Academic writing essay
Character Analysis As An Essay Topic
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Terrorism and International Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
Psychological oppression and International Response - Essay Example In an Israeli Newspaper Ha'aretz, Nissan Horowitz expressed: Psychological oppression - it's everything according to the viewer. He contends over the way that in the event that the assault on the twin towers can be viewed as fear based oppression, at that point why the besieging in a Kabul's emergency clinic can't be considered as one According to an axiom, it is accepted that, fear based oppressor, according to one, is a political dissident according to another. Or on the other hand thinking about the Israeli/Palestine case, those, whom the Israelis consider as psychological oppressors, are for the Palestinians, saints. One may think about whether to call rebels, insurrectionists, hired soldiers, activists, guerillas, aggressors, protesters, political dissidents, and so forth, all these as psychological militants Or maybe the very idea holds an outright space. (Psychological oppression direct, n.p., 2008) Whatever reasons that lie behind this mystery, are for sure not incomprehensible. From a specific gathering, 'a fear based oppressor takes birth when he detects injustice or segregation saw by the very gathering he has a place with, subsequently he turns into the saint for that whole gathering, be it a little revolutionary cell, or an entire clan, or class, country, religion and so on. For his battle, he is extolled by those in solidarity with him, yet exceptionally censured as fear mongers by those unsympathetic to the solid points of that battle.' (Weiss, pp. 11+, 2002) The U.N. has positively strived to give fear based oppression a legitimate definition, thus have all the global legal advisors. Regardless, it has, in the entirety of its structures and appearances, been, by a long shot, censured regardless of whosoever submits it, where they do, and for what reason. (Secretary General, n.p., 2006) The lingual authority for fear mongering which limits to a specific technique for directing viciousness can be rebuffed independent of the conditions. 'This nonexistence of an appropriate concurred definition conveys weight for various reasons, which include its obstructing prospect of bringing psychological oppressor acts, that of decimation or other atrocities, to a worldwide court; and leaving singular nations unbound to prohibit activities which, perhaps for their own political convenience, they decide to arrange as fear mongering. Along these lines, it is essential to characterize the issue.' (Terrorism manage, n.p., 2008) Official Definitions Different perspectives have been perceived on the definition and translation of psychological oppression, for which the meaning of 'hostility' may likewise be thought of. (Crozier, pp.28, 1986) The meanings of psychological warfare are especially intensely discerning, to be sure on the grounds that they will in general set cutoff points over the scope of real reactions to them. (Norgren, pp. 4, 2003) A wide definition, acknowledged by the US State Department, was advanced by the US Central Intelligence Agency. They were of the view that a few people and gatherings scare or use brutality for political purposes, in the case of preferring or contradicting the foundation of legislative power. At the point when these activities are planned for stunning, dazzling, or undermining a target bunch more extensive than the prompt casualties, (Ramos, n.p., 2007) it goes under fear based oppression. James Adams, in his organization 'financing of dread', has advanced another definition that charact erizes a fear monger as an individual, adherent or supporter of a gathering that expects to achieve political closures utilizing brutal methods. These savage methods are frequently to the detriment of setbacks to innocuous, nave
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Guidelines of Adolescent Preventative Services (GAPS) Analysis Essay
Rules of Adolescent Preventative Services (GAPS) Analysis - Essay Example It has been seen that the current age teenagers are unpredictably connected with horribleness and mortality which makes them increasingly defenseless against conduct and mental dangers (Allenworth, DeMuth, Bradley, and Becerly, 1996) Todayââ¬â¢s youth have been described by a few wellbeing emergencies like unintended pregnancy, Sexually transmitted ailments (STDs) like Human Immunodeficiency infection (HIV), medication and liquor mishandles, dietary problems and some more. So as to keep the young people from this wellbeing risks GAPS prescribes certain measures to forestall these wellbeing perils among the adolescent. It sets up a total system for the associations. The suggestion gave by GAPS is for the most part dependent on four kinds of administrations and it focuses on fourteen separate regions or wellbeing conditions. The GAPS energizes the capacity of guardians to react to the adolescentââ¬â¢s wellbeing needs and modifying adolescence. It likewise advances security and ph ysical wellness of the young people and aids injury counteraction. Appropriate dietary propensities are advanced among the understudies by abstaining from dietary issues. This encourages them in dodging heftiness. Holes work in empowering solid mental modifications by opposing the antagonistic wellbeing effect of sexual acts.
