The Court Used The Discerning Observer Test For...

The court used the discerning observer test for substantial similarity, analyzing protectable elements and how those elements were arranged and placed and the total concept and feel of the quilts. Id. at 273. In particular, the court considered the arrangement and shapes of letters, colors that were chosen to represent letters and other parts of the quilt, quilting patterns, icons chosen and placement of protectable elements. Id.; See Hogan v. DC Comics, 48 F. Supp. 2d 298 (S.D.N.Y. 1999) (reasoning that the comic book and novel were not substantially similar because the similarities were of unprotectable ideas and themes, in addition to the differences in the total look and feel of the works, the interactions of the characters’, and the plots). However, in Knitwaves, when the plaintiff, a clothing manufacturer claimed that the defendant had copied two sweaters that were created and copyrighted by the plaintiff, the court ruled that the two sweater designs at issue were substa ntially similar because the alleged infringed work copied the original contribution of the copyrighted work. 71 F.3d 996. In addition, the court reasoned that the sole use of Knitwaves sweaters as reference materials and the selection, coordination and arrangement of patterns was enough to constitute copyright infringement. Id. at 1004. Copyright protection does not extend to scenes a faire, which are stock themes commonly linked to a particular genre or characteristics that appear in a work ofShow MoreRelatedMeg Murry Should Be Granted Summary Judgment1685 Words   |  7 PagesMEG MURRY SHOULD BE GRANTED SUMMARY JUDGMENT BECAUSE THE DISCERNING OBSERVER TEST DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE ARE NO SUBSTANTIAL SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE PROTECTIBLE ELEMENTS OF THE TWO BOOKS. A motion for summary judgment is granted when the similarities concern only non-copyrightable elements of an allegedly infringed work or when no reasonable trier of fact could find the works substantially similar. Boisson v. Banian, Ltd., 273 F.3d 273 (2d Cir. 2001); Castle Rock Entm t, Inc. v. Carol Publ g GrpRead MoreMba Examination Paper of Marketing Management8287 Words   |  34 Pages Strategic channel alliance 8. It involves facility consisting of the means amp; equipments necessary for the movement of passengers of goods. a. Logistics b. Warehousing c. Transportation ï â€¦ d. None of the above 9. The advertising which is used to inform consumers about a new product or feature amp; to build primary demands is known as: a. Advertising b. Informative advertising ï â€¦ c. Persuasive advertising d. Advertising strategy 10. An art that predicts the likelihood of economic activityRead MoreMarketing Management130471 Words   |  522 Pages firms to be different than the competitors. Hence marketing becomes a very important functional area for every firm where the competition is very high. In a business firm, marketing generates the revenues that are managed by financial people and used by the productions people in creating products or services. The challenge of marketing is to generate that revenue by satisfying consumers wants at a profit and in a socially responsible manner. Marketing is not limited to business. Whenever you tryRead MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 Pagespractices face in determining true performance costs and that forecasting programs confront in establishing the economic determinants of corporate planning? In addition to these challenges, many analytical and strategic evaluation approaches that are used in an attempt to identify and project how well a company is performing have been overwhelmed by the frequency and magnitude of these economic groundswe lls. In today’s competitive climate, where the changes outside a business exceed the productive changesRead MoreCase Study148348 Words   |  594 Pagescontains materials for students and tutors and is added to and updated on a regular basis: The Strategy Experience simulation (at MyStrategyLab) which gives students hands-on experience of strategic analysis and decision-making. The simulation can be used by individual students, or as part of a wider classroom exercise. