...Major Divisions of Islam, And Their Teachings And Functions By Shalonda Reddick HUM 400 0030016 Religion And Philosophy There are three Major divisions of Islam Sunni, Shi’ah, and Khawarij. The Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. The word Sunni comes from the word Sunnah, which means the teachings and actions or examples of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Therefore, the term “Sunni” refers to those who follow or maintain the Sunnah of the prophet Muhammad. The Sunnis believe that Muhammad did not specifically appoint a successor to lead the Muslim ummah (community) before his death, and after an initial period of confusion, a group of his most prominent companions gathered and elected Abu Bakr Siddique-Muhammad’s close friend and a father-in-law-as the first caliph(head of state or ruler in and Islamic community) of Islam Sunnis also believe that the position of caliph may be attained democratically, on gaining majority votes, but after the Rashidun, the position turned into a heredity dynastic rule because of the divisions that started by the Shias and others. The Sunnis believe in monotheism, prophethood/messengership, Holy books, Angels, Judgment Day, and Predestination. The Sunnis consist of five pillars- Declaration of Faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting, and Pilgrimage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_schools_and_branches The Sunni emphasize the power and sovereignty of Allah and his right to do whatever he wants...
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...In the beginning of my college intro to religion course I was asked to write a reflection paper. The paper was to be based on why I decided to take the course, what some of my personal ideas on what religion were and, what I hoped and expected to gain after the course completion. In a short period of just six weeks I can say I’ve learned a lot. Some of my beliefs have remained the same, many of my questions have been answered and, most importantly I feel I have a better knowledge and understanding of the religions of others. One of the things I feel benefited me the most throughout this course was learning in depth about the origins of many of the great religions of the world such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity. Even going as far back as the primal and archaic period and how the transition of the agricultural revolution as well as the axial age paved the way for the more modern religions we still practice today. In order to be able to grasp some of the concepts and ideas I was learning and to be able to understand why people were doing or acting the way they were, I had to learn how to “bracket my own faith claims”. This was a little tough at first but sticking with the “my religion doesn’t apply here “or in this time period helped a lot. Once I had a better understanding of the lifestyles and the struggles of the people at that time it all made so much more sense to me. Another challenge I found within myself was being able to let go of some of the...
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...Similar concepts between Christianity and Islam Christianity and the Islam religion are the two largest religions in the world. Although both vary in different ways, both religions do have a wide range of beliefs and practices. However some things regarding both religions have similarities. Through my investigating I found several things that were similar, but I will only list the similarities I found the most interesting and dominant. 1. The first similarity I discovered was the Lord’s Prayer in the Bible (Christianity)”Our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name” and the opening chapter in the Qur’an (Islam)”Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds, the compassionate, the merciful. King of the day of reckoning”. Both opening statements go to the root of all religions professed by man. These opening statements also tell of adoration of the Lord. The whole prayer of both the Islam religion and the Christian religion are universal prayers that are standard.[1] Both of these opening prayers are short and to the point. They open with professing their adoration of the Lord. As the prayers continue both have submission of man to the Lord and then supplication. 2. Another thought on similarities between the two religions is that both are monotheistic. This means that both believe in one God/Allah. Christians believe in God and Muslims believe in Allah. Both religions agree that there is one God who created the universe and is sovereign in the lives of men.[2] They both...
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...Understanding the Teachings of Islam Devry University Abstract Even though Islam is the third largest religion practiced in the U.S., many see Islam through a distorted view that focuses on terrorists and extremists. Even though this religion teaches peace and love, because of highly publicized Islamic fundamentalists who have abused and defamed the name of Islam there are stereotypes and distrust geared towards the group. The purpose of this paper is to give a brief insight into the teachings of Islam and how those teaching promote love and peace, not war and bloodshed, in spite of the misconceptions. Understanding the Teachings of Islam Right now, Islam is a highly controversial and sensitive issue in today’s world and there are many misconceptions about its beliefs, values, and goals. The condition of Islam right now is in chaos because of the acts of terrorists and extremists. There needs to be an understanding that the religion of Islam does not portray violence and hate that most see in the media today. The religion of Islam is not very different from other highly practiced religions in the world. Many see Islam through a fallacious view that focuses on terrorists and extremists. Even though this religion teaches mercy and compassion, it has been abused by these people to change focus of the true meaning. The purpose of this paper is to give a brief insight into the teachings of Islam and how this religion is not about the violence and hate. By discussing its...
