Morality Can Exist Without Religion Essays

Morality Can Exist Without Religion Essays Morality Can Exist Without Religion Essay Morality Can Exist Without Religion Essay Have you ever imagined if morals can exist without religion? One day when got lost in a multitude of useless trivia in the Internet I accidentally came across a thought-provoking sentence by a British writer Arthur C. Clarke who said that one of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion. After that, I started to think about this controversial matter. As a young Polish student, raised in the Christian tradition, in a country where according to WIN-Gallup Internationally research, more than 80 % of Poles declare themselves as religious, should I disagree with this quotation? The main problem with morality is to define it specifically. Although, it is obviously difficult to investigate scientifically, The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior Of course, religion imposes certain rules which helps believers to differentiate between good and evil. By obeying them, they build their moral system, but in that case, dont atheists have a moral compass? Many philosophers and scientists including Charles Darwin assumed that morality is a matter of evolution, especially in the case of social species such s humans. There is also an endless number of books which show how peoples emotions like empathy, kindness, altar ism or friendship have been evolved since the times of the first man. Even in the previous era, cooperation and sharing ensured better chance to survive. In that way, it may be considered that moral system was created instinctual and as a result it gave birth to numerous religions. The roots of moral conscience we can also detect in peoples upbringing or society they live in. Religion is hardly ever peoples free choice, in most cases its foisted by our ethnicity. There is no doubt, it goes hand in hand with our ideals and perception of the world, however I wouldnt count it as the main factor which determine morality. The thing am trying to prove is that you can be raised in a family or society of non-believers and still become a good person. Lets consider how many people would agree with the statement treat other people the way you would wish to be treated. I bet a significant majority of them would. Why? It just comes from basic empathy that most people usually have and also as parents instill in their children regardless of heir religious views. At the end I should admit that although many scientists and philosophers claim that morality can exist without God, they certainly dont mean to attack any religious believes. The main purpose for writing this essay was my strong will to debunk the stereotype that everything is either black or white. Morality, as a changing construct, which has developed over the years, is very subjective and often depends on peoples personal preferences. Therefore, we can always encounter an atheist doing good things as well as a Christian or Jew who behave wrong. The most important is just to live according to certain rules which dont harm other people then we can consider ourselves as a moral person. Nowadays religion plays an underlying role in many peoples lives. Moreover, its often treated as an oracle for morality. But one day I came across a thought-provoking sentence by a British writer Arthur C. Clarke who said that One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion. So now people assume that religion and morality have a necessary connection. This quotation forced me to start thinking about this controversial matter.

Analyzing the use of Databases in an Organization

Analyzing the use of Databases in an Organization According to the American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy Third Edition, (n.d.) a "database consists of a set of data grouped together in one location in (or accessible by) a computer". A database stores keyed information in an organized and accessible manner. The size and capacity of databases can vary from a small database used by an individual to personal information, to an extremely large enterprise database that stores several gigabytes of information accessed by thousands of individuals within an organization. Databases are essential for almost every company in today's business world. Databases can help us to keep track of many things such as personnel, inventory, phone numbers, and important trainings and updates.Microsoft AccessMicrosoft Access for Windows is a relational database management system. Microsoft Access uses the graphical abilities of Windows so that one can easily view and work with his or her data in a convenient manner.database schemaMicrosoft Acc ess makes one data available to one quickly and easily, and presents it in an effective and readable way. Its ability to locate information using query by example eliminates keystrokes and consequently speeds up the development process of what an individual is trying to accomplish.Microsoft Access lets an individual examine his or her data in a variety of ways. Sometimes the information in a record is easier to understand if the fields are arranged on a form or a report in a visually pleasing way; sometimes an individual's need to see the maximum number of data records possible on his or her screen so he or she can have an idea of what he or she is working with. A Microsoft Access form is a special window that is used for data entry. One can use the visual capabilities of Windows to create a custom form using...

