Major Differences Between Islam and Judaism Essay

After doing some research on the religions Islam and Judaism, I’ve found many links between the two as well as many differences and similarities. Some major similarities are: Both religions are monotheistic, meaning belief in one only true God. Both religions believe in a distinct afterlife being either good or bad depending on how a person has led their life according to their religion. Judaism and Islam both have writings with describings of how one should live as a part of either religion (Qur’an and the Torah). There are rules regarding eating restrictions such as only being able to consume Halal (in the name of Allah) produced goods in Islam and eating Kosher meat in Judaism. Both religions have special holidays to celebrate various historical and spiritual events of their beliefs. Both religions have special headwear – a Jewish yarmulke worn by men during prayer and a hijab worn by Islamic women conforming to a standard of modesty. Some major differences are: Judaism is over one millenium older than Islam. Islam is a far more strict belief with many more demands and rules compared to Judaism. Judaism has a sabbath – day of rest while Islam believes that Allah – God does not need rest. Similarities include belief in one God, preserving the faith through prophets, scriptures and observance of religious laws through expression of faith or submission. The major difference is that while Islam acknowledges that the Old Testament once was Allah’s true revelation, they believe it was altered by the Jews to reflect Jewish views and opinions. The Jews are seen by Muslims as once having true revelation and submitting to Allah, but now being misled, unbelieving and no longer in submission. Both Judaism and Islam have changed over time. Judaism began with Abraham essentially promising to only worship the one true God in which God pledged to uphold a special relationship with Abraham’s descendants. Over time, God introduced the law to the people of Israel of which to observe their faith in him as the one and only God, but by the time of Jesus, the law had merely become a stone cold tradition and faith of something of the past. Islam, too, has changed over time though there are some uncertainties of the details. Islam began with Allah’s first revelation to Muhammad. It was mainly a warning to the Arabs who were practicing polygamy and worshipping false gods to turn to the one and only true Allah. Yet, there is a strong probability that Muhammad was simply influenced by Christian and Jewish traders coming through his city. The idea is that he wasn’t thoroughly impressed by their behavior, so he sought his own version of a monotheistic religion by adding commands from Allah regarding issues in life. Later on, people realized that the Qur’an didn’t fully cover how to be a muslim in everyday life. The Hadith was created. The Hadith is a saying or a sort of guidance sought to relate to how Muhammad or his close friends would have decided on a particular issue. These have some authority within Islam today. Believers of Judaism more or less see Islam as an attempted copy and distortion of Jewish monotheism because Islam dismisses the Jewish revelation in scripture and therefore seeks a path other than the one described in Jewish scripture. Also, Islam rejects Jews as God’s chosen people, which goes against the basic Jewish belief. The subject at hand could be, and has been, argued for an eternity. It is clear there are vast similarities, likewise differences between Judaism and Islam. Personally, I do not believe in any religion, though they are quite interesting to study.

Nothing Gold Can Stay Essay

The poem â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay,† by Robert Frost, uses a abcb rhyme scheme to cleverly explain natures downfall, due to gold, in the world. The author begins by showing that nature’s true color is green, however, due to man’s greed they only see gold. Being that nature supplied the earth with gold, man should respect it and give back. Instead the author depicts that nature is stripped of her importance and sad therefore the dawn goes down to day meaning instead of the weather staying beautiful, like it does in the morning, it turns to the hot, muggy afternoon. On the last line the author says, â€Å"Nothing gold can stay† (914), because mans inability to let go of greed is destroying our planet. The author also uses figurative language to reveal the poem’s meaning. In the beginning of the poem he personifies nature into a female so that the audience better understands natures pain and suffering due to humans greedy ways. Also, he uses imagery to paint the picture of the garden of Eden sinking to grief meaning that nature is in duress and even the first garden known to man is on the verge of destruction unless we change our ways. Lastly the author uses a metaphor comparing green to gold by saying â€Å"Natures first green is gold† (914), explaining that green is the symbol of life and prosperity. For example money is green and when nature is described green typically comes to mind. But he says gold is the first green because all humans care about is gold and as a result they are giving it greater importance than nature, our source of life.

