Report on the Religious Life of Planet Earth Essay

Report on the Religious Life of Planet Earth - Essay Example This article will explain what religion looks like. It will provide examples of three beliefs related to religion in line with the function of religion to the survival of human kind. Religion can be defined as a collection of belief systems, cultural systems and worldwide views which relate humanity to the spiritual world (Pope, 1996). In most cases, religions have various symbols, which have their meanings. Certain individuals claim that religion is the act of believing in a supreme being. Most scholars in the discipline of science believe that religion was formulated in order to manipulate humankind. However, other individuals claim that religion is a way of life. As an alien trying to determine the aspect of religion in the world, it is prevalent that the earth is a religious planet. Contrarily, different individuals have different opinions regarding religious status. One of the most prevalent examples that point out the existence of religion on earth is the gathering of individua ls in fellowship (Pope, 1996). Individuals usually gather in certain places in order to fellowship and give thanks to their creator. Therefore, it is necessary to be committed to a certain religion in order to appreciate and understand the teachings. In addition, the philosophy of religion also reveals the existence of religion. It is prevalent that religion would be non-existent if there was no philosophy of religion. Recently, most of the individuals who claim to be religious usually spend most of their time reflecting about the existence of a supreme being. Moreover, they are significantly inspired when they take part in worship acts (Pope, 1996). The planet earth also meets the specifications of a religious planet. This is because approximately 84% of the population comprise of followers of one of the 23 radical religions that are known to the human species (Pope, 1996). Religion enables individuals to understand certain concepts hence; sustaining morality. According to empirica l research, religion plays an essential function in planet earth. For instance, religion helps human beings to define who they are. Additionally, religion holds the society together through the provision of human desires such as integrity, discipline, love and empathy. Some of the individuals believe that religion has a medicinal value that is portrayed through healing especially after prayers. Furthermore, religion also ensures that human beings are able to live according to the guidelines of human life (Pope, 1996). While observing the aspect of religion on earth, I found out that religion was extremely crucial among the believers. As stated above, religion is defined as a response to the dimensions of life which are regarded sacred. Religion can also be defined, by the way an individual prefers to worship and perform their spiritual practices. Research asserts that there are three main religions that are recognized all over the world. They include Christianity, Islam, and Hinduis m (Pope, 1996). In conclusion, the Christians believe in the existence of God who is the sole creator of everything in the universe. In addition, they usually quote the scriptures enshrined in the Holy Bible which resembles an instruction sheet. On the other hand, Muslims believe in a supreme being named Allah.

Native American Indians Essay Example for Free

Native American Indians Essay Indian Nations are sovereign governments, recognized in and hundreds of treaties with the U. S. President. The history of this continents original inhabitants encompasses a broad range of cultures and experiences. American Indians varied greatly from region to region, as did their reactions to European settlement. This website will delve into the vast and storied background of most tribes and seek to supply the visitors with as much knowledge as possible about the proud history of Native Americans. Please join us on this journey into the past, experience the present and dream about the future of the American Indian. When Columbus landed on the island of San Salvador in 1492 he was welcomed by a brown-skinned people whose physical appearance confirmed him in his opinion that he had at last reached India, and whom, therefore, he called Indios, Indians, a name which, however mistaken in its first application continued to hold its own, and has long since won general acceptance, except in strictly scientific writing, where the more exact term American is commonly used. As exploration was extended north and south it was found that the same race was spread over the whole continent, from the Arctic shores to Cape Horn, everywhere alike in the main physical characteristics, with the exception of the Eskimo in the extreme North, whose features suggest the Mongolian. Tribes and Nations Native Americans (American Indians) make up less than one percent of the total U. S. population but represent half the languages and cultures in the nation. The term Native American includes over 500 different groups and reflects great diversity of geographic location, language, socioeconomic conditions, school experience, and retention of traditional spiritual and cultural practices. However, most of the commercially prepared teaching materials available present a generalized image of Native American people with little or no regard for differences that exist from tribe to tribe. Mohawk (Iroquois): The Iroquois League, or Five Nations of the Iroquois, was the most powerful Indian military alliance in the eastern part of North America and probably the most successful alliance of any kind between so many important tribes. There were three principal clans deer, turtle and wolf existing within the five nations, and this was probably an important unifying factor in the league. The league was formed in the late sixteenth century at which time the five nations had a combined population of 7000. Mohican (Mohegan) and/or Mahican: What a confusion of facts. After reading through several texts and visiting many sites on the web, it has become clear as mud that everyone has a differing opinion about the relationships between these three tribes. We will therefore include them all on one page and maybe through your wanderings, you will discover the truth. If you do, please let us in on it. Creek: The Creek were originally one of the dominant tribes in the mid-south and later became known as one of the Five Civilized Tribes. They were known in their own language as Muskoke or Muskoge, by the Shawnee as Humaskogi, by the Delaware as Masquachki and by the British as the Ochese Creek Indians, hence the present name. Their name has been adapted for that of their linguistic group and for Muskogee, Oklahoma, which was a major city of the Creek Nation in Indian Territory. Cherokee: The Cherokee were one of the largest tribes in the Southeast and were among the earliest to adapt to European civilization. Their name is written Tsalagi in their