Friday, July 31, 2020
The Pros and Cons of Assertiveness 3 Real Life Examples
The Pros and Cons of Assertiveness 3 Real Life Examples For several weeks, Iâve had the May 2016 issue of Success Magazine open on my desk. I had gotten about half-way through the issue when I stalled in the middle of an article by Sophia Dembling about assertiveness. More pressing papers piled on top of it. In fact, I forgot it was there until today, when I set out in search of material for my weekly blog. Iâve been looking a lot at my own methods of assertiveness lately, so the article jumped out at me this morning. Just last weekend, I participated in a workshop called âGroup Process.â There, I was part of a group that spent 14 hours on Saturday and six hours on Sunday simply being with each other to see what we would create in our interactions. The feedback I got from the group is that I have a tendency to want to dominate the conversation. This did not surprise me. Itâs not that I talk more than other people in the group, but I do like to get attention, sometimes by stirring things up. Being assertive often requires not being nice, and I am starting to accept the fact that I am not a âniceâ person. I am willing to hurt people, and to be hurt myself, in service of telling the truth and getting satisfied. Here are some examples, along with the attendant advice offered by Ms. Dembling: 1.) Accept the Learning Curve. In our Group Process group, the topic came up of how each of us sees ourselves as functioning in a group. Someone spoke about himself, and I wanted to spend more time with him, with each group member giving him feedback before moving to the next person. So when another group member started sharing about how she saw herself in the group, I interrupted her and said Iâd like to spend more time on the first person. She was hurt and angry with me for doing that. I did end up getting part of what I wanted: I shared my thoughts with the first person. But then the conversation got derailed as the second woman and I worked through what had just happened. Frankly, we did not do the best job of resolving the conflict, despite my strong desire to do so. My assertiveness had created a rift in my relationship with this woman that will take more work to repair. 2.) Control Thyself. In another group, we were voting on who would fill a particular role. One person enthusiastically went for the role and was quickly voted in with no opposition. I did not trust that he was the best person for the job, so I asked someone else if he wanted the position, which he did. We then had a vote between the two of them. Person #1 still won, and I still was not satisfied, so I asked for further consideration and discussion. As you can imagine, Person #1 had some feelings about my behavior. But in the end, the group made a much more considered decision. Person #1 still got the role, but we were all much more clear about why he was chosen and what value each member of our team could have brought to the role. As the Success Article pointed out, we canât control people. We can only control ourselves and our own behavior and words. I felt good in this instance that I spoke up and went for my full satisfaction, and maintained the respect of my group in the process. 3.) Pick a Delivery Mode. With the first group, we have eight more weeks of work to do together. I wrote an email suggesting that we assign roles within our group so we have specific people designated to organize our calls, take notes for the group, and support our members in various ways. I immediately got pushback on this idea, with three out of four members saying no, that they did not want to take on any more work. When I tried to explain that I wanted to make things easier, not harder, by having clear lines of responsibility for the things we were doing anyway, I was told that I was making things harder than they needed to be and that I was trying to control the group. As predicted by Randy J. Paterson, author of The Assertiveness Workbook: How to Express Your Ideas and Stand Up for Yourself at Work and in Relationships, things got worse. Obnoxiousness went up. And I began to question whether I ever did what I did. Ouch. These are the times where I wish I had thicker skin â" and that I had not used email, where misinterpretation is so easy, to express myself. I felt hurt, not seen, and even persecuted. But thankfully I am good at reaching out for support, which I did (by telephone!), and I was able to get more perspective. One group member was able to see things more the way I saw them and to talk through what could address my concern and the concerns of everyone else. Iâm feeling confident that we will come to a solution that works for the whole group. In all of these situations, what I truly wanted in the end was to be heard and understood. Yes I take a lot of risks and, someone observed, often âthrow myself under the busâ when I see what I think is a better way to do things. As stated by Diana Bacon, a financial planner who coaches women entrepreneurs on their assertiveness, being assertive doesnât mean people will do what you want. But it does âgive you the confidence of knowing you can stake out your space in the world.â Iâm encouraged by Randy Patersonâs assertion that assertiveness is a set of skills that can improve over time. I definitely have room for growth, and I look forward to whatâs possible.