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ For students: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Revision aids (flashcards, key concepts and glossary (six languages)) Audio summaries of chapters and important concepts Multi-choice questionsRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesand the European Brewing Industry, tests a reader’s understanding of the main issues inï ¬â€šuencing the competitive position of a number of organisations in the same industry with a relatively short case. For a case that permits a more comprehensive industry analysis The Pharmaceutical Industry could be used. However, if the purpose is more focused – illustrating the use of ‘ï ¬ ve forces’ analysis – the TUI case study or Illustration 2.3 on The Steel Industry could be used. Some cases are written entirelyRead MoreLibrary Management204752 Words   |  820 Pages2007007922 ISBN: 978–1–59158–408–7 978–1–59158–406–3 (pbk.) First published in 2007 Libraries Unlimited, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 A Member of the Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.lu.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To our grandchildren Annika, Jacob, Katherine, Madison, Magnus, and Molly Contents Illustrations

Native American Spiritual Beliefs Essay - 2353 Words

I have decided to discuss the topic of Spirituality in Native Americans. To address this topic, I will first discuss what knowledge I have gained about Native Americans. Then I will discuss how this knowledge will inform my practice with Native Americans. To conclude, I will talk about ethical issues, and dilemmas that a Social Worker might face working with Native American people. In approaching this topic, I first realized that I need to look up some general information about Native Americans in the United States. According to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), there are approximately 564 federally recognized tribes in the United States today (Who we are, n.d). This group does not include tribes†¦show more content†¦Limb Hodge (2008) state that there is not a single definition or common understanding of Native American spirituality. It will vary from tribe to tribe, and person to person. Each tribal member could have a different take o n spirituality. This applies to the rest of society as well, as each religion has a different perspective on religion and spirituality. Garrouttee et al. (2009) discusses that even though the definition of Native American spirituality does not exist, there are several identifiable themes that emerge. The first thing that Garroutte et al. (2009) identifies is that spirits are often associated with animals, plants, and other things in the natural world. Another aspect is the Great Spirit, or father, which is equitable to God in the Judeo-Christian belief. The Great Spirit is more considered to be an omnipresent spirit or collectivity of spirits inhabiting the universe (Garroutte et al., 2009). To many Native American tribes, the material and spiritual realms are wound together and cannot be separated from the other (Limb Hodge, 2008). To many Native American tribes, existence is spiritual (Limb Hodge, 2008). Another area if commonality is ceremonies and rituals of the differe nt tribes. Each tribe has a great variety of rituals, and ceremonies that are apart of each tribe’s culture, values, and beliefs. These spiritual practices reinforce the link between the individual, the creator, and the community (Limb Hodge,Show MoreRelatedHealth Care Provider and Faith Diversity 1238 Words   |  5 Pagesnursing field. It will discuss the spiritual perspective, as well as the critical components of healing, such as through prayer and meditation. The writer will give a brief summary of each religions belief. The three religions that will be discussed in this paper are Native American, Hinduism, and Buddhism. This paper will discuss what is important to people who are cared for of a particular faith by the health care provider who may have an entirely different belief system. The writer will discuss howRead MoreEssay about Creation Stories1222 Words   |  5 Pagesreligion developed every creation story, and as religions vary greatly in beliefs, so do their stories of how the world and mankind were created. Although many of these creation stories differ, they have a close mystical and spiritual bind that brings people together. Two particular creation stories from very diverse religions are that of the Native Americans and the Christians. Unlike Christians who worship one god, Native Americans worship two high gods as well as a variety of natural and supernaturalRead MoreNative American Identity : A Diverse And Multicultural Community979 Words   |  4 PagesWhen viewing the Native American population, it is easy to overlook the complexity of a very diverse and multicultural community. