This document is a questionnaire from The Tandem Project, a UN NGO, about human rights and freedom of religion or belief. It asks the respondent to identify their religious beliefs or lack thereof according to UN categories. It then asks a series of questions about the respondent's understanding of the ultimate meaning of life, how they live according to that meaning through ethics and morality, and how intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief can be addressed. The goal is respectful dialogue on human rights and resolving conflicts related to religion or belief.
Part 1 (Spirituality) Lecture on Spirituality & Development to students at Cambridge University -- explains why misconceptions about knowledge in west make it difficult to understand spirituality
THE RELEVANCE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH GROUP DYNAMICS IN SPIRITUAL FORMATION OF GR...Celia Munson, BCCC
Small groups are diverse in the way they are done. Spiritual growth group dynamics is well matched with developing and challenging growing believers for genuine spiritual formation and transformation, leading to Christ- likeness. Effective use of spiritual growth group dynamics is a useful aid in developing mature believers who can effectively interact within the larger Christian community. Considering the problem that the church has had with spiritual formation of adults, groups utilizing the structure of growth groups and focus on spirituality should be a key part of the answer.
Part 1 (Spirituality) Lecture on Spirituality & Development to students at Cambridge University -- explains why misconceptions about knowledge in west make it difficult to understand spirituality
THE RELEVANCE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH GROUP DYNAMICS IN SPIRITUAL FORMATION OF GR...Celia Munson, BCCC
Small groups are diverse in the way they are done. Spiritual growth group dynamics is well matched with developing and challenging growing believers for genuine spiritual formation and transformation, leading to Christ- likeness. Effective use of spiritual growth group dynamics is a useful aid in developing mature believers who can effectively interact within the larger Christian community. Considering the problem that the church has had with spiritual formation of adults, groups utilizing the structure of growth groups and focus on spirituality should be a key part of the answer.
Measure developed by Child Trends for the Flourishing Children Project, funded by the Templeton Foundation.
You may calculate a total score by associating the following numeric values with the answer options: Not at all=0; A little=1; Somewhat=2; A lot=3; and Completely=4. The maximum score for this scale equals 60.
The 5 most powerful self-beliefs that ignite human behaviorJonathan Dunnemann
These beliefs drive our underlying motives, which influence our purpose, characteristics, interests, and idiosyncratic attributes that determine who we are and what we achieve.
2017 Edelman TRUST BAROMETER™- Global ResultsEdelman
The 2017 Edelman TRUST BAROMETER™ reveals that trust is in crisis around the world. The general population’s trust in the institutions of business, government, NGOs, and media declined broadly, a phenomenon not recorded since Edelman began tracking trust in 2001.
For more information, visit www.edelman.com/trust2017
January 17, 2017 Correction: A previous version of this report incorrectly represented the data associated with “Leave the EU” and “Remain in the EU” on slide 30. The numbers reflected have been updated.
Copyright (c) 2017 Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. All rights reserved.
Please write an essay based on lectures and class discussions. Ans.docxLeilaniPoolsy
Please write an essay based on lectures and class discussions. Answer all three of the questions below. (Do NOT retype the question on your paper.) Simply type your answer corresponding to questions 1, 2, 3. Each essay must be one full typed page each, double-spaced in Times New Roman, size 12 font. Be sure to label your paper with your name, the date and course section number ALL on the first top line. You will be PENALIZED for using more than one line for this data.) Please number your pages.
Due: 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2015.
*** Please see attach for the class lecture.
1) In what ways have the Abrahamic religions influenced our moral ideas concerning marriage, family, and gender relations in western society?
2) Is America doing better at living up to its moral code today than 50 years ago? What lessons can we apply from the Civil Rights movement to make America more “moral” today? Cite 2 or 3 specific examples to support your opinion.
3) Consider our lecture and discussion concerning Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Can you identify and discuss at least three common elements that can be drawn across the moral principles of each of these traditions?
1
Philosophy 222: Ethics
University of New Haven
Instructor Brian Bellamy
Lecture Notes for Weeks 1-5
Philosophy 222: Ethics-Introduction
Ethics and Critical Thinking
Meta Ethics- questions about the nature and concepts of
ethics.
Is Ethics based on reason or emotions/ feelings/
intuitions?
Considerations for Ethical Evaluations
The first step in any argument [or in critical thinking] is
to be clear on exactly what is at issue, exactly what the
conclusion is.
Red Herring Fallacy- When an arguer uses an
irrelevant point to support their conclusion
Considerations for Ethical Evaluations
Ad Hominem Fallacy- an attack on the person, as the source
of the argument.