Friday, May 22, 2020
Great Chicago Fire Essay - 1788 Words
Great Chicago Fire I have no passion or desire to write about a thunderous destruction of a city or the death of hundreds of people. Yes, I have no connection to this topic, besides my home being 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, but that does not mean that this fire does not pertain to me or anyone who lives in a completely different state for that matter. So, just because I have never experienced a disaster of this magnitude does not mean that my lips should stay shut regarding the topic of the Great Chicago Fire. What must be done is to look at events and, for that matter, life in a certain perspective that is not always one-sided. This one-sidedness can come from focusing on a particular outcome without realizing what elseâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦From there, a piece of debris was flown onto an oil tanker located across the river in the North Side. The North Side was ablaze. It was a terrible night for many of the residents of the city of Chicago and is one that will go down in infa my until the end of time. The final totals for the fire were at the minimum 300 deaths, 70,000 buildings burned to the ground, 100 thousand people forced to homelessness, 73 miles of street were incinerated, and 200 million dollars in damage. There are many examples of struggle and despair during the fire, but there is one that I found very compelling. This excerpt from a letter written by a businessman from Chicago in 1871 brought into account the amount of people who came back and tried to save their precious belongings instead of focusing on getting out of town. The man in this example was able to sneak away with his life but faced some very close to death moments. ââ¬Å"â⬠¦I therefore started on my return, but, besides having to walk over ground almost too heated to walk on, and through burning piles of merchandise, I presently encountered such a shower of cinders, dense smoke, and driven sand (every grain of which seemed to me impelled with a force sufficient to make it sink in the skin) that from sheer disagreeability, if notShow MoreRelatedThe Great Chicago Fire983 Words à |à 4 PagesOn Sunday, October 18, 1871 the largest fire Chicago has ever seen broke out. Hundreds died and thousands of homes were annihilated. Devistation towered over the city, ashes floated gracefully through the air as bodies, houses and cherished items burned. People ran in fear, holding their young, crying for the gone, searching for saftey. Searching for life. Searching for hope. The past few weeks had been hot, dry, and rainless. A drought. Rain had not fallen for three months. Though, despiteRead MoreThe Great Chicago Fire of 18711752 Words à |à 8 PagesThe Great Chicago Fire was a major milestone in the cityââ¬â¢s history. The fire started on October 8th, 1871 and did not end until October 10th, 1871. People never saw this fire coming which might have made it even worse. The only reason it spread so far was because everything was made out of wood, the ground was parched and the wind was blowing that night; the reason it stopped was because it had started raining. Although the fire destroyed most of the city, it was a positive turning point in historyRead More The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 Essay1465 Words à |à 6 Pagesà à à à à The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was one of the largest disasters in American history. Practically overnight the great city of Chicago was destroyed. Before the fire there was a large drought causing everything to be dry and flammable, then a fire broke out in the Oââ¬â¢Learyââ¬â¢s barn and spread throughout the city. Many attempts were made to put out the fire but there were too many errors and problems in the beginning. After the fire many people were left homeless and had to help build their city againRead MoreThe Great Chicago Fire By Robert Cromie1470 Words à |à 6 PagesThe Great Chicago Fire was a historical narrative written by Robert Cromie in 1958, a little less than 100 years after the fire took place. Robert Cromie had many accomplishments to be proud of, since he was a war correspondent, a sports journalist, a columnist, a book editor/author, and a radio and television host. His radio and television shows were about books and authors, and they gained him numerous writing and broadcasting awards. In 1936, he joined the Chicago Tribune staff as a writer (Struzzi)Read MoreAdvocate Illinois Masonic s Life Of Rebuilding Post The Great Chicago Fire866 Words à |à 4 PagesI ntroduction Advocate Illinois Masonic has a rich history in how it became the hospital it is today. Before it was called Illinois Masonic, it was Chicago Union Hospital. The Union Hospital was organized during the time of rebuilding post the great Chicago fire in 1901. Belden Avenue Baptist Church Steadfast Sunday School organized the union hospital. Amongst the board members of the hospital were some Masons who formed an association for the purpose of providing free medical and surgical treatmentRead MoreGreat Chicago Fire Of 19101690 Words à |à 7 PagesGreat Chicago Fire in 1871; ââ¬Å"Big Burnâ⬠the Great Fire of 1910; Miramichi Fire; Oakland Firestorm of 1991; Cloquet Fire; Yellowstone s Summer of Fire ; California s Cedar Fire of 2003; 