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) (2016) there are 566 Federally recognized tribes in the United States. Each tribe has unique cultural differences based on language, geographical settlement, and cultural beliefs. Many tribes speak different languages to this day and other tribes hold historical reference to nomadic lifestyle in com parison to other tribe’sRead MoreNative American Spirituality And Native Americans1374 Words   |  6 Pages For Native Americans, protecting their sacred ways was and is a matter of survival, but it is also a matter of respect for the power that is involved. Across the United States, there are more than 558 federally recognized and several hundred state recognized Native American nations (Russell, 1998). Given the wide-ranging diversity of this population consisting of 2.3 million people, it is essential to understand that the term Native American spirituality encompasses the vastness of more than 500Read MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Man Made Of Words 1518 Words   |  7 Pagespart Native American, describes the ancient American Indian who has no regard for the well being of his land in his novel The Man Made of Words. Man cannot be like the paleolithic indian Momaday describes, but rather, he must understand the â€Å"vital link between the earth and himself, a link tha t implies an intricate network of rights and responsibilities†, and also the idea that, â€Å"he has the ability to devastate and perhaps destroy his environment† (Momaday 31). For generations Native Americans haveRead More Native American vs. European Way of Life Essays567 Words   |  3 Pages Native Americans and European Compare/Contrast Essay Europeans lived a much more modern way of life than the primitive lifestyle of Native Americans. Europeans referred to themselves as â€Å"civilized† and regarded Native Americans as â€Å"savage,† â€Å"heathen,† or â€Å"barbarian.† Their interaction provoked by multiple differences led to misunderstanding and sometimes conflict. These two cultures, having been isolated from one another, exhibited an extensive variation in their ideals. EuropeansRead MoreHealth Care Provider And Faith Diversity1563 Words   |  7 Pagesneeded to increase its knowledge in incorporating the many different religions/spiritual beliefs in order to provide a more holistic approach to care. As health care providers we should not look in validating our own practice in regards to religion or spirituality but to comprehend and learn to see the patterns of similarities and differences in order to provide holistic care to our patients. As religious and spiritual beliefs are never p ermanent and are constantly changing and/or influenced by governmentRead MoreFamily Roles : Sioux And Their Culture Family 1430 Words   |  6 PagesSioux and their Culture Family Roles -Who’s in charge? Child independence? †¢ The family life of Native Americans today is defined as a nuclear family. This consists of the mother, father, and offspring. The parents are the leaders of the household and work together in making all major decisions. This leaves both the mother and father equally in charge especially when it comes to their offspring. As the child is growing up the parents take primary responsibility in directing their child’s life. WhenRead More Religion and Spirituality in Native American Culture Essay1614 Words   |  7 PagesSpirituality in the Native American Culture When the topic of the beliefs of the Native American culture arises, most people have generally the same ideas about the culture’s beliefs: they are very strong. Being part Native American myself, from the Cherokee tribe, I was raised to know my culture pretty well and follow the same beliefs that they teach and follow. One thing f that my grandma, who is the great-granddaughter of a Cherokee Chief, instilled in me is the importance of my beliefs in God. WhenRead MoreInternalized Oppression And Implications Of Client Characteristics877 Words   |  4 Pagesfactors that impede First Nations/Native Americans’ usage of mental health programs and services, their particular needs and characteristics will influence the way assessments, goal setting, and interventions will be utilized when working with a First Nations client. For example, Grayshield, et al., (2015), discuss the historical trauma that Native Americans/First Nations populations have experienced here in the United States. This includes prohibiting Native Americans/First Nation individuals from speaking

Youngs Double Slit Experiment free essay sample