If someone gives an argument, we must evaluate the
argument on its own merits, not the merits of the
person giving the argument.
Considerations for Ethical Evaluations
Moral Authority- someone whose life appears to be morally
exemplary, and therefore seemingly fit to give advice on
moral and ethical conduct.
Examples of Moral Authority
Mark Furman
Lost Moral Authority in O.J. Simpson trial because of his
reputation as a racist…
Example of Moral Authority
Rosa Parks
Exemplar of true moral authority. She demonstrated courage
and exercised integrity when she unilaterally protested an
evil and unjust system, although supported by local and
federal laws.
Considerations for Ethical Evaluations
The Principle of Charity and the Strawman Fallacy
Principle of Charity- The principle of being charitable or
generous toward the positions and arguments we oppose.
2
Strawman Fallacy- when someone distorts or
misrepresents a position in order to make it easier to
attack
.
1 Philosophy 222 Ethics University of New Haven .docxmercysuttle
1
Philosophy 222: Ethics
University of New Haven
Instructor Brian Bellamy
Lecture Notes for Weeks 1-5
Philosophy 222: Ethics-Introduction
Ethics and Critical Thinking
Meta Ethics- questions about the nature and concepts of
ethics.
Is Ethics based on reason or emotions/ feelings/
intuitions?
Considerations for Ethical Evaluations
The first step in any argument [or in critical thinking] is
to be clear on exactly what is at issue, exactly what the
conclusion is.
Red Herring Fallacy- When an arguer uses an
irrelevant point to support their conclusion
Considerations for Ethical Evaluations
Ad Hominem Fallacy- an attack on the person, as the source
of the argument.
If someone gives an argument, we must evaluate the
argument on its own merits, not the merits of the
person giving the argument.
Considerations for Ethical Evaluations
Moral Authority- someone whose life appears to be morally
exemplary, and therefore seemingly fit to give advice on
moral and ethical conduct.
Examples of Moral Authority
Mark Furman
Lost Moral Authority in O.J. Simpson trial because of his
reputation as a racist…
Example of Moral Authority
Rosa Parks
Exemplar of true moral authority. She demonstrated courage
and exercised integrity when she unilaterally protested an
evil and unjust system, although supported by local and
federal laws.
Considerations for Ethical Evaluations
The Principle of Charity and the Strawman Fallacy
Principle of Charity- The principle of being charitable or
generous toward the positions and arguments we oppose.
2
Strawman Fallacy- when someone distorts or
misrepresents a position in order to make it easier to
attack
Considerations for Ethical Evaluations
Examples: Abortion-Pro-life argument
* It is obvious that my opponent does not value the human
life of infant babies.
*Well now that I think about it, abortion is an excellent
way to control overpopulation.
Studying Ethics (cont.)
Natural Morality Versus Transcendent Morality
Natural morality- position that ideas concerning morality
and “how to live the good life” come from within our
nature.
Transcendent Morality- position that ideas concerning
morality and “how to live the good life” come from without
from a higher being, i.e. The Creator, God Almighty, Allah
God’s Commandments and Ethics
Theological Voluntarism is named so because it makes
ethical principles dependent on what God wills. “If God
says, then that settles it!”
God’s Commandments and Ethics
(Cont.)
Theological Voluntarism- view that “… moral principles are
set by God, God doesn’t change and doesn’t make exceptions,
so God’s commandments are fixed and eternal and absolute.
What is right is whatever God Commands, or whatever God
chooses. God does not condemn murder because murder is
wrong; rather, murder is wrong because Go ...
Abstract: Ethics and Religion go side by side, is what a person will say to clarify on this subject. So the question arises as to why one needs to be ethical or religious, or in other words why everyone wants a label of being good and just or term themselves as ethical or religious.Most of the moral philosophers would say this is not the case,yet it can really be helpful to understand this concept. This means that people can maintain certain ethical perspectives, principles and behavior without engaging oneself in religious or spiritual beliefs, institutions, or practices.
PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY! DO NOT ASSUME; READ IT. Final Examinvelmakostizy
PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY! DO NOT ASSUME; READ IT.
Final Examination Project for Spring Semester, 2018
Your assignment is to review the reading and writing we have done this semester and to answer two basic questions.
1. As you look around the world today, which trends in world religion might lead toward the abuse of human rights?
2. As you look around the world today, which trends in world religion might lead toward greater respect for and improvement of universal human rights?
