Category: Cultural Diversity

Weddings within the U.S. normal traditions typically supported by faith, culture, and social norms. Most wedding traditions within the U.S. were assimilated from alternative, typically European countries. Marriages within the U.S. are usually organized by the participants and ceremonies might either be non-secular or civil. There was a practice that the possible bridegroom raises his future in-laws for his blessing, however, this can be seldom determined nowadays. Once it’s the primary wedding for the bride, a typical U.S. wedding tends to be a lot of elaborate.

In the United States, the bride and groom invite all of their family and friends. Those with the best relationships with the couple are selected to be bridesmaids and groomsmen. Weeks before the wedding, the maid of honor plans a wedding shower or a party the bride-to-be receives gifts from family and friends. The best man often organizes a bachelor party shortly before the wedding, where male friends join the groom in a ‘last night of freedom’ from the responsibilities of marriage.

Traditionally, a U.S. wedding would happen in a very spiritual building like a church, with a spiritual leader deciding the ceremony. Throughout the ceremony, the bride and groom vow their love and commitment to each other with church-provided vows. The reverend asks the guests if they grasp any reason why the couple shouldn’t be married. If nobody objects, the couple then exchanges rings, symbolizing their endless love and commitment to each other. Finally, for the primary time publicly, the couple is pronounced husband and woman. It’s then that they share their initial kiss as a marriage and so seal their union. The couple leaves the building, and family and friends throw rice or wheat in their manner, which symbolizes fertility.

Wedding traditions in Kenya are different from those in the U.S. In Kenya, women are selected and given to a person that they don’t even know, and it is vital for this person to be very old and the bride younger. At the ceremony, the guardian, father, uncle, or brother of the bride spits on the bride’s head as a blessing so she leaves the house together with her new husband walking to her new home. It can be 13-16 years difference in age or the female can be that age. They would walk an extended distance of thanks to get to her husband’s house.

The particular Bantoid language of African country showers brides in wood oils and tattoo henna styles on her behalf limbs. A girls’ elder, or somo, provides directions towards the bride on however for you to please her husband. Generally, the somo may additionally hide below the bed in the event there are any issues! In a very little town referred to as Lamu, located aloof from the coast of African country, lives many Bantoid language Muslims. During this community, weddings may be occurring for a complete week with an excellent deal of festivities consisting of activity, terpsichore, and food. However, these festivities are celebrated separately for men and ladies and for kids too. When at the ‘real’ wedding, the bride is shown publicity places, with a questionable ‘kupamba’. Marriage is usually happening the evening when the marriage and it’s the grand finale of the passage ceremony, in this your young bride enters your married women’s world. In African countries, the kupamba has adult to be additional widespread for diverse reasons, however, one in every of the explanation is the belief that it’s an opportunity for ladies to fulfill and socialize while not their husbands. Today, this notable ceremony has adult to be additional focused than some in years past once the kuinngia ndani (the entry) was the most attraction. It’s a ceremony where the groom is walking down the streets to satisfy his bride and the next complete 1st part of the marriage.

In addition, they enter this party, all of them initiate their African veils, and beneath they’ve got stunning dresses and terrific haircuts. Another downside with this kupamba may be a sizable amount of families virtually ruin themselves simply because every single kid has this party owing to their daughters. In some cases, the mother of the bride, feminine relatives, and neighbors got relief with the foodstuff and devote themselves to creating the food some days before the ceremony. The musicians and food at African weddings prices cost a lot of money.

In conclusion, a conventional relativist would think that weddings are okay depending on the culture and their beliefs because they feel that it would be justified. A moderate objectivist would think that these are their principles and that must follow them. I think that everyone is different and raised with different ideas and cultures and that it is okay to practice the ideas you have been learning or seeing all your life.

In today’s society, people use stereotypes as a way to theorize specific groups through their ideas, religions, race, gender, or even appearance. Stereotypes can be extremely cruel and unfair. Throughout the years the meaning of the word has changed. In the Etymology Dictionary, the word “stereotype” means “method of printing from a plate’ [originating] from [the French language] stéréotype.” In 1922 the word changed to its accurate and well-known definition, “a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing” (Oxford Dictionary). In her TED Talk, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie refers to the word “stereotype” as a “single story.” She goes on to explain how stereotypes have a hold on someone’s life “[p]ower is the ability not just to tell the story of another person, but to make it the definitive story of that person.” Stereotypes primarily make people know how a group of people are and act without truly understanding anything and knowing why it exists. These assumptions are carried down within every generation and augmented day by day. The word stereotype may be a small word, but it has a big impact on society. The results of stereotyping are hidden. People have no remorse over what they say about certain people or groups, and society reinforces stereotypes throughout the media, consequently prompting others to believe that they are right. People do not recognize the influence stereotypes have on each other, an individual may discuss that certain stereotypes are offensive and untrue, while another individual may argue that because stereotypes are somewhat true, they don’t exist. Although there are a bunch of ridiculous stereotypes about Haitians, the most common one is “all Haitians do voodoo.” Africans brought this traditional religious practice with them when they were enslaved and brought to Haiti in the 18th century, and during and after the United States Marine Corps occupied Haiti in the early 20th century, Haiti became the setting for books and movies, which often portrayed Voodoo as sinister, cruel and bloody, which creates unnecessary fear about Haitian people.

Many believe that the history of voodoo started in 1500 AD in Haiti, but the Haitian word ‘Voodoo’ originates from the African Fon and Ewe Language, spoken today in Benin. The religion started about 15,000 B.C. in the Egyptian pyramids by black Egyptian slaves called ‘Yoruba’. The Yoruba people were later freed; however, they did not forget what they saw. “The [two things slaveholders could not take away from slaves were culture and religion]. These were the only things that supported them [… and made it easier to deal with ‘the hardships of the world’]. By falling into a possession trance, [the slaves felt] secure and free.” (La Menfo Vye Zo Komande) Around that time the Yoruba people traveled out of Egypt using the Nile and Niger routes, which crossed over into Benin. Under the leadership of the Yoruba king Oduduwa, voodoo began to spread through all of his lands. In 1492 AD Columbus founded the island of Hispaniola (Haiti is on the western side of the island), and King Charles V ordered the deportation of 15,000 blacks from Africa to the island. Some were the slaves of Yoruba and soon they began to merge cultures and religions and laid the foundation for today’s voodoo.