own language, and they were called Chalakki by the Choctaw, whose language was the language of trade in the Southeast. Southwest Navajo (Dineh, Navaho): The Navajo tribe is the largest in the United States, with some 200,000 people occupying the largest and area reserved for Native Americans 17 million acres in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. The word Navajo derives from the Spanish word for people with big fields. At the time of the arrival of the white man they had developed agriculture, though on a smaller scale than the nearby Hopi and Pueblo peoples. The Navajo were less sedentary than the Hopi and Pueblo tribes, but more so than the Apache of the same region. Zuni: The Zuni, like the Hopi, were linguistically distinct from the Pueblo tribes but related to them culturally. The three groups, Zuni, Hopi and Pueblo, had several important characteristics in common. First of all, they lived in pueblos (Spanish for village), which were a composite of adobe houses, frequently interconnected and occasionally multistoried, much like a modern apartment complex. While each Pueblo tribe was associated with a single pueblo, the Hopi and Zuni were each associated with several, and not all members of these tribes lived in pueblos. Hopi: The Hopi, whose name comes from hopitu meaning the peaceful ones, are traditionally associated culturally with the Zuni and with eht Pueblo Indians. All of these people live in pueblos or cities comprised of a complex of sometimes jultistoried, rectangular houses. The name pueblo drives from the Spanish word for people. The Hopi are descendants of people who migrated into the Southwest prior to 1000 BC. By 700 AD they had developed agriculture and were raising corn, beans, squash and cotton. By 1100 AD they had abandoned their aboriginal pit housed for multi-level adobe houses, and had founded cities at Oraibi and Mesa Verde. Yavapai: From prehistoric times, the Yavapai lived as hunters and gatherers practicing occasional agriculture on over nine million acres of central and western Arizona. The three primary groups of Yavapai maintained good relationships with each other and are now located at Ft. McDowell, Camp Verde and Prescott. The Yavapai are known for weaving excellent baskets, which are displayed in many museums. Apache: The Apache (from a Zuni word meaning enemy) are a North American Indian people of the Southwest. Their name for themselves is Inde, or Nde (the people). The major nomadic tribe in the American Southwest, the Apache, was also the Last major tribe to surrender to government control in the 1880s Plains Kiowa: The Kiowa name is derived from kai-gwa, meaning principal people, and legend has it that they originated in the Yellowstone River country of central Montana. In the eighteenth century, having obtained horses, they moved onto the plains to hunt buffalo. During this time they made alliances with both the Kiowa-Apache as well as their former enemies, the Comanche. This latter association was the basis for the Kiowa-Comanche Reservation formed in Indian Territory in 1892. The Kiowa are noted for having kept a written history. This historical record was kept in the form of a pictographic calendar painted and updated twice a year, in winter and summer, on buffalo skins. Pawnee (Pani, Pana, Panana, Panamaha, Panimaha): The Pawnee name may have derived from Caddoan pariki, meaning horn, a reference to the peculiar manner inwhich the tribe wore the scalplock. The Paunee lived in established villages similar to those of the Mandan. They practiced agriculture but also hunted buffalo on the plains part of the year. They had a complex religion unrelated to other Plains tribes that included offering female captives as a sacrifice to ensure abundant crops. Comanche: The Comanche are an offshoot of the Shoshone and one of several numanic speaking tribes. They are linguistically related to the Shoshone, Ute and Paiute, whose language is remotely related to Aztec. Their name comes from the Spanish camino ancho, which means wide trail. They once lived in the Rocky Mountains near the Shoshone, but migrated to the plains to hunt buffalo. Though they became nomadic Plains Indians, they still maintained good relations with the Shoshone. Osage (Wazhazhe): Closely related to the Omaha, Kansa, Quopaw and Ponca, the Osage are thought to have once lived in the Ohio River valley, but they were first encountered by the white man in Missouri, where they were recorded as having large cornfields. They usually lived in earth lodges, but when on hunting trips to the northern plains in search of buffalo, they carried and used the plains tipi. Great Lakes Miami (Maumee, Twightwee): The Miami, whose name comes from the Chippewa omaumeg, or people who live on the peninsula, first came into contact with white men in 1658 near Green Bay, Wisonsin, but they soon withdrew to the headwaters of the Fox River and later to the headwaters of the Wabash and Maumee rivers. The Miami had good relations with the French, with whom they were allied. They were also closely associated with the Piankashaw, who were once thought to be part of the Miami tribe. Huron (Wyandot): The name Wyandot (or Wendat) is Iroquoian for people of the peninsula, a reference to a peninsula in sourthern Ontario eas of Lake Huron where they originally lived. Their population was estimated at 20,000 in 1615 when first encountered by the French under Samuel de Champlain, who referred to them as Huron (bristly-headed ruffian). The first Wyandot groups inthe region probably arrived in the early fourteenth century. In addition to maize, the Wyandot raised beans, squash, sunflowers and tobacco. Ottawa: The name Ottawa is derived from the Algonquian adawe, meaning to trade, an apt name for the tribe, who had an active trading relationship with the related Chippewa and Potawatomi as well as other tribes of the region. Like the Chippewa, they built birch bark canoes and harvested wild rice. Ottawa Chief Pontiac rose by 1755 as one of the most important Indian leaders of the era. Ojibwa (Chippewa): To end any confusion, the Ojibwa and Chippewa are not only the same tribe, but the same word pronounced a little differently due to accent. If an O is placed in front of Chippewa (Ochippewa), the relationship becomes apparent. Ojibwa is used in Canada, although Ojibwa west of Lake Winnipeg are sometime referred to as the Saulteaux. In United States, Chippewa was used in all treaties and is the official name. The Chippewas were the largest and most powerful tribe in the Great Lakes country, with a range that extended from the edge of Iroquois territory in the Northeast to the Sioux-dominated Great Plains. Both of these major tribes were traditional Chippewa rivals, but neither was powerful enough to threaten the Chippewa heartland, where the Chippewa was master. The tribe used the lakes and rivers of the region like a vast highway network, and developed the birch bark canoe into one of the continents major means of transportation. Northwest Nez