Reflection Paper Religion in America

The Social Significance of the Megachurch A megachurch refers to a church that has two thousand or more worshippers in a normal weekend attendance. In the United States, there are more than one thousand three hundred megachurches. Among these churches, approximately fifty of them record an attendance of ten to forty seven thousand members.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection Paper: Religion in America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is worth pointing out that while three thousand individual Catholic churches have two thousand or more members during a normal Sunday Mass, they are included in the megachurch movement (Johnstone 60). In Protestant Christianity, megachurches are regarded as an extremely vital development. In the US, these congregations have increased four times in the previous twenty years. Megachurches have greatly impacted on the American society. In addition to the normal church services , members receive a wide array of secular amenities. These include recreational services, sports, social care and health, and education. The demographic profile of the megachurches is composed of middle- class, white households (Radcliffe-Brown 39). Moreover, these churches are founded in extensive urban borders of cities that are growing rapidly. In my opinion, megachurches are diverting Christians to secular public practices. Moreover, the additional services provide exurban people with a personalized civic setting, thereby the opportunity to mingle within a standardized and secure setting. Another interesting quote is that megachurches are an elite ethical community that enhances segregation patterns. In addition, they are slowly contributing to withdrawal and secession processes. Not only have megachurches impacted on social, but also political life. They are actively involved in campaigns and presidential elections in regard to conservative social concerns. This has made them v ital political actors. Urban places contain complete subsections, which are characterised by autonomous growth. My take is that the self- contained nodes are connected by telecommunication and highway systems. However, it is sad to note that these sites are isolated from adjacent sites (Johnstone 6). It is worth noting that fortification and privatization has increased greatly in urban places. My opinion is that these are the moves of affluent groups to isolate themselves physically from the public. Moreover, they also aim at separating from desperate social groups. These are composed of the destitute, homeless, poor, and desperate. Therefore, the affluent groups protect themselves from moral confusion that might result from their interaction with minority groups. Megachurches encourage volunteerism, contributions, and frequent attendance (Radcliffe-Brown 43). It is worth pointing out that megachurches are no longer worship places. They are multi- purpose places including malls, res orts, town squares, and extended families. They use proficient corporate practices and deal with multi- million budgets. Although, megachurches are isolated physically, they are exceptionally universally connected.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Future of Religion in America It is worth noting that the USA is an exceptionally religious nation. According to a political scientist, Robert Putman, an average American is by a large extent more religious compared to an average Iranian. For the previous fifty years, Americans have become extremely polarized in politics and religion. Before, there was no link between how often an individual attended church services, and their political vote. However, this is no longer the case (Johnstone 106). Currently, the bond between politics and religion is growing stronger each day. The religious communities in America contribute greatly t o the nation’s democracy. However, exceptionally high doses of religion end up intoxicating civic life (Radcliffe-Brown 34). Numerous countries admit that US is a diverse, religiously committed, and amazingly tolerant. There has been an escalation in people’s interactions across religious confines, which is a silent undercurrent. In my opinion, these interactions also include intermarriages, which go beyond the contemporary religious demarcations. In addition, people have a high likelihood of shifting from one religion to another, which was uncommon several years ago. My take is that religious shifts will increase more in future. Individuals from various religious backgrounds were overwhelmed when they were permitted voice their opinion in the public sphere. However, the young people were not impressed when politics and religion merged in the 1980s. During this period, many people withdrew from the organized religions. I approximate that five percent of the entire popu lation in America belong to no religion (Johnstone 56). Furthermore, there are thirty percent youths who are not attached to any religion. My take is that this number will increase greatly in future. According to these youths, they belong to God as opposed to a recognizable religion. I think that the level of religiosity in America will reduce greatly in future. This is attributable to the fact that since the young generation has no concern for religion; this habit will be carried on into their adulthood. In addition, younger generations will copy this habit. Americans youths are arguing that if religion is all about homophobia and conservative politics, then they have nothing to do with it. A good quote to note is that a transformation of religion in America will impact on the social arena, individual morality, and public life. There, there is a need for private and public sectors to think of the future impacts of changes on religion. Consequently, they will be able to react with a vivid vision and creativity. Works Cited Johnstone, Ronald. Religion in Society: A Sociology of Religion. New York: Prentice Hall, 2004. Print.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection Paper: Religion in America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Radcliffe-Brown, Alfred R. â€Å"Religion and society.† The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland 75.1/2 (1945): 33-43. Print. This essay on Reflection Paper: Religion in America was written and submitted by user Melissa U. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Workplace As A Socialization Agent