When people type the word “Voodoo” in their search bar the common definition that pops up is “A black religious cult practiced in the Caribbean and the southern U.S, combining elements of Roman Catholic ritual with traditional African magical and religious rites, and characterized by sorcery and spirit possession.” (Oxford Dictionary) Although the common definition sounds harsh, in the past the word voodoo had multiple meanings and wasn’t always defined as something bad. “In the language of the people of African Fon people, the word “voodoo” means “spirit” or “deity.” (La Menfo Vye Zo Komande) There are many members of this religion, and In Haiti, it is called Voodoo, while in Brazil is called Santeria, which means “holy faith” and “delight.” During the Haitian Revolution, voodoo helped slaves win a war against their colonial masters to gain freedom. When the remaining colonists fled to New Orleans, voodoo began to grow. It was not as powerful as the one in Haiti, because it was suppressed. In the 19th century, voodoo began to evolve in New Orleans. “Dances in Congo Square […] or at the private residences of ‘Voodoo Queens,’ such as Marie Laveau, attracted [prurient attention] in the press and left a [strong] legacy of Voodoo tales of often [skeptical] authenticity.” (Alasdair Pettinger) The voodoo religion has become so popular that “70% of the [Haiti’s] national population […practices voodoo] and is today the religion of choice for a smaller majority of the nation’s urban population.” (Terry Rey)

The constant issue about voodoo is analyzed through its uses in tourist culture, movies, TV shows, news outlets, and books. The number one country that was impacted by this was Haiti. Haiti became the setting for books and movies which often depicted Voodoo as sinister, cruel, and bloody. Because of the impact of the media, allowed people to create their stereotypes about Haitians. The movie White Zombie (1932) characterized Voodoo priests as evildoers who turned innocent people into zombies. For decades, several Hollywood productions have profited from stereotypes about Voodoo. While it’s obvious to any historian that these films are extremely incorrect, for others, the difference between historical facts and Hollywood lies and misrepresentations is not that obvious. “Particular [… ‘horror movies, in which voodoo’s connections with violence’] against whites and hypersexuality are [misused, causing…] terror and arousal.” (Adam McGee) When movie directors perform this act, it causes people to psychologically fear all Haitians and assume something that they aren’t. Due to its advertisement in the media, voodoo became very popular. “The cult of Vodou became the commercial hallmark of Haiti.” (La Menfo Vye Zo Komande) Movies like Live and Let Die (1973) from the James Bond series, The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), and Child’s Play (1988), negatively displays Voodoo, by featuring zombies, possession and Voodoo dolls, which has very little to do with the religion. Currently, television shows such as True Blood and Bones have some Voodoo featured in their series. “Voodoo is not [interpreted] as a spiritual practice but is instead depicted as an [act of evil]. Nor do such media productions emphasize the many similarities that Voodoo shares with Christianity or its roots in Catholicism.” (Felix Germain) The media ignores the fact that Voodoo is also a religion just like Christianity and slowly evolved from the Catholic religion. Instead, it connects voodoo with the devil, which reinforces the negative stereotypes about Haitians.

My first encounter with the stereotype “all Haitians do voodoo” started in middle school and continues today. When I first came to America at nine years old, I had a strong Creole accent, and usually when people have a strong accent people assume that they’re from a different country and barely speak English. In my case, that was completely true. Whenever people would ask me “Oh, where are you from?” I would normally respond proudly and say “I’m from Haiti,” not knowing what the follow-up question would be. The next question was almost always “Do you do voodoo?” or “Do you know how to do voodoo?” When I get asked that question, I feel awkward not because of the question itself, but because the person already had a fit expectation about people who are from Haiti. In the end, I would tell them “no” and go about my day, but the number one thing that has impacted my life because of this stereotype is my birthday. I know it sounds weird for a stereotype to affect someone’s life, but I am one of the victims. I was born on November 1st, which is a religious holiday called “All Saints Day,” defined as “a Christian festival in honor of all the saints in heaven held on 1 November.” (Oxford Dictionary) I am thankful for the U.S. definition because in my country the holiday is very much different. Whenever I would make new friends who were also Haitian, once they found out about my birthday they would be shocked and feel sorry for me. In Haiti, the whole month of November is a voodoo holiday but especially November 1st and 2nd. During those days Vodouists went to cemeteries with food, coffee, and peppered alcohol, to pray, light candles, put fresh flowers on graves, and then dance all night in vodou rites. People who don’t understand voodoo tease me about being born on “the Devil’s birthday,” but I know that voodoo is a religion, and I respect people who practice it even though I don’t choose it for myself. Although the stereotype affects me, I don’t let a label define who I am. As Adichie said, “All of these stories make me who I am. But to insist on only these negative stories is to flatten my experience and to overlook the many other stories that formed me.” Without the labels, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

Stereotypes cause people to feel lonely and even sometimes depressed. Instead of focusing on all the mistakes each person makes, people should start paying more attention to how unique each person is. Stereotypes are harmful to their environment, and their social life because they limit what people know about each other. People should keep stereotypes out of the picture to avoid becoming victims themselves. People need to stop judging others before getting to know them. The thing people don’t understand about the “all Haitians do voodoo” stereotype is that voodoo is mainly practiced in the countryside of Haiti and most urban people don’t even know what voodoo is. Haitians will continue to suffer from a bad reputation as long as voodoo remains an outlet for the expression of others’ racist anxieties and stereotypes. 

In today global communication, language has the power to blend intense emotions. It can motivate, inspire and amuse audiences. Unfortunately, it can also generate negative feelings: hostility, defensiveness and prejudice. This is because language varies in many ways and what is appropriate at one time or place may not be at another. For instance, English language is the most tremendous development from native nations such as the UK or USA to worldwide. This development has brought with it a number of changes in the principles and practice of English language teaching and learning. Since English is today being used for all sorts of purpose worldwide, it is important for learners to know that there is not just one English style. There is, in fact, many different varieties of English, each associated with a particular local community, social group or profession. So that, this essay will first discuss the variation and varieties of language and why the learners should be aware of using appropriate language based on these language variations will be examined carefully as well.

Language varieties develop for number of reasons. Firstly, it is caused historically. Usage of vocabularies, slang terms, pronunciation and grammatical constructions from 17th century change quite rapidly in nowadays. Despite recognizing old fashioned language, new generations use modern language to communicate. Furthermore, different dialect can come out from geographical reasons. For example, people from Singapore, New Zealand, and Bangladeshi produce different English dialects, variations of Standard English as they cannot easily place English speakers by their accent.

A third reason is that people who are possessed by different society, classes or specific group use divergent vocabulary and grammar. They may adopt jargon which is only used by those members of selected group to save time. Take for an example; it is quicker for an accountant to use the term liquidity than to say “the degree to which an asset can be converted into cash.” In the same way, Myanmar people are used to say “car” instead of “wheeled automobile vehicle running on rails”. Moreover, a specialized vocabulary is particularly vital when the subject matter is technical and complex. The phrase sleeping pill simply will not do for physicians, nurse and other health professionals because it say nothing about the dosage, the particular drug ,or the circumstances under which it should be used.

It is obvious that language varies according to who the participants are, where they take place and which medium they use. Despite the fact that people who are under same community may use various way of language to communicate depending on their age, sex or status, group identify and their roles in the speech situation. More specifically, among school community, KG students use a different variety of English apart from teenage or adult learners. That is why there is baby language and most of the stories are filled up with magic, ghosts, princess, fairies, castles and palaces which grown up people rarely mention among themselves. Besides, certain grammatical structures are used to describe such that kind of stories. However, these children change their speech and the way they talked when they get older. They talk differently to their co-workers than they do to their teachers and possibly differently again to their parents.