Another way of framing the question is to ask in world religion:
1. Who is abusing people’s human rights?
2. Who is working to stop these abuses?
Yet another way of framing the question is to ask:
1. How has religion been used in the past to abuse people’s human rights?
2. How should religion be used to improve human rights in the future?
You have a lot of flexibility in how you compose this final essay. What I am looking for is your ability to take what you have learned this semester and put it into words. I want you to tell me how and why religion gets used to limit the rights people should have, and how and why religion gets used to help people to enjoy better basic human rights.
This should take the form of a clear, well developed essay using proper rules for quotation and citation. Length should be between two and four pages double spaced.
To help compose this assignment, you should read the following text which was circulated earlier in the semester.
Supernatural vs. Natural Ways of Thinking
(See Chapter 1 in your Book)
The two key concepts we will discuss here are Rationalism and Supernaturalism. First though, let’s review a little bit of what we said earlier about the connection between religion and culture. We want to keep this connection in mind the whole time we study world religions.
Each religion has physical/cultural exterior and a metaphysical/spiritual interior. If you visit a church, mosque, synagogue or temple, you will find that most of the people spend most of their time and effort dealing with the physical/cultural exterior, or the surface of whatever is going on. There will always be some people who will wish to explore and experience their religion on a deeper level. These are the folks who will participate in more of the special events that are held. These are the people who are looking to grow in faith and to delve deeper into the spiritual interior of their beliefs. Often these are the people who wish to challenge the status quo and to reach out to people who would be traditionally excluded from their culture group. One of the funny things about organized religion is that the spiritual interior of the faith often teaches us to let go of our attachments to the cultural exterior. This is why prophets are seldom welcome among their own people. (See Mark 6:4) Prophets call people to let go of their attachments to the cultural status quo and so they usually get in trouble with the authoritie ...
This power point helps Anthropology students to understand about anthropology of religion.
Mr. Kebede Lemu (Lecturer of Social Anthropology, Bule Hora University)
This book compares the most important religious traditions in order to discover the values and ethical principles they share in common, as well as the possibilities of reaching a consensus in core values that serve as the basis of an ethical education that fosters peace world.
Despite the end of the cold war, there is now a growing danger of new wars, conflicts and clashes between different peoples, cultures and civilizations, as well as the serious threat of international terrorism. It can be observed that many of these new conflicts have a religious background, so today more than ever we see the need to reach a religious peace if we want to advance towards world peace.
1)JudaismChildren of the Cool,There are a couple of topi.docxteresehearn
1)
Judaism
Children of the Cool,
There are a couple of topics worth discussing with regard to Judaism.
The first is testimonial. Do you know people who are anti-Semitic? Is it a "thing" in your own family or other circles? Maybe your church has a specific view of the role of the Jews in the end-times; maybe you've heard conspiracy theories. Or maybe not.
Second, reflect if you will on the concept of there being a "chosen people." Does this seem reasonable or likely to you, as a way God (if there is a god) would go about things? (The philosopher Bertrand Russell once said "How odd / of God / to choose / the Jews." He was an atheist.
Third, Jews have long had what many of us have only acquired in the past few decades: an absolute obsession with figuring out our identity. Put your own identity in dialogue with the debates Jews have about it: is
your
identity religious? political? ethnic or racial? cultural? Who or what do you identify as? That is, distinguish what happens to be true of you, from what makes you be you. You *are* a Muslim; you happen to be from Alabama. You *are* pro-life, you happen to be African-American. You get the i dea.
Dr. Curtis-Thames
2)
Hinduism
All
I never know how much wind-shear it will be for students to first encounter Hinduism. The "Californication" of south and east Asian religions, whereby they all get the juicy bits picked over and Vitamixed together into a New Age spirituality, makes it hard to understand what these religions are in themselves, apart from our Western appropriation of them.
Let's talk about a couple of things.
x) Every religion seems to have morally-awkward things about especially its history, yet religions have been and arguably still are the major channels for teaching morals and for bringing them up in public, especially in political contexts. So Muhammad fought, Christianity persecuted heretics and Jews violently; Yahweh seems to endorse ethnic cleansing in the oldest parts of the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament. Hinduism says you deserve the horrors of your life: poverty, abuse, discrimination, etc. Given all of this--and I'm not saying atheism raises fewer problems, I'm just setting it aside for the moment--how do you think about Hinduism's understanding of karma? If we *don't* get everything we deserve, how can the universe be just? If it's not, what's the point of being moral? On the other hand, if we do, how would it make you feel, thinking about the circumstances of your own life, to realize that your own past actions set you up for the life you have had so far?
x) Americans can't stay on a diet for two weeks. Is there a positive message about communal discipline and self-discipline that Hinduism could direct towards American society? What stands out to you?