Perce: Nez Perce is a misnomer given by the interpreter of the Lewis and Clark expedition team of 1805. The French translate it as pierced nose. This is untrue as the Nee-me-poo did not practice nose piercing or wearing ornaments. The pierced nose people lived on the lower Columbia River and throughout other parts of the Northwest. The famous indian chief and leader, Chief Joseph, was of the Nez Perce. Flathead (Salish): The Flathead, a subgroups of the Spokane tribes, were given their name from a custom common to many Salishan people of practicing head deformation by strapping their infants to hard cradleboards. This flattened the back of the head and made the top appear more round. The Flathead, conversely, did not practice head flattening, and therefore the tops of their heads were flatter than those of the other Salishan people, hence the name. Blackfoot (Siksika): The Blackfoot are one of the several numanic-speaking tribes, and were historically allied with the nomadic Atsina. Ther were the archetypal Plains Indians, for whom the buffalo provided nearly all their needs, from food to clothing to leather for their tipis. Shoshone (Shoshoni): The Shoshone were the most wide-ranging of the Great Basin tribes, with a habitat that stretched from the eastern Oregon desert to southern Colorado. They were closely related to the Bannock, Gosiute, Paiute and Ute, with whom they shared these lands and with shown there was a good deal of intermarriage. Kwakiutl: The Kwakiutl were one of the major tribes of the Northwest Coast and once encompassed other nearby tribes such as the Bella Bella, Kitimat, Makah and Nootka, with whom they are linguistically related. Their villages were typical of the Northwest Coast, with large cedar plank houses and intricately carved totem poles, representing the animals with whom a particular family might be religiously associated. Works Cited â€Å"Rebuilding Native American Communities† by Don Coyhis Richard Simonelli, Child Welfare, Mar/Apr 2005 (15 pages). â€Å"Native American Feminism, Sovereignty, and Social Change† by Andrea Smith, Feminist Studies, Spring 2005 (17 pages). â€Å"The Paradox of Native American Indian Intellectualism and Literature† by Kathryn Winona Shanley, MELUS, Fall/Winter 2004 (20 pages). â€Å"American Indian History as Continuing Story† by Peter Iverson, Historian, Fall 2004 (8 pages). â€Å"Anti-colonial Strategies for the Recovery and Maintenance of Indigenous Knowledge† by Leanne R. Simpson, American Indian Quarterly, Summer/Fall 2004 (12 pages). â€Å"Sovereignty: The Rhetoric v. The Reality† by Paul Boyer, Tribal College Journal, Fall 2004 (4 pages). â€Å"Developing an Effective Approach to Strategic Planning for Native American Indian Reservations† by Nicholas Zaferatos, Space Polity, April 2004 (18 pages). â€Å"Ethnogeography and the Native American Past† by James Carson Taylor, Ethnohistory, Fall 2002 (20 pages). â€Å"Indigenous Identity† by Hillary N. Weaver, American Indian Quarterly, Spring 2001 (16 pages) â€Å"What We Want to be Called? † by Michael Yellow Bird, American Indian Quarterly, Spring 1999 (21 pages) â€Å"Native American Population Pattern† by Mathew J. Shumway, Geographical Review, April 1995 (17 pages) . The North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment (Harry N. Abrams, 2003) Native American: A History in Pictures (DK Adult, 2000) Atlas of North American History (Checkmark Books, 2000) We Are Still Here: American Indians in the Twentieth Century (Harlan Davidson Inc. 1998) The Native Americans: The Indigenous People of North America (Advanced Marketing Services, 1999) Through Indian Eyes: The Untold Story of Native American Peoples (Readers Digest Association, 1995) Dictionary of Native American Mythology by Gill, Sam D and Sullivan, Irene F (ABC-Clio, 1992) Exiled in the land of the free: Democracy, Indian nations, and the U. S. Constitution (Clear Light Publishers, 1991) The Native American Experience (Facts on File, 1991). The great father: the United States government and the American Indians by Prucha, Francis Paul (University of Nebraska Press,1986) Voices of the Winds: Native American Legends by Edmonds, Margot and Clark, Ella Elizabeth (Facts on File, 1989) Atlas of the North American Indians by Waldman, Carl (Facts on File, 1984) Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England (Hill Wang, 1983) The Talking stone: An anthology of native American tales and legends (Greenwillow Books, New York, 1979) The Indians of the southeastern United States by Swanton, John Reed (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1979)

Terrorism - Don’t Disgrace the American Flag in a War with Iraq :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Don’t Disgrace the American Flag in a War with Iraq Everywhere I go, I see American flags. Taped to people's windows, sewn onto pockets, worn in a band around the arm. People call it the unification of America, the great coming-together of a wounded people, a show of support and of national feeling from every corner of our nation. Patriotism, they call it, and proudly display their red, white, and blue. And yet I wonder if they know what that flag represents. I read the polls, and I find that the majority of Americans want vengeance, even at the cost of war with many countries. I watch the news, and I see our president preparing our troops to invade Iraq-all the while standing in front of the stars-and-stripes, the symbol of our nation. Doesn't he remember what America means? Everyone talks about the war in terms of our best interests. "If we attack Iraq, we incur more anger; we create more enemies willing to die to hurt us." "If we don't, we appear weak, and more will strike at us, knowing that they can do so without fear of retribution." I leave such questions to the pundits. They are important considerations, no doubt. But they are not American considerations. America isn't about our best interests. It's about the sacrifice of practicality to principle, of self-interest to the soul. Long ago, we decided that things like Freedom and Justice were real, and that they were worth preserving, even when it wasn't easy, or pleasant. We believed so much in these principles that we set down laws, so that we might never sacrifice Freedom for Security, or Justice for Revenge. And so we protect the Klan's right to march, to shout out hate-slogans and burn crosses in our streets. We forbid racial-profiling, when, let's face it, more crimes are committed by African-Americans than by Caucasians. And, most painful of all, we protect the rights of criminals. We work hard to give them fair trials, and grant them appeals, and throw out case after case for lack of airtight evidence. We insist that it is better to let a hundred guilty men go free, than to imprison a single innocent one. And we do this at the cost of our own security, at the cost of more criminals on the streets. We accept the hurt that their crimes bring us, because we would rather suffer those blows than have innocent blood on our hands.