Similarly, male and female speech is difference. From childhood, rapport talk is learned by females to set up goodwill, show encourage, build community and create connections. Moreover, usage of language is more hyperbolic and they use language to articulate emotions “I’m concerned about finishing that homework today”, “I’m very happy with you all here”. While females use talk to build harmonious relationship, males are more enjoyable with what linguists have labeled survey talk: speech that focuses less on association, emotional state or reaction and more on competence, knowledge, facts and information. Men are more leaning to use language to maintain attention, assert a position, establish status and show independence “Finish that homework by Friday”.

In many languages the speaker makes specific choice of vocabulary or grammar according to the status of the person addressed. People definitely use more formal language to strangers who are not familiar with them and people of higher status such as CEO, boss and principle or lower status as worker, patient and employee. Otherwise, they use informal, casual or intimate style. In practice, one person does not play as one role. They take part in different role in daily activities. A person can be a head of department in one community while he is being patient for doctor for a day. Needless to say, he has to use varieties of language under his role. Alternatively, language may differ while he is using different topic as each subject has its own vocabulary. Take legal and religious language as examples. In addition to this, setting is also influence the language used. Even coworkers who are discussing about market plan in meeting room, they may use appropriate language as formality usage and affected vocabularies under this setting. Depending on setting as well as medium people interact with another by using different style of language. They use more formal language in writing than in speaking.

To everything into consideration, a variety of language which is associated within a particular region or social class may have been because each individual part developed the language in its own different way. That is why language learners should be aware of not only knowledge of the systems of the subject language, such as its grammar and phonology but also knowledge of its social and cultural role of language usage according to previous paragraphs. To be more precise, they have to determine the different registers of language use under different contexts. Traditionally, they are taught by given priority to be linguistic accuracy. Now a day, language teachers add another point of view to traditional method by creation awareness of the appropriate of language. As a result, learners get chance meaningful learning to get communicative competence than grammatically correct in order to be able to communicate effectively.

Many scholars believe that Hinduism is the oldest religion at more than 4.000 years, predating Christianity. If you talk to many Hindus, they will tell you Hinduism has been around since the beginning of time. However, it can be traced to somewhere between 2300 B.C. and 1500 B.C. There are 9 recognized religions in India, Hinduism is the largest followed religion with about 80% of the population practicing it. Islam and Christianity are the second and third largest religions consecutively.

Hinduism does not have a leader or someone that can be traced to as a beginning leader like Christianity (Jesus). As well, Hinduism does not seem to be just one religion, but one that has many aspects to it. There is one central God, but they also believe and worship in other Gods (deities) as well. There are 7 prominent deities that are most worshiped. In addition to the multiple deities, Hinduism has 4 sects and a caste system with 4 main castes. The caste system still exists today, but it is not as strictly followed with the exception of, marrying within your caste. In 1947 when India became an independent nation, it changed it’s constitution no longer allowing discrimination based on which caste you were born into.

Most Hindu’s believe in reincarnation. This is a well-known fact and there are different directions the soul can take related to reincarnation. . They believe in Samsara which means “rebirth.” There are a few steps Hindus have to take in order to obtain Samsara. First, they have to be free of desire which will allow them to move forward into Moksha, which is considered to be the state of salvation. (citation). Once a person has reached Moksha, then they move onto Brahman. Brahman is not a mortal state, but rather one that is considered the ultimate reality. Reincarnation is not an absolute, your soul can by-pass it so to speak and go straight to heaven.

Karma also plays a role in Hinduism and the dying process. Karma basically means a person is in control of their actions, and what happens to them is directly related to their actions. If an individual does bad things during their life it will affect their death. In short, what goes around comes around.

The Dying Process and Death Rituals

Hindus do not believe in prolonging life. They believe that death is a natural event and they die when their time has come. Therefore, they do not believe in using un-natural means of extending one’s life unless there is a chance there could be a positive result in the treatment and the individual’s life will be better in the end. If it is a child, then treatment is usually agreed upon hoping to prolong the child’s life. Enduring pain allows a type of cleansing and if you’ve done bad things in your life, the suffering can help improve Karma.

Hindu’s believe that a person should die at home. Hinduism has priest and once it is deemed that death is near, the family members or appropriate people will call in the priest. Not unlike other religions, family and friends are called to the home. If an individual is at a hospital and can not be taken home, all the same rituals will be performed in the hospital room. There are specific ritualistic steps that need to be taken. The most important one is positioning the head so that it is facing East. Hindus believe the gods are in the eastern direction from earth. A lamp is lit as well. The priest and family members will say prayers and chat a mantra that is specific to that dying person if the dying person is unable to chant their own mantra. Once the individual has passed, the body is placed in the main doorway facing South and the lamp continues to burn. The change in position designates that the soul is returning to Mother Earth. ‘The deceased’s thumbs and big toes are tied together, and a cloth is tied around the head and under the chin.’ (citation) In some homes the mirrors are covered, and any religious pictures are turned around.

A chief mourner is designated. “It is usually the eldest son for a father and the youngest son for a mother. Sometimes the eldest son serves for both.” (citation) However other family members may be designated if there is no son or the son is absent.

The bodies are then taken to a porch if one is available and draped in a white cloth and bathed. During this process hymns are sung, and children walk around the body with lighted candles. The women place rice in the mouth of the deceased so it will not be hungry. If it is a husband, the wife will place her tali (wedding pendant) around his neck as a representation of her eternal devotion. The deceased is then placed in the casket and taken to the crematorium and only males go with the body.

Hindus do not believe in embalming or organ donation. The body is prepared in the home and is kept there until the cremation which typically is about 24 hours. This is similar to Judaism with the exception that the bodies are not kept at home. If the death takes place is in the hospital, the death certificate is signed immediately, and the body is transported home.

After Death Rituals

Once the males return home from the crematorium, everyone baths and then the house is cleaned. Family members and relatives do not leave the home, and neighbors bring food during the morning period. The time of morning varies, but some morn for up to a year. Some believe that if you morn too long you are keeping the deceased individual too close to earth and not allowing it to pass to heaven.

About 12 hours after the cremation, the males collect the ashes. The ashes are placed in a container to be preserved until they can be taken to the Ganges for disposal. If the deceased is outside of India, their ashes will usually be sent back to India to be placed in the river. Usually flowers are thrown in as well signifying that ashes have been recently placed.

There is a 31st day service as well as a one-year memorial. Some families preform a service on the 11th and 15th day as well. Hindu funeral rites can be very simple or detailed. There are some guidelines related on how to dress for Hindu funerals. Being respectful in how you dress is very important . This in part is due to how religious they are, again like Judaism (Reform, Conservative or Orthodox). The levels of the caste system play a part in the extent of the rituals performed.