Procedures: 1. A 40 W lamp was assembled in a lamp base assembly, and the assembly was settled on the edge of a desk top. 2. The lamp was turned on. And the filament of the lamp was seen, from a distance, by a person through the double slits on the slit plate. The shape of the interference was recorded. 3. A piece of red filter was placed in front of the lamp, and the lamp was seen, from a distance through the same double slits. The change of the interference pattern was recorded. 4. The filament of the lamp was seen by a student standing a certain distance away through the same double slits with a piece of blue filter placed in front of the lamp. The change of interference pattern was observed. 5. The slit plate was rotated vertically and horizontally, while other factors were kept constant. The change of interference pattern was observed. 6. The laser light conducted by the laser pen was directed through the double slits onto a piece of paper located 3m away. We will write a custom essay sample on Youngs Double Slit Experiment or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The interference pattern was observed through the slits. 7. The nodal spacing on that piece of paper was measured. 8. Step 6 and step 7 were repeated at a distance of 2m away. Observations: 1. The patterns of lamp light interference were dark and light bands, while the patterns of laser interference were dark and light spots. 2. After the red filter was placed in front of the lamp, the nodal spacing increased. After the blue filter was placed in front of the lamp, the nodal spacing decreased. 3. After the slit plate was rotated vertically, the light and dark bands were not parallel to each other any more, because after the slit plate was rotated vertically, the top and bottom of the double slits were not in the same vertical straight line. After the slit plate was rotated horizontally, the nodal spacing increased, because the distance between two slits (d) decreased. |Distance |? x1/2 |? x2 |? x3 |? x4 |? x5/2 |? xav | |(m) | | | | | | | |3m |0. 0022 |0. 0051 |0. 0049 |0. 0042 |0. 0025 |0. 0047 | |2m |0. 020 |0. 0048 |0. 0042 |0. 0039 |0. 0021 |0. 0043 | Discussion: 1. Dark and light bands were seen through the double slits. These were seen because the two lights came from the same source and had the same frequency. Therefore interference of light waves occurred. The light band was where two crests or two troughs intersected (antinodes), and the dark band was where a crest and a trough intersected (nodes). 2. A wider nodal space occurred in the interference pattern. Since when the lamp was blocked by the red filter, only red light could go through it, and the dark band occurs when the difference between the travelling distances of the two light waves is half of the wavelength. Since the red light has a longer wavelength, half of the wavelength increases accordingly, which means the dark bands will be more away from the central bright band. 3. The nodal space of the interference pattern decreased, since blue light has a shorter wavelength. 4. Blue has the shorter wavelength, and it was proved when the nodal spacing of the interference pattern became shorter. 5. After the slit plate was rotated vertically, the light and dark bands were not parallel to each other any more, because after the slit plate was rotated vertically, the top and bottom of the double slits were not in the same vertical straight line. After the slit plate was rotated horizontally, the nodal spacing increased, because the distance between two slits (d) decreased. 7. The pattern of laser interference consisted of light and dark spots, while the pattern of lamp light interference consisted of dark and light bands, because the light of the lamp could diffuse into a wider range of direction, while laser was ollimated, and was directed into a much narrower direction. 8. |Distance |? x1/2 |? x2 |? x3 |? x4 |? x5/2 |? xav | |(m) | | | | | | | |3m |0. 0022 |0. 0051 |0. 0049 |0. 0042 |0. 0025 |0. 0047 | |2m |0. 0020 |0. 0048 |0. 0042 |0. 0039 |0. 0021 |0. 0043 | 9. 1. Conclusion: Based on observations gathered during the experiment, the interference pattern of the 40 W lamp consi sted of dark and light bands. When red filter was used, the nodal spacing of the pattern increased, and when blue filter was used, the nodal spacing of the pattern decreased. After the slit plate was rotated vertically, the light and dark bands were not parallel to each other any more. After the slit plate was rotated horizontally, the nodal spacing increased. The interference pattern changed into dark and light spots, after laser pointer replaced the lamp as a light source. The wavelength of the laser was predicted to be And the percentage of error calculated was Experimental Uncertainties: 1. The value of nodal spacing (? x) measured was not precise because the scale of a meter scale is only accurate to millimetres. 2. The slit plate was not exactly parallel to the screen that interference pattern was shown. 3. The measured nodal spacing (? x) was not precise due to the width of the slit. The d was only the distance between two slits, without including the width of the slit.