Meaning of life †Evolution Essay

Everyone wonders about the meaning and purpose of life. What is our origin: evolution or creation? Should we seek material wealth, pleasure, and education, or are we here to serve and honor God? Will we be judged for our lives and face eternal destinies in heaven or hell? Please consider the answers that can be found only in the Bible. Introduction: What is the meaning of life? Without doubt, this is one of the most challenging, and yet one of the most fundamental, questions the mind can consider. People throughout history have pondered the purpose of life. Philosophers spin theories. Poets write songs. Young people drop out of society to â€Å"find out what it’s all about. † Older people may remain within the â€Å"establishment,† but they still wonder. Obviously life is real. No one can deny that the world exists and people exist. You live, eat, sleep, breathe, and move. But do you understand why you exist? Please consider with me the challenging question of life. What is it really all about? To answer this question, we will look at three specific questions. Question #1: Where Did You Come From? How do you explain the origin of the human race? Since we are alive, it is natural to wonder where we came from. One reason many people are confused about the meaning of life is that they do not understand the origin of life. To know why we are here, we must know where we came from. Many People Hold Mistaken Ideas about the Origin of Life. A commonly accepted explanation for the origin of life is organic evolution – the hypothesis that man evolved from â€Å"lower animals,† which in turn came from simpler life forms, all the way back to the first microscopic life, which sprang accidentally from non-living matter. But this theory has major problems. Where did the first living thing come from? What caused life to begin where there had never been life before? Science has repeatedly demonstrated that life comes only from life. This is a law of science called the â€Å"Law of Biogenesis. † The opposite of this law would be spontaneous generation – life beginning spontaneously from non-living matter. But science has repeatedly proved this cannot happen. So every living thing must come from a previous living thing. You received life from your parents, who in turn received it from their parents, etc. The same is true for all living things. But evolution requires that, when you go back far enough, non-living matter somehow came to life by chance where there was no life before. Evolution requires spontaneous generation in complete violation of scientific evidence. So evolution cannot explain even the origin of the very first form of life. Where is the evidence that all modern kinds of living things came from an original kind? Living things can adapt to their environment, but where is the proof they can develop into entirely different kinds of organisms such that all kinds came from one original kind? Years of human experience and scientific experimentation confirm that living things reproduce â€Å"after their own kind. † The offspring of a fish is another fish, not a snake, bird, or man. Scientists have searched for years for the â€Å"missing links† – fossils of organisms that were halfway between the kinds of plants or animals we have now. Millions of fossils have been found around the world. If evolution is true, there should be thousands of fossils of missing links, but there is no evidence of these remains anywhere. Why not? Why is man so unique from animals? If man evolved from animals and is really an animal but just slightly more complex, why do we have characteristics so vastly different from animals? Why do people appreciate beauty in art, music, and poetry? Do animals create new paintings, sculptures, symphonies, and books of poetry that they and other animals can enjoy? Why do men have a conscience and a sense of morals? Why do we feel guilty when we have done wrong, even when we have not been caught or punished? Do animals naturally possess these spiritual qualities? Why do only people wonder about such issues as where we came from? Do animals debate even such issues as creation vs. evolution? Why do we possess rational thought so much higher than animals? We can find minute variations in degrees of â€Å"intelligence† among animals, but there is a vast gulf between any animal and man. Men build machines and tools to work for us, train animals, use fire, perform mathematic and scientific calculations, read and write, and pass our knowledge on to others. If we developed from the animals, why are there no animals that possess these characteristics almost as much as we do? If we develop from the animals, why are we so different from them? Evolution is not an adequate explanation. Consider the Bible Explanation for the Origin of Life. Genesis 1:11,12,21-28. All kinds of life were originally created by God in six days. God is an eternal, living, all-wise, all-powerful Creator (cf. Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 4:4). Instead of life coming from non-living matter, life came from life – the eternally living God. Living things reproduce after their own kind, because God created them that way. And man is unlike the animals, because he is â€Å"in the image of God. † We did not evolve from animals, but we share God’s nature. Acts 17:24,25,28 The world and everything in it were made by God. He is the source of life and gives all the blessings that are necessary to life. Here is an explanation for the origin of life that fits what we see around us, fits the nature of man as compared to animals, and we will see that it provides a satisfying explanation for the meaning to life. There is sufficient evidence to compel any honest person to believe God exists and the Bible is His word. We do not have time here to examine all the evidence, but we encourage those who have doubts to investigate it. We simply observe that the Bible explanation makes far more sense than any other alternative, and that those who do not accept the Bible really cannot satisfactorily explain their own existence! If you would like to study evidence for the inspiration of Scripture or for creation vs. evolution, please see the links at the end of this study. Question #2: Why Are You Here? Do you really understand why you exist? Surely this is a fundamental question that everyone wants answered. Without meaningful goals, life is senseless and empty. Lack of purpose leads to unhappiness and even mental disorders. People need a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment in life. Many People Are Mistaken about the Purpose of Life. This is one consequence of evolution. If organic evolution is