Cremation

The 5,000 year old city of Varanasi is the holy city to where many Indians go to die. It is believed that if you die in Varanasi, then you will reach salvation, thus breaking the believed cycle of being born, dying and then reincarnated.

Because of the spiritual importance of this city, there are an array of places people can stay until their time of death. Cost is based on ability to pay. Most stay about 2 weeks, some as few as a couple of days, and then there are others who have been there for years. Most of the “hotels” do not allow you to stay for an extended length of time.

Cremation is very important to those who practice Hinduism. There are a lot of differing theories about reincarnation. Some believe that the sole escapes during cremation and is reincarnated into a new life, so they are not really gone forever. Others believe if the cremation is not done properly there can be the chance of a bad reincarnation and your sole can possibly be wandering for eternity without ever getting to their version of heaven. Some believe if you have not lead a good life, have sinned, you can be reincarnated into something lesser, ie: bugs, animals, etc.

The city of Varnasi sits on the Ganges river. It is thought that is your body is cleaned with river water, then your cremated ashes are thrown in the Ganges your soul will rest forever. The waters of the Ganges river are believed to wash away any of your sins.

The cremation ghats burn 24 hours a day. The bodies are laid on top of a pile of wood called a pyre and burned. Then the ashes are put into the river, preferably by a family member.

Additional Information

There are instances where the dying will accept pain medication to control their symptoms, but they will not allow pain management to the point that they are less aware. Hindus believe they need to be in a clear minded state to meet death.

Although Western beliefs and laws are that suicide is wrong, assisted suicide is illegal in most states. If a person who practices Hinduism wants to end their suffering by what is termed “self-willed death by fasting,” this is acceptable. However, they must notify the family and others prior to doing so. It is considered an acceptable method of ending one’s own suffering.

There are no laws that prohibit Hindus from donating their organs. Even their religious references support organ donations. Hinduism believes in keeping life going, organ donations do exactly that. As well, some Hindus get embalmed and buried rather than cremated although this is not very common.

Hinduism. Hinduism is the oldest living religion on Earth. Although the name Hinduism is new, by British writers in the first decades of the 19th century, it refers to a tradition of texts and practices.

This religion is one of the world’s major religions originating from the Indians comprising systems of philosophy, beliefs, and ritual understandings. Relating to the PowerPoint that Dr. Harvin addressed Hindu’s ancestor’s framework regarding religious efforts includes sacrifices and rituals. Most commonly when it comes to sacrifices in the Hindu community, they often refer to a sequence that is closely related to “Ashvamedha.”

In the early 21st century, Hinduism had one billion participants worldwide and was the religion of about 80 percent of India’s population. Before this in the early 20th century, textbooks on Hinduism have been written by Hindus themselves. These self-explanations add an elaborate tradition of explaining practice dates to the 1st millennium. The roots of this tradition are sometimes traced back to the female associated with the Indus valley civilization. They are even sometimes interpreted as goddesses. Surprisingly more than any other major religious community, Hindus accept and indeed celebrates the organic nature of their traditions. This expansiveness is made possible by the widely shared Hindu view that truth or reality cannot be unrecognized in any perspective expressed in the Hindu prayer “May good thoughts come to us from all sides.”

Which refers to what I’ve learned in the previous ted talk. The speaker announced that although some people may not be religious because of the way they live their life. Which then proceeds to make them religious even if they haven’t noticed yet. That quote has more than enough information for us “people “of the united states population to understand when making the sacrifices that we do to survive; we may be practicing a religion. Yes, if I were to join the community and transition over to becoming a part of the Hinduism organization, I am overall being a good citizen. In the ted talk, the speaker also mentioned being forgiving. In many cultures, the myths were that many people hold grudges, but I soon learned these different religions were meant to forgive. We all believe in the same higher authority just in many different ways.

Another dimension drawing Hindus into a single community of discourse is narrative.

For at least two millennia, people in almost all corners of India and now well beyond have responded to stories of divine play and interactions between gods and humans. For example “ a proper understanding of the Hindu thought, it is important to know its general framework that is, its core concepts and the interrelationships between those concepts. Such knowledge would help us know how the core principles and philosophy of Hinduism can help us navigate through the needs of contemporary society. Importantly, it will help us realize that the Hindu thought would considerably help in creating a harmonious world and as such would be of benefit not only to Hindus but to non-Hindus alike. Consequently, the Hindu way of life needs to be propagated for the betterment of the world and to end inter-religious hostilities and violence as well as to make individual life richer, happier, and worry-free.” With this current understanding of the way, the general framework against Hinduism is how society sees this organization as it is today. This next quote is going to go into deeper depth on why the elements of the general framework of Hinduism have been generated into five categories.

“The elements of the general framework of Hinduism have been grouped in five categories in which it states that the Western philosophy is generally studied, that is, metaphysics, epistemology, logic, and ethics and aesthetics. However, as noted earlier, while Western philosophy considers these elements in parts or a disaggregated manner, Hinduism considers them in an aggregated manner, hence it becomes at times difficult to divide Hindu thought into the above five elements. Yet such a division, it is hoped, could help us discuss Hinduism in a multicultural setting. Therefore, the five major world religions (Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam) have in common is a sense of community. A sense of community provides group cohesion and identity, as well as a way for rituals and traditions to be passed down from generation to generation.

“ Theology when it comes to Hinduism they refer to ‘ an ordered, coherent exposition of beliefs and commitments, explored and established through the use of a range of philosophical methods of analysis and engaging with the philosophical issues arising out of the ordered set of belief The Hindu theological literature can be classified in three distinct groups: the theology of identity, theology of difference, and the theology of difference in identity. These schools basically deal with the problem of Ultimate Reality which has transcendental and phenomenal dimensions. Does Hindu theology ask whether these dimensions are different, identical, or both? In conclusion with Philosophy being the most critical and comprehensive thought process developed by human beings. It is quite different from religion in that where Philosophy is both critical and comprehensive, Religion is comprehensive but not necessarily critical. Religion attempts to offer a view of all of life and the universe and to offer answers to most, if not all, of the most basic and important questions which occur to humans all over the planet. The answers offered by Religion are not often subject to the scrutiny of reason and logic. Indeed, many religious beliefs defy logic and seem to be unreasonable. Religion has its basis in belief. Philosophy, on the other hand, is a critic of belief and belief systems. Philosophy subjects what some would be satisfied in believing in a severe examination. Philosophy looks for rational explications and justifications for beliefs. Philosophy has its basis in reason. “

The article Becoming Visible: Religion and Gender in Sociology goes into two main points. In the first point the author goes into detail about how religious participation is gendered disturbs the standard assumption about secularization. The second main point the author seeks to understand religion through a gender lens.

Methods

Throughout the article the author does not mention doing many surveys. She does mention one survey done in North America and Europe that say, “women are more likely to be members of and participants in religious groups” The author did not mention where she had gotten this information. She does through in a women’s own experience with feminist theology in 1997. How she felt and what she went through in her experience. These were the only collected data the author used. The author did do research from the looks of all the citations in the article.

