The History of Religious Conflicts in America Essay -- Essays Papers

The History of Religious Conflicts in America Throughout its history, the United States has characteristically remained a country of two things: a country of immigrants, and a country of unmatched religious diversity. And yet when compared with the rest of the world – where these two very factors alone have so often engendered horrible religious wars and decades of enduring conflict – the history of religious conflict in the United States seems almost nonexistent. That is not to say the United States has been immune to its share of conflict explicitly rooted in religion. This paper explores the various manifestations of religious conflict throughout the history of the United States, from the Revolutionary War to the attacks of September 11th and their fallout. A distinction is drawn between religious intolerance, which is not the focus of this paper, and outright religious persecution or violence. Similarly, the paper reflects efforts made to de-conflate religious conflict from ethnic and racial conflict, which has been much more prominent throughout the history of the United States. In examining the history of religious violence, intolerance, discrimination, and persecution in the United States, we arrive at some possible explanations for why the United States has seen such minimal religious conflict despite being so religiously diverse. The Revolution It has been said that the United States is a nation founded on religious conflict. The colonies were settled by those escaping religious persecution in Europe. There is even some evidence that religion played a major role in the American Revolution and that revolutionaries believed it was willed by God for the Americans to wage war against the British.[1] As the Church ... ...bits/religion/rel03.html [2] Ibid. [3] Encyclopedia of American Religious History, Revised Edition, Vol. II. â€Å"Religious violence.† Edward L. Queen II. Page 601. 2001. [4] Ibid. [5] Queen, 602. [6] Emily Eakin. â€Å"Reopening a Mormon Murder Mystery.† The New York Times, section B, page 9, Oct. 12, 2002. [7] Queen, 605. [8] â€Å"Antisemitism in the Depression Era (1933-1939),† Leonard Dinnerstein. Religion in American History, A reader. Page 413. 1998. [9] â€Å"Religious Liberty.† American Civil Liberties Union. http://www.aclu.org/ReligiousLiberty/ReligiousLibertyMain.cfm [10] â€Å"Geographic Distribution of Religious Centers in the U.S† Committee on the Study of Religion. Harvard University, Jan. 2002. http://www.plurarlism.org/resources/statistics/distribution.php [11] â€Å"Foreword.† Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/01hate.pdf

Using Material from Item a and Elsewhere

Using material from item A and elsewhere assess the view that social class differences in educational achievement are the result of school processes such as labelling. Social class is typically known as social grouping or hierarchy based on differences in wealth, income or occupation. In the UK there are mainly two social classes; working class and middle class. 33% of students who are currently on free school meals achieve 5A*-C at GCSE, however 61% of students who are not on free school meals also achieve 5A*-C grades. 0% of the failing school are from deprived areas, and 79% of children from a higher professional family are more likely to go to university, whilst only 15% of children from unskilled and manual backgrounds go to work. Sub cultures are a group of people within society who share the same norms, values, beliefs and attitude that go against the main stream in society. This is usually different from or opposed to the main stream culture, for instance an anti-school subcu lture is more likely to be formed by pupils in lower streams.This is backed up by â€Å"They have examined the way in which labelling is linked to other processes within schools that result in class differences in achievement† (Item A) â€Å"These processes include self-fulfilling prophecy, streaming and the formation of pupil subcultures† (Item A) Therefore working class children will underachieve and middle class children will continue to progress. This can disadvantage working class children because of the use of home and school contracts.The education triage for working class are labelled as â€Å"hopeless cases† which then produces a selffulfilling prophecy and failure, which then leads to working class children going under stereotypical ideas. However, some labelled students go against their label to prove teachers wrong, which pushes them to do just as well as middle class children. Labelling is to attach a meaning or definition. Typically teachers label students as, bright, thick or hardworking. This usually affects working class students as they are labelled ‘thick’.This is backed up from item A â€Å"some sociologists explain social class differences in achievement in terms of school processes such as labelling† According to Cicourel and Kitsuse teachers judge students according to their ability, social class and race. Labelling can lead to self fulfilling prophecy where the student will accept the label and do what is expected of that particular label. However, this can advantage working class children to work against their label and achieve the best possible grades.According to the Sutton Trust 80% of ethnic minority pupils aspire to go to university. This goes on to show that labelling working class children can affect their final grade. Another process that school use that affect educational achievement is streaming. This process is when students are put into groups according to capability. â€Å"These pr ocesses include the self-fulfilling prophecy, streaming and the formation of pupil subcultures† (Item A). Becker begins to believe that the capability groups are those who will pass, those who might pass and those who will not pass.However, Stephen Ball takes the analysis a step further to abolish banding, in favour of teaching mixed ability groups. This has created new opportunities for schools and teachers. This is to differentiate between pupils on the basis of their class, ethnicity or gender and to not treat them unequally. Therefore showing that streaming is a major factor in underachievement. Finally Self-fulfilling prophecy can affect educational achievement. This process consists of a prediction that comes true simply by virtue of it having it being made.This can affect those less able because it foes against the main stream. This is backed up by â€Å"Gilbourn and Youdell have examined the role of educational policies in creating the context for such school processe s to take place† (Item A) Gilbourn and Youdell shows how teachers notions of ability conclude to their decisions of which pupils have the potential to achieve 5A*-C grade gcse’s. Neil Keddie then argues that the more intelligent students get taught more complex and advanced information and methods while the students in the lower sets are not recognised and being left behind.However Rosenthal and Jacobson performed an experiment where they picked random students from the class who were also working class and told teachers they are able to improve, this later resulted in teachers spending more time with these ‘selected’ students which made them improve and achieve better. Therefore showing that self-fulfilling prophecy can have an effect in education underachievement. To conclude sub cultures, labelling, streaming and self-fulfilling prophecy can effect education underachievement, due to social class, gender and race.Being labelled tends to be based on your s ocial class, where you will be labelled between smart and dumb. Streaming is typically based on your ability on whether you’re smart or dumb. Also, sub cultures and self-fulfilling prophecy is known to go under all social class, gender and race as it is a group of people who tend to go against the norms, beliefs and values of mean stream sub culture. However education underachievement cannot just be a social class difference, it has internal factors as well as external factors.