true, then there is no purpose in life. Life is an accident, and people search in vain for any meaning to it. So, many conclude that there is no higher purpose than to make life enjoyable for themselves and others. Some pursue riches and material possessions. They believe material things will make life happy and pleasant. But then they always want more: a bigger house, newer car, nicer clothes and furniture, etc. They are never satisfied. All people need some material goods, but is this the highest goal of life? Some pursue pleasure: entertainment, recreation, travel, etc. Their goal in life is â€Å"fun, fun, fun. † â€Å"Wine, women, and song† (or â€Å"drugs, alcohol, and free love†). â€Å"Be a party animal. † â€Å"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. † This philosophy is emphasized by modern entertainment. It is the beer-commercial mentality: â€Å"You only go around once, so reach for all the gusto you can. † â€Å"It doesn’t get any better than this! † One of them even names its beer â€Å"High Life. † But does life really not have any better purpose than to booze it up? Many modern entertainers have achieved â€Å"the high life† to the ultimate, but are they happy? If so, why are so many of them plagued by drug and alcohol addiction, divorce, mental breakdowns, early deaths, and suicide? Is that really a satisfying life? Some pursue education. They want to accumulate knowledge and worldly wisdom. Like the Athenians, they spend their time in nothing else than to hear or tell some new thing. In all these areas, there may be some wholesome activities that may have some benefit. But is there really no higher goal in life than these? Whatever benefits they activities provide are temporary and incomplete at best. No matter how much you have, you always want more. In fact, modern Americans have achieved these goals to a degree beyond the imagination of most people of the world and of history. We have gadgets and toys, houses and lands, college degrees, and every kind of entertainment imaginable. But do you see evidence that Americans in general are truly satisfied with life? Society is filled with crime, broken relationships, mental illness, addiction, and unhappiness. Politicians profess to see â€Å"crises† on every hand. Many people in the world never achieve these goals. And those who do achieve them are still looking for the purpose of life. There must be something more. The Bible Teaches the True Purpose of Life Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; 12:13,14. The author experienced every enjoyment of life that some people pursue: wealth, pleasure, and education as great as anyone who ever lived. Did it satisfy? What was his conclusion? It was all â€Å"vanity and vexation of spirit† (2:11). The earthly pursuits that most people emphasize simply do not satisfy in the end. What is the real purpose of life? â€Å"Fear God and keep His commands† (12:13). God created man, because He had a purpose for us to accomplish. And He designed us so that, unless we fulfill that purpose, we have no real sense of accomplishment. Instead we create problems for ourselves. What would happen if you tried to bake lasagna in the clothes dryer? What if you tried to run your car on Jell-O instead of gasoline? What if you tried to eat with a shovel and pitchfork instead of spoon and fork? What if you tried to mow your lawn with fingernail clippers? Problems often result when things are created for one purpose, but we try to use them for a completely different purpose. Likewise, our lives are not satisfactory when we do not accomplish the purpose we were created for. Matthew 6:19-21,24,33 Our main concern in life must be to work in God’s kingdom and have a right relationship with Him. Other concerns may have some value but are far less important. Note v24. You can have only one master. You cannot put two things in first place in your life. God requires that serving Him must be the most important thing in life to us. Each of us must make a choice. Either God will be first, or something else will be first. Matthew 22:36-39 The most important work God intends for us to accomplish life is to love God and love our fellowman. John 14:15 – But love for God requires us to obey Him (1 John 5:2,3). 1 Corinthians 14:37 – God’s commands are revealed in the Bible. Lasting fulfillment in life comes only from obeying God’s word and thereby serving God and man. We will not discuss here all that is involved in serving God, but we simply emphasize the importance of understanding our purpose in life. Until you understand the teaching of the Bible, you do not really understand the purpose of life. (See also 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Luke 12:15-21. ) III. Question #3: Where Are You Going? Do you understand what comes after death? You may or may not feel that your life on earth is secure, but what happens when you die? What will your destiny be when life is over? Many People Are Confused or Unsure about What Comes after Death. We can be certain that death is coming. We may not like it, but death is a fact of life. * Sometimes people contract cancer or heart disease that is diagnosed as terminal. But, â€Å"Life is a terminal disease. † No one stays here permanently. * Criminals are sometimes given a death sentence for their crimes. But we all live under a death sentence! * In college a hippie type roomed in the same house I did. He subscribed to Time magazine, and one day when the mail came we kidded him saying, â€Å"Your Time has come! † He became upset. But sooner or later, for every one of us, â€Å"Your time will come. † Death is uncertain only in that we do not know when or how it will come. But there can be no doubt that it will come. Death is sad and fearful for many because they do not know what lies beyond. Or worse yet, they do know and are not ready to face it! Sooner or later, we all must face death. What then? Science does not even try to answer this question! Philosophers or religious leaders sometimes speculate that we cease to exist at death or that we will be reincarnated. But they have no proof. Here is another major question of life for which, apart from the Bible, you cannot know the real answer. The Bible Tells Us What Follows Death. Hebrews 9:27 – It is appointed to man once to die, then comes the judgment. Jesus may come before we die; but if we die first, we will be raised from the dead when He returns. Either way, we will face God and be judged for our lives, good or bad. Someday, God will hold every one of us accountable for whether or not we have accomplished the purpose for which He created us. [John 5:28,29; Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10] Matthew 25:31-46 – At judgment, the righteous will inherit the kingdom prepared for them by God (v34). This is eternal life (v46). The wicked will go into eternal fire (v41). This is eternal punishment (v46). Romans 2:6-11 – What determines the reward we receive? Our works. We receive wrath if we work evil and do not obey truth. We receive eternal life if we continue to work good. Our eternal destiny depends on whether or not we accomplish our Maker’s purpose! You may ask, â€Å"How do you know we don’t cease to exist after death? How do you know we won’t be reincarnated? How do you know we will be raised and judged? † Acts 17:30,31 – We can know what comes after death because Someone has already died and come back to tell us what comes after death. In fact, He will be the One to judge our lives! [1 Cor. chap. 15] The resurrection of Jesus, the miracles of the Bible, and the fulfilled prophecy of Scripture are the proofs that the Bible is from God. If the Bible is from God, then we can be sure it tells us the origin and purpose of life and our destiny after life. Conclusion Since you will be judged for whether or not you have accomplished your Maker’s purpose, please consider further: How can you receive eternal life? Romans 3:23 – The problem we all have is that at times we have failed to do the Creator’s will. We are all guilty of sin (1 John 1:8,10). What can be done about that? The good news is that Jesus came and died to forgive your sins (Romans 5:6-10; 6:23; John 3:16). To receive this forgiveness, you must be willing to live the rest of your life in His service – â€Å"Repent. † Acts 2:28; 22:16 – If you come to Christ believing in Him, confessing Him, and being baptized, He will forgive you and make you a new creature so you can have eternal life (Romans 6:3,4; Mark 16:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:58). Why continue life without investigating God’s way for your life? Suppose you are about to buy a house, but a friend promises you that he knows that house and it is in terrible shape in ways that are not obvious. Suppose he assures you that you are about to pay thousands of dollars more than the house was worth. Would you ignore the friend’s advice, or would you investigate? In a similar way, we are advising you in love that living life apart from obedience to God may seem pleasurable and attractive, but in the end it will lead to catastrophe. Surely you need to investigate before it is too late! Someday you will wish you had lived your life for God. If you are not living it for Him now, we urge you to find out what His will requires of you. If you already know, we urge you to obey while you have opportunity. The Bible has the answer to the most important questions of life. There is no need to go through life wondering â€Å"what it is all about. † Why not find out and begin to live according to the purpose for which you were made? Note: If you would like to study further about life after death, eternal destinies or other related Bible topics, we have a number of other study materials on our web site that should interest you.

Political regimes between China and India Essay

When people are seeking new opportunities in other countries, China and India is popular choices for investor as the two most populous on the Earth. Both are emerging economies that have illustrated average GDP growth greater than 7 percent over the few years*. Noticeably, both India and China are largest avoided by the global economics crisis in 2010,maintaining above GDP growth when western countries are suffering economics contraction. Despite of successful changes, we still need to consider further elements for our investment. It includes regimes, laws, economy environment and population. However, if I want to do a mobile game company, I will choose China. In this essay, I will discuss above elements in China and India and also describe why China is better to do a mobile game company. At first, the regime background and regulation are two basically part to decide investment. Over the past 30 years, China has witnesses a continuing transition a capitalist political economy with a highlighting on market competition, international economic integrations and capital accumulation. In other words, It has opened its door to the direction of liberalization. Therefore, China requires to join the WTO for the demand to open its markets in anticipation, which is a new program of legal reform motivated. Thus, Chinese government is reducing to control business whose ownership is government-dominated or state-owned enterprise (SOES) but consolidate SOEs in some sectors to be global leader in their areas. As a result, foreign company can enter these fields but difficult compete. On the other hand, China is encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) in almost sector, especially germinated industry. It is a great opportunity for e-business. However, in this stage, of approximately 130.000 SOEs four thousands are privatized per year. For regulation, while destination of investment will strictly limited or altogether closed, the law allows foreign inventors to decide a diversity of investment entities in China. Chinese regulatory agencies have divide business actions and sector in three categories: encouraged, prohibited, and  restricted. It also sets out that sector or industries fall in to the encouraged, restricted and prohibited sectors. It is not only determining how much and through what legal entity the investment can take place, but also foreign investment is allowed (Sweeney, 2010). A further point is that if we specify these polices in e-business, we will find that e-business is easy to enter and also be encouraged by Chinese government. In addition, in e-business this sector, the tax remains vague, generally lower than other nations, because China has developed their e-business later than others and is immature. Yet it also means more intellectual property issues. Similarly, a process of market liberalization is also building in India. Some have claimed that (Vollmer, and Sabine, 2013) that, prior to 1991, FDI was extremely regulated and was banned in almost sectors by Indian government. Yet a second wave of reforms has forced the liberalization process from 1991. It has opened the India economy for foreign investment in almost categories. A variety of measures were taken by India government, such as current account convertibility, allowing foreign institutions to invest in securities and shares of India companies. However, foreign investment in some sectors of economy was restricted by India. The Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) Regulations, which is most import law for foreign invertors, has