Sociological Definition of Religion Concerning Aborigines Essay Example for Free

Sociological Definition of Religion Concerning Aborigines Essay In my opinion, I find the sociological definition of religion to be my favorite and most helpful. Clifford Geertz explains his definition very clearly, saying that religion is a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, persuasive and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic. What I believe he means is that instead of looking at theories and things of that nature about how religion started, we should look at concepts beyond religion itself. I found that the Australian Aborigines follow closely along this same definition of religion. To the Aborigines, the world has always existed, meaning everything was always here; they had no creation myths. They had believed the ultimate supreme was associated with the sky and was the source for all power in the universe, but said it was not the focus of worship. Instead, religious practices focused upon a number of spirits who supposedly slept within the earth and transformed it every now and then. The earthly spirits were capable of taking the same form of either human or animal; they were considered â€Å"totemic ancestors†. This all relates to the sociological definition of religion because the Aborigines formed conceptions about the spirits, which gives an order for existence; it all seems very realistic to them. Anthropologists studied deeply into these Australian Aborigines. They looked into a primordial era that was a part of an Aborigine myth. They found that this era referred to a period in time when the first ancestors shaped the world and established traditions that their descendants must follow. The actions of the ancestors were thought to be imprinted on the land, possibly in significant physical landscapes, in unusual water holes, or in the main characteristics of animals and plants. This â€Å"era† was said to be the foundation of Aboriginal thought and religious practice and its power was ongoing. This all relates to Geertz’ definition of religion once again, because during the era, the ancestors set up lasting moods and motivations for the Aborigine people. The Aborigine people’s ritual practices concentrated on reenacting the events that took place during the primordial era. Song, dance, and body sand paintings were used to gain access to the era and teach everyone in the community about it. Male and female had different powers, as well as different types of work, during these certain rituals. These rituals relate to Geertz because the native Aborigine people are continuing the traditions and are passing down the tales about the spirits. They’re giving the conception of existence an order of factuality. In conclusion, what I can tell personally, the Australian Aborigines followed right along the same path of religion as Geertz would describe; I’m sure he’d be very fond of it all. With everything that they do, it all falls back on the sociological definition of religion. The rituals, the era, the beginnings, all follow along the same guidelines as Clifford Geertz.

Cystic Fibrosis Essay example -- essays research papers

Cystic fibrosis is the most common autosomal recessive genetic disease of white Indo-Europeans (Caucasians). Three main systems are usually affected by cystic fibrosis. These include the lungs and respiratory tract, the digestive tract (especially the pancreas and intestines) and the sweat glands. The lungs will normally have a thick mucus line them in cases of cystic fibrosis which requires physiotherapy to dislodge the mucus and create sputum. The digestive enzymes that would come from the pancreas are blocked by the thick mucus; thus the person afflicted with the disease has trouble digesting foods that are high in fat and protein. In cases that involve cystic fibrosis the salt that is lost during perspiration is much more than in "normal" situations. The upper respiratory tract is normally lined with a little bit of mucus that is sent out of the lung by the constant movement of the cilia that line the respiratory tree. "It is clear from detailed research that poor mucus clearance is not due to uneven ciliary beating. However, there is no doubt that mucus is poorly cleared against gravity in the presence of bacterial infection" (Harris 13-14). The pancreas itself secretes fluids that aid in the digestion and absorption of food in all of us. When cystic fibrosis is present these enzymes are not going where they are needed. Most of the time there is need for supplemental nutrients, supplemental minerals, and/or dietary management. In the case of dietary management there is a plan for seven to eight small meals throughout the day. "This meal pattern enables the patient to consume more food without feeling too full and enhances the utilization of nutrients" (Ekvall 391). The sweat gland of a cystic fibrosis patient, when viewed under the microscope appears normal. The secretions that the gland gives off are where the abnormality occurs. "It is known that the basic defect in cystic fibrosis is expressed as an abnormal regulation of the movements of salt across the layer of cells that line certain specialized ducts such as the sweat gland duct" (Harris 26). This causes a great deal of salt loss and therefore requires most cystic fibrosis patients to ingest salt pills to compensate for the loss. When all of the treatments are used together most patients of this fateful disease live long happy lives. The physiotherapy... ...te as easily. Whether it is because the treatment did not get started early enough, or the disease is out of control death is a factor that must be considered in most cases involving cystic fibrosis. Death will come to all of one day, but it may come earlier to some. The problems that some families may have with their communication can cause great pain and suffering when it comes time to dealing with the death of a loved one. "The long standing problems of communication that exist in many family groups may be accentuated when the prospect of death shows itself" (Bowers 58). Cystic fibrosis is a disease that can take the life of some one who is very close to our hearts. Education of the treatments, side effects, and problems involving this disease is key to winning the battle against it. The more people can know about different situations that better. If there is some one in a school that has this disease try to educate the entire school about this person's situation so that the entire student body can help in the fight. If educators and students all join in the fight, this disease can be kept down and help those afflicted lead as "normal" a life as possible.