3)
Buddhism
Buddhism is both the most intellectually-challenging of the major world religions, and one with a strongly-appealing spiritual practice.
x) Both Shankara's jnana-marga Hindu idea that I am a part of G.
Similar to The tandem project_un_questionnaire_returned (20)
"The rise of black power had a profound effect upon the appearance of black theology. When Carmichael and other radical black activists separated themselves from King's absolute commitment to nonviolence by proclaiming black power, white Christians especially members of the clergy, called upon their black brothers and sisters in the gospel to denounce black power as unChristian. To the surprise of white Christians, the National Committee of Negro Churchmen (NNC); later to become NCBC) refused to follow their advice and instead wrote a "Black Power Statement" that was published in the New York Time, July 31, 1966.
The Theology of Spirituality: It's Growing Importance Amid the Transformation...Jonathan Dunnemann
Abstract: This article raises issues surrounding the theology of spirituality as a relatively new theological focus. It argues that, faced with a changing world and numerous new (or perceived as new) phenomena, the theology of spirituality, as a scholarly area examining spiritual experience, is becoming a branch of
theological research of increasing importance. The first part of this article focuses on the ever-growing areas of interest found within the theology of spirituality, a growth stemming from the core of the field itself (agere sequitur esse). The second part emphasizes the newer areas of interest within the theology
of spirituality. These new horizons arise from the pluralism of theology itself and the criteria used in differentiating theological disciplines, such as ethno-geographic, doctrinal, and ascetic-practical concerns. In particular, amid a fast-changing world in which information and mutual contact have become incredibly accessible, the interpenetration of cultures and traditions can not only be of great value but also carry the dangers of a chaotic eclecticism. As this accessibility becomes ever easier and more pervasive, contemporary human beings can thus become confused, not only about their worldviews but also concerning their spiritual and religious beliefs. Thus, research into the theology of spirituality is becoming increasingly more important.
Using an interdisciplinary approach and a phenomenological, hermeneutic, mystagogical methodology, this paper explores how children describe the deep fruits of meditation in their lives. Seventy children, aged 7 to 11, from four Irish primary schools were interviewed; all had engaged in meditation as a whole-school practice for at least two-years beforehand. The study sought to elicit from children their experience, if any, of the transcendent in meditation. It concludes that children can and do enjoy deep states of consciousness and that meditation has the capacity to nourish the innate spirituality of the child. It highlights the importance of personal spiritual experience for children and supports the introduction of meditation in primary schools.
ASSESSMENT OF CHARACTER STRENGTHS AMONG YOUTH: THE VALUES IN ACTION INVENTORY...Jonathan Dunnemann
Raising virtuous children is an ultimate goal not only of all parents and educators but also of all societies. Across different eras and cultures, identifying character strengths (virtues) and cultivating them in children and youth have been among the chief interests of philosophers, theologians, and educators. With a few exceptions, these topics have been neglected by psychologists. However, the emerging field of positive psychology specifically emphasizes
building the good life by identifying individual strengths of character and fostering them (Seligman, 2002). Character strengths are now receiving attention by psychologists interested in positive youth development.
African American spirituality provides a rich lens into the heart and soul of the black church experience, often overlooked in the Christian spiritual formation literature. By addressing this lacuna, this essay focuses on three primary shaping qualities o f history: the effects of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement under Dr. Martin Luther King’s leadership, and the emergence of the Black Church. Lour spiritual practices that influence African American spirituality highlight the historical and cultural context of being “forged in the fiery furnace,” including worship, preaching and Scripture, the community of faith and prayer, and community outreach. The essay concludes by recognizing four areas o f the lived experiences of African Americans from which the global church can glean: (1) persevering in pain and suffering, (2) turning to God for strength, (3) experiencing a living and passionate faith, and (4) affirming God’s intention for freedom and justice to be afforded to every individual.
Strengths Building, Resilience, and the Bible: A Story-Based Curriculum for A...Jonathan Dunnemann
Depression is the leading cause of illness and disability in adolescents worldwide. Resilience training, founded on principles of positive psychology, is correlated with lower depression and
substance misuse in U.S. adolescents and military personnel. However, resilience training has focused primarily on secular interventions using western material. Religion is strongly correlated
with lower depression and also with well-being in developing countries. Ninety percent of adolescents live in developing countries, and at least two-thirds are oral learners who prefer
learning through stories and drama. This paper proposes a Bible story based curriculum that trains students in problem solving skills, character strengths, and both spiritual and secular
research-tested principles for resilience and well-being. The Bible is available by audio recording in 751 languages and offers a broad base of archetypal stories for teaching resilience. The
program is easily reproducible, culturally adaptable, respectful of all religions, and specifically crafted for oral learners. Through audio recordings to maintain fidelity, train the trainer programs
for dissemination and support of national and community leaders, the proposed curriculum for Global Resilience Oral Workshops (GROW) has potential to lower depression and lift well-being
in adolescents around the world.