2004 Taylor Complex Fire; Great Hinckley Fire of 1894; and the 2007 California wildfires (Nelson, 2013). In October 2003, San Diego experienced the Cedar Fire that claimed 273,246 acres, 2,820 structures, and 15 lives (CAL FIRE, 2015). It gained the moniker, ââ¬Å"The Hundred Year Fireâ⬠because another fire of its magnitudeRead MoreDatabase Security, Recovery And Emergency1391 Words à |à 6 Pagesdisasters. Then again, fire, risky materials, digital assaults and security dangers can be considered as man-made calamities which hurt the information inside of the organization. Background and Significance As far as a disaster are concerned we have seen many namely the Tsunami in Asia, Japan ,the man made include the Chernobyl reactor blast . But some times there are disaster like the Great Chicago fire which still carries speculation on its origin. The Great Chicago Fire took place on SundayRead MoreEssay about The Chicago Fire Of 1871544 Words à |à 3 Pages The Chicago Fire of 1871 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The summer of 1871 had been an unusually dry one in Chicago. Between July and October, only 5 inches of rain fell. In addition to twenty-seven fires in the first week of October, on Saturday night, October 7, a blaze broke out in a planning mill on the West Side and destroyed almost every building in a four block area before it was brought under control Sunday morning. They lost a hose and other fire-fighting equipment, including one of seventeenRead MoreDid Mrs. O. Learyà ´s Cow Really Start the Chicago Fire?1250 Words à |à 5 Pagesreally start the Chicago fire? Some might say that the cow did start the fire, but there are other theories that disprove this theory. The Chicago fire happened in 1871. It was a catastrophic day in Chicago. Even though it was catastrophic and did some really bad things, it also led to industrialization in Chicago, and made Chicago what it is today. Without the fire Chicago might not be the metropolis it is today. What is the Great Chicago Fire? The fire started on October 8, 1871 (Chicago HistoricalRead MoreBoston Fire And Chicago Fire1611 Words à |à 7 Pages27, 1678 the first fire engine company went into service with its captain Thomas Atkins. In 1736 Benjamin Franklin established the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia. George Washington was a volunteer firefighter in Alexandria, Virginia. Simple fun facts. Since the beginning of Americaââ¬â¢s independence firefighting has played a huge role in our history Surprisingly, the name Chicago Fire has a plethora of meanings. There is the Chicago Fire American drama series, Chicago Fire professional soccer
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Drug Trafficking During The United States Essay - 1312 Words
Drug trafficking has been an ongoing epidemic in the United States, as well us other countries for an unimaginable amount of time. Illegal drugs varying from heroin and cocaine are primarily the main drugs that get smuggled in the United States from South America. Even marijuana and methamphetamine have been popular in the drug smuggling ââ¬Å"industryâ⬠. These gangs go to a variety of different extents to get the job done. Drug trafficking increases the violence levels These drugs have been smuggled through the Southwest Border since the 1970s and are attempting to expand the distribution of those drugs into eastern U.S. markets. The countries of drug production have been seen as the worst affected by prohibition. In many countries worldwide, the illegal drug trafficking can be directly linked to high violent crimes. This is especially true in third world countries, but has still been seen as an issue for many developed countries all over the world. Drug trafficking increases the risk of violence and crime due rise of addiction along with an increase of death. It also effects the along with correctional system effects.to its high costs, Nearly all of the heroin produced in Mexico is destined for distribution in the United States. Organized crime groups operating from Mexico produce, smuggle, and distribute various illegal drugs after trafficking them across the US border. Trafficking groups that operate from Mexico tend to avoid penalties by their stealthy methods of smugglingShow MoreRelatedDrug Trafficking877 Words à |à 4 PagesDrug Trafficking in the United States Americans like to hide thoughts of the bad in society, one of these thoughts often hid or forget about is drug trafficking. Drug trafficking effects everyone from the one-percent down to the people of poverty. Billions of dollars of drugs are bought and sold, with billions more being spent to fight the trafficking of illicit drugs in the United State. With all the money spent to prevent drug trafficking Americans need to understand the harmful effects. Drug TraffickingRead MoreWar On Drugs And Drug Trafficking960 Words à |à 4 Pagesof the United States, it is plagued by human trafficking, drug trafficking, and weapons trafficking. One of the most harmful organized crimes is drug trafficking. What makes drug trafficking organized is the system of production to distribution. Drug trafficking organizations have a hierarchy of power from the kingpins to the couriers. Drug also has political influence they are able to bribe and blackmail politicians. Trafficking drugs is