...For as long as man has been on this earth, one of the most popular questions without a set answer has been, what happens after we die? Each culture, religion, organization, and any other group of people have had their own views about this subject. One specific answer to this question is reincarnation. The simple version of reincarnation is being re-born. When one dies, they lose their physical being, but their soul lives on into another being according to the Buddhists. The western world has traditionally been quick to dismiss the idea of reincarnation. They do not believe it is possible for someone to be reborn into a new body. The Eastern part of the world has constantly believed in reincarnation. Four million Buddhists, Hindus and other cultures have believed in reincarnation. Although the western world has had growing number of people, it is still overlooked. Reincarnation should not be disregarded so easily however. There is vast evidence of reincarnation beliefs in every period of time, so it is not some notion that was recently just made up for comfort or stability. There are many stories of people who can remember vivid details of their former lives, and even biological evidence such as birthmarks that are a result of an injury in a prior life. Reincarnation can also be a good explanation for child geniuses like Mozart, and even the current Dali Llama. After considering all the evidence and logical reasons reincarnation can be true, it would be hard to still refute it...
Words: 477 - Pages: 2
...position that children occupy in society is not fixed but differs between different time, places and cultures by comparing the western idea of childhood today with the childhood in the past and in other societies. It is accepted in our society today that childhood is a special time of life and that children are different from adults. They are seen as physically and psychologically immature and not yet able to run their own lives. Jane Pilcher (1995) notes the most importance feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness. Childhood is seen as a clear and distinct life stage and children in society occupy a different status from adults. However this view of childhood as a separate age status, children and adults being different, is not found in all societies. Stephan Wagg (1992) says “Childhood is socially constructed. It is, in other words, what members of particular societies, at particular times and in particular places, say it is. There is no single universal childhood, experienced by all. So, childhood isn’t ‘natural’ and should be distinguished from mere biological immaturity”. This means that, while all human beings go through the same stages on physical development, different cultures construct or define this process differently. Ruth Benedict (1934) argues that children in simpler, non-industrial societies are generally treated differently from their modern western counterparts in three ways, they take responsibility at an early age, less value is placed on children...
Words: 905 - Pages: 4
...'PETERSON DESIR PROF: SMITH-PETER CLASS: HST- 275 Catherine the Great was and remains one of the most important figures in Russian history. During her thirty-four-year reign Russia has greatly prospered not only materially , but more importantly intellectually, which played a vital role in the modernization or the westernization of Russia a couple centuries later. Evidently, analyzing her long reign through the prism of what is considered as democracy today, one could depict its very faults and blemishes. However, we should view her reign as it was then , but not as it should have been nowadays. Whether somebody coined it as an enlightened absolutism, the real truth remained : Catherine the Great has brought Enlightenment to Russia, the European Enlightenment. What was it, Enlightenment?- It was a philosophical movement that greatly fostered rational thinking, the use of science over traditions and superstitions, and also promoted freedom ,security and equality before law for all people. Catherine was thrilled by such great ideas. She devoted herself to reading and established a great line of correspondence with the true leaders of the movement such as Voltaire, Diderot, Bossuet,etc..In her letters, she overtly expressed her intention of becoming an adept of the movement. She started in creating schools and reforming the educational system. She Turned to Voltaire for advice. As an Enlightenment's follower, she was deeply interested...
Words: 1245 - Pages: 5
...contrast, their lack of understanding and adapting to foreign ways of thinking has resulted in the potential alienation and humiliation of their partners. With their failure to proactively administer to these cultural differences Generator must now address these issues downstream. Ideally they would have fashioned their forward-looking communications in a manner that acknowledged the difference between Chinese and Thai culture and approached them from two different standpoints. By segmenting one country from the other they will have the opportunity to facilitate constructive negotiations that are culturally aligned with their intended audience. This would also encourage them to not group all Asian cultures together and repeat mistakes that they have made by using an ethnocentric approach to their prior dealings. Justification for the different approaches can be found in the research conducted by Geert Hofstede. Hofstede, a pioneer in the research of cross-cultural dynamics, developed a system for assessing and differentiating national and group cultures. He delineated these variables into five the following distinct categories Power...