Historical criticism attempts to read texts in their original situations, informed by literary and cultural conventions reconstructed from comparable texts and artifacts. African American interpretation extends this approach to questions about race and social location for the ancient text, its reception
history, and its modern readers. It arose as a corrective and alternative to white supremacist use of the Bible in moral and political arguments regarding race, civil rights, and social justice. Accordingly, African American interpretation has combined the
insights of abolitionists and activists with academic tools to demonstrate how biblical interpretation can function as an instrument of oppression, obfuscation, or opportunity. Of course, most of these developments have occurred in the larger framework of American Christianity. Yet, its analyses reach
beyond that specific setting, touching on the connections between the Bible and race in public discourse generally, whether in government, academia, or popular culture.
Appropriating Universality: The Coltranes and 1960s SpiritualityJonathan Dunnemann
The role of the Black Protestant Church has figured prominently in scholarly discussions of African American music culture, and to some extent its importance has been explored with respect to jazz. However, with the exception of the Nation of Islam, the influence of Eastern religious practices among black Americans has not been significantly researched nor have adequate connections been made between these spiritual pursuits and the musical innovations they inspired. Nevertheless, since the mid-’60s, black American artists have explored Yoga, Hinduism, various sects of Buddhism, Ahmadiya Islam, and Bahá’í. The
aesthetic impact of these pursuits has been multi-dimensional and far-reaching. In their study of Asian philosophy and religion, jazz musicians have been exposed to the sounds and musical processes they have discovered in the cultures from which these traditions have emerged. One can hear this influence in musical borrowings, such as the use of traditional instrumentation, the reworking of melodic material from folk and classical genres, and the incorporation of indigenous
improvisational and compositional techniques. Though less audible, Eastern spiritual traditions have also exerted a more abstract philosophical influence that has shaped jazz aesthetics, inspiring jazz musicians to dissolve formal and stylistic boundaries and produce works of great originality. Contextualizing the spiritual explorations of John and Alice Coltrane within American religious culture and liberation movements of the 1960s, this essay explores the way that
their eclectic appropriation of Eastern spiritual concepts and their commitment to spiritual universality not only inspired musical innovation, but also provided a counter-hegemonic, political, and cultural critique.
Who Is Jesus Christ for Us Today?
To say that Jesus Christ is the truth of the Christian story calls for further examination. It is one thing to assert that the New Testament describes Jesus as the Oppressed One who came to liberate the poor and the weak (Chap. 4); but it is quite another to ask, Who is Jesus Christ for us today? If twentieth-century Christians are to speak the truth for their sociohistorical situation, they cannot merely repeat the story of what Jesus did and said in Palestine, as if it were selfinterpreting for us today. Truth is more than the retelling of the biblical story. Truth is the divine happening that invades our contemporary situation, revealing the meaning of the past for the present so that we
are made new creatures for the future. It is therefore our commitment to the divine truth, as witnessed to in the biblical story, that requires us to investigate the connection between Jesus' words and deeds in firstcentury Palestine and our existence today. This is the crux of the christological issue that no Christian theology can avoid.
The pivotal role of religion and spirituality in the lives of African Americans marks this ethnoracial group as a particularly important target for attention in research on the psychology and sociology of religion. In this chapter we endeavor to achieve three ends: First, we briefly review literature on meanings of religiosity and spirituality among African Americans. Second, we review the literature on the link between religiosity, spirituality, and health among African Americans. Finally, we examine findings regarding the pathways by which religion and spirituality may achieve its ends.
Transformative Pedagogy, Black Theology and Participative forms of PraxisJonathan Dunnemann
"This formative analysis is... on the significant developments in religious education by and for Black people, principally in the US. ..., I describe my own participative approaches to Black theology by means of transformative pedagogy, which utilizes interactive exercises as a means of combining the insights of the aforementioned ideas and themes into a transformative mode of teaching and learning."
"..., I have attempted to combine the radical intent of transformative education arising from the Freirerian tradition with Black liberation theology in order to develop a more participative and interactive mode of theo-pedagogical engagement that moves intellectual discourse beyond mere theorizing into more praxis based forms of practice.