Results

In this article the result from the research done shows women are freer than they have ever been. The grounds for feminism have shifted. However, are women free? Even in the U.S. women do not get the respect from government as they should. If look beyond the United States, women in some countries have no rights. They do not have the right to vote, drive, or even be who they want to be. Also, during the late twentieth and twenty first century the awareness of the persistence of religion in the United States and Europe has come alive. This is due to the factors including the political presence of Protestant evangelicals and the increasing pluralism of the religious landscape, religion has become visible in Europe and the United States in a way that it was not previously.

Conclusion

The result of this article is, over time there have been changes in society of how women are perceived. Being able to do what is not expected of them, like be the bread winner of the house hold, and do the dirty work men usually do. The things people never thought women should never be doing. However, there still parts of this world women still have not advanced. There are countries who still do not allow women to do much. As years go by religion becomes more aware. In small towns religion is a part of what the society is built around. People can tell how the churches can manipulate everyone and how they should look at things.

Many organizations have an impact on on science. Those groups. These groups may additionally be political groups, organizations in society, businesses in commerce i.e enterprise or economic organizations and so on. They are many groups that have an influence on science. For example, there is a team referred to as ‘campaign for science and engineering’. Groups like people who are in opposition to abortion influence science. Groups like environmental groups have an effect on science and technology.

There are three groups that can influence science; political parties/groups, pressure groups and social groups. Political parties are the organizations that responsible for the increase of government inside the country. The parties are elected publicly for a management and makes a honest decisions primarily based on what majority of the public needs as it would not show democracy, however, the political corporations which are pastime companies and stress agencies are establishments who fund publicly and privately needs to have an effect on the public and the politician to trade the decisions made by way of the government coverage except the assist of the election.

Social corporations are typically categorized by means of age, health, interests and incomes that share similarities with the groups. Different corporations have an influence on science as they might also not accept as true with that the science technological know-how is used successfully and this lead

Political Group: Greenpeace Campaign

Greenpeace is an ecological team that has an impact on science. Greenpeace has confidence in looking after the planet and thwart matters from hurting it. They appear to be after issues like the Arctic and seas, sparing animals like foxes and removing poisons from contamination. They do this by utilizing battling, through the media and challenges affecting science. These methodologies are in anticipation of getting the legislature and open concern, which can impact science.

‘Greenpeace campaigners endeavour to achieve’ standard’ legislative issues and it endeavours to handle issues including the planet and the earth. Greenpeace used to be not sufficiently viable to offset the petroleum derivative industry, which with government advanced the thought that Kyoto would now not be monetarily feasible’.

They affect a lot of logical advances in a proper manner and an awful way, by means of showing the world what is truly occurring at the back of the scenes. For example, they affirmed what was actually going on with whaling. Gatherings like Greenpeace individuals may not concur with their position or strategies, this is on the grounds that businessmen worldwide to pay heed.

Greenpeace campaigners endeavour to accomplish ‘standard’ legislative issues and it endeavours to handle issues including the planet and the earth. Greenpeace used to be not sufficiently powerful to balance the petroleum derivative industry, which with government advanced the thought that Kyoto would now not be financially feasible’.

Greenpeace is a free gathering; this implies they don’t acknowledge gifts from enterprises, governments and different organizations. Greenpeace depends on individual supporters that contribute what they can help. A case of Greenpeace victories would be in 2012, the legislature of South Korea had plans to chase and slaughter whales for logical research. Nonetheless, after Greenpeace dissents and marks from individuals who don’t bolster this arrangement, the South Korean government did not proceed with this arrangement.

Pressure Group: Action on Smoking and Health

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a general wellbeing philanthropy that attempts to remove the mischief encouraged by utilizing tobacco. Cinder was set up in January 1971 by means of the Royal College of Physicians. We do never again assault individuals who smoke or censure smoking.

Much the same as CND, ASH spread mindfulness through gatherings with individuals and their supporters. The British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research subsidize the Action on Smoking and Health. Fiery remains expect to evacuate the mischief brought about by utilizing tobacco. Promotion and battling: To press for inclusion estimates that will confine the weight of habit, ailment and untimely death owing to tobacco.

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament:

CND represents Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and they are a gathering that crusades for atomic demilitarization by the UK. They emphatically restrict atomic power stations in the United Kingdom and any military exercises that include the utilization of atomic weapons. The CND is a harmony development and it is a quiet crusade, its objective is an increasingly secure Europe.

So as to communicate as the need should arise they use media and furthermore numerous gatherings. Their strategy for depicting their perspectives is peaceful (for example walking through avenues and holding publications and sign). Thus, Greenpeace and CND is subsidized by their individuals and supporters.

They will probably wipe out and boycott the weapons that reason decimation, for example, organic weapons and compound.

In March 2007 CND sorted out a rally in Parliament Square to reestablish the weapons gadget after the Trident rocket. More than one thousand individuals visited and the result was 161 MPs cast a ballot against it 88 of them being work. The end choice whether trident will proceed will take region in 2016.

REFERENCES

1. https://shannonsbcienceblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/09/strategies-pressure-groups-use-to-bring-about-a-change-m4/
2. https://aiyshaali.wordpress.com/category/task-5-4-perceptions-of-science/
3. https://prezi.com/vg4mvuxefkr0/how-different-groups-have-an-influence-on-science/
4. http://peacemagazine.org/archive/v20n3p13.htm
5. https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/greenpeace-environmental-trust/funding/
6. https://cnduk.org/about/aims-and-objectives/
7. http://ash.org.uk/category/information-and-resources/fact-sheets/

Singapore like india is a secular country. This means that it does not have a state regulated religion which the citizens are bound to follow. Singaporeans are free to decide and follow any religion they like. Unlike other countries, this stands absolutely true. The government does not go against those following other languages, the freedom of choosing and followings ones religion is one of the foremost rights given to each Singaporean.

Children are also made to participate in religious outreach program to increase their sensitivity and grow their knowledge of religions. They are made to realize the importance of religion and respect the variety and differences that might occur through it. There are 6 religions that are more followed out of the plethora of religions found here. They are as follows.

Taoism

Taoism is another famous religion here. Taoism was born out of the preachings of a very famous Chinese philosopher,. Lao Tzu. He was a strict follower of Taoism and preached about it religiously. According to him, the true was if leading life is by honouring our ancestors and being compassionate towards then

He was also a true believer of the concept of heaven and hell and claimed that those who are not respectful of nature’s and their elders will inevitably end up in hell. One those who walked the correct path would be eligible to enter heaven. He was also the propagator of the yin and yang theory.

The yin and yang is a very famous symbol. It says that everyone has a bad side and a good side to them. Even in the bad there is something good and in the good there’s something good. In life, it is always about finding the balance and looking for the better.

One of the oldest Tao temples is also situated here. It goes by the name of Temple of Heavenly Happiness of Thian Hock Keng. It was built in the 1840s to pay respect to the sea goddess Mazu.