Why Study World Religions A Reflection Essay Example

Why Study World Religions: A Reflection Essay Conflict due to differences can only be addressed if understanding exists among people. The aforementioned adage greatly exemplifies the way by which various religions in the world should be viewed by people. In the past decades, many changes have taken place in the society, which involves the greater interaction and interconnectedness of states and people of different nationalities. Being the case, it cannot be prevented that religious differences will become an issue in the relation among people and nations. In most countries, people have a strong adherence to their respective religious beliefs and practices, which usually has a huge influence in the decisions and actions that they make. As a result, studying different religions in the world is necessary and pivotal in order to understand other people and establish a society that actually understands each others’ religious differences. The idea of â€Å"us† versus â€Å"them†, which is actually rooted from the difficulty of most people to understand and accommodate beliefs and practices that are different from them can be better addressed by means of studying world religions. People should learn to tolerate each other religious beliefs, which is exactly the same argument of Voltaire when he introduced the concept of deism. Deism is â€Å"a vague substitute for traditional religion which acknowledged a creator and some sort of divine justice, but rejected most of the other fundamental beliefs of Christianity† (Voltaire, 1763, n.p.). Voltaire created A Treatise on Toleration during the time wherein the Christian leaders rule the society. He preached that all people have the obligation to tolerate each other when it comes to religious differences, even to the point of tolerating superstitious beliefs. In the same manner, Immanuel Kant, who is also one of the leading minds during the time of enligh tenment like Voltaire also supported the idea of bestowing more freedom among individuals in practicing their respective religious belief. According to Kant, in order for enlightenment to be established and be fully realized freedom is necessary. For Kant the essence of freedom is seen in the way by which every individual can be able to use his or her sense of reason in various matters, which include public use (Kant, 1784). In this sense, for an individual to be truly enlightened it is necessary to use his or her sense of reason in making important decisions and actions, which also include choosing his or her own religious belief and practices. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Study World Religions: A Reflection specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why Study World Religions: A Reflection specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why Study World Religions: A Reflection specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The ideas of Kant and Voltaire actually works hand-in-hand with each other because freedom is necessary in order for people to have liberty in adhering to a religious belief that they want and tolerance is also important in order for people to understand each others’ differences. The revolutionary ideas that Kant and Voltaire proposes took place during the time that people are under the rule of Christian beliefs wherein the only religion that are recognized is that of Christianity. Nevertheless, Kant, Voltaire, and other important people during the time of enlightenment pursued greater freedom for the people, especially in thinking and deciding for oneself that included religious decision. At the present time, people are also facing another problem and that is the conflict brought about by religious differences. In order to address the aforementioned dilemma people should understand other religion in the world and should not merely focus on their own respective beliefs and pra ctices. In line with this, my experiences in taking a course about world religions have also substantially changed and influence my way of thinking about other religious beliefs and practices wherein I was able to understand and accept other religious faiths that are different from mine. Reflection During my free time, I tend to watch television and observe what is currently happening in the society. After surfing different television channels, I was able to find a channel with which discusses religion. I was curious; therefore I tried to listen to the message given by a pastor.   After listening to the preaching, I have realized that his religion and message is only similar to the religion I am practicing. The message of the pastor was very logical for it points that people must put important to worship as an individual. In my own religion, worship is needed to be practiced by everyone for many times a day. A worship of an individual is very significant to secure a person’s belief and have a stronger connection with God. Nonetheless, the pastor mentioned that prayer is a personal way to ask for forgiveness, talk to God and praise him for all the kindness and love that He gives. It was mentioned that there are people who forget to pray due to the busy lifestyle of the current society. Hence, people must be aware that they have a duty to communicate give worship to God. Moreover, it have realized that the both my religion as well as the religion of the pastor is encouraging every individual to have a deeper connection and relationship of God. The only difference of both religions is the practices and norms. For I practice an Islam religion, we call our god Allah and we use the Quran to see the message of God. However, this is only few details that make Islam and Christianity as different religions. In reality, I do view Christianity as similar religions with different practices and priorities. In my reflection of what I have seen on the television, I am reminded of the lines provided