest exceeding the limits they should abuse Allah out of ignorance. Thus have We made
fair seeming to every people their deeds; then to their Lord shall be their return, so He will inform them of what they

John Locke : The Benefits Of Religious Liberty And...
Religious liberty has been and continues to be hotly debated among statesmen and citizens of nations worldwide. Religion is an aspect of society that
is deeply rooted in the souls of people, therefore, when people criticize or are of different belief than another, religious toleration is difficult. John Locke
was a philosopher who brought up the very discussion of tolerating religions and respecting their freedoms. He explained how the state and major
churches can and should aid in the effort to support religious freedom. By examining religious toleration through the benefits received and the
negatives if done independently, it is difficult to promote religious toleration without the cooperation of both church and state. Magistrates (the... Show
As time went on in US history, millions of people migrated to the United States. Many people's motivation was not always to worship freely, but
because different religions were tolerated, various backgrounds were comfortable of moving to the United States.
Several negative impacts affect churches and the state alike if one promotes toleration without support from the other. John Locke discusses the role
atheism could play in society, and with the toleration of religions also come with those that are not religious. This could be detrimental to a religious
society and the church's purposes. More important, this can affect those who don't believe in a God in obtaining rights and toleration. Locke is firm is
saying that there should be no toleration for Atheist followers. An important principle also to remember is that religions supporting freedom does not
mean they should not directly get involved in state matters. "Where they have not the [civil] power to carry on persecution and to become masters
there they desire to live upon fair terms and preach up

Religious Pluralism Essay
On July 12, 2007, for the first time in American history the Senate session that day was opened by a prayer; unlike any other prayer, it was given by a
Hindu priest. At first sight, it would seem as though the ideals designed by the framers of the Constitution were alive and well; the pluralization of the
United States of America, the land of freedom of religion, and the right to worship without persecution. However, the Christian right wing religious
group Operation Save America entered the Senate floor and began to heckle Rajan Zed, the Hindu priest, perpetuating that Hinduism is an
"abomination", as Hindus do not worship "The lord Jesus Christ". This leads us to ask the question: Is America a land of religious pluralism, or is it a ...
With 77% of all evangelical leaders holding an unfavorable view of Islam, still 93% of evangelicals agree that it is important to "Welcome Muslims into
the American community (Cimino, R, pg. 2).
This survey reveals that the problem with the Islam faith is not racial: The Muslim people are welcomed, the Islam faith is not. The violence that has
been perpetrated against America, whether executed or planned, has brought to fruition religious persecution not seen since the persecution of the Jews
in W.W.II. This "trust no Arab" attitude has brought shame to the Constitutional intentions of freedom of religion intended by our forefathers, and has
set religious tolerance back 200 years. Looking at media representation of Muslim Americans prior to 9–11, it shows religious diversity in America,
depicting Muslim America as just another religious community seeking to advance and protect their interests, not unlike other Americans. After 9–11
the media portrayed representations of threat and fear, creating boundaries between Muslims and other Americans. Such depiction transforms the
identity of Muslims and American religious pluralism (Byng, M. pg. 3). The land of pluralism has become a land of persecution for Muslim
Americans. I cannot help but wonder how the Constitutional framers would interpret the problems of today: The holy war we face, the attempted

Personal Narrative: My Religious Affiliation
When I was thirteen, my family packed up and moved from our small New Jersey town to Austin. I was dreading the move, worried that Austin was
going to be a horrible desert with cowboys, as everyone I went to school with expected it to be as well. Obviously, I was pleasantly surprised at the
overall lack of deserts and almost completely nonexistent population of cowboys, but I was even more surprised at the open–minded environment in
which I was living. I didn't expect a city in Texas to be as liberal as it was nor did I expect the people to be as generally tolerant of other religions.
For once in my life, my religious affiliation wasn't one of the first things questioned when I was making acquaintances. If I wanted to tell someone
about what I believed in, or in this case what I didn't believe in, I could do it on my own time when I was comfortable enough to... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
There are millions of people who have dealt with similar issues such as coming to terms with their religious beliefs. For me, it wasn't as difficult as it
must have been for others, an example being my parents, to grow up not feeling particularly connected to any religion. While they raised me with the
option of choosing or not choosing a religion, my parents were not raised with that liberty. It must be difficult to not share similar ideologies as
those close to you so deeply believe in, this being a sentiment that addresses multiple topics, not just religion (Pearce, 2007). I realize how lucky I am
to have been given the option and opportunity to make my own decisions about such a majorly detailed subject. I was given absolute freedom to go
whatever direction I chose. Though I never felt attached to any religion I've looked into, I greatly appreciated the chance my parents gave me to
formulate my own