Buddhism

Buddhism is one of the main religions in Singapore. Almost 3/5th of the population are Buddhists.

Buddhism as a religion stands for conscience, preserverence,morality and truth. Buddhism has various sects within its, like most religions. The form of Buddhism most prevalent here is the Chinese Mahayana form of Buddhism. The largest Mahayana Buddhist temple, the Kong Meng San Phor Kar See Monastery is also situated here. It attracts millions of tourists and locals annually and a large contributor to the tourism sector.

As Buddhism is very popular and quite followed here , there are a large number of stores and shops that sell articles related to it. There are various religious shops offering licence sticks, mats , Buddha statues and other tools to aid meditation. Apart from this organisations like The Metta Welfare and Tzu Chi and Kwan Im Welfare Society offer guidance in practicing this religion. They operate via mobile clinics and are well spread throughout the country.

The religion is also overlooked by a special board called the Singapore Buddhist Federation. This board helps in making sure that the rights of the Buddhists are well preserved and keeps an eye on the major buddhist temples and monasteries as well.

Islam

The religion is Islam is not very prominent here. Although you will still find a lot of Muslims here.

The religion of Islam was born out of the teachings of Allah which which were translated and preached by the famous Prophet Mohammed. The Qur’an is the most highly regarded book in Islam. It has scriptures and teachings of Allah. The book strives to spread the world of God love and respect for all human beings.

Only a tiny percentage of people, roughly 16 percent are followers of this religion.

The Majlis Ugama Islam Singapore or MUIS is the primary body overlooking the rights and maintainence of this religion. They are the umbrella body overlooking all the other Islamic organisations.

The MUIS is also responsible for protecting and improvising on the social, cultural and religious needs of the Muslims of Singapore.

They also take care of the mosques and other monuments around the country. They are also very involved in organising yearly pilgrimage to Mecca. One of the most prominent figures of the Islamic world is Mr Yusof bin Ishak. He is also widely recognised as the first President of Singapore has a protrait if him imprinted on all the currency notes valid here.

Hinduism

Hinduism is considered to be one of the earliest religions to have been discovered in the world. it is one of the oldest and most researched religion in the world. this religion was birn out of the teaching of Lord Brahama who was considered to be the founder of the universes.

Lord Brahama was also the creator of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, who are well worshipped and revered in their own ways. Lord Vishnu is also known as the Preserver. He preached about preserving our good qualities upholding the most important quality known to man- their dharma. . He is the giver and known to shower people with blessings.

Shiva on the other hand is another famous god in hinduism. he is known as the god of destruction. He comes in the destroy the monotony in life. He is known to providing guidance to overcome and ultimately get rid of the bad qualities that plaque humans.

Both these gods are very important in the hindu religion. Although there are a lot more that just these gods. Other eminent gods worshipped by the hindus in the world and Singapore alike include Gansesha, Lakshmi, Parvati, Rama, Durga, Krishna and hanuman to name a few.

The oldest hindu temple also known by the name of Mariamman Temple is located here. It is flanked by people from all over the world as well as the local hindus. It attracts millions of tourists annually and very famous among the Singaporeans. There are a total of 30 temples in Singapore catering to this religion. All these temples as well as the social cultural and religious rights are protected and managed by the Hindu Advisory Board and Hindu Endowments Board.

Christianity

Christianity is an Abrahamic religion which was born out of the teachings of Jesus, who is considered to be the son of God.

Jesus was send to earth by God to teach us his word and spread across the message bof love. He lived on earth for a few years before he was killed by his fellows. His life story, teachings and his ultimate death is mentioned in the Bible. The Bible is the script of the Christians. It is one of the most widely books read on the planet. It was also the first book to be printed and converted into another language .

The oldest Christian Church also known as the Armenian Church is situated here. It was built in the 1830s and is quite popular amongst the Christians all over the world. It is flanked by millions of people from all over the world and Singapore alike.

Just like Hinduism, Christianity also has a few sects such as Protestants and Catholic. Protestants are quite different from Catholics. Their way of worshipping, prayers and rules differ from each other in a variety of ways.

Churches catering to both these sects are located here. There are around 30 Catholic churches spread across the country and as many or more Protestant churches as well.

Other religions that can be found here include Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Judaism Baha’I, Jainism and many more.

One thing to note is that life on the Texas frontier was very different from any other frontier state. Not only did Texas settlers have to adjust to rural life, but they were also exposed to many dangers such as murder, theft, and kidnapping. By the mid-19th century, Texas had become a target for Indian raids. In The Captured: A True Story of Abduction on the Texas Frontier, historian Scott Zesch embarks on a journey to learn about the lives of Indian captives along the south-central Texas Frontier. He does this by analyzing the experiences of nine adolescent German-American captives, starting from the end of the Civil War till about 1872. His analysis is based on the lives of Rudolph Fischer, Banc Babb, Dot Babb, Minnie Caudle, Temple Friend, Adolph Korn, Herman Lehmann, Clinton Smith, and Jeff Smith. The ages ranged from nine to thirteen years old. Zesch tended to focus on two Indian groups, the Apaches and Comanches. Both were known for taking young captives out of Texas. Due to the contrasting nature of Indian culture, Zesch argues that the experiences endured by these children before and during captivity affected who they were after being admitted back into Anglo society.

To begin his analysis Zesch takes a look at the lives of these children before captivity, to help explain how these factors helped foster their love for Indian culture. He notes that one factor that contributed to assimilation was the children’s backgrounds. Growing up these children were forced to work alongside their parents on farms. He learned that due to their experiences on the Texas Frontier, these children had already had some sort of dislike for the “American way of life”. He states that “ironically, captivity opened up a new world of freedom” which was extremely different than farm life (Zesch 114). Zesch repeatedly states that the captives were allowed to eat whenever they were hungry, a freedom that was not given to them before. Also, the children gained new freedoms such as horse riding, hunting, and fighting.

Additionally, Zesch furthers his analysis by using the works of both anthropologists and psychologists. Zesch was very descriptive of the brutality that occurred during these raids. He notes that these attacks were traumatic and would shape certain behaviors to arise later in life. Many of these children witnessed the mutilation of their loved ones and out of fear they obeyed the commands of their captors. These commands became routine and the children copied such practices as they learned to raid. The children began to see themselves as a part of

Indian society. This was especially true among the males who would later struggle in courts to proclaim themselves as Indians. He states that they “were living with Indians as Indians” describing assimilation happening (Zesch 139).

Consequently, these children grew to love their new homes all while increasing a feeling of resentment for their past life. When it was time for the children to return to their American homes many did not want to leave. For example, Rudolph Fischer and Herman Lehmann had to forcefully return to their families. He also states that Banc Babb retained her Indian traits as she “moved from town to town” reliving her short nomadic lifestyle (Zesch 240). This was her way of coping with her new life. Other children also had a very difficult time readjusting to American life and were quite miserable as adults. For many decades after ‘redemption’ many former captives struggled to maintain stable jobs and marriages.