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...marked about remember all of the nostalgic material that we received during this semester. I reminded myself the different types of religions, creation, rituals, symbols, ethics, and several other topics that reminded me the importance of this class. Some of the topics I had to remind myself such as Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa, and Oscar Romero. There were several interesting presentations such as ISIS and Physician Assistant Suicide. The reason ISIS gained my interest was because I wanted to gain knowledge about the terrorist about ISIS. I was glad that the presenter questioned the students in the classroom if they consider ISIS a Muslim group. It showed that the Muslim religion is receiving a negative depiction not because of believing in Islam but the behavior that certain...
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...“Wahhabis” are names, often used and given to the doctrine and followers of Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab, who, annoyed by practices which he claimed were bordering on kufr, launched a campaign to purify the Islamic faith. Many have compared the Wahhabi campaign to Islamic reformation and revivalist movements in various parts of the Muslim world. Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab was the founder and first modern Islamic fundamentalist and extremists allied to the Al-Saud clan who promoted an extreme version of Salafism which is a term used to describe fundamentalist islamic thought and the jihadist movement or ideology amond Salafi Muslims (Global, 2014). Wahhab made the central point of his reform movement the principle that absolutely every idea added to Islam after the third century of the Mulsim era was false and should be eliminated. Muslims, in order to be true Muslims, must adhere solely and strictly to the original beliefs set forth by Muhammad. The reason for this extremist stance, and the focus of Wahhab's reform efforts, was a number of popular practices which he believed represented a regression to pre-Islamic polytheism. These included praying to saints, making pilgrimages to tombs and special mosques, venerating trees, caves, and stones, and using votive and sacrificial offerings. These are all practices commonly and traditionally associated with religions, but they were unacceptable to Wahhab. Contemporary secular behaviors are even more anathema to Wahhab's successors...
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...Studying Religion Darrell Wojnar REL134 September 10, 2014 Bruce Weightman Religion has always been with us. Throughout history, it has expressed the deepest questions human beings can ask, and it has taken a central place in the lives of virtually all civilizations and cultures. As we think all the way back to the dawn of human consciousness, we find religion everywhere we turn. Traditional religion is a system of beliefs that involves worship of a God or gods, prayer, ritual, and a moral code. Monotheism is the common core of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam which is the faith or belief in one God. They are referred to as Abrahamic religions because all three trace their origins to a common prophet, Abraham. As we said earlier, Judaism, Christianity and Islam have much in common, more than they do with other world religions, for instance: Consider themselves “Children of Abraham”, Started in Middle East and spread throughout the world, Weekly community worship in special/sacred buildings (synagogue, church, mosque) Practice fasting at certain special times/seasons of the year, Expect God's future intervention in the world (Messiah; Judgment Day; Universal Redemption) and Some religious/ritual restrictions (foods not to eat, special clothing to wear, times for sex, etc.). Many fields of study look at religion from a variety of perspectives, as Sociology, this is the study of patterns and trends in human societies and cultures. Researchers in this field utilize a number...
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...Jesus and Mohammad Paper HUM 130 – January 22, 2012 Jesus and Mohammad have been and are still very important figures in the world. Both Jesus and Mohammad were both created as earthly beings, although both differ in religious teachings and historical records. The major differences between the two were religious beliefs, prayer and practices and the message that was conveyed as a result of their teachings. The creation of Jesus and Mohammad was also very different because Jesus was conceived to the Virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit by Immaculate Conception. Mohammad was conceived by earthly pair, which were a man and a woman. The religion concerning Jesus is known as Christianity and the followers of that religion are called Christians. Mohammad is the central figure in the Islamic religion and those followers are referred to as Muslims. This paper will describe key differences and similarities between the two following their histories through life and death. My main focus will include their creation, death and central beliefs. The Virgin Mary and Joseph were the earthly parents of Jesus in Bethlehem. Jesus was born in a stable while in the presence of Mary, Joseph and Three Wise Men, as the story goes. The name “Jesus” was used because of the meaning it held which was roughly translated as “God Saves”. Following Mary’s Immaculate Conception, the belief in Jesus as a Holy being, conceived through the Holy Spirit was cause for many followers. In Jerusalem while attending...