Words: 1105 - Pages: 5
...Introduction: At first let’s talk about the general relationship between Bahrain and USA, will USA effects almost every aspect in our lifetime from our culture, education, society and more and this essay will focus on media, technology and religion. Body: Paragraph 1: At the beginning we will talk about the media which is a very important aspect in our life because media with its different types can changes the way we think and our lifestyles, For example the internet which is a very vital thing nowadays, because no one could live without it. The internet can be used In a good way like searching for information and so on. Furthermore let’s talk about another type of media which is movies, especially Hollywood movies which we can get effected by either in a good and a bad way because some movies show a lot of violence and are good like comedy or drama. I remember this time when my mother told me that when she was young she used to go to the movies all the time with her sisters to watch Bahraini movies for only 100 fils. Media can affect our lifestyles in a good and in a bad at the same time we just have to chose the right side of it. Paragraph 2: Another subject is technology, that effects our life especially in this time because technology makes everything seems much easier and if we are going to talk about Technology and USA in the same paragraph we have to mention (Apple) which almost everybody has an apple device with them and absolutely this made people more connected...
Words: 493 - Pages: 2
...when we are surrounded by people of a different culture? It is important to know the habits of cultures you are planning on visiting as a simple “thumbs up” could be a rude and socially unacceptable gesture. We learn that “Common hand gestures…routinely sow confusion in everything from the simplest tourist transaction to moments of great import” according to the article “Hand Gestures” by Boris Kachka. Gestures that we do every day in a warm and inviting way, like waving hello for example, can be misunderstood in the wrong environment. When we wave hello to a friend across the room we may wave our arms back and forth. In many cultures this means “no” and “in India for “come here.”” (Kachka, 2008, p. 112) These are motions that we may do without thinking, an automatic reaction to get a friends attention or to greet them. We as travelers may even read a persons greeting incorrectly. For example, in Greece and Italy making a “beckoning motion” with your hand means hello. When traveling there are many different things that can be misconstrued by those watching you. In Greece, for instance, if you were to hold out your hand in front of you as if to say “stop” you would instead be casting a curse called the moutza. (Kachka, 2008, p. 112) Imagine walking down the street and having a complete stranger casting a curse on you. This would not be welcomed and certainly would be considered a hostile gesture. In some Asian cultures this action means that you are requesting permission...
Words: 632 - Pages: 3
...Business Expansion 1.0 Introduction Disney has traditionally invested in Western Countries and some other countries around the world for many years with its business. Disney developed theme parks around the globe to capture the market, adapting them to local cultures. These include Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland. Disney aims to increase its investment and expand its brand. (Disney International 2012) Therefore, Disney recognizes that many people do not have the opportunity to travel to those countries to visit Disney Activities. So now Disney has decided to expand its business to non-western countries. Having investigated and chosen the following cities for Disney; Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Cape Town in Africa and Istanbul in Turkey. Diney wants to learn more about culture, market and the opportunity to grow its business into a global level. 2.0 Importance of culture for Business Culture is collection of much experience as a society, and its impact on our daily reaction and decision-making relative to the facts and circumstances that we usually do. Also culture has been defined as a value, beliefs, customs and religion. To the non-western culture, each and every one has its own culture of believes. So to get your message across successfully, first you have to consider the people views and climate of the country that you wish to ship your business because different cultures may require different behaviour patterns by a firm, strategies, Structures...
Words: 501 - Pages: 3
...globalization and its consequences regarding the cultural diversity. The fact that different European or even North-American countries are visibly starting to merge their cultures is not what attracts the greatest attention, since “our” (western) thinking process works at least in its principles the same. The real difficulty for western cultures coming along with the globalization is the fact that we are merging also with a culture we do not understand intuitively. China with a current population of over one billion has shown an outstanding economic performance over the last years. Marting Jacques argues that the country that rules the world economically, defines the cultural basic principles. The performance of China over the last years leads to the assumption that the future dominating culture could not be the western, it could be the eastern (Helg, 2011). Therefore, we have to deal with the differences between these cultures as soon as possible to understand what potential change we could face in the near future. Within the Business area, the family area as well as in politics, China works differently than western countries. Whereas in the western business is about winning and pityless negotiation, the Chinese businessmen value honor and not letting someone loose his face as the highest goods. Every western company that tries to establish a business in China realizes that Chinese business relationships are built on trust and a sentimental element. This leads to endless “get-to-know”...