Zesch organized his analysis in a way that his readers would understand. First, he provided his readers with background knowledge in the prologue. Throughout the prologue, he explained why he was intrigued by this subject. In fact, this analysis was somewhat personal because it allowed him to gain a greater insight into what his great uncle Adolph Korn endured as a captive. Next, Zesch interestingly breaks his analysis into three parts, almost resembling a life cycle. The first section titled A Fate Worse than Death, analyzes the children’s lives up until they were captured. He describes the hardships and sacrifices that many frontier settlers endured during that time. The title suggested that settlers would have rather chosen death over captivity. In the second section titled In the Wilds, Zesch further dives into his analysis by revealing life during captivity. Within this section, Zesch explains the psychological processes that occurred during assimilation or ‘Indianization’. This section is the core of his analysis because it reveals why it was so difficult for the White Indians to revert back to Anglo-American culture. The third section titled Redemption, explains the struggles these children endured after captivity. In this section, Zesch’s readers learn that it was much harder to assimilate into Anglo-American culture versus Indian culture.

Zesch does an excellent job of balancing both his primary and secondary sources. To analyze the personal accounts of the children he uses primary sources such as memoirs, interviews, and articles written by local newspapers. Local newspapers provided eyewitness accounts for many of the events that took place. Additionally, he also uses newspapers from across the country which expressed how other Americans viewed the Texas Frontier. He

examines records that were collected by both Indian agents and county officials. Also, personal letters were written by military officials who were frequently stationed on the frontier. He gathers court documents from both the state and federal levels to provide evidence. For instance, he analyzes claims that were made to the state and federal governments by Anglos and Indians. The claims gave eye-witnessed accounts of what took place during the raids. The secondary sources he used were books and journal articles.

Scott Zesch was an author, who has written novels and non-fiction works. The Captured: A True Story of Abduction by Indians on the Texas Frontier is his best work to date. He grew up in Mason County, Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M University. Also, he graduated and attended Harvard Law School. The time he spent here I can conclude he became interested in the history of Texas. He is also the author of Alamo Heights, a novel based on the last battle of the Alamo. He was the author of The Chinatown War: Chinese Los Angeles and the Massacre of 1871. Some of his literary works were very successful, receiving great reviews and acknowledgments. All of his works were very researched and the topics were displayed to the readers.

Overall, Scott Zesch does an excellent job of recapturing the horrible events of the hostages both during and after captivity. Zesch does a great job of explaining his analysis through a historical context. In order for readers to develop their own reasoning for the differences between Indians and Anglo-American groups. Those who are not familiar with history can easily be persuaded to believe an Anglo point of view.

Zesch does an excellent job with remaining providing the effect Indians had on Anglo-American life throughout his analysis. He tells the story from both sides without diverting from the truth. Based on the language used for this book to reach anyone who is interested in the subject. This book definitely provides a different outlook on American life on the Texas frontier. Many will read this book and find it interesting. I really liked how he tracked and accurately described Indians’ everyday life. One criticism I have about his book is how some captives fell in love with the culture. I wish he could have interviewed Sam Houston about his encounters with Indians. From a historian’s point of view, I wonder if the Indians were treated fairly; given the land and food. Who would Indians be in our Society?

Passover is one of the most significant holidays in the Jewish calendar and is a time for Jews to remember how they were freed from captivity in Egypt. It was the first holiday given to Jewish people by God and it speaks deeply to the Jewish soul. In Judaism, the event of leading the Israelites out of Egypt is significant as it is the foundation of the Jewish religion and their religious identities. This significant event allowed for a covenant, the Mosaic covenant, to be established with the Jewish people and God and provided them with a new perspective on how they should live their lives. The Passover is celebrated in honor of Moses, the man who led the Israelites out of slavery. Celebrating Passover allows Jews to regain God’s trust and illustrate the importance of the coexistence of past and future redemptions at the Seder. This celebration is explored through the three worlds of the text.

To begin with, leading the Israelites out of Egypt was difficult, especially considering the social and political circumstances during that time. The story about the Israelites being freed from slavery, as stated in the book of Exodus, was written in 1300 BCE which modern scholars believe was a composition of products from the Babylonian exile (Egypt timeline, 2020). In 1304, Ramesses II was born and became the third Pharaoh of Egypt. Ramesses II was considered to be one of the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful rulers in Egypt (A Timeline of the Ancient Egyptians, 2020). Once he became the new Pharaoh, he established a hierarchy system that placed certain groups of people in different positions in society. Although his ruling brought much success, he also began taking Hebrews as slaves for himself and those who were wealthy (14th Century BC – Ancient History Timeline, 2020). The reign of Ramesses II led to changes in the social hierarchy and resulted in Jews being captured and used as slaves, which was a significant time in Jewish history. The idea of Mosaic authorship has been corroborated by Jewish sentiment for many years as Jews always believed Moses wrote the Torah. However, Reform and Orthodox Jews have begun to doubt Mosaic authorship after the documentary theory was proposed. This theory suggested that four authors wrote the Torah rather than Moses.

Egyptian society had been drastically changed during the time of Exodus, especially their slave system as Jewish people were being used as slaves. Israelite prophets, wisdom teachers, and priests established a monotheistic system of religion. This system established the fundamentals of three of the major religions in the world: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam (Israelite History in the Context of the Ancient Near East, 2020). Israelites had very few rights in society as they were ranked as the lowest people in the Egyptian social hierarchy. The Israelite’s sentiment towards Egypt was based on the fact that they had minimal power and from the negative depiction of the Pharaoh they had determined (Hunt, 2009). Although their society was divided, ancient sources indicate that men and women were treated with equal opportunity and freedom. Women decided who they would marry and could separate from men whenever they wished to do so. The factors regarding their society and people factored into the way the Exodus story was shaped and written.

The story of Moses in Exodus and the Passover became a significant event that shaped the religion of Judaism, specifically Exodus 12:21-51. The story of Exodus begins with the story of Passover. This was also the most central scene in Exodus. Moses, the prophet, instructed the elders of Israel to slaughter a lamb as a sacrifice. Moreover, they must take hyssop, a busy aromatic plant, and dip it in blood, applying it to the doorposts (Gray, 2018). He ensured that the Lord would pass over their door and not let the destroyer enter their house (Passover, 2020). This scene outlined the essence of Jewish religion and customs. Passover commemorates the story of the Israelites being led out of Egypt and invokes the themes of family, freedom, and remembrance (The Passover Story in a Nutshell, 2020). Participation in the event allows a Jew to symbolically and vicariously relive the events of Exodus. The celebration of Passover was one that everyone had to be part of, including slaves (The Passover (Pesach) Seder, 2020). Although, slaves could only eat if they were circumcised. On the day of the Passover, “That very day the Lord freed the Israelites from the land of Egypt, troop by troop” (Exodus 12:51) (Gray, 2018). Overall, in the story, Moses and God are portrayed with the characteristics of compassion, grace, faithfulness, and forgiveness through their actions to protect their people (Characteristics of God, 2020). The story of Exodus supports the significance of the Passover in the Jewish religion.