banned some sector like atomic energy and banking. In other sectors, such as mining, telecommunications, and pharmaceutical, the proportion of investment in a company is covered by the FEMA regulations. Lately, many FDI has required Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval. Obviously, industries are requiring a license to operate, and to need for approval for restricted industries. A of critical goals for government is that to increase the FDI approvals to actual percentage. According to survey evidence (Bajpai and Jeffrey, 2000), FDI approvals were of the order of $54,268 million from April 1991 to September 1998, while actual FDI during the same time was a mere $11,806 million. Thus, actual FDI as a proportion of FDI approved was only 21.7 percent the same ratio is much higher in China. Furthermore, in India, FDI approval is base on the national level. Therefore,  licensing requirements, registration, and mandated. Investors have to control separate negotiations at the local level should like approvals be required because approval are not managed through national level offices. So, if we do business in India, we cannot avoid a complex of approval and also face some corruption from government. As a result, a mere $3.2 billion was settled by India while China succeeded actual FDI inflows of around $45.3 billion in 1997. Second, we also consider another a significant element that tariff, when we decide to do business in a country. For tariff, since 1990 a dual corporate income tariff regime has maintained by China: one regime for Chinese Delivered Ex Ship (Des) and another regime for Foreign-Invested Enterprises (FIEs). According to An (2012), to compare with Des, FIEs receive preferential tariff treatments provided by the Chinese government, base on dual corporate income tariff. Many Foreign investments were enticed into China because of the dual corporate income tariff. In order to compare with India, the tariff rates are approximately the highest in the world (Mohommed,2014). This limits its attractiveness as an export platform for labor-intensive manufacturing production. Nirupam and Jeffrey (2000) have found that, on quotas and tariffs, India out of 59 countries being ranked. India is ranked 52 on average tariff rate in 1999. Reductions of tariff rates (between 0 and 20 percent) required much greater openness to averages in East Asia. Most significantly, as many exporting countries of East Asia has been successful over past several decades, tax tariff on imported goods used for export and on imported inputs into export production should be duty free. For instance, tariff in agriculture, An (2012) has argue that the average bound rate in other developing countries for agricultural imports such as China and Brazil is 16 percent and 35 percent respectively, whereas India is 113 percent and higher than its 37 percent average bound rate for non-agricultural products. Therefore, tariff will be a huge barrier for foreign investor to enter India market but China has not this major impediment to larger FDI inflows in. Lastly, why I want to do business, especially mobile game in China? In above, we can find these reasons: (1) easy to create a company because of the regime, (2) e business is a support industry by Chinese government and (3) Lower tariff than India. In comparison, India has several main barriers to expand FDI into marker: (1) Restrictive FDI regime because of the approval (2) Lack of transparent sectorial polices for FDI (3) High tax rates by international standards (Sebastian, Rodney, Parameswaran, Ashvin and Yahya, Faizal 2010,8) . These advantages and disadvantages just are creating an e-business, mobile game, company. When we enter a foreign market, we have to recognize such as buying power, consumption behavior, and labor cost. In these points, India has some unique strength. As we all know, IT industry is dramatically prosperous and has a huge population as well, which means e-business company use lower price to hire employees. In other words, we can get cheaper IT human resources in India than China. In order to compare the market, we have to recognize more about guanxi, which is controversial terms in China’s political economy. It is a complex consumption behavior. However, the number of mobile phones has been growing at about 9 million monthly in India. India is making the second-largest mobile phone market after China because the total number is potentially to exceed 330 million by the end of 2008.It is most significant thing when we want to do a mobile game company, incredible market. Despite of some drawback in China, it is still a more reasonable choice for a mobile game company. In conclusion, India and China have emerged impressive GDP growth rates over the past few decades. Both are largest population and market on this plane. For India, a new and free market, stable business environment, and lower labor cost are magnetically for settle business, yet some major barriers are still considerable. For China, while a comparatively complex market and a part of sectors, it is a better opportunity to do a mobile game company. Largest mobile phone market brings great platform for a mobile game. Numerous mobile phone users can experience. Fantastic GDP growth is  promising these demands in a new entertainment industry. Low tariff is a important element for a foreign company more competitive. Therefore, at this time, we want to do a mobile company in both China and India, China is a worth choice. Reference: Sweeney, M. (2010) ‘Foreign Direct Investment in India and China: The Creation of a Balanced Regime in a Globalized Economy’, Cornell International Law Journal, 43(1), pp. 207-247. Sebastian, Rodney, Parameswaran, Ashvin and Yahya, Faizal. 2006. ‘Doing Business In India’. New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies. 8(1): 17-40. An, Z.2012.’Taxation and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Empirical Evidence from a Quasi-experiment in China’. International Tax and Public Finance, 19(5), pp. 660-76 Vollmer, and Sabine.2013.’How to Do Business in India’. Journal of Accountancy.215(3):26-31. Aggarwal,and Alok.2008.’ Emerging Markets: India’s Role in the Globalization of IT’. Communications of the ACM.51(7):17-19. Mohommed .2014.’A Comparative Sample Study on the Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment In the East, South and South East Asia’. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Press. Joshi, A. (2011). Two Competing Asian Giants: Some Facts. China Report, 47(3), pp. 201–21. —- Nirupam, andJeffrey,D.2000. ‘Foreign Direct Investment in India: Issues and Problems’ .Development Discussion.3(1),pp .75-79.