Words: 1062 - Pages: 5
...The research conducted for and in these articles is to display the emphasis on the integration of business ethics and the study of its importance in foreign countries. The ethics of Western Europe, Continental Europe, and Japan differ greatly from those of the United States. They do not seem to place as much emphasis on the mindset and the appearance of the mere implementation of these business ethics. Based on these writings, these countries appear to be much stricter in their implementation and day-to-day practicing of these ethics which are to help govern law. Ethics work hand-in-hand with these laws that are meant to help the innocent not fall victim to various forms of deceit practiced by businesses every day before social responsibility became a tried and true responsibility. A great example is in a piece written by Gregory Jackson and Androniki Apostolakou on the governing of social responsibility in Western Europe. They more than anyone here in the United States that is known or aware of has more closely related the ideals of Social Responsibility in how it relates to ethics. The two must coexist together, not one or other. To be ethical is to practice everything that would be considered a company’s Social Responsibilities to its investors, employees, and communities in which they do business in. Jackson and Apostolakou also acknowledge that the idea or even one consistent definition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) still to this day does not...
Words: 271 - Pages: 2
...This article from PPST Bulletin is made available on-line by Samanvaya (www.samanvaya.com). All the rights of the article rest with the authors and any enquiries and clarifications may be directed to them. These are made available in an as-is basis, please report any mistakes to knowledge@samanvaya.com. TOWARDS A NON-WESTERN PERSPECTIVE ON SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE I The available studies on the phenomenon and institution of science suffer from a curious limitation. It is as if all those who analyse the subject were overawed by the grandeur of modern science, and their studies were in the nature of tributes laid at the feet of this great saviour. All analysis starts from the assumption that modern science is a set of value-free theories that uniquely explain reality. After the scientists in the early 20th century started overhauling their theories in a big way, it was granted that the value-free theories of science that explain reality may do so only partially at a given time, but as science progresses, its theories explain more and more of reality and the process converges towards the ‘ultimate’, ‘unique’ law that explains everything. Committed to this idealist picture of a unique value free science, the philosophy of science is reduced to a set of attempts at finding the epistemological criterion, internal to science, that allows the scientist, unencumbered by any extraneous considerations, to choose the true theory out of a competing set; the sociology of science is reduced to...
Words: 4795 - Pages: 20
...A culture can be considered a driving force behind human actions in any country of the world; it plays part in politics, economics, progression, and every aspect of a community. It is transmitted to generations and generations thereafter. I chose Japan because they appear distinctly different in business interactions than the United States, and as an accounting major, I have an interest in how various cultural traits may or may not determine a way a country conducts business in the global community. My research will include analysis of various dimensions of culture to include: communication, religion, ethics, values and attitudes, manners, customs, structures and organizations within Japan’s culture, and education. The analysis should reveal how the elements and dimensions of culture influence businesses conducted with locals of the region; how do the elements and dimensions as well as the local business interaction compare to the United States’ culture and local businesses; and, implications for United States’ businesses who wish to conduct business in Japan. Although the fore mentioned are the basis of the cultural analysis, I hope to unfold how past/ current political constraints limits Japan’s maturity within the global community, for example, the limitations imposed by the signing of Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. Over fifty years ago, Japan and the United States signed the “Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security,” to assist in the containment of Communism...