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...And in chapters three, four, and five, He provides a study of how “Abrahamic religions” has been used and abuse over the years. Basically what Hughes is getting at is that no sources, such as the Quran or Bible, have ever used Abraham as a multifaith that signifies a connection between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. However, each one does claim that it has the true claim of Abraham, and the other sources are either corrupt or wrong. In history, the use of “Abraham” was only used to show superiority over other religious rivals and that there is only one true way to understand it. Hughes states that throughout his study not once could we find the term utilized in a multifaith sense. He further discusses how the use of it as multifaith is more of a modern use then a premodern. In the mid-twentieth century it is seen that many start to speak of Abraham as more of an interfaith figure. An example that Hughes uses is an insert from president Obama from 2009. Within the insert, Obama references all as “children of Abraham”. This reference signifies a sign...
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...Dr. Kwasi Konadu’s course “Intro to Contemporary Africa” covers a wide range of topics relating to the continent of Africa. Throughout the course, students become aware of how the continent of Africa has arrived at this present time in history. From the beginning chapters about geography and historical context all the way to the final chapter on the trends and prospects for Africa, there are a few conclusions that students can soundly arrive at. As far back as scholars have researched, a range of different cultures have come into contact with Africa including European and Islamic cultures. A lot of the interaction has been forced upon the continent, and has been accompanied by violence, physical and otherwise. However, it is clear that the different cultures of people who have passed through and continue to reside on the continent has had effects, both positive and negative, on various aspects of the continent. Ali Mazrui is a Kenyan academic and political writer whose book The Africans: A Triple Heritage, which is actually a reader supplement to a PBS telecourse, covers this topic. Ali Mazrui’s argument that “modern” African politics, culture, and societies are a product of an Islamic, European, and indigenous African triple heritage is an accurate portrayal of the continent which African people should derive strength from, focusing on the positive aspects of each, in order to reach the transcontinental stability Africa envisions for herself. Chapter four “African Politics”...
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...quite obviously Christian. Any creature that does not support Aslan is considered Vile and must be purged. Since the Calormens are supposed to be Arabic, their religion is also in many ways a representation of Islam. “One specific example troubled me deeply. Whenever Muslims mention the Prophet Muhammad, they are supposed to proclaim "Peace be upon him!" as a sign of respect. Whenever the Calormenes mentioned their leader, they always exclaimed "May he live forever!" in exactly the same tone. It seemed to be a deliberate imitation of the Muslim custom.”(Imram Amhad) In the real world, Muslims and Christians have clashed and are considered opposing religions. However essentially both religions worship the same god. The biggest point of diversion is that Christians see Jesus as the son of god and the only true way to salvation. In The Horse and his Boy, Aslan who represents Christ is also seen as the true salvation, whereas the Caloren religion is implied to be satanic. Sure enough the deity in question Tash, later turns out to be a demon; “Lewis does seem to demonize Islam, making his Calormenes appear so obviously like Muslims, yet their theology of worshipping and practicing human sacrifice to a hideous idol-god called Tash could not have been more un-Islamic. (Islam is endemically opposed to...