We Wear The Mask Essays - Fiction, The Mask, African Clothing, Mask

We Wear The Mask Essays - Fiction, The Mask, African Clothing, Mask We Wear The Mask Analysis of We Wear the Mask In one of Paul Lawrence Dunbars most famous poems We Wear the Mask, he describes the harsh reality of the black race in America and how they hide their grief, sadness, and broken hearts under a mask for a survival strategy towards whites. We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes, This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties. In the first verse, the mask is taken off. The We of the poem describes the black community that lives a double life, the masked and the unmasked. Dunbar included the word mask in his poem because historically it was a false deceptive role-playing that was acceptable for a survival strategy by blacks and it maintained a sense of empowerment in a racial society. The word lies is a simple word but the mask not only lies to the whites, but to the person who is wearing the mask that start to live by it. Dunbar uses the word mouth as a verb, which intensifies our expressive genuine facial features that never lies. In life, the mask is the concealment of those features that reveal tears that give quality to a smile. The masks when worn is always smiling but underneath are the torn and broken heart of ones soul and this debt we pay to human guile. The debt that the black community is paying dearly by wearing the mask everyday for the cunning white race with myriad subtleties, the black race that wants to speak out and be heard. Why should the world be otherwise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask. The second verse, the mask is replaced. The word overwise, Dunbar recognizes that the black people knew too much for their own good. They knew that if they were to speak out that they would be condemned for knowing too much in which they struggled for equality from the white race and peace within. In the last three lines of the second verse emphasis their hurt when they are not around the white race and how they are trapped under the mask. We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries To thee from tortured souls arise. We sing, but oh the clay is vile Beneath our feet, and long the mile; But let the world dream otherwise, We wear the mask! In the words We smile, it shows that they wear their smiling mask everyday with tortured souls beneath and that they pray to Christ to find peace in the awful world they live in. The words clay is vile sets the setting for slavery on a plantation in the south where clay is popular. The plantation is where they worked and lived. Which did whites that treated blacks with disgust own. The words world dream otherwise, says that the otherwise will turn their head the other way and think differently. Some of them will die with their mask on and never realizing the truth or some will wake up without the mask and reveal the truth that it is wrong. In Paul Lawrence Dunbars poem, he links it to the black race and uses extended metaphor to have a penetrating insight to the reality of the frowned upon race in America, that struggles for equality and peace within a racial society. Bibliography In one of Paul Lawrence Dunbars most famous poems We Wear the Mask, he describes the harsh reality of the black race in America and how they hide their grief, sadness, and broken hearts under a mask for a survival strategy towards whites.

Personal Problem Solving

Personal Problem Solving Problem solving is a powerful practice because it addresses different challenges in life. My problem solving skill set can make it easier for me to deal with various obstacles and difficulties. However, the skill step has a major gap that requires immediate improvements.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Problem Solving specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The gap that required some improvements is â€Å"Defining and Gathering Evidence†. This paper develops an actionable plan that can be useful towards improving the above gap in my problem solving skill set. Recognize and Define Problems The first step towards a successful problem solving practice is being able to understand the targeted issue. My first objective is learning how to recognize various problems. This strategy makes it easier for individuals to find the most appropriate means for addressing every challenge. This step also analyzes the nature of the targeted problem. The person solving the problem must prioritize the issues surrounding the problem. It becomes easier to solve a clearly understood problem. This strategy will become a critical aspect of my future problem solving skill set. Gather Relevant Evidence The next action plan is gathering the correct evidence based on the identified problem. Individuals must analyze every underlying assumption. Professionals should use appropriate languages in order to improve their levels of communication. This step will focus on the facts and issues associated with the problem. Individuals should gather the required information using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Such methods will present the required data and facts. The practice will become a critical aspect of my future problem solving strategy. The targeted evidence and information will determine the success of every problem solving process. Interpret Data The other useful step is learning how to interpret data accu rately. This practice determines the success of different problem solving processes. Proper data interpretation makes it easier for individual to appraise different evidences. They also evaluate various arguments before finding the best solution to a specific problem. These new skills will become a critical part of my problem solving strategy.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Make Accurate Conclusions The next step is making accurate decisions and conclusions based on the collected data. The gathered evidence must be relevant, accurate, informative, and meaningful. These new skills will make it easier for me to understand the nature of different problems. I will use such skills to make accurate assumptions and conclusions throughout every problem solving process. People must render precise verdicts about various things in life. This strategy can be useful whenever deali ng with various problems. Merge New Competencies with My Problem Solving Skill Set The above competencies will improve the above gap in my problem solving skill set. This action plan will encourage me to undertake more problem solving exercises. The strategy will equip me with new skills and competencies. I will use these competencies to define and analyze several problems. The next step is to define and gather relevant evidence for every problem. Another good practice is gathering the required evidence using various systematic methods. Professionals can collate the gathered information using the PICOC (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Context) Method. This strategy will be critical towards supporting my career objectives. Effective communication, negotiation, persistence, logical reasoning, and persuasion can address various problems. Practice makes it easier for individuals to achieve their goals and potentials. My goal is to undertake more problem solving exerci ses in order to put my new competencies into practice. The above action plan will make my problem solving skill set complete.