by Jalal ad-Din Rumi where in he mentions: â€Å" The man of God is drunken without wine†¦The man of God is made wise by the Truth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Nicholson, 1898). Therefore, it is states that a man could not live without God. The author presents that the word God is a universal word for a being that is served and worshiped by most people. In addition to this the author mentioned that he is neither a Christian, a Muslim nor a Jew, for he is placeless and his body and soul only belongs to God. Therefore, he states that no one owns him but the God who created the earth and the sea for He is the only one he believes to have created him. In the writing of King Ashoka, it was clearly mentioned that the religious belief of an individual is not based on the label of the religion but on attaining similar goals. King Ashoka stated that his men were required to work together with other ethnic tribes that would be an able to allies for attaining one cause. There are different people whom they create relationships and understanding in order to relieve themselves from harassments and violence. Each of the sectors of the society come together for them to obtain a higher form of relationship that would be helpful in attaining peace, understanding and unity. Thus, the literature of King Ashoka sought o explains that it is the duty of one individual or one group to link each community to attain growth the stop chaos (Dhammika, 1993). On the other hand, John Locke also has his own perspective with regards to religion. Due to various religions which are present in the society, he stated that there had been instances where people boast of what they know and what they have. There are debates which had happened yet he questions the authenticity of the true religion. Locke views that due to human nature, they tend to boast and proclaim that they are the best religion. Hence, it is human nature which creates such type of conflict with religions. The theorist elaborated that people should not base their actions and pride with the scriptures present hence, the logic of love must make individuals act for the realizations of the goals of a religion. Given this, the scripture which is being read by all religious groups must be practiced with association to love. Through love any religion is effective in attaining its goals. Love enables individuals to pass the love and create good deeds for others. In addition to this, the e fficacy of religion becomes evident with the actions done by its disciples. It is not through superiority of religion that people could see the greatness of a religious belief but through the love being extended towards others (1689). Conflicts due to religious differences are no longer a new occurrence or issue for me because I have observed and even personally experience being part of a dispute that is caused by the various religious belief and practices that people have. Debates about religious differences is a common incident among my peers, especially since we all have strong convictions and emotions about our respective religion. There are instances wherein my friends and I would talk about a certain issue like the on-going disputes and war that are happening in the Middle East. The 2003 Iraq War is one of the most common topics that we talked about, especially during the time that the war is still taking place. One of my friends has clearly hated the Bush Administration and even the American society because he believes that these people have a superiority complex wherein they want other nations to bow down to them. On the other hand, my other friends will try to reason out with him and point out that the un toward and violent actions of Muslim fundamentalist should be blamed for the invasion of American in Iraq. A simple discussion about war and politics would eventually lead to religious differences wherein one of my friends will say that most Americans hate Muslims and in-turn one would say that the dogmatic ways of Christians is actually the problem. I have to admit that I also have my own take in the discussion wherein I believe that most Christians just do not accept the Islamic faith. However, my untoward feelings about the Christian religion were changed once I have participated in my world religion class. I can still remember one of our topics about the Blind Men and the Elephant wherein blind men were asked â€Å"what sort of thing is an elephant?† after they have already touched a certain part of the animal (Wang, 1995). The blind men gave different descriptions of the elephant based on the parts of the animal that they have touched. However, despite the differences in their description the blind men are all describing an elephant, which is also synonymous to religious differences. The existence of various religious beliefs is similar to the different parts of the elephant wherein people are actually believing in one divine being the only difference are the way they call their religion and the manner by which they practice their faith towards the supreme being that they believe in. Conclusion In the end the current society there are many religions which are present. There are debates over what is the best religion in the world. But in reality, religions are merely beliefs that could not be measured. Hence, there is no such thing a â€Å"greatest religion.