WORKPLACE AS A SOCIALIZATION AGENT Norms and values in the workplace are powerful influences that I have benefited greatly from. My socialization in the workplace began about twenty years ago and is an ongoing learning experience. Some norms and values that I feel influenced me the most are appearance, the proper use of the chain of command, the need for education, the personality I exhibit and honesty. The dress code within the workplace is a norm whether formal or informal will generate many negative responses if not adhered too. Past experiences made me learn on how to dress appropriately. At my first office job I was informed the dress code was â€Å"business casual†. When I arrived at work on several different occasions with skirts 5 inches above my knees and tight fitting shirts I experienced some hostility from co-workers. This then caused me to feel some negative emotional consequences such as embarrassment and self-consciousness. These negative sanctions caused me to obtain better clarification of the term â€Å"business casual† from my parents. The military had strict formal norms in regards to the pathway of communication within the workplace. This process is referred to as the chain of command, if not followed correctly will lead to negative sanctions. I joined the military immediately after completing high school. Upon arrival everyone was given all the names, ranks and pictures of the individuals in our chain of command. With the above information we were also instructed on the process and the negative sanctions that would occur if not adhered too properly. Since this experience I have had jobs that may not have had a formal norm in regards to the process of communication, but informal ones. The regulations were not written down but were adopted behaviors over time. Using what I had learned in the military had brought me positive sanctions in jobs that had followed. I had experienced sexual harassment ... Free Essays on Workplace As A Socialization Agent Free Essays on Workplace As A Socialization Agent WORKPLACE AS A SOCIALIZATION AGENT Norms and values in the workplace are powerful influences that I have benefited greatly from. My socialization in the workplace began about twenty years ago and is an ongoing learning experience. Some norms and values that I feel influenced me the most are appearance, the proper use of the chain of command, the need for education, the personality I exhibit and honesty. The dress code within the workplace is a norm whether formal or informal will generate many negative responses if not adhered too. Past experiences made me learn on how to dress appropriately. At my first office job I was informed the dress code was â€Å"business casual†. When I arrived at work on several different occasions with skirts 5 inches above my knees and tight fitting shirts I experienced some hostility from co-workers. This then caused me to feel some negative emotional consequences such as embarrassment and self-consciousness. These negative sanctions caused me to obtain better clarification of the term â€Å"business casual† from my parents. The military had strict formal norms in regards to the pathway of communication within the workplace. This process is referred to as the chain of command, if not followed correctly will lead to negative sanctions. I joined the military immediately after completing high school. Upon arrival everyone was given all the names, ranks and pictures of the individuals in our chain of command. With the above information we were also instructed on the process and the negative sanctions that would occur if not adhered too properly. Since this experience I have had jobs that may not have had a formal norm in regards to the process of communication, but informal ones. The regulations were not written down but were adopted behaviors over time. Using what I had learned in the military had brought me positive sanctions in jobs that had followed. I had experienced sexual harassment ...

Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

Article - Essay Example For instance, research outcomes show that the current increase of cancer patients results of the high consumption of food processing chemical. Most of the chemicals usually come from the agricultural farms. Eco-friendly agricultural practices include practicing organic farming that does not require the use of chemicals like in industrial farming. It also includes processing and preserving foods without toxic chemicals. Most of industrial foods contain highly poisonous preservatives and they contribute to the humans’ poor health. In addition, other products that qualify to be eco-friendly are those that are biodegradable. These are products, which can be broken down by bacteria during the decomposition process. Going green does not involve the production of the non-biodegradable goods because they cause soil degradation (Holzer & Media 1). One of the eco-friendly practices includes the minimum usage of resources while maximizing the outputs. This helps in the prevention of the natural resource wastage. An example of these practices includes turning off the lights when not using them. This helps in energy conservation. The other eco-friendly practices include the high usage of the public vehicles instead of the private ones. This also helps in energy conservation and reduction of air pollution. The increase in the number of vehicle has resulted into the current high level of air pollution. This is because the high amount of exhaust fumes produced by the vehicle cause air pollution especially in the metropolitan areas. The usage of public vehicles helps in the reduction of the number of vehicles that in turn reduces the amount of air pollutants. Other eco-friendly practices include the recycling or reusing of resources. This helps in preventing the overexploitation of the available natural resources. It also helps in th e reduction of wastes especially the non-biodegradable wastes. Recycling of