Words: 909 - Pages: 4
...Culture Clash in the Movie Gua Sha Analysis A Chinese immigrant (Datong Xu) has great accomplishment in his career and a loving family, however, just because of a trivial matter, his life has gone differently. His father has come along to America to visit him. Dennis, who is the child of Datong, feels sick and undergoes a traditional Chinese treatment- Gua Sha by his grandfather. The treatment leaves marks on the child’s back and it is found accidentally by doctors and so, Datong is accused of child abuse. A number of culture clashes have been brought up in the movie. It is not the clash between Gua Sha and Western culture, it is the cultural values of Chinese and Westerners that clash. First of all, the clash between Americans and Chinese is conspicuous, particularly, their different perspective towards the concept of hitting children. At the beginning of the movie, Dennis gets in a fight with an American child who is the son of John (Datong’s boss). Datong is really angry and he hits Dennis in front of his boss publicly. In the middle of the movie, Datong quarrels with John. John says ‘I don’t understand why you hit your son.’ Datong replies ‘I hit him to give respect to you! To give you face!’ However, it is totally inconceivable to a Westerner because a westerner would never hit his/her children just to please the boss. That is why John replies furiously ‘What a twisted Chinese logic!’ In Chinese, there is a saying that goes ‘fighting is petting, scolding is loving.’ Most...
Words: 1186 - Pages: 5
...illustrates the stark contrast between the culture of the Bushmen and modern society through the interactions between socialized members of each of these very different cultures. The cultural contrasts are evident in the characters' actions, values and differing world views. The film paints an exceptional portrait of the differences between human cultures, as well as the belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group, that runs common to all. The Bushmen culture is one of simplicity and contentment. The pace of life in the Bushmen culture is relaxed and slow. The Bushmen culture was one without social classes. They never punished or even spoke harshly to their children and yet the children were surprisingly well behaved. The Bushmen place the greatest value on their family and their relationship with god. The Bushmen seem to have a deep respect for all life both human and non-human. In the film, the Bushman shoots an animal with a tranquilizer dart and waits until the animal lays down to go to sleep; before taking the animal's life the Bushmen would apologize for having to kill the animal and explained that he must do it so that his family could eat. His action was important because it showed that the Bushmen hunted only out of necessity and never for sport. Although the Bushmen lived in circumstances that we think of as squalor they seemed to be very happy and completely content with their lives. The most striking aspect of the Bushmen culture was the complete lack of conflict...
Words: 1372 - Pages: 6
...birthday party and enjoy their time outside their parent’s home. Who would have thought 15 years ago that it would happen in China?. What were that mysterious reasons that make cultures change?. Basically, Nations cultures have changed all over history and that was a major reason in their development. During the last decades, every culture has had dramatic changes at all levels such as food, clothes and even thoughts. All of those changes refer to globalization. However, with the passage of time, some cultures had more influent on others and it was obvious that some cultures began to impose themselves on others. One of those cultures is American culture and its impacts on other culture are called Americanization. In order to go deeper in Americanization and answer the bewildering question “have globalization turned to Americanization?”, must stand on the reasons and effects of Americanization. Before sailing in Americanization, let us give Americanization a brief definition. In “The Americanization of Canada” Moffett (1907) writes “Americanization is the influence of the United States on the popular culture, cuisine, technology, business practices, or political techniques of other countries. The term has been used since at least 1907”. In other words, Americanization is the imposition of American culture on the entire world at all fields. There is no dispute that the United State has a robust economy which makes its companies open branches in every part of the world. The spread...
Words: 783 - Pages: 4
...English 1302 Literature Review: Muslims in the Western Society Society these days are unaware of how they perceive Islam and Muslims whether it is to be in an educational sense of their teachings, or portraying them in negative roles when they write. This is all similar in the writings of the books and journals that the authors: Chan, Norris and Ronald, Susan and Ross, Muhammad and Zain, and Kassim have presented. They have presented us different viewpoints of how the Western Society views Islam not just in books or video games (Chan, 829), as well as, in teaching us Islamic History (Susan, 54), and how Muslims are taught/not taught Western values in their own Religion Centers (Zain, 394). All these articles hold a small key to finding exactly how Islam is looked at today in the Western Society. The overview of Muslims is looked at greatly in Kassims work where it tends to show how life in different parts of America that is lived by the Muslims (Kassim, 63). It shows how the culture has been adopted in different cities of the United States. The writers claim this as being part of the history of Mankind in adopting cultures of their own in another country (Ross, 68). Writers Norris and Ronald, likewise, agree in their writing of how the Muslim culture has adopted in the U.S overtime and show in their research that most cultures do that when bringing their heritage to a new place (Norris, 235). The Authors of these articles argue together how Muslims have adopted themselves...
Words: 1180 - Pages: 5