† As mentioned by great theorists in the past, religion is important in the society yet every religion is similar to one another. There are differences but all of those are caused by norms and practices. As mentioned by John Locke, it is love that makes the world a better place. Through the devotion of each individual with their own beliefs, love will arise and extend the goodness towards others. Furthermore, religion should be a factor that bind people together not an aspect that would hinder individuals from attaining goals such as peace, equity and understanding (2002; 2010). Why Study World Religions A Reflection Essay Example Why Study World Religions: A Reflection Essay Conflict due to differences can only be addressed if understanding exists among people. The aforementioned adage greatly exemplifies the way by which various religions in the world should be viewed by people. In the past decades, many changes have taken place in the society, which involves the greater interaction and interconnectedness of states and people of different nationalities. Being the case, it cannot be prevented that religious differences will become an issue in the relation among people and nations. In most countries, people have a strong adherence to their respective religious beliefs and practices, which usually has a huge influence in the decisions and actions that they make. As a result, studying different religions in the world is necessary and pivotal in order to understand other people and establish a society that actually understands each others’ religious differences. The idea of â€Å"us† versus â€Å"them†, which is actually rooted from the difficulty of most people to understand and accommodate beliefs and practices that are different from them can be better addressed by means of studying world religions. People should learn to tolerate each other religious beliefs, which is exactly the same argument of Voltaire when he introduced the concept of deism. Deism is â€Å"a vague substitute for traditional religion which acknowledged a creator and some sort of divine justice, but rejected most of the other fundamental beliefs of Christianity† (Voltaire, 1763, n.p.). Voltaire created A Treatise on Toleration during the time wherein the Christian leaders rule the society. He preached that all people have the obligation to tolerate each other when it comes to religious differences, even to the point of tolerating superstitious beliefs. In the same manner, Immanuel Kant, who is also one of the leading minds during the time of enligh tenment like Voltaire also supported the idea of bestowing more freedom among individuals in practicing their respective religious belief. According to Kant, in order for enlightenment to be established and be fully realized freedom is necessary. For Kant the essence of freedom is seen in the way by which every individual can be able to use his or her sense of reason in various matters, which include public use (Kant, 1784). In this sense, for an individual to be truly enlightened it is necessary to use his or her sense of reason in making important decisions and actions, which also include choosing his or her own religious belief and practices. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Study World Religions: A Reflection specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why Study World Religions: A Reflection specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why Study World Religions: A Reflection specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The ideas of Kant and Voltaire actually works hand-in-hand with each other because freedom is necessary in order for people to have liberty in adhering to a religious belief that they want and tolerance is also important in order for people to understand each others’ differences. The revolutionary ideas that Kant and Voltaire proposes took place during the time that people are under the rule of Christian beliefs wherein the only religion that are recognized is that of Christianity. Nevertheless, Kant, Voltaire, and other important people during the time of enlightenment pursued greater freedom for the people, especially in thinking and deciding for oneself that included religious decision. At the present time, people are also facing another problem and that is the conflict brought about by religious differences. In order to address the aforementioned dilemma people should understand other religion in the world and should not merely focus on their own respective beliefs and pra ctices. In line with this, my experiences in taking a course about world religions have also substantially changed and influence my way of thinking about other religious beliefs and practices wherein I was able to understand and accept other religious faiths that are different from mine. Reflection During my free time, I tend to watch television and observe what is currently happening in the society. After surfing different television channels, I was able to find a channel with which discusses religion. I was curious; therefore I tried to listen to the message given by a pastor.   After listening to the preaching, I have realized that his religion and message is only similar to the religion I am practicing. The message of the pastor was very logical for it points that people must put important to worship as an individual. In my own religion, worship is needed to be practiced by everyone for many times a day. A worship of an individual is very significant to secure a person’s belief and have a stronger connection with God. Nonetheless, the pastor mentioned that prayer is a personal way to ask for forgiveness, talk to God and praise him for all the kindness and love that He gives. It was mentioned that there are people who forget to pray due to the busy lifestyle of the current society. Hence, people must be aware that they have a duty to communicate give worship to God. Moreover, it have realized that the both my religion as well as the religion of the pastor is encouraging every individual to have a deeper connection and relationship of God. The only difference of both religions is the practices and norms. For I practice an Islam religion, we call our god Allah and we use the Quran to see the message of God. However, this is only few details that make Islam and Christianity as different religions. In reality, I do view Christianity as similar religions with different practices and priorities. In my reflection of what I have seen on the television, I am reminded of the lines provided by