Reading response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 33

Reading response - Essay Example A Thousand Plateaus is the main writing from which pleasures of philosophy are found where the main article is molded in terms of the different settings where a reader can read any article or plateau. There is no systematic order of the reading to come up with a clear meaning, although the plateaus do not give the final words (Massumi, 17). A plateau can be defined as an orchestration of crushing bricks extracted from a variety of disciplinary edifices where it carry’s traces of its former emplacement which gives it a spin defining the arc of its vector (Massumi, 19). This shows the dependence and interdependency of the plateaus that makes the notes seem like repetition, whereas they are also melodic in nature, where one only reads what he wants to read or what is interesting to him. This notion is what Brian termed, as the pleasures of philosophy since he noted that philosophy is complex and when it is not understood, it is boring thus, the different nature of the plateaus ensures each reader is able to at least understand and embrace one of the plateaus. The different plateaus that have a common spin portray the unity even in the real nature where people have different understanding and embrace different things, although their objectives may be similar (Massumi, 27). Pleasures of Philosophy being a plateau within A Thousand Plateaus talks more about ticks, quilts, fuzzy subsets, neurology and political economy. This unrelated subject makes it difficult to understand as the plateau is dedicated to music and animal behavior. It uses a difficult technical expression retrieved from different disciplines used in the humanities, mathematics, and the sciences, but whose authors recommend that you read it as you would listen to a record. This complexity ensures that each reader is able to come up with a sovereign judgment of the issues discussed in the plateau. The exercise to ensure one is able to give a good judgment is essential, even in the

Poem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Poem - Essay Example Collins â€Å"Introduction to Poetry,† consist of seven stanzas. Collins opens the first stanza with the line, â€Å"I ask them to take a poem.† This sentence contains three objects: â€Å"I† – the writer or speaker, â€Å"them† – the listeners and â€Å"poem.† The poet urges to â€Å"take† the poem as an object and not just scan or read it. By comparing â€Å"poem† as an object, Collins uses the metaphor as the figurative language. Once â€Å"poem† is considered as an object; then it can be compared to any other objects. That is why one can notice abundant use of metaphor for â€Å"poem† throughout this work. In the second line, the speaker asks, â€Å"and hold it up to the light† instead of asking to read it. However, when this line is coupled with the third line, â€Å"like a color slide† everything becomes apparent. Collins uses figurative language simile - the object â€Å"poem† is a color slide. Of course, projection of a color slide has to be done using light. The poet creates a strong imagery in the first stanza that says one can see all seven colors of the rainbow in the poem if one knows how to hold it to the light and see it. The second stanza consists of one line; Collins electrifies the reader with intrigue, â€Å"or press an ear against its hive.† He uses the metaphor and compares â€Å"poem† to a honey-drippy hive that produces a buzzing sound as well as conveys both danger and anticipation. The third stanza, â€Å"I say drop a mouse into a poem, and watch him probe his way out† compares â€Å"poem† to a â€Å"labyrinth.† The preposition â€Å"into† instead of â€Å"onto† makes the stanza rigid defining â€Å"poem† as a three-dimensional object. Through this metaphor, the poet states that one has to understand the labyrinth of the poem to get out of it. In the fourth stanza, Collins uses double metaphors; compares the â€Å"poem† to a three-dimensional room and content of