Religious Repression And Its Effects On Religion
Introduction Despite religious freedom being a fundamental human right under international law, more than 5.1 billion people live in countries with
strict religious restrictions (Johnson, 2013). In a more and more connected global community, religious persecution is on the rise, according to pew
researchers (Johnson, 2013). Religious repression worldwide can be attributed to mob violence against minority religions, sacrilege of holy sites,
detentions of religious enemies, and many more crimes against humanity (Johnson, 2013). The nature of Fundamentalism is called into question, as
extremist religious figures lead intolerance of other religions, resulting to violence and ethnic cleansing to make their interpretation the only
interpretation (Johnson, 2013). Questions are raised over the U.S inclusion of religious freedom in its foreign policy, and a remedy of the
ineffectiveness of the Presidential Administrations since the Religious Freedom Act (Johnson, 2013).
What pattern did recent Pew researchers measuring restrictions on religion worldwide find? What do various experts attribute the increase in religious
persecution? The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life has found that in recent years, that religious restrictions have been and
continue to rise in every region of the world, indicating a global trend of religious persecution worldwide (Johnson, 2013). This pattern demonstrates
religious persecution and physical violence are higher in areas with

Religious Literacy Prothero Chapter Summaries
Rebecca McKenney
Introduction to Comparative Religion
Mr. Hyrcza
10 November 2016
Analysis of Religious Literacy In Stephen Prothero's Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know – and Doesn't (New York: Harper
Collins Publishers, 2008) 1 – 372, Prothero discusses how the American society was once a religiously literate nation, how we became religiously
illiterate, and how (if willing) we can become religiously literate again. Prothero states that "this book argues for both the constitutionality and the
necessity of teaching about religion in public schools and higher education." He further explains that the main goal of this piece is to "help citizens
participate fully in social, political, and economic life in a nation and world ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
But his passion is also his downfall. By allowing his piece to be mainly background information, Prothero can make his audience feel as if he is beating
in information into their heads while losing sight of the original argument. Stylistically, he also provides too many subsections with rough transitions
that can leave the audience to be temporarily confused on where he is going with his argument. Stephen Prothero's Religious Literacy: What Every
American Needs to Know – and Doesn't, can be a difficult read, as there are several passages which require numerous rereads in order to understand.
However, there is an occasional sentence or two that provides an interesting insight. Stephen Prothero's Religious Literacy: What Every American
Needs to Know – and Doesn't, is not suggested for audiences who are easily offended by different viewpoints of religion. This is also not
recommended as a light quick read due the complexity and confusion of the author's argument.
Works Cited
Prothero, Stephen. Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know – and Doesn't. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 2008.

Religious Influences
Religious Influences
In the United States people are allowed to think and live freely, there are laws so that the population has the opportunity to believe, follow, or praise
whomever they please. But do these laws really abide by everyone's beliefs? It is obvious that the United States is changing its view points from its
traditional way of thinking and progressing to a more tolerant stance which is more excepting of everyone; for example, gay marriage was legalized
during June 2015. But for issues like abortion, it is still a controversial topic due to opinion and religious stance. Religion can be a great thing for an
individual, but should not be able to affect the human rights of anybody else. Across the world people tend to inherit their religious preferences from
there family. For example, in the United States about 70.6% of the population says they are a type of Christian (Wormald). Even though the United
States allows its people to practice any religion they choose, many laws have been passed due to the favorability of the Christian religion. But lately the
Having beliefs can give an individual comfort during hard times. Churches or mosque can provide people with a safe place to go and support
groups that can help people in need. Donations such as; food, clothes, money, shelter, blankets, and other necessities can help people who are
having a rough time making ends meet. Things like this can also have a positive effect on the community. It can help people come together closer
as a family and help with meeting new friends with similar interest. Growing up with a strong religious influence can also have some positive
effects on a person's personality. For example, Christians believe that if you're a good person and do helpful things that it will allow you to go to
heaven. In a way it kind of gives an incentive to be a good person and to do right by