Jalal ad-Din Rumi where in he mentions: â€Å" The man of God is drunken without wine†¦The man of God is made wise by the Truth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Nicholson, 1898). Therefore, it is states that a man could not live without God. The author presents that the word God is a universal word for a being that is served and worshiped by most people. In addition to this the author mentioned that he is neither a Christian, a Muslim nor a Jew, for he is placeless and his body and soul only belongs to God. Therefore, he states that no one owns him but the God who created the earth and the sea for He is the only one he believes to have created him. In the writing of King Ashoka, it was clearly mentioned that the religious belief of an individual is not based on the label of the religion but on attaining similar goals. King Ashoka stated that his men were required to work together with other ethnic tribes that would be an able to allies for attaining one cause. There are different people whom they create relationships and understanding in order to relieve themselves from harassments and violence. Each of the sectors of the society come together for them to obtain a higher form of relationship that would be helpful in attaining peace, understanding and unity. Thus, the literature of King Ashoka sought o explains that it is the duty of one individual or one group to link each community to attain growth the stop chaos (Dhammika, 1993). On the other hand, John Locke also has his own perspective with regards to religion. Due to various religions which are present in the society, he stated that there had been instances where people boast of what they know and what they have. There are debates which had happened yet he questions the authenticity of the true religion. Locke views that due to human nature, they tend to boast and proclaim that they are the best religion. Hence, it is human nature which creates such type of conflict with religions. The theorist elaborated that people should not base their actions and pride with the scriptures present hence, the logic of love must make individuals act for the realizations of the goals of a religion. Given this, the scripture which is being read by all religious groups must be practiced with association to love. Through love any religion is effective in attaining its goals. Love enables individuals to pass the love and create good deeds for others. In addition to this, the e fficacy of religion becomes evident with the actions done by its disciples. It is not through superiority of religion that people could see the greatness of a religious belief but through the love being extended towards others (1689). Conflicts due to religious differences are no longer a new occurrence or issue for me because I have observed and even personally experience being part of a dispute that is caused by the various religious belief and practices that people have. Debates about religious differences is a common incident among my peers, especially since we all have strong convictions and emotions about our respective religion. There are instances wherein my friends and I would talk about a certain issue like the on-going disputes and war that are happening in the Middle East. The 2003 Iraq War is one of the most common topics that we talked about, especially during the time that the war is still taking place. One of my friends has clearly hated the Bush Administration and even the American society because he believes that these people have a superiority complex wherein they want other nations to bow down to them. On the other hand, my other friends will try to reason out with him and point out that the un toward and violent actions of Muslim fundamentalist should be blamed for the invasion of American in Iraq. A simple discussion about war and politics would eventually lead to religious differences wherein one of my friends will say that most Americans hate Muslims and in-turn one would say that the dogmatic ways of Christians is actually the problem. I have to admit that I also have my own take in the discussion wherein I believe that most Christians just do not accept the Islamic faith. However, my untoward feelings about the Christian religion were changed once I have participated in my world religion class. I can still remember one of our topics about the Blind Men and the Elephant wherein blind men were asked â€Å"what sort of thing is an elephant?† after they have already touched a certain part of the animal (Wang, 1995). The blind men gave different descriptions of the elephant based on the parts of the animal that they have touched. However, despite the differences in their description the blind men are all describing an elephant, which is also synonymous to religious differences. The existence of various religious beliefs is similar to the different parts of the elephant wherein people are actually believing in one divine being the only difference are the way they call their religion and the manner by which they practice their faith towards the supreme being that they believe in. Conclusion In the end the current society there are many religions which are present. There are debates over what is the best religion in the world. But in reality, religions are merely beliefs that could not be measured. Hence, there is no such thing a â€Å"greatest religion.† As mentioned by great theorists in the past, religion is important in the society yet every religion is similar to one another. There are differences but all of those are caused by norms and practices. As mentioned by John Locke, it is love that makes the world a better place. Through the devotion of each individual with their own beliefs, love will arise and extend the goodness towards others. Furthermore, religion should be a factor that bind people together not an aspect that would hinder individuals from attaining goals such as peace, equity and understanding (2002; 2010).