The National Power In International Relations Politics Essay

The National Power In International Relations Politics Essay Power in international relations is defined in several different ways. Political scientists, historians, and practitioners of international relations (diplomats) have used the following concepts of political power: Power as a goal of states or leaders. Power as a measure of influence or control over outcomes, events, actors and issues. Power as reflecting victory in conflict and the attainment of security Power as control over resources and capabilities. Modern discourse generally speaks in terms of state power, indicating both economic and military power. Those states that have significant amounts of power within the international system are referred to as middle powers, regional powers, great powers, superpowers, or hyperpowers. Entities other than states can also acquire and wield power in international relations. Such entities can include multilateral international organizations, military alliance organizations (e.g. NATO), multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations, or other institutions such as the Roman Catholic Church, Wal-Mart[1], or the Hanseatic League. Power as a goal Primary usage of power as a goal in international relations belongs to political theorists, such as Niccolà ² Machiavelli and Hans Morgenthau. Especially among Classical Realist thinkers, power is an inherent goal of mankind and of states. Economic growth, military growth, cultural spread etc can all be considered as working towards the ultimate goal of international Power as influence. Political scientists principally use power in terms of an actors ability to exercise influence over other actors within the international system. This influence can be coercive, attractive, cooperative, or competitive. Mechanisms of influence can include the threat or use of force, economic interaction or pressure, diplomacy, and cultural exchange. Spheres, blocs, and alliances Under certain circumstances, states can organize a sphere of influence or a bloc within which they exercise predominant influence. Historical examples include the spheres of influence recognized under the Concert of Europe, or the recognition of spheres during the Cold War following the Yalta Conference. The Warsaw Pact, the Free World, and the Non-Aligned Movement were the blocs that arose out of the Cold War contest. Military alliances like NATO and the Warsaw Pact are another forum through which influence is exercised. However, Realist theory often attempts to stay away from the creation of powerful blocs/spheres that can create a hegemon within the region. British foreign policy, for example, has always sided against the hegemonic forces on the continent, i.e. Nazi Germany, Napoleonic France or Habsburg Austria. Power as security Power is also used when describing states or actors that have achieved military victories or security for their state in the international system. This general usage is most commonly found among the writings of historians or popular writers. For instance, a state that has achieved a string of combat victories in a military campaign against other states can be described as powerful. An actor that has succeeded in protecting its security, sovereignty, or strategic interests from repeated or significant challenge can also be described as powerful. Power as capability Power is the capacity to direct the decisions and actions of others. Power derives from strength and will. Strength comes from the transformation of resources into capabilities. Will infuses objectives with resolve. Strategy marshals capabilities and brings them to bear with precision. Statecraft seeks through strategy to magnify the mass, relevance, impact, and irresistibility of power. It guides the ways the state deploys and applies its power abroad. These ways embrace the arts of war, espionage, and diplomacy. The practitioners of these three arts are the paladins of statecraft. Charles W. Freeman, Jr. Power is also used to describe the resources and capabilities of a state. This definition is quantitative and is most often used by geopoliticians and the military. Capabilities are thought of in tangible terms-they are measurable, weighable, quantifiable assets. Thomas Hobbes spoke of power as present means to obtain some future apparent good. Hard Power can be treated as a potential and is not often enforced on the international stage. Chinese strategists have such a concept of national power that can be measured quantitatively using an index known as comprehensive national power. Soft versus hard power Some political scientists distinguish between two types of power: soft and hard. The former is attractive while the latter is coercive. Joseph Nye is the leading proponent and theorist of soft power. Instruments of soft power include debates on cultural values, dialogues on ideology, the attempt to influence through good example, and the appeal to commonly accepted human values. Means of exercising soft power include diplomacy, dissemination of information, analysis, propaganda, and cultural programming to achieve political ends. Hard power refers to coercive tactics: the threat or use of armed forces, economic pressure or sanctions, assassination and subterfuge, or other forms of intimidation. Hard power is generally associated to the stronger of nations, as the ability to change the domestic affairs of other nations through military threats. CORE CONCEPT Why is power important to international relations ? Undoubtedly power acts as a major theme within the study of international relations, yet as a concept it is highly contested and difficult if not impossible to define. The oxford concise dictionary of politics attempts to define power as the ability to make people (or things) do what they would not otherwise have done. However power can be seen in many different forms be it that of economic, political, military or psychological. Within the many different theories of international relations the concept of power features widely yet its interpretation and significance differs throughout. As there are so many theories within the study of international relations is impossible to focus on them all and so I have decided to predominantly look at the ideas within realism. In post war scholarship the starting point for most theorizing about international politics has been power and national interest, with power understood ultimately as a military capability and interest as an egotistic desire for power, security or wealth. The proposition that the nature of international politics is shaped by power relations is noted as a defining characteristic of realism. However this is not only a realist claim, neoliberals to see power as important along with Marxists, feminists and post modernists. Yet first by looking at the concept of power in a broad sense, free of persific theoretical judgement in order to get a preliminary understanding of the term itself. International politics clearly occurs between all states through which administrative transactions occur involving the use of power. It can therefore be argued that all international politics are in a sense power politics Within the contemporary international system the majority of nations collective domestic and external goals cannot be defended or achieved without influencing the behaviour of other states. Consequently goal attainment is dependent upon the reactions and actions of others. This is where the importance of power as a concept comes into the study of international politics because power includes the means by which all states influence the behaviour of others in order to protect and extend their own interests. This probability is able to exist because states pursue various interests and can agree or disagree on any one of them pursuing them individually. Categories of power In the modern geopolitical landscape, a number of terms are used to describe powers of various types, these include: Hyperpower coined to describe the post-Cold War United States or the British Empire shortly after the Napoleonic wars. Superpower Fox (1944) defined the Superpower as great power plus great mobility of power and identified 3 states, the United States, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom. Great power in historical mentions, the term Great power refers to any nations that have strong political, cultural and economic influence over nations around it and across the world. (Examples: China, France, India, Russia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.) Middle power a subjective description of second-tier influential states that could not be described as Great powers. (Examples: Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, The Netherlands, and Israel.) The term Regional power is also used to describe a nation that exercises influence and power within a region. Being a regional power is not mutually exclusive with any of the above categories. The term Energy superpower describes a country that has immense influence or even direct control over much of the worlds energy supplies. Russia and Saudi Arabia are generally acknowledged as the worlds two current energy superpowers, given their abilities to globally influence or even directly control prices to certain countries. The term entertainment superpower or culture superpower describes a country in which has immense influence or even direct control over much of the worlds entertainment or has an immense large cultural influence on much of the world. Although this is debated on who meets such criteria, many agree that the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan are generally acknowledged as the entertainment and cultural superpowers, given their abilities to distribute their entertainment and cultural innovations worldwide. Categories of power (Diagramatic representation) C:Documents and SettingsDellMy DocumentsMy PicturesPowers_in_international_relations.png Map reflecting the categories of power in international relations.   Ã‚  countries most often considered to be Superpowersà  Ã‚ ¦Ã‚ ¼   Ã‚  countries most often considered to be Great powers   Ã‚  countries most often considered to be Regional power   Ã‚  countries most often considered to be Middle powers ELEMENTS OF POWER The elements of a countrys power can be roughly categorized as those that constitute: Its national core Its national infrastructure Its national economy Its military The core and infrastructure form the basis for economic and military power. The national core consists of a countrys technological sophistication , its transportation system and its information and communication capabilities. CONCLUSION Power is the foundation of diplomacy in a conflictual world. National power is the sum of a countrys assets that enhance its ability to get its way even when opposed by others with different interests and goals. Measuring power is especially difficult as the efforts to do so have not been very successful but it helps us to see many of the complexities of analyzing the characters of power . These characteristics include the facts that power is dynamic , both objective and subjective, relative, situational and multidimensional.