a multi-billio n-dollar business, and the United States is oneRead MoreIllicit Drug Trafficking : An Organized Crime1481 Words à |à 6 Pagesthis paper was to gather research of the topic called illicit drug trafficking. It explores 10 online research articles and websites that relate to illicit drug trafficking. These articles however, vary in their research about the topic. It begins by stating how illicit drug trafficking is considered an organized crime. Two of the main drugs that are trafficked are cocaine and heroin. As a result of drug trafficking, the war on drugs has been a problem for many decades in different countries. Read MoreDrug Trafficking And Its Effects On America1600 Words à |à 7 Pages In a country of struggling economies, many have viewed the drug trade as one South Americanââ¬â¢ s most successful businesses. Latin America s drug trafficking industry has been depicted in United States popular culture through motion pictures such as Scarface and Traffic. The purpose of my research is to take away societyââ¬â¢s perception of what Hollywood has depicted drug trade to be and bring out what narcotics trafficking really is, as well as trying to coincide with the motivations of those peopleRead MoreThe Illegal Drug Business1361 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Drug Business Paper Introduction The smuggling of drugs has been a part of the society for over a century in most parts of the world. This form of business has flourished mostly in the developed countries such as the United States of America, where the demand for drugs is high while there is no or very small production in the country. The production in the countries where drugs such as cocaine, heroin, cannabis, etc are supplied is banned mostly under the respective local laws, and thereforeRead MoreEssay Drug Trafficking, Consequences, and Accountability1453 Words à |à 6 Pages The illegal drug trafficking found throughout Latin America is not an issue that can be solved by either a government or an individual alone. Unfortunately, it is also an issue that requires more than one solution in order to solve the problem. Each Latin American state is unique, as are the various citizens who inhabit them. As drug trafficking is a transnational force, Latin American governments often find themselves not only at odds wi th one another, but with larger political and economic powersRead MoreDrug Trafficking And Its Effects On America964 Words à |à 4 Pages In regard to Latin America, this area is a crucial geographical zone for drug trafficking and production. Due to the location, the drug trade has found its perfect home, vast mountains and forests enable huge farms to produce and ship drugs to any region they want. Whether it is Colombia, Peru or one of the many countries found to be in this vast collection of drug trafficking, it is apparent that they all share similar geographies that allow the trade to continue. As a result of this, countriesRead MoreHuman Trafficking Is in America1354 Words à |à 5 PagesHuman Trafficking is in America, itââ¬â¢s in backyard and most donââ¬â¢t even know it. Many Americans believe that this horrible action only takes place in countries such as China, Japan, India, and Ghana but no; it happens in the United States also. The definition of human trafficki ng is the ââ¬Å"illegal practice of procuring or trading in human beings for the purpose of prostitution, forced labor, or other forms of exploitationâ⬠(dictionary.com). Slavery was abolished in 1865 in the 13th amendment in the constitutionRead MoreHIDA Case Study1087 Words à |à 5 PagesDuring the summer of 2017 I interned at Chicago HIDTA. HIDTA stands for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas. The agencyââ¬â¢s main goal is to combat drug trafficking by disrupting drug trade and dismantling drug operations. Furthermore, HIDTA assists agencies in deconfliction to allow operations to function properly and without interference. HIDTA was created by Congress in the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 and assists Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that operate in areas that haveRead Moreââ¬Å"The War On Drugs Is A Big Fucking Lieâ⬠. In Recent History,1560 Words à |à 7 Pagesââ¬Å"The war on drugs is a big fucking lieâ⬠In recent history, there has been much rhetoric surrounding the eradication of cross-border drug trafficking. The ââ¬Å"war on drugsâ⬠was introduced in the 1970s by Nixon, who wanted to eliminate the drugs coming into the United States, since they were seen by him as a threat to our nation. Many laws have been enacted with the purpose keeping illicit drugs out of the United States, yet they do so through the use of nativist ideology, which upholds white supremacy
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Free Essays