Ideal vs. Reality: Religious Pluralism vs. Religious...
America is full and rich with diverse people, religions and values; they make America great. Just look at Riverside, California, there are over fifty
churches of different denominations of Christianity, three synagogues, two temples, and one mosque; all coinciding peacefully in the city (Yellow
Pages). Because Riverside is so diverse, religious pluralism and religious tolerance are two steps in making Riverside more connected. The first step
is tolerance, a reflex that acknowledges a person will come across people of a different faith. The second step is pluralism, which is a better
understanding of a person's religion as well as the other religions around them. Many believe pluralism is the better of the two, because of the interaction
Tolerance is reflexive discipline that does not require people interacting together, however most people used tolerance every day. Both pluralism and
tolerance can been seen in society today as they are defined. The government is preventing pluralism, by pushing for tolerance. As America creates a
social network for nations, the citizens are using tolerance, where they don't have to learn or understand, making a barrier. For instance, Madeleine
Albright in The Mighty and the Almighty, noted that U.S. ambassadors did not have to understand or know about the major religion of the country
they were in (Prothero 5). This is dangerous because if ambassadors do not have to understand all of the country, then how can the United States
expect a citizens to understand the religions around them. America is creating a nation where many are seeing the world from a solely tolerant
perspective. The media contributes to the tolerant perspective, as there is a "us" vs. "them" mentality. As Douglas W. Shrader, a professor of
Philosophy at the New York State University Oneonta, says "... we must learn to listen ... because ... we might learn something about ourselves...," the
piece explains when the America government can listen and learn the citizens of America can move forward into pluralism(9). The government can aid
the citizens in taking down the barrier of tolerance and creating a door

The Religious Groups Of Jehovah 's Witnesses
"Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law," Thomas
Paine (Like Success). Under the first amendment, people are ensured the freedom of establishing a religion and allows the religious group to have
the free exercise thereof, but millions of individuals are still persecuted because of their religious preferences (Bill of Rights Institute). The many who
wish to serve and worship their God peacefully are often the main subjects of ridicule. More often than not these are Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's
Witnesses are a religious group that follows the Bible's principles and uses them as a guideline in order to imitate Jesus –Jehovah's Son– and serve...
He has been acquitted of the charges due to the lack of evidence. According to the Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia
Programme, John Dalhuisen, "Today's court judgment is a violation of Aleksandr's right to the peaceful expression of his religious views... [His]
conviction contradicts Russia's own legislation as well as its obligations under international human rights laws. It should be quashed." (USA) This is
only one of the many cases that have been reported targeting Jehovah's Witnesses. Henry David Thoreau, a philosopher, poet, essayist, and an
outspoken social critic once wrote, "I think that we should be men first, and subjects later. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so
much as for the right. The only obligation which I have the right to assume, is to do my time what I think right. . . Law never made men a whit more
just; and, by means of their respect for it, even the well–disposed are daily made the agents of injustice." (Thoreau). He was later imprisoned for not
paying a poll tax, standing for what he believed in, similar to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Along with Russia there are other countries in which Jehovah's
Witnesses are being prosecuted. These unjust rulings and convictions are happening all over the world. Another particular case was in South Korea. A
group of men had suffered harsh consequences for rejecting military service because of their refusal to bear arms. Many of