Themes and purpose indicate the significance of why Passover was celebrated by the Jews. Exodus revolves around the themes of faithfulness, grace, power, freedom, and family. The main theme outlines Israel being saved and freed for a purpose, which was to serve God’s glory. Moreover, it enlightens Jews to believe that God is powerful to the point that he would deliver his people from the Pharaoh (The Global Message of Exodus, 2020). God’s intention was only to reaffirm His covenant with Abraham. Jewish people were born into bondage where God always vowed to protect the Jews. After God rescued and preserved His people, he established the Feast of Passover as an everlasting memorial. This supports the hypothesis as the feast symbolized God saving His people and giving them a new insight into their lives. The lessons of Passover have been passed on over several hundred years and are considered in everyday life. The relationship between Moses and God is presented as a partnership to teach His people and save them from sin.

The teachings of Exodus can be explored through the World in front of the text as it had a major influence on everyday life for Jews both morally and ethically. The Passover continues to be celebrated today through the ritual meal known as the Seder. The Seder contains symbolic food such as herbs, haroset (a mixture of nuts, apples, and wine), and matzah (cracker-like bread). This celebration makes Jews more aware of how God freed their ancestors and that trusting in God will allow you to accomplish anything. These key teachings are considered every day to uphold God’s electing manner, the realization of nationality, and divine power and triumph. God teaches His people to be faithful and not to underestimate his powers. The link between the coexistence of the past and future emanates through the story. Overall, the Passover was a nonverbal teaching experience instructed by God himself, to ensure that His people would not forget Him (The Power of Passover, 2020). The relationship God wishes to establish illustrates that He cares. This bond is usually instigated at the beginning of religion and indicates that the events of Exodus became the first steps of Judaism. Jewish principles have also affected the moral codes that Jews follow today.

Exodus morality is based on justice. Giving justice to the weak and poor is essential in the life of a Jew, as stated by God. This is applied in today’s society by honest weights and measures, giving interest-free loans to the poor, sharing crops, and treating everyone equally (Towarnicky, 2020). The modern conception of human freedom is to not accept the disadvantaged and is very powerful in today’s society. Jews do not follow this. The memory relived about Exodus turns into a moral dynamic and evokes feelings of repulsion and determination to help others escape from slavery (Greenberg, 2020). The moral values upheld by Jews are based on the fact that we must not perpetrate upon others that which was perpetrated upon us. The moral dynamic imposed by actively remembering slavery in Egypt is reinforced and expanded in Exodus (Towarnicky, 2020).

The events of Exodus are significant to Jews as they created and established the beginnings of their religion. The Passover celebration captures the identity of a Jew as it highlights the relationship God formed with the Jews. By protecting them, he informed the Jews that he would always protect them; in return, they were to continue demonstrating their faith in God by obeying His commandments. Exodus also revealed the growth of their nation and religion. This became the stem of three major religions but had the greatest impact on Judaism. The story of leading the Israelites out of Egypt and establishing a nation at Mt Sinai created a link to creation. This link to creation was considered to be the center of the religion and illustrates the coexistence between the past and future redemption. This story also presents the main themes of freedom and thanksgiving for God’s physical intervention. If it weren’t for the Israelites’ trust in God, they would have remained slaves in the city of Egypt. Freedom is not an end in itself. People were freed to serve for God’s glory; Israel was chosen as holy where only special people lived. Freedom is mainly celebrated through the Passover with the ritual meal known as the Seder. This event doesn’t only allow Jews to remember God but also Moses, their savior, the one who freed them from slavery. As free people relive the memory of being led out of Egypt, they also remember the morals and ethics that they should apply in life.

Along with the religion, the Jewish people were also inspired by Moses, the leader. Although Moses was sent down by God to help the Jews, they were still amazed by his leadership and skills in helping them escape. Moses was born a slave who stuttered and had a temper. He did not work much before being called by God. When he confronted the Pharaoh to release his people, the Pharaoh laughed at him and brushed him away. Nevertheless, Moses went on to challenge the world’s most powerful ruler and lead his people from oppression and slavery. Moses’ leadership displayed universal truths and insights into the teachings instructed by God. He could teach people of different faiths. Moses’ leadership had a huge impact on the way people viewed him and God. It was thanks to him that Passover could be celebrated and a new religion could be born.

In conclusion, leading the Israelites out of Egypt was significant as it coerced the beginnings of a new religion and people’s religious identities. The reign of Ramesses II led to changes in the way society was managed and resulted in Jews being used as slaves by noble Egyptians, which was significant in the Jewish religion. The considerations made about their society and people factored into the way the Exodus story was shaped and written. Exodus supports the hypothesis that the Passover was very significant in the Jewish religion. The moral and ethical teachings of the Passover have been passed on over several years and are considered in everyday life. Jewish principles have also affected the moral values that Jews live by today. The moral dynamic imposed by actively remembering slavery in Egypt is reinforced and expanded in Exodus. As free people relive the memory of being led out of Egypt, they also remember the morals and ethics that they should apply in life. It was thanks to Moses that Passover could be celebrated and a new religion could be born. Comment by Mae Williamson: Overall you’ve done a good job conveying your points and used an interesting perspective with the food. I would’ve added more points about the lifestyle being dictated by the rules the Mosaic covenant implemented. In addition, you may want to research why Moses was not allowed in the Promised Land as its story can be a crucial point for either your world of or the world in front of the text. I appreciate you taking the time to look over mine and hope you have a lovely evening

Annotated bibliography

• Greenberg, R. (2020). Why The Exodus Was So Significant | My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 23 April 2020, from https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-exodus-effect/

This a reputable source as it is a non-profit and nondenominational Jewish media organization created by members of the Jewish religion. This particular article was written by a high-ranking rabbi and therefore contains informative statements that are thoroughly referenced. It is very factual and highlights in-depth reasons for the topic. It also highlights interpretations from more than one religion however it is not the focus of the article.

• Mark, J. and Mark, J., 2020. Moses. [online] Ancient History Encyclopedia. Available at: [Accessed 26 March 2020].

This source was written by a scholar who has studied ancient Egypt in-depth and was a philosophy professor at the Marist College. Therefore, this source is reliable. The article from the encyclopedia explores Moses and the Book of Exodus in depth from different religious perspectives and how it affected that religion. It contains very few contradictions and is backed by factual evidence from books and other articles.

• Schlenker, C., Denham, R., Denham, R., & Deacon, J. (2020). Passover Message In A Time Of Plague. Retrieved 23 April 2020, from https://www.wglt.org/post/passover-message-time-plague#stream/0

This source is reliable as it provides an exclusive interview with Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe about the message and themes of Passover and how they have evolved. Although the points stated may be opinionated towards one perspective, it provides a realistic and very religious opinion of what Passover means to Jews. The article has also referenced some highly academic articles.

Bibliography

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