Paragraphing in Academic Writing Essay

Although it often seems that paragraphs can take an infinite number of forms, there are really only a few formats for paragraphing in formal, academic prose. What makes paragraphs seem unique to the reader is the style of the writer’s prose, not the actual format of the information. There are four main types of paragraphs in academic prose: the standard paragraph, the explanatory paragraph, the evidential paragraph, and the introductory paragraph (whose format is sometimes mirrored in the conclusion). Note that the rules and formats described here apply to formal, academic prose, as opposed to paragraphing in newspapers, business, or electronic discourse. Each kind of writing has its own conventions, that is, rules and rhetorical strategies unique to a particular form of composition. In poetry, for example, line breaks contribute to the poem’s rhythm and overall message and mark the poem as a poem, not as another kind of writing. Conventions in paragraphing can vary from one kind of writing to another as well. In newspaper writing, paragraphs are one to three sentences because the narrow columns used in newspapers make even the shortest paragraph seem long. In electronic discourse, shorter paragraphs and more listing is used because it is more pleasing to the eye–taking advantage of the internet’s more visual features. A. Standard Paragraph Format Standard paragraphs are the most frequently used paragraph format and most of your essay paragraphs should follow this format. Standard paragraphs contain the following elements in order: 1. Most begin with a topic sentence that makes the main point to be discussed, analyzed, or argued within that paragraph. On very rare occasions, the paragraph may begin with a transition from the last paragraph, followed by the topic sentence for the new paragraph. Paragraphs do not begin with quotations or other kinds of evidence. Evidence must be introduced after the point of the paragraph is made and explained. 2. Following the topic sentence, there is an explanation and/or further development of the point proposed in the topic sentence that clarifies and expands on this point. This explanation adds to the reader’s understanding of the point. 3. Following the explanation or development of the point, the writer introduces evidence. Introducing evidence includes informing the reader who the information comes from and where (i.e. author and article or book title or foundation, etc.). Such an introduction is an important part of source documentation and helps the reader understand where the evidence portion of the paragraph begins and how the evidence is being used. It is literally a signal to the reader that you have stopped talking and your source has started talking. 4. Once introduced, you provide the actual proof or evidence. This may come in the form of supporting evidence like statistics or quotations or other kinds of softer evidence like anecdotes or eye-witness accounts. Evidence is presented primarily as a paraphrase or summary, with only an occasional pithy, apt quote. It is limited to a few lines, so that the primary focus of the paragraph is on the writer’s point. Evidence must also be cited properly once given, using parenthetical documentation. (See your textbook for more information on citation.) This parenthetical documentation provides additional, helpful information that pinpoints even more accurately where the evidence can be found and signals the reader that you are going to resume speaking on the topic. 5. After providing proof, you must always explain the meaning of the evidence and tie its meaning to the point you are making so that the reader understands it the way you understand it. Never let evidence stand on its own merit; it must be interpreted for the reader, in light of the point being made, so that the reader understands the meaning and relevance of it. Otherwise, the reader may see the evidence in a different light or be completely lost as to its significance. Thus, evidence must always be explained, even if it seems self-evident to you. Working out the explanation of the evidence is also a helpful check on your own insights. If you can’t explain your evidence in light of your point, then it probably doesn’t support the point you are making. 6. The paragraph closes with either a summation of the main point or some kind of transition to the next point. This reminds the reader of the argument in progress, its essential points, and the connection between points. B. Explanatory Paragraphs Explanatory paragraphs are used to allow the writer to expand on and explain particularly complex points before providing the reader with a lot of examples or evidence. In particular fields, like the sciences or philosophy, such paragraphs are common in writings that attempt to explain or analyze difficult ideas, theories, or concepts. An explanatory paragraph can also be used to summarize someone else’s ideas or concepts that you plan to utilize in your own paper. Essay conclusions are often a kind of explanatory paragraphs because they summarize and reiterate the main ideas discussed in the paper. Explanatory paragraphs contain the following elements in order: 1. Begin with a topic sentence or a transition. 2. Following the topic sentence, there is an in-depth explanation without corroborating evidence, although if the explanation is of someone else’s ideas, you must cite this person. 3. The paragraph closes with either a summation. C. Evidential Paragraphs Evidential paragraphs are sometimes used to allow the writer to provide more evidence for a particular point made in a standard paragraph. These paragraphs act as an extension of the point made in the previous paragraph by supplementing the points with further, important evidence. In some fields, like in psychology where individual case studies are often used, there are occasions when there will be several evidential paragraphs for each sub point since the amount of evidence gathered is important to the proving of the point. Evidential paragraphs contain the following elements in order: 1. Begin with a topic sentence or a transition that reiterates the main point of the previous paragraph to remind the reader of the point under consideration. Paragraphs do not begin with quotations or other kinds of evidence. 2. Next, the writer introduces the next piece of evidence for the point as outlined for standard academic paragraphs above. 3. Then the writer provides the actual proof or evidence, followed by the necessary documentation as outlined above. 4. Next, writer must again explain the meaning of the evidence as outlined previously. [Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 as needed to provide additional, corroborating evidence. To avoid unwieldy paragraphs, keep in mind that a paragraph must have a sense of unity and that usually academic paragraphs run about 1/2 a double-spaced page in length. Therefore, put like evidence together in a paragraph, but use separate evidential paragraphs for items that defy categorization or if you have an overwhelming amount of evidence that you feel must be presented.] 5. The paragraph closes with either a summation of the point and, perhaps some kind of transition to the next point. D. Introductory Paragraphs All essays contain some kind of introductory paragraph or paragraphs. Often, this is where we feel that we can be the most â€Å"creative† in our writing because there are so many ways to begin an essay. Introductory paragraphs usually begin with a hook to draw the reader into the paper and, most often, end with the overall thesis of the paper. Sometimes the thesis includes a forecast of the paper’s major points. The hook might be a pithy quote, a brief anecdote, or hypothetical situation. Hooks can also be overviews of the problem or of current research on the subject. When using a hook, keep in mind that it should be handled like evidence; thus, it must be clearly introduced, documented, and explained. And, like evidence, it should be pithy–short and to the point. You don’t want the reader getting lost in the hook and never get to the point of the paper. In short papers, of 900-1200 words, introductions are usually one paragraph in length. In longer papers, they may run two to three paragraphs. In books, they could run to a whole chapter. Stereotypically, the academic conclusion is merely a repeat of the essay’s main points and overall thesis. A truly innovative conclusion may repeat the essential point, but suggest other avenues to pursue with the topic–suggesting your awareness that you are only one voice in an on-going discussion of the topic. E. Standard Paragraph Checklist Use the following checklist to analyze the format of your paper’s paragraphs. If a particular paragraph does not fit the standard format, re-evaluate it: does it at least fit the format of an explanatory, evidential, or introductory paragraph and is its format consistent with the purpose of the paragraph?