How Has Globalization Shaped Your Community Essay

The term â€Å"globalization† is a complex concept to define in a single, precise statement as one might find in a dictionary. Although the phenomenon has many facets, it is generally described as the trend whereby countries, on a global scale join socially, politically and economically. This process is facilitated in many ways, like through public and private sector decisions, education and by the ever increasing rate of information transfer via the Internet and social media, which has been a major catalyst in contemporary politics. An example of this would be the ways in which the social media has facilitated the Arab Spring revolutions, as individuals see themselves increasingly as part of the larger picture; as citizens in the global scheme. Globalization is said to bring people of all nations closer together, especially through a common medium like the Internet, and through the common mechanism of economics. Growing up in one of Brooklyn’s most iconic religious communities, I have experienced the many changes to its population and commercialism as it has â€Å"evolved† due to globalization. I have seen the resistance to this change as well, which may be typical of areas where the majority are conservative, religious men and women. However, as all communities eventually yield somewhat to the changing political and social landscape, I have noticed the ways in which Crown Heights Brooklyn has also gave way to the phenomenon of globalization. From a lifelong perspective on my particular block, I have see the changes in the ways my neighbors and I shop, how we interact, and the effects of this change on the community. In particular, I’ve notice mass merchants opening up around my neighborhood. Neighborhoods comprised of a dominant ethnicity or religious majority tend to favor the â€Å"mom and pop† version of food markets, pharmacies, as well as locally owned day cares, schools, banks and other institutions. It is therefore interesting to watch the process of globalization gradually change my community in similar ways it has changed other secular neighborhood. Particularly notable is how the the local hardware store (where we went to buy our batteries and Walkmans) was replaced by a home depot, and the Jewish operated kosher markets give way to (still Kosher) super-centers. Additionally, in the generation of my youth prior to the technological revolution, the idea of a cell phone for every able bodied adult a nd teen was as foreign as the notion of a flying car, Let alone the use of the Internet for recurrent ordering of good and service. Before everyone was on board with â€Å"America Online† and learning the ins-and-outs of the Internet in the 1900’s, the community of Crown Heights had almost blatantly-defined boundaries, and consumers rarely, if ever traversed these invisible lines for their consumer needs- they had no need for Kosher food, or religious materials or traditional Jewish food. In one article, Mele makes an analogy using the Lower east side of New York City to describe the visceral effects of globalization on the urban life (5), explaining the ways big business has reinvented and marginalized the â€Å"local character† of these neighborhoods. When big companies seek to get bigger by opening chains in small religious neighborhoods, the negatives are the same as when they open in secular locales, such as the Lower East side of the New York City- the negatives are blatant. The anti-globalization arguments are also the same region to region; that is, the fear of mistreatment to workers and low wages for them to bring home (Clawson 1) among other things. With respect to my neighborhood, I can recall discussions by a few Rabbi’s about ways to slow or ameliorate such ills of the global market sprawl. But the sprawling of global living is inevitable, and as conservative a community may be, we should look for ways to live with the effects of globalization. We should strive to maximize the advantages while minimizing the harms. I will not claim that this trend in my neighborhood has lacked any appeal or advantage. Price and convenience of products are changing for the better, as we are able to obtain goods and services from the far reaches of the world by a click of a button, a phone call or a trip to your mass retailer. These large businesses offer delivery, savings selection and convenience often not affordable to the mom and pop store. The local butcher, local grocers and authentic, traditional bakeries in my neighborhood were replaced by large supermarkets promoting deep discounts and convenience of â€Å"one stop shopping.† According to recent research, Zhu, Singh and Dukes argue that some stores located near these larger enterprises performed better than those located miles away or more (3). Still, one can not ignore that In a society which is fast paced, local community economies are suffering greatly. The availability of goods and services may be more prolific than ever, but the quality leaves much to be remembered, as I do from the time of my childhood. The citizens of Crown Heights have learned to adapt to change, yet they may be powerless after all. Globalization means you aren’t just competing against the store across the street, but rather someone in another town or other nation, one quite possibly with a lower labor rate, cheaper raw materials and cheaper overhead. In a world like this, how can the small guys survive? Actually, there have been many suggestions for local sustainability put forth by both the merchants and the consumer culture. The government has attempted tariffs and legislations to promote local industry, and there are myriad anti-globalization organizations such as environmental groups like Greenpeace, and international groups like Oxfam (â€Å"Globalization† 1) However, experience from my community suggests that it is not government agenda, but community action that will bring forth the best long term changes. Studies often result in competing and/or mixed results and conclusions, but it is clear that Crown heights has changed for the worse in many ways due to globalization. For that reason it is logical to site academic studies to explain the causes and cures to this downside of global markets. Conventional wisdom and research may suggest that when large â€Å"Wall-Mart’s† open in a community, local businesses suffer for it. This model may also explain what is going on in Crown Heights- the total drawbacks of globalization outweigh any benefits. The negative impacts of the giant Wall-Mart is often used (perhaps correctly) to generalize the ills of the globalization. One recent study analyzed them once again, making use of national data, finding that the opening of a Wall-Mart reduces local-level (county) retail employment by 150 jobs. Because Wal-Mart stores employ an average of 360 workers, this suggests