Development of a Program for the Empowerment of Black Single Mother Families ...Jonathan Dunnemann
The most rapid growing family type in the United States is the single parent family. It is the dominant family type in the African-American community. According to the United States Bureau of the Census (2010), 69% of all Black children are born to single mothers. Single mother families are at a dramatically greater risk for drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, suicide, poor educational performance, teen pregnancy, and criminality (National Center for Health Statistics, 1993).
Black Males, Social Imagery, and the Disruption of Pathological IdentitiesJonathan Dunnemann
Throughout the history of the U.S., racialized groups have often had their experiences profoundly shaped by social imagery in ways that have created tremendous hardships in the quest for
self-actualization and a healthy sense of self.
The purpose of this article is to shed light on the manner in which Black males have been one of the primary victims of negative social imagery and how the remnants of these constructions continue to have contemporary influences, ....
Palestine last event orientationfvgnh .pptxRaedMohamed3
An EFL lesson about the current events in Palestine. It is intended to be for intermediate students who wish to increase their listening skills through a short lesson in power point.
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
Students, digital devices and success - Andreas Schleicher - 27 May 2024..pptxEduSkills OECD
Andreas Schleicher presents at the OECD webinar ‘Digital devices in schools: detrimental distraction or secret to success?’ on 27 May 2024. The presentation was based on findings from PISA 2022 results and the webinar helped launch the PISA in Focus ‘Managing screen time: How to protect and equip students against distraction’ https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/managing-screen-time_7c225af4-en and the OECD Education Policy Perspective ‘Students, digital devices and success’ can be found here - https://oe.cd/il/5yV
This is a presentation by Dada Robert in a Your Skill Boost masterclass organised by the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan (EFSS) on Saturday, the 25th and Sunday, the 26th of May 2024.
He discussed the concept of quality improvement, emphasizing its applicability to various aspects of life, including personal, project, and program improvements. He defined quality as doing the right thing at the right time in the right way to achieve the best possible results and discussed the concept of the "gap" between what we know and what we do, and how this gap represents the areas we need to improve. He explained the scientific approach to quality improvement, which involves systematic performance analysis, testing and learning, and implementing change ideas. He also highlighted the importance of client focus and a team approach to quality improvement.
1. THE TANDEM PROJECT
http://www.tandemproject.com
UNITED NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS,
FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF
UN-based Questionnaire – the Ultimate Meaning of Life
QUESTIONNAIRE
E-mail your answers to: info@tandemproject.com.
Genuine dialogue on human rights and freedom of religion or belief calls for respectful discourse,
discussion of taboos and clarity by persons of diverse beliefs. Inclusive dialogue includes people of
theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief.
These are United Nations categories in General Comment 22 on Article 18, International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, Human Rights Committee (CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4).
General Comment 22 on Article 18 clarifies the intersection of human rights and freedom of religion
or belief as a guide for peaceful cooperation, respectful competition and resolution of conflicts. This
UN document must be read as a prerequisite to filling out the Questionnaire. Click to open:
http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/9a30112c27d1167cc12563ed004d8f15?Opendocument
Check the U.N. category which generally describes your religion or belief:
1. Theist__X__
This is a person who believes in a traditional description of God as a supernatural deity or deities; or
who believes in some form of Deism, unstructured supernatural spirituality.
2. Non-theist ____
2. This is a person who believes in a Universal Mind, striving for spiritual self actualizations,
Reincarnation, Pantheist (everything as God), spirituality without a supernatural deity, or Buddhism,
described by some as a Godless religion without a supernatural deity.
3. Atheist ____
This is a person who believes in Materialism, naturalism, a person who does not believe in any form of
supernatural reality, otherworldly or traditional descriptions of God.
4. No Religion or Belief ____
This is a person who is neutral, Agnostic, who suspends belief in theism, non-theism or atheism, but
remains open to conviction; or a person who does not want to be described in any category.
I. THE ULTIMATE MEANING OF LIFE
The Ultimate Meaning of Life is a religious, spiritual or philosophical question; the core concern or
first principles of the life of an individual or community, religious or non-religious.
1. Give a brief description of the ultimate meaning of your life according to the teachings and
understandings or your religion or belief. If you have not thought about the question, explain
what you think might be the ultimate meaning of your life.