A Time I Was Brave

I have often been a fraidy cat about the simplest things. I remember back when I was a child and being frightened of leaving home to go to school — it was as if I feared that my family would not be there when I got back from school or that I wouldn’t know what to do in school. All my life I’ve had similar fears about many things — being able to do a good job and succeed at my work, worrying whether I’d grow up to become an independent individual who could stand on his own two feet. And, each time with each new worry, I would somehow find a way to master my fears so that they wouldn’t interfere with my life. I didn’t want to lead a life of fear, I wanted instead a life of joy and accomplishment and for the most part that is what I was able to achieve — although it never was easy for me. I do believe that deep down each of us is brave in different ways and in different situations. For example, there is the person who saves another person’s life, such as when someone falls off the subway platform and the other person rescues him. Then there is the person who finds the courage to leave his or her country in order to go to another land and start a new life. That person is very brave, too, because starting a new life in a strange land and with a different language is very, very difficult. Then there’s the person who is very shy, but who leaves the house in the morning to try to find a job and make a living. He somehow overcomes his fear. There is the mother or father who works very long hours at a hard job in order to earn money to help support the family. That person is very brave, too. There is also the person who is afraid of the local bully, but gathers his or her courage to stand up to the bully and tell him off. So tell me about your own life and the time when you were brave. What was the brave deed or act you did? How did you feel – frightened or confident? Was it hard for you to be brave? Or, if you wish, write about someone you know who has done a brave deed. Tell me who that person is and what he or she did. Remember, too, that being a writer is a brave thing to do — it shows you are willing to think deeply about important things and express them in words that may be read and heard.

The Quest for Moral Perfection Analysis of the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin essays

The Quest for Moral Perfection Analysis of the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin essays Benjamin Franklin is undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in American history. The numerous advancements contributed by Franklin were made possible by a lot of work on his part. His outlook is best represented by his famous quote, Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. Franklin did not sway from that philosophy, and spent little time at leisure, as it was not productive. Franklins work ethic, moral outlook, and constant interest in self-improvement throughout his life are his biggest claims to fame. Franklins strict adherence to his thirteen virtues-which he created in his pursuit of moral perfection-is responsible for many of his countless contributions to the colonies. Very important to Franklins life, was the little book he carried on his person at all times. In this book, he charted on a day to day basis, which virtues he had not obeyed, and marked a check for each mistake. Franklin set aside one week per virtue, and ordered his virtues such that whenever perfection in a virtue was attained, it would make achieving the following virtue easier. Franklin found that he had much to improve upon. Another ingredient to Franklins recipe for greatness was his daily schedule. Franklin divided his day up by the hour and knew what he was to be doing at all times. This he found difficult at times, and involving the virtue Order, at one time he almost gave up. In one of Franklin's few pessimistic moments, he is quoted as saying, This article (order) therefore cost me so much painful attention, and my faults in it vexed me so much...that I was almost ready to give up the attempt and content myself with a faulty character in that respect. An amusing anec dote about a man who concludes that a speckled axe is best follows, and in looking back on his life, Franklin demonstrates his master ...