Holidays of Spanish-Speaking Countries

Holidays of Spanish-Speaking Countries If youre traveling to a Spanish-speaking area, one thing to consider is the countrys fiestas, holidays and other celebrations. On the positive side, you may get an opportunity for an upclose look at the countrys culture and a chance to participate in activities youll see nowhere else; on the other hand, with some of the more important holidays, businesses may be closed, public transportation may crowded and hotel rooms may be difficult to reserve. Spring Holidays Because of the Roman Catholic heritage, in nearly all the Spanish-speaking world la Semana Santa, or Holy Week, the week before Easter, is among the most widely celebrated of holidays. Specific days observed include el Domingo de Ramos, or Palm Sunday, a celebration of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem before his death; el Jueves Santo, which commemorates la Última Cena de Jesà ºs (the Last Supper); el Viernes Santo, or Good Friday, marking the day of Jesus death; and the weeks climax, el Domingo de Pascua or la Pascua de Resurreccià ³n, or Easter, a celebration of Jesus Resurrection. The dates of la Semana Santa vary from year to year. Winter Holidays La Navidad, or Christmas, is also universally celebrated on December 25. Related days include la Nochebuena (Christmas Eve, December 24), el dà ­a de san Esteban (St. Stephens Day, honoring the man traditionally believed to be the first Christian martyr, on December 26), el dà ­a de san Juan Evangelista (St. Johns Day, on December 27), el dà ­a de los Santos Inocentes (Day of the Innocents, honoring the babies who, according to the Bible, were ordered slaughtered by King Herod, December 28) and el dà ­a de la Sagrada Familia (the Day of the Holy Family, observed the Sunday after Christmas), culminating in la Epifanà ­a (January 6, Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, marking the day los magos or Wise Men arrived to see the infant Jesus). In the middle of all this is el Aà ±o Nuevo, or New Years, which typically is celebrated beginning on el Nocheviejo, or New Years Eve. Independence Holidays Most Latin American countries also celebrate an Independence Day to mark the day of separation from Spain or, in a few cases, some other country. Among the dà ­as de la independencia are February 12 (Chile), Feb. 27 (Dominican Republic), May 24 (Ecuador), July 5 (Venezuela), July 9 (Argentina), July 20 (Colombia), July 28 (Peru), August 6 (Bolivia), August 10 (Ecuador), August 25 (Uruguay), September 15 (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua), September 16 (Mexico) and November 28 (Panama). Spain, meanwhile, celebrates its Dà ­a de la Constitucià ³n (Constitution Day) on December 6. Other Days of Celebration: Dà ­a del Trabajo or Dà ­a del Trabajador - May Day or Labor Day is widely observed on May 1.Fiesta Nacional de Espaà ±a - This day, observed on October 12, marks the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. It also goes by other names, including la Fiesta de la Hispanidad. In Latin America, it is often known as el Dà ­a de la Raza.Cinco de Mayo - This Mexican celebration marking a victory in the Battle of Puebla has been exported to the United States, where it is more widely observed than in Mexico.Dà ­a de la Asuncià ³n - A day commemorating the Assumption of Mary is observed in some countries on August 15.Dà ­a de la Revolucià ³n - Mexico celebrates the start of the Mexican Revolution on the third Monday of November.Dà ­a de Todos Santos - All Saints Day is widely observed on November 1.

Using the product or service of your choice describe the behaviors in Assignment - 1

Using the product or service of your choice describe the behaviors in making a purchase - Assignment Example According to the principles of marketing based on consumers’ behavior, four major factors influence how consumers of food products make their purchase. The main factor that greatly influences the buyer’s behavior is culture. Therefore, the type of food to be sold in a given market should be determined by the buyers’ culture (John 2000, 28). From the time one is born to the time he is fully grown, it is the culture that will dictate the types of food he is going to prefer eating. The social description of the buyers is also another factor that influences the behavior of the buyer in a food market. The amount of food and type a buyer buys greatly depends on the size of his family, his roles in the society and to a greater extent his social status. Personal factor as the third factor touches first on the buyer’s age and life cycle stages. The type of food one buys in a market over a lifetime changes with age and time. Food purchase behavior is also molded by family life cycle in the since that members of the buyer’s families go through different stages with time (Ruth 2000, 20). Therefore, the market should shape their food supply in the market basing on the consumers life- cycle. Secondly, a person’s occupation can also affect food purchase behavior. Buyer who is a blue-collar worker will tend to buy foods reach in calories because of body demand. One’s economic status is the third important factor under this category of personal f actors (Robert 2008, 27). An individual of high economic status will buy food of high cost while one of low economic status will constrain his budget to cheap food. Last but not the least is one’s lifestyle. The food market should try as much as possible to focus on the lifestyle of the buyer as another thing that affects his buying behavior. People from the same culture, society or even community cannot have the same lifestyle.This means different food and other commodities preference.

In the Court of Appeals of the State of Illinois Melissa Porter vs Research Paper