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, KCSI [1] (also Sayyid Ahmad Khan) (Urdu: ) (October 17, 1817 ââ¬â March 27, 1898), commonly known as Sir Syed,[2] was an Indian educator and politician, and an Islamic reformer and modernist. [3][4] Sir Syed pioneered modern education for the Muslim community in India by founding the Muhammedan Anglo-Oriental College, which later developed into the Aligarh Muslim University.His work gave rise to a new generation of Muslim intellectuals and politicians who composed the Aligarh movement to secure the political future of Muslims of India. We will write a custom essay sample on Sir Syed Ahmed Khan or any similar topic only for you Order Now In 1842, Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II revived upon Syed Ahmad Khan the title of Javad-ud Daulah, conferred upon Syed Ahmadââ¬â¢s grandfather Syed Hadi by Emperor Shah Alam II in about the middle of the eighteenth century. The Emperor added to it the additional title of Arif Jang. The conferment of these titles was symbolic of Syed Ahmad Khanââ¬â¢s incorporation into the nobility of Delhi. 5] Born into Muslim nobility, Sir Syed earned a reputation as a distinguished scholar while working as a jurist for the British East India Company. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857 he remained loyal to the British and was noted for his actions in saving European lives. [3] After the rebellion he penned the booklet Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind (The Causes of the Indian Mutiny) ââ¬â a daring critique, at the time, of British policies that he blamed for causing the revolt.Believing that the future of Muslims was threatened by the rigidity of their orthodox outlook, Sir Syed began promoting Western-style scientific education by founding modern schools and journals and organising Muslim intellectuals. Towards this goal, Sir Syed founded the Muhammedan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875 with the aim of promoting social and economic development of Indian Muslims. One of the most influential Muslim politicians of his time, Sir Syed was suspicious of the Indian independence movement and called upon Muslims to loyally serve the British Raj.He denounced nationalist organisations such as the Indian National Congress, instead forming organisations to promote Muslim unity and pro-British attitudes and activities. Sir Syed promoted the adoption of Urdu as the lingua franca of all Indian Muslims, and mentored a rising generation of Muslim politicians and intellectuals. Although hailed as a great Muslim leader and social reformer, Sir Syed remains the subject of controversy for his views on Hindu-Muslim issues. How to cite Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Papers
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Reincarnation in Eastern Religious Traditions Essay Example
Reincarnation in Eastern Religious Traditions Essay Eastern religious traditions are the spiritual believes prevalent in Asia. These traditions are mostly evident in India, Japan and china. They are most common in India revealing the reason why the term eastern religion is also used to refer to the Indian religion. The most common eastern religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. These four religions have a number of aspects that cuts across them. Some of these elements are dharma, karma, samsara and maya (Atkinson, p.25). One of the doctrines that are common among the eastern religions is reincarnation. Reincarnation is a concept that refers to the coming back of the soul or the spirit after death.They believe that after the body dies, the soul returns back to the earth in a new form, depending with the kind of life the person led before death. Reincarnation is also known as the transmigration of the soul. Apart from the Indian religions, the idea of reincarnation was also evident in the ideologies of the Greek philosoph ers. It is still evident in some few regions around the world such as Siberia, North America, Australia and West Africa. While the eastern religions have upheld their belief in reincarnation, most of the Christians, Judaists and Muslims have completely done away with it. While majority in the East still believe in the doctrine of reincarnation, only about 20% of the West still believe in it. Whenever this concept is referred to, eastern or Indian religious traditions are what come to mind. It is a doctrine that is almost characteristic to the religious beliefs of the west (Markham and Ruparell, p.18).DefinitionThe term reincarnation emanates from a Latin term. The term in Latin means ââ¬Å"entering the fresh again.â⬠There is also a Greek equivalent of the term that relates to the English version, ââ¬Å"transmigration of the soul.â⬠All these phrases represent the idea of coming back to life or reincarnating after one dies. Reincarnation refers to coming back to life as either a human being or animal. The emphasis of this doctrine is the continuing of the soul, rather than the body. The general process that produces the cycle of dying and being reborn, controlled by karma is known as Samsara in the eastern religious traditions. Birth is the state that a person is reborn into. The term also refers to the single process of coming back to the earth. According to the eastern religious traditions, even gods can die and become reborn again. In this case however the term reincarnation is not firmly appropriate. Nevertheless, Hindus claim that their gods do reincarnate. For example, Lord Vishnu whom they claim has reincarnated ten times. Celtic religion also tends to believe that their gods also reincarnate. Most of the Christians tend to believe as a holy incarnation. These Christians and majority Muslims hold to the belief that Jesus and some of the prophets may be incarnated again (Coogan, p. 34).Origin