As a born again Christian, the ultimate meaning of life for me is that Jesus Christ is the messiah
of which the Old Testament foretold. He more than anyone during his brief lifetime was man in
the flesh yet was fully self-actualized and epitomized a level of holiness ascribed to very few
individuals throughout history (e.g. Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Abraham, Saint Francis). In
addition, his wise teaching along with the bold and radical example that he provided by 'walking
the talk' caused a fundamental change in the way that people interacted with one another. In
large measure, it is in Christ's teachings that I found the morals that I choose to make my
pattern for living and which for me clearly highlights a path toward righteousness.
The two most significant lessons learned for me are that God in a most mysterious way can use
anyone and anything to point us towards him and the divinity that is achievable when we open
our hearts and minds in a manner that expresses empathy for the suffering of others, charity,
love and a desire to do for others. "Life is full of meaning and satisfaction IF we live for God
and are doing HIS will."
2. How did you come to know the ultimate meaning of life according to your religion or belief?
What role do the doctrines or sayings of your religion or belief play in knowing the truth of your
meaning? What role does faith play in this knowledge?
3. The ultimate significance of living in the world began to unfold for me after reaching a point of
deep despair, futility and hopelessness. Then and only then was I able to acknowledge my
limited power and significance and begin to seek spiritual wisdom, become more contemplative,
develop an interest in the healing power of prayer, trust in the mysterious power of the holy
spirit, and become capable of both receiving and giving love.
The doctrines and sayings of my faith revealed to me the serious questions of why am I here,
what is the meaning of life, does God exist and if in fact he does, does he really care about me?
These questions are a seemingly inherit part of our yearning as living beings endowed with a
consciousness of ‘self’ and the ability to discern what is right from that which is cruel, hurtful or
unfair to others.
Our very basic five senses consisting of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste fail in completely
satisfying the deep hunger of our souls. For most of us, the more we identify with those who
previously and or presently provide enlivening examples of love, joy, peace, long-suffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control the more it seems we become
convinced that it is here that we are most able to enjoy deep meaning, purpose and satisfaction
in the living out of our daily lives. If we are so blessed, it becomes possible for us to began to
recognize and ultimately share our unique gifts and talents with others.
3. Are there other religions or beliefs that hold your understanding of the ultimate meaning of
life in common with your beliefs? What are they?
Contrary to what most born again Christians firmly believe I have a very difficult time limiting
God's ability to communicate with humankind outside of a single religion or belief system. It
seems to me that when we do so, we force God to take on the anthropomorphic, deficient,
destructive, exclusive, failing, often hostile, dismissive, and predictable image of his imperfect
creation? If this is how it is, then I find myself asking the question, who among us can ever truly
be saved?
4. Can you describe what motivates your life if you are a person that does not profess a religion
or belief, or subscribe to an ultimate meaning.
II. HOW TO LIVE ACCORDINGLY
Most individuals and communities discern right from wrong behavior by a code of values, morality or
ethics on how to live according to their understanding of the ultimate meaning of life.
1. Describe how your understanding of the ultimate meaning of life is applied through a code of
ethics or morality. How does your religion or belief ask you to live according to their
understanding of the ultimate meaning of life? What is the basis (source of rules, norms and
traditions) for this?
Very simply stated, it informs me, that I am to treat all others with the same compassion,
dignity, forgiveness, grace and loving-kindness that I too yearn for. "We are the sum total of the
choices we make in life."
4. 2. If you do not understand or do not have an ultimate meaning of life, what is your code of
values, morality or personal ethics based on?
3. How are your values or ethics and those of your community of religion or belief expressed
through politics to the public-at-large? Do representatives of your religion or belief guide or
instruct their members on how to apply ethics and morality to politics? Explain.
Personally, I believe that one’s morality must be visible at all times and that reasonable and
well-stated positions are an expression of humility.
4. How do you give expression to your ultimate meaning of life through cultural esthetics- such
as sacred or secular music, art and dance? If you have no ultimate meaning of life how do you
express this through the arts and culture?
I am attempting to do so by seeking a greater understanding of other perspectives, learning and
listening to my inner-self, and challenging the conventional ways in which we choose to do things
in a world with limits.
III. INTOLERANCE AND DISCRIMINATION
Freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law
and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of
others – Article 18 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
1. Morals derives from many social, philosophical and religious traditions according to the UN
Human Rights Committee. What restrictions are based on morality?
No one has the right to deny another person "freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief"
or the freedom to "worship, [observe], practice and [teach] others about their belief system.
2. Identify aspects of your tradition that create conflicts with other religions or beliefs with a
different view of the ultimate meaning of life.
The two biggest issues with my faith are its exclusive claim to the ultimate truth with all other
religious views being false and the emphasis it places on converting the world to the same
worldview regardless of one’s culture, history, language, and teachings and traditions.