The Effect of John Keats Health on His Work Essay -- Biography Biogra

The Effect of John Keats' Health on His Work      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In his elegy for the poet John Keats, Adonais, his friend and fellow poet Percy Bysshe Shelley writes: "With me / Died Adonais; till the Future dares / Forget the Past, his fate and fame shall be / An echo and a light unto eternity" (6-9).   Shelley speaks of the eternal nature of Keats' poetry, which, although written at a specific time in literary history, addresses timeless issues such as life, death, love, sorrow, and poetic expression.   Keats lived only twenty-six years, but his poetry reflects a mind concerned with his own place in the present and the future; he seemed to want most desperately to belong to the world as a poet.   Perhaps he felt this way because he knew, once he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, that he would not live long and would, therefore, have less time in which to write and to say what he wanted to say.   He has been described as "the most significant mythical figure of the tubercular poet in Britain" (Lawlor and Suzuki 488).   Keats' knowledge of his illness affected his work to the extent that his readers often feel his own sense of sorrow and impatience as he tries to express his creative ideas in the brief time which he knows he will have.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   John Keats was born on Halloween in 1795 in London, the oldest of four children (Keats).   Keats' father died when the poet was only eight years old (Keats), and the resulting trauma and anxiety that it caused his family seems to have affected him deeply.   As one critic states, these events contributed "to his mature sense that the career of the artist was an exploration o... ...H. Abrams, et.al. New York: Norton, 2000. 851-853.    ---. "Ode to a Nightingale." The Norton Anthology of English Literature, volume 2. Seventh edition.   Ed. M.H. Abrams, et.al. New York: Norton, 2000. 849-851.    ---. "When I Have Fears." The Norton Anthology of English Literature, volume 2.   Seventh edition.   Ed. M.H. Abrams, et.al. New York: Norton, 2000.   833-834.    Lawlor, Clark and Akihito Suzuki. "The Disease of the Self: Representing Comsumption, 1700-  Ã‚   1830." Bulletin of the History of Medicine 74.3 (2000): 458-494.   The Gale Group. Literature Resource Center.   Union County Coll. Lib., Cranford, NJ. 27 March 2003.    Shelley, Percy Bysshe. Adonais.   The Norton Anthology of English Literature, volume 2. Seventh edition.   Ed. M.H. Abrams, et.al. New York: Norton, 2000.   772-786.