of reincarnation doctrineReincarnation is a concep t that is central to human life. The origin of this doctrine is not very clear, as it is not evident in the worldââ¬â¢s oldest religious traditions. The doctrine is not as old as some of the other doctrines in religion like deity, nor is it a current concept. It is most common in the history of India and Greece. The recorded history of the term is in the first millennium BCE. The doctrine is likely linked to the early eremitical (sramana) era in India. The concept was later used by the Brahmin orthodoxy. In India the concept was employed along with others like karma, Samsara and Moksha. The term was later developed in various ways and applied in many traditions both in India and other parts of Asia. It was used by Upanishads, Mahavir and in yoga sutras (Atkinson, p.52).There are scholars who claim that the dourine in India might have its origins in the pre-Aryan non-Vedic culture. Other scholars claim that the doctrine has a connection between Druid, Vedic culture and ancient Gre ek. They suggested that the doctrine was there in proto-indo-European religion. Diodorus Siculus believed that the Druids might have had influence from the ideas of Pythagoras. One contemporary philosopher has claimed that some missionaries of Buddhism went to Britain as an order from king Ashoka. Some ancient literatures have confirmed that Pythagoras argued that he has reminiscence of his past life. This is the ancient revelation of the fact that there might be existence in more than one life. Some of the philosophers have claimed that Buddha found out the idea for himself (Coogan, p. 67).The characteristic structure of reincarnation was developed in India. This took place not prior to the ninth century BC. This is the time when the Brahmana writings were established. The concept was properly defined between the seventh and the fifth century BC. After the definition of the term it was adapted in majority of the eastern religious traditions. After the use of the concept spread in I ndia, it was later accepted by Taoism in china. This is probably later in the third century BC (Atkinson, p.83).Reincarnation in HinduismThe source of this doctrine is accredited to Hinduism. There were no ideas of reincarnation in the Vedic Hymns. During the time there was the belief in continuity of life in the same body after death. There was a clear distinction between human beings and gods. This was the reason why the dead were buried with everything they would require in the afterlife. There was also the belief that the dead would be reunited with their relatives who were already dead. They also believed that the dead has some form of influence on the living (Markham and Ruparell, p.74). The whole person was also preserved after death and this is the reason why as a ritual the family members addressed the dead as though they were listening and understanding. The god of death, Yama received the offerings of the relatives in place of the dead. These offerings were offered as a p lea for pardon on behalf of the dead. This god was believed to be the ruler over the souls. The idea of reincarnation in Hinduism began with Brahmana writings. This is where the idea of penalty and reward in a new form on earth came up. The writings revealed restricted heavenly immortality which depends on the kind of life that one led. Still in heaven, one has to die the second time, after which he would come back to earth again. The answer of this to this destiny came to be deemed obscure knowledge that would only be attained in the life on earth (Coogan, p. 123).The writings that moved the idea of the second death from heaven to the earth were Upanishads. This is what the writings deemed right according to the understanding of the atman-Brahman identity. In this writings it was believed that one becomes what he behaves. The person who does good becomes good, and the one who does evil becomes evil. According to these writings reincarnation is the definite way where people receive the fruits of their actions. The soul is made to enter into another form into existence until such a time when all the debts are paid. Depending on the kind of actions of the person, the self enters into various forms depending with the circumstances. Hinduism believed that reincarnation was a way of man paying for the kind of life he lived in the previous life (Coogan, p. 102).Reincarnation is explained as a process of life that is inevitable. This is the explanation offered in the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna says in verse 2: 13 ââ¬Å"Just as the self advances through childhood, youth and old age in its physical body, so it advances to another body after death. The wise person is not confused by this change called deathâ⬠(Valea, 1999, para 15). In verse 2:22, ââ¬Å"Just as the body casts off worn out clothes and puts on new ones, so the infinite, immortal self casts off worn out bodies and enters into new onesâ⬠(Valea, 1999, para 15). The Laws of Manu (12, 54-69) establish es the fact that it is as a result of large karmic debts that one life cannot be sufficient in repaying it. As a result many lives become essential so that one can be freed from the debts. There is the belief that nothing can liberate one from coming back to repay karmic debts. Any form of