In the Court of Appeals of the State of Illinois Melissa Porter vs John Straub - Research Paper Example On November 14, 2011, the District Court ruled in her favor. There was no Motion to Modify Child Support filed by either party. However, the District Court Judge made an Order of Child Support. Pursuant to that Order, the Judge allowed for a deviation from the child support guidelines to accommodate Mr. Straub’s new child, born of his current marriage. There is no Order of Support for that child. There was nothing in the Order addressing unpaid support. STATEMENT OF THE FACTS In October 2011, Melissa Porter sought to regain custody of her son, David, from the child’s father, John Straub. There was an order of Paternity, Custody and Support entered in a Florida court in 2008. Pursuant to that Order, Mr. Straub was ordered to pay $100 per month in child support. His payment history was poor and he was in arrears when Ms. Porter found it necessary to join the Army Reserves to supplement her income in order to properly care for the child. Ms. Porter and Mr. Straub had a ver bal agreement that he would care for his son while Ms. Porter completed Basic Training in the Army Reserves. Mr. Straub was ten months in arrears in his child support obligation at the time he began caring for his son in August 2010. Ms. Porter was injured in a training accident while on active duty and spent several months recovering. Upon her return home, she sought the return of the child and Mr. Straub refused. Mr. Straub filed for custody in the Illinois courts. That filing resulted in an Order granting custody to Mr. Straub. Ms. Porter filed for an Order to Vacate that finding and the District Court for Cook County found in her favor, returning her son to her. During the course of those proceedings, the District Court made a support order, allowing a 20% deduction from the Illinois child support guideline amount to accommodate Mr. Straub’s new child of his current marriage. There was no provision for paying the arrearage. There was no inclusion for the income of Mr. Str aub’s current spouse when calculating the total net income upon which the support amount should be based, nor was there a finding on the record of the guideline amount upon which the deduction would be based. When Ms. Porter objected, the judge instructed the parties to â€Å"take it up on appeal.† Appellant now appeals from the Order Modifying Support. ARGUMENT The facts of the case are not in dispute. All parties were present when the District Court judge modified the child support order to accommodate Mr. Straub’s parental obligation to his new child of his current marriage. The judge deducted 20% from the guideline amount without stating an initial child support guideline amount and the factors at law that allowed him to vary from the statutory guidelines. I. Standard of Review Of the issue presented here on appeal, the standard of review is de novo because there is no dispute as to the facts and the issue is a question of law. In re Marriage of Baumgartner, 393 Ill. App. 3d 297; 912 N.E.2d 783 (2009). See also Einstein v. Nijim, 358 Ill. App. 3d 263, 831 N.E.2d 50 (2005). A judgment is contrary to law â€Å"when an opposite conclusion is apparent or when findings appear to be unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on evidence.†

PSY 420 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

PSY 420 - Essay Example I have been drinking alcohol since the past five years and it seems that I am not leaving this habit in the distant future. It started off with family problems and seeing my father drinking it influenced me to start with the habit of drinking. Emotional distress and parental influence was the main reason to start off with the habit. In order to handle the increasing misery which was caused due to many problems (financial and family) I resorted to the drinking of alcohol. At first it provided me a sense of relief but a point came when the distress began to mount all over again. People start the habit of drinking due to many reasons which mainly include emotional distress. According to some theories drinking of alcohol provides relief to increasing stress. (Cooper et al., 1988) A time comes when a person feels like evading himself from the reality and that is the time when he gets the urge to drink.(Wills and Hirky, 1996) Drinking of alcohol is commonly found amongst the young generation. This is because young people start the drinking process thinking that it would lead to the betterment of their frame of mind. (Frone and Windle, 1997) Recent research has proved that if alcohol does not satisfy one’s emotional needs then it can lead to the usage of more alcohol. (Wunschel et al., 1993) To further prove this a ten year model research was conducted to find out about the relationship between alcohol consumption and the coping up with emotional distress. The ten year model showed that if drinking helped in coping with the emotional distress the consumpt ion of alcohol increased but if it did not the consumption decreased. (Holahan, Moos, Holahan, Cronkite , & Randall 2001) The relationship between a child and parent is an important one and the parent is a great source of influence for the child. Through the observation of ancestral and parental habits children pick up the influential practices. Observing

International Organisational Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

International Organisational Behaviour - Essay Example He further states that there are bound to be emotional reactions when the particular values of one culture are being violated; in circumstances where the expected behaviours of a culture are not followed also there may occur some emotional outbursts. Similarly the effect of religion on the culture is one thing that can not be ignored. Culture therefore is bound by various limiting factors that are dependent on the locations, regions or countries. The effect of such cultural differences can be expected to have their impact on the employee bahaviour in varying dimensions and degrees in different countries in the business organizations as well. Especially in an era of economic globalization, the business and industrial houses disperse to nations that are geographically far off breaking all barriers. Under such circumstance it becomes imperative for the multinational and transnational companies to employ the local workforce along with the expatriates. While doing so in order to improve t he organizational performance the firms have to bear in mind the impact of the cultural differences on the behaviours of the employees that may ultimately affect the individuals’ as well as the organization’s performance. In this context this paper presents a broad idea on the subject of ‘international organizational behaviour’ and its effects on the overall organizational performance detailing in particular the applicability of universalistic theories of organizational behaviour in the era of a multinational business environment. Brown (1995) defines organizational culture â€Å"as the set of norms, beliefs, principles and ways of behaving that together give each organization a distinctive character†. Scholarly writers concur that the organizational culture is determined even from the time of inception and is dependent on the organizational characters like the competitive environment and customer requirements. The culture is also dependent on the cultural values