Charles Peaces Emblems essays

Charle's Peace's Emblems essays When looking at any portrait, as Stein states on his essay, it is obvious to see the numerous qualities, which in fact represent the theme of that painting, including historical and cultural meanings as well as biographical representations of the sitter in general. This obvious encounter is especially true when discussing a self-portrait. Through a self-portrait, one can portray an exact internal feeling, or sense of being, into an external emphasis on canvas. Ones complex self can be understood easier by an artists work. A particular self-portrait would be that of Charles Willson Peace, entitled The Artist In His Museum (1822). In Peales self-portrait, he portrays himself and his works through emblematic portraiture. This portraiture is a unique way of expressing ones self through organized objects. These objects do not exactly show the individual meaning, but totally represent the pictures meanings in a whole. They are the meaning. These objects actually represent the culture by their carefully placed positions in the portrait. These are symbols that all have a relationship with the portrait. Peaces use of emblem portraiture brings nature and art together, and also examines the rise and progress of the museum as told by Stein. Stein explains Peales use of emblematic portraiture through his use of numerous objects, each with extremely significant values. The first emblem would be a dead turkey lying on a taxidermists table waiting to be transformed into a life-like exhibit for the museum. The turkey, which was brought to the museum by his son, was from a westward expedition to Missouri. When alive, this turkey roamed the forests and represented in the naturalists mind, the clear vitality of the American wild; but when dead, shows the first step in recreating the bird, giving it life inside the museum. The turkey was also a naturalists r ...

Royal Prerogative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Royal Prerogative - Essay Example Albeit, Blair sought parliament’s assent for attacking Iraq, it was not mandatory for him to comply with the decision of parliament, in this matter7.The royal prerogative in declaring war was employed by the prime minister8, and this is bestowed by monarchs upon their ministers, without involving parliament9. Tony Blair’s abuse of the power to declare war actuated the MPs to have it removed from the royal prerogative10. Subsequent, to the Iraqi attack, the draft Constitutional Renewal  Bill was proposed, which seeks to reassign to parliament, some of the ministerial powers exercised under the royal prerogative11. In the British Parliamentary system the prime minister is free to act under the royal prerogative, especially in foreign affairs, and this was seen in the war on Iraq12. Blair’s government apparently misled the UK public by stating that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction13. The MPs were allowed a tangible vote, indicating the growing trend to curb governmental powers under the royal prerogative14. Robin Cook, leader of the House of Commons resigned as he was against involvement in Iraq15. Blair ostensibly distorted the facts, in order to attack Iraq16. The judiciary has criticised the use of the royal prerogative to wage war17. Parliament and not the government should decide about engaging in a foreign war18, and Gordon Brown promised to address this shortcoming19. The remedy is to solely empower parliament to decide upon conducting a war20. Andrew Grice, MPs should be awarded Queens historic powers, says Campbell, June 11, 2007, Retrieved on January 1, 2009 from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mps-should-be-awarded-queens-historic-powers-says-campbell-452649.html Gary Woodward, Self-inflicted injury: going to war in Iraq, November 22, 2007, Retrieved on January 1, 2009 from http://www.globalcollab.org/Nautilus/australia/apsnet/policy-forum/2007/self-inflicted-injury-going-to-war-in-iraq/ PASC Publishes

Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit - Unhappy Consciousness Essay - 1

Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit - Unhappy Consciousness - Essay Example in order to give out a clear description of his plot since he associated this human stage with the early Christian era where people used to turn away from the upheavals of the world’s common life and concentrated on ascetic and monastic lives coupled with prayers. According to Hegel, people heading an ascetic life nurtured unhappy consciousness until they attained the will of truth. To begin with, unhappy consciousness is an instance of self-consciousness because, it arises out of human beings when it is fighting or struggling to attain recognition from others in order to realize individual self-consciousness as a subject (Wilhelm and Hegel 110). Unhappy consciousness lead to fears and troubles that make people feel uncomfortable. It also disturbs their state of mind that makes individuals confused. As a result, victims of unhappy consciousness end up seeking refuge in religious centers and within philosophical systems so as to stay away from the struggles and fights in this stage of mind. In addition, unhappy consciousness turns out to be an instance of self-consciousness since it resolves in making its subjects turn to seek anything comforting. Fear and objectification caused by unhappy consciousness make individuals seek refuge and comfort in beings that do not live visibly (118). They do not attempt or struggle to attain recognition among human beings but isolate themselves and keep-off the struggles (121). This act of turning towards the transcendent being comes because of the initial struggle of consciousness trying to get hold of nature. As those individuals who live monastic life strive to grasp a sense of certainty, they encounter the universal concepts of nature. At the long run, these individuals do not change. Instead, they remain to be the same and maintain their consciousness despite the struggle for seeking refuge. Therefore, unhappy consciousness is an instance of self-consciousness. Unhappy consciousness is an instance of self-consciousness