intervention from gods or gurus it unnecessary for it would go against the work of karma (Markham and Ruparell, p.84).According to Upanishads and Vedanta ideology, it is atman that is involved in the reincarnation. Atman refers to the impersonal permanent self. It can be described solely through counteracting personal attributes of a being. This element of a being does not carry any spiritual progress. This is recorded by karma or by a certain amount of karmic debt. The whole being is reconstructed during reincarnation according to karma. It is at this point that the new being is ready to repay its karmic debt. From this point a human can do everything possible to avoid a repetition of the cycle. This can be achieved by payment of all the karmic debts (Atkinson, p.105).Reincarnation in BuddhismUnlike Hinduism, Buddhism does not support the idea that there is an impersonal permanent self that keeps on reincarnating. The idea of a permanent self is brought about by the existence of five elements: the body (rupa); feeling (vedana); cognition (sanna); mental constructions (sankhara); and consciousness (vijnana). The five are not constant and have no permanent uniting factor or self. Due to the fact that they are always changing, they cannot be identified with the unchanging self. Buddha argues that it is only karma that moves from one life to the next. This means that according to the Buddhists there is no self that undergoes reincarnation. This is explained as reincarnation without passage of self from one form to the next. There is a somewhat detailed explanation of reincarnation in the Tibetan Book of the Dead. This book explains that the dead retains some human attributes as he reincarnates. In Buddhism, there is no reminiscence of the past life. This is due to the fact that there is no psych-mental attribute that is passed from one form to the next (Coogan, p. 83).Reincarnation in TaoismReincarnation in the Chinese religious beliefs, might have appeared later in Taoism. This is why there is no teaching in the Tao-te Ching concerning the doctrine. However, the doctrine is not properly explained, for example the element that reincarnates is not known. What is clear is they believe that there is something that passes from one life to another. Chuang Tzu, scripture of Taoism reveals this. In Chuang Tzu 23, ââ¬Å"Birth is not a beginning; death is not an end. There is existence without limitation; there is continuity without a starting point. Existence without limitation is space. Continuity without a starting point is time. There is birth, there is death, there is issuing forth, there is entering in. That through which one passes in and out without seein g its form, which is the Portal of Godâ⬠(Valea, 1999, para 28).Modern view of reincarnationThe meaning of reincarnation changed once the idea reached Europe. During the middle ages, it was an idea that was common with a few sect traditions like Hermetism and Catharism. In the west the concept of reincarnation began gaining popularity in the nineteenth century. During the time of the New Age Movement, there was a wide approval of the doctrine. Regardless of the fact that the idea of reincarnation has gained roots in the modern society, it is not similar to the ideas adapted in the eastern religious traditions. The current notion of reincarnation is the progress of the soul to a higher degree of religious understanding. From this point of view, the element that reincarnates is the soul. While trying to marry reincarnation with the western religious traditions, the idea of atman was too obscure to be accepted. As a result the western regions accepted the milder notion of reincarn ation. This is why they adapted the idea of the soul as the element that underwent reincarnation (Markham and Ruparell, p.92).SummaryReincarnation explains the kind of differences that are evident in people. People are different in many aspects and there has never been any satisfying explanation of these differences. While some people are born health, others have deformities. While some are rich, others live in poverty. Some people are successful while unreligious, and others are always suffering despite the fact that they are religious. The eastern religious traditions have provided answers to these questions. They have explained that people are born the way they are as a result of how they lived their past life. It is their life, either good or bad, that determine how they are reborn through the process of karma. From this point of view, reincarnation offers a perfect explanation of punishment and rewards for oneââ¬â¢s actions, without acceptance of the almighty God as the fina l reality (Coogan, p. 25).ConclusionThe concept of reincarnation is one that provides a very interesting explanation on the origin and destiny of man.à Knowledge of the fact that one lives many lives before the current one and that there are many more lives that one will live, is definitely an interesting point of view. Additionally, reincarnation brings comfort in knowing that death is not the end of life. It offers a consolation in continuity of life and thus providing liberation. It is also a way of opposing the idea of final judgment by the almighty, whose likely consequence is eternity in the fires of hell.
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