3. Can fundamentalist or extreme views based on a religion or belief be reconciled with the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights without conflicting with each other?
No. Increasingly, there is a need for understanding, the need for loving others, the need for
becoming familiar with other worldviews, the need for building mutually open and respectful
relationships, and the need for wide ranging generosity. Now is the time to build a new world
for the ages one that is viable ecologically, humane, and spirit-lead. "[A]ll men [should] be free
to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same
shall in no way diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.”
5. 4. Separation of Religion or Belief & State (SOROBAS) is a phrase based on UN General
Comment 22, Article 18 - International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Explain why and
how it can be upheld in Constitutions when a religion or belief is an official arm of the State.
In my opinion, and I base this on our own nations history and that of other free nations, in the
21st Century, no country governed by the people and for the people should deny its citizens their
unalienable Rights under God, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
I believe that this is in the best interest of all people and the nations with which they choose
mutual alignment.
* “Religion explains the ultimate meaning of life and how to live accordingly,” is a saying credited to Professor
Leonard J. Swidler, Temple University.
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United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, at the Alliance of Civilizations Madrid Forum said; “never in
our lifetime has there been a more desperate need for constructive and committed dialogue, among individuals,
among communities, among cultures, among and between nations.”
Genuine dialogue on human rights and freedom of religion or belief calls for respectful discourse, discussion of
taboos and clarity by persons of diverse beliefs. Inclusive dialogue includes people of theistic, non-theistic and
atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief. The warning signs are clear, unless
there is genuine dialogue ranging from religious fundamentalism to secular dogmatism; conflicts in the future
will probably be even more deadly.
In 1968 the UN deferred work on an International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Religious
Intolerance because of its complexity and sensitivity. Violence, suffering and discrimination based on religion or
belief in many part of the world is greater than ever. It is time for a UN Working Group to draft what they
deferred in 1968, a comprehensive core international human rights treaty-a United Nations Convention on
Freedom of Religion or Belief: United Nations History – Freedom of Religion or Belief
The challenge to religions or beliefs at all levels is awareness, understanding and acceptance of international
human rights standards on freedom of religion or belief. Leaders, teachers and followers of all religions or
beliefs, with governments, are keys to test the viability of inclusive and genuine dialogue in response to the UN
Secretary General’s urgent call for constructive and committed dialogue.
The Tandem Project title, Separation of Religion or Belief and State (SOROBAS), reflects the far-reaching scope
of UN General Comment 22 on Article 18, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Human Rights
Committee (CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4). The General Comment on Article 18 interprets this international rule of
law as a guide for peaceful cooperation, respectful competition and resolution of conflicts. See General
Comment 22 on Article 18, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Surely one of the best hopes for humankind is to embrace a culture in which religions and other beliefs accept
one another, in which wars and violence are not tolerated in the name of an exclusive right to truth, in which
children are raised to solve conflicts with mediation, compassion and understanding.
6. We welcome ideas on how this can be accomplished; info@tandemproject.com.
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THE TANDEM PROJECT PROPOSALS
Proposals for constructive, long-term solutions to conflicts based on religion or belief:
(1) Develop a model local-national-international integrated approach to human rights and freedom of religion or
belief, appropriate to legal systems and cultures of each country, as follow-up to the Universal Periodic Review.
See USA Example. 1 (2) Use International Human Rights Standards on Freedom of Religion or Belief as a rule
of law for inclusive and genuine dialogue on core values within and among nations, all religions and other
beliefs, and for protection against discrimination. (3) Use the standards on freedom of religion or belief in
education curricula and places of worship, “teaching children, from the very beginning, that their own religion is
one out of many and that it is a personal choice for everyone to adhere to the religion or belief by which he or
she feels most inspired, or to adhere to no religion or belief at all.” 2
STANDARDS: http://www.tandemproject.com/program/81_dec.htm
1. USA Example: Universal Periodic Review & Freedom of Religion or Belief
2. Mr. Piet de Klerk, Ambassador At-Large of the Netherlands on Human Rights, 25 year Anniversary of 1981
UN Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Prague, Czech Republic.
The Tandem Project is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1986 to build understanding,
tolerance and respect for diversity, and to prevent discrimination in matters relating to freedom of religion or
belief. The Tandem Project has sponsored multiple conferences, curricula, reference materials and programs on
Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – Everyone shall have the right to freedom
of thought, conscience and religion - and 1981 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of
Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
The Tandem Project: info@tandemproject.com.
The Tandem Project is a UN NGO in Special Consultative Status with the
Economic and Social Council of the United Nations