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...Lauren Davis Dr. Stephanie Wheatley Intro to REL 1113 Nov 15 2013 Paradise Now Review The movie Paradise Now follows the lives of two best friends Said and Khaled in present day Islam-oriented Palestine, In Nablas on the West Bank. Nablas is a sort of slum type area; there are many parts in the movie where we see the buildings are broken down and ruined. For example, Said and Khaled both live with their whole family in their shack style houses that look like beat up apartments, when it shows them sleeping they are sleeping on simple mats on the floor, instead of a real bed or even a spring mattress. The opening scene shows Said is shown working on a car in what looks like an old rusty junk yard where soon Khaled and their boss come in all with bitter attitudes. Throughout the movie, the characters such as Khaled and Said constantly refer to their city as “a jail” and When Suha tells the cab driver “things will get better” he comments back the question “you’re not from here?”; Giving the audience the feeling that those who live there have a very negative outlook on life. They always talk about the violence going on between Nablas and Tel Aviv; also giving the idea that those who grew up in Nablas never knew anything more than violence and to hate those who they think hate them. The movie quickly turns when Said is approached by Jamal (a man they have known for a long time) who tells them they have been chosen by Allah to carry out “the next mission”. He seems very excited...
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...capability. Write a four-page essay based on the photo. In the body of your essay, begin by explaining how the image symbolizes inequity. Next, argue for what you believe to be the ultimate cause/causes of the inequity. Finish off the body of the essay with a brief account of what you think should be done to help resolve the inequity. The body of your essay should make up about three and a half pages. Finally, write a short introductory paragraph in which you briefly describe the circumstances under which you took the photo and state your thesis (in a sentence or two) about the ultimate cause/causes of the inequity, and a short conclusion paragraph in which you emphasize what you believe to be the most important points in the essay. Intro Over time the types of physical activity inequities in sports have become better understood and recognized by our changing society. I took this photo because it captures inequity of ‘condition’ and ‘opportunity’ on a basketball court in the west end of Toronto. IWhile I was there it dawned on me that the ultimate causes of these inequities were class discrimination and the false ideology of his incapability to successfully keep up with the rest of the boys who were playing. Therefore the inequity of condition and the inequity of opportunity have prevented him from participating in physical activity fairly. Ultimate cause/ causes of inequity The...
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...Stephanie Lisi Professor Otaigbe Soc 100- Intro to Sociology 04/29/2013 The article that was chosen for this paper is called Social of Religion- World Religions. World Religions seemed appealing and was wondering how sociology could play a part in people’s lives in terms of religion when it’s involved. For the most part, it could play a part cause involves them and those who do not have a religion because it defines how people would act in society. It helped a lot due to taking the world Religion class last quarter and the article spoke on a few religions we touched on in that class. For the portion of the article it talks about the different religions. They are major monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Major non-monotheistic religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Agnosticism and Atheism. In the World Religion article by Wienclaw, Ruth A (2009), when talking about these religions it seemed like the information that was given was a recap of information that most people already know. This article has two sections where it gave more insight on where it was going and the titles are called Other Approaches and Viewpoints. It gave insight to how to take the information given from these different religions. This article seems like it got some information from researching about the different religions or using a book that talked about all these religions. From the Wienclaw, reading this article gave some insight to really understand different...
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...SOCIAL INTOLERANCE IN PAKISTAN INTRO * Social intolerance is epidemic in Pakistan * Philosopher’s view of society distasteful of accepting heterogeneity of ideas * Our society wants to eliminate obnoxious elements rather than developing intellectual arguments against them * Islam and Tolerance * Our hypocrisy has turned a country into a holocaust MAIN BODY CAUSES OF SOCIAL INTOLERANCE IN PAKISTAN * Pak geo strategic position and foreign policy * Role of Islam * Madrassa myopic education * Lack of good governance and true democracy * Inadequate judicial system * Sectarian disharmony * Unethical practices of media Impacts of Social intolerance * Inter creed hostility * Tarnished country image * Threatened financial viability of country * Lack of Socio-Economic development Recommendations to instill social tolerance in Pakistan * Formal Education to all * Rejuvenate madrassa education * Induce democratic values at family level * Independent Foreign Policy that serves our national interests * Media should acknowledge its social responsibility * Address the grievances of masses * Set up a society on pluralistic philosophy Conclusion Country can get rid of this menace of social intolerance but it needs systematic overhaul Pakistan is increasingly revolutionizing into a country where dissent is repelled and disagreement is penalized...
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