Religious Expression In Public Schools
For many years, schools have struggled to decide on whether to give students the freedom of religious expression at school. This difficult topic is
especially prevalent in many public schools today. Most public schools comply with the separation of church and state by instating rules against any
kind of religious expression, essentially mandating conformity among students in terms of religious expression. Some schools, however, have decided
to place no restrictions on religious expression. This serves to promote individual freedom among students. Even if it may seem that schools strongly
differ when it comes to religious expression, schools do have something in common pertaining to this issue. They all believe that the unique decision
they ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
After all, it is the school's job to educate our future generation so they are equipped for a world containing a multitude of religious aspects– even if
doing so in an indirect manner. Providing students the freedom to practice whichever religion they choose restricts feelings of pressure to withhold
their religious expression; something they would have to withhold in the name of conformity at some public schools. As students become inevitably
educated about religion through religious expression around them, they steadily become less intolerant of other religions besides their own. The
students become accepting of the reality that we live in where many different religious beliefs exist among people in all areas of life. This effect
closely mirrors the attitude that these students will have towards religion in the real world. Not only does exposure to religious expression benefit
the students and the school, but it furthermore benefits the world as a whole by moving the future generation away from religious intolerance. This
creates a world where people can be comfortable and sure in their religion due to the lack of intolerance directed towards them. Currently, however,
religiously motivated hate crimes are on the rise. In 2004, about 10 percent of all hate crimes were religiously motivatedв€’ compared to 28 percent
today (Jackson 1). This is an example of religious intolerance in today's world which can be remedied by educating the future generation about religion
through allowing religious expression at school. The religious tolerance that is subsequently developed among these students is what this world so
desperately

Religious Beliefs And Religious Dilemmas
Amongst religions, each one holds a variety of practices and beliefs. "The religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of
every... man to exercise it as these may dictate." – James Madison. This quote states that every man has their own right to believe and practice
whatever they please. Child Jehovah witnesses should not be forced to be held back from undergoing blood transfusions when needed because
although religious freedom exists, it is their individual uninfluenced choice and because it should not be left to the parent's decisions based on their
religious beliefs'.
There is no question that a child's welfare is paramount, that is why in 1952, the Supreme Court justified compulsory blood transfusion based on four
points, one point being decisions based on religious beliefs. The court clearly stated that parents cannot chose to be responsible for their child's death. It
is given that the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees freedom concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids
Congress from both promoting one religion over others and restricting an individual's religious practices. It guarantees freedom of expression by
prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely.
However, citizens under this law such as Child Jehovah witnesses are protected under this amendment and are not obligated to undergo treatment such
as blood transfusions. This practice is

Religious Pluralism: A Christian Analysis
"Religious pluralism generally refers to the belief in two or more religious worldviews as being equally valid or acceptable. More than mere
tolerance, religious pluralism accepts multiple paths to God or gods as a possibility" (Got Questions Ministries, 2017). "Religious pluralism goes
against the Christian claim to absolute truth as stated in John 14:6 (New Living Translation), "Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one can come to the Father except through me" (Sackett, 2014, p. 77).
Religious pluralists believe that absolute truth is disclosed by people's experience. Christians believe that absolute truth is proclaimed in John 14:6,
when Jesus states He is the truth, and revelation does not come from man, but from ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
I had to learn and read the scriptures for myself to gain understanding of the truth, and allow the Holy Spirit to give me revelation as I read the
scriptures. Then, I could believe the absolute truth of Jesus and His words for myself. Jesus ministered directly from the heart of God. His words give
inspiration, and unexplainable joy. I remember going out to dinner with some friends and family, and I said the prayer, and ended it in Jesus name.
My cousin who is a Muslim looked up, and said, "Why did you end your prayer in Jesus name?" I boldly confessed, because that is the only way to get
to the Father. As a believer, we half to believe the Word of God, we cannot be like the religious pluralist believing everyreligion is accurate, as long as
they are good people and believe in a God. Christians have to learn to speak up, and speak the truth of Christ, but that is only if we are a truly
committed believer of Christ and the Gospel. Ecclesiastes 1:9 states, "There is nothing new under the sun." Jesus knew all about the battles His
generation was facing, and He knows about ours. Jesus left us with memories and powerful testimonies of His miraculous works, and parables that we
can relate our lives to, so we can understand His conviction, forgiveness and His love

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