Case Note Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Case Note - Essay Example Job characteristics theory is a working design with a set of principles for job enriching in organizations. Job characteristics theory has five major aspects of address including motivation, satisfaction, performance, absenteeism, and turnover. The scenario at DrainFlow in which employee dissatisfaction is a common occurrence, the employees should be given incentives as motivation for every good performance and an encouragement to other employees to work harder. Additionally, the duties of the order processors and the billing agents need to merge to ensure that customer issues are addressed from a single department. Such would prevent employee dissatisfaction from customer complaints. Indeed, Reynaldo has little clue on the implementation of cash reward system. In the current scenario at DrainFlow, proves very tedious for the implementation of the system considering that different departments handle customers at different levels and, therefore determining which employee to reward would be ideally a tough task. In order for effective implementation of the cash reward system, it is significantly important that all the departments operate from a common command center. In such a setting, a customer will deal with a particular employee from the time the customer submits a plumbing problem, sending of a plumber, and making payments all occur from a common pull. Such a way would ensure an easy track of the best-performing employees and worthy of a reward. Financial incentives are indeed a better way of rewarding best-performing employees for the success of an organization. The advantages associated with financial incentives includes increased performance among employees as a means of getting the financial incentives and recognizing of employee priorities and work on the areas of under-performance. Financial incentives also have its disadvantages such as the genesis of division among employees, especially

Is China a military threat to the U.S. or its Southeast Asian allies Research Paper

Is China a military threat to the U.S. or its Southeast Asian allies - Research Paper Example ly influence continues to manifest hostility towards China, with provocative stands by the Philippines and Japan with regard to ownership of Islands in the contested regions belittling China’s growing stature in global politics. The traditional differences in foreign ideologies between the two nations does not seem to be resolved soon, since national interests of the two nations fall on opposing sides. With the competition for the global arena as the next stage to exercise global politics, China and the US continually find it difficult to resolve the hardline stand due to heightened globalization setting. From the experiences of the past encounters with global politics, China will focus on chanting a different course and justify current success from acting differently. In terms of recent astronomical economic performance in China, funding military exploration and ambitious intelligence systems raises concerns against such moves. In a world experiencing a spell of minimal aggression among nations, military expansion at the scale such as that witnessed in China recently triggers memories of the infamous Arms Race. Interesting timing of these developments in China at a time when global economic performance falls below China’s rate of economic growth translates to some form of opportunistic provocationi. Estimation of China doubling military spending by 2015 is a blatant insult to efforts of US peace building around the world. As such, the US can justify the move to assist and empower the allies in the southeast Asia regionii. The account of China’s performance in terms of human rights protection in a rapidly democratized world is not only taken as an insult to the US but also to the international community. The isolation of Chinese internal affairs from the rest of the world calls for participation of the US in the global campaigns of a democratic global society further fuels the tension of a military provocation. Despite the participation of China in

Steelband Music in Trinidad and Tobago Research Paper - 1

Steelband Music in Trinidad and Tobago - Research Paper Example Music of a particular region and era contains vital information about the thoughts and beliefs of its people. Drumming is considered an integral part of culture of Trinidad and Tobago. Located off the south eastern coast of North America close to the Bahamas in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago’s musical history dates back to the years of its rule by the British and Spaniards. Music was used as a channel of self expression and a means of social and intellectual liberation. The history of Trinidad and Tobago has seen colonisation by the British and the Europeans. This is quite evident in the demographic mix of races, religions and communities of people. Music is deeply associated with caste, colour and race as at some point or the other people from different backgrounds have alternate ways of thinking and applying music. The country’s population consists of Christians (50%), Hindus (25%) and mixed races (Europeans, Whites etc.). Half of the population are Trinidadians, the rest are Afro-Trinidadians (African in origin) and the remaining are of mixed origin (Aho 20). The music world has seen extensive use of percussive elements in compositions from around the world. Amongst the genres of music that rely on heavy usage of percussion are Reggae, Hip Hop, Rap, Native Caribbean Folk Music and Latin American Music. The emphasis on rhythm and percussive elements in musical compositions and performances is a trademark of music from the Latin American, Caribbean and European regions. Trinidad and Tobago’s music history also has the roots of percussion dominance in music embedded in the culture and tradition. The steel drum has its origin in the economically backward areas of the capital city: Port of Spain. The steel drums that we know today had its origins in the capital city and were made by young men with basic education, hailing from underprivileged families. The

Mythology Essay No. 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mythology No. 2 - Essay Example Based on his genealogy, Theseus may be classified as a demigod. Aegeus, the King of Athens, unable to bear any children was later secretly married to Aethra and of this marriage, Theseus was born. Theseus was however raised by her mother and would later claim his birthright after going through various challenges and battles. Based on his actions, he may however be considered an epic or a journeying hero (Myths Encyclopedia â€Å"Go-Hi†). Epic or journeying heroes are heroes who are on quests and who go through various heroic battles and journeys. In fact, Greek mythology is riddled with heroes of this type, and Theseus is certainly one of them. He was on his way to claim his birthright when along the way he fought many battles; many of those he battled were actually considered ‘bad’ guys in the contemporary sense. He killed Sinis, the Pine Bender who tore his victims apart by tying them between two pine trees; he killed Sciron who had a habit of kicking his guests to sea while they were washing his feet; he also killed Cercyon, who was known for wrestling with strangers; and he battled many other foes on his way to Athens and these enemies were often known for their foul deeds towards other people (Britannica Encyclopedia â€Å"History and Society†). Theseus possessed many good points in his favor. First and foremost, in order to be a worthy king, or at the very least, a worthy heir to a kingdom, he knew that he had to prove himself worthy. He could have taken a safer route to Athens as advised by his grandfather Pittheus, however, he chose to use the more dangerous road (Godwin, p. 255). In the process, he left his mother’s and grandfather’s kingdom a boy, and he arrived in Athens a man. He gave himself enough battle experience and enough physical and mental cunning in order to claim his rightful place amidst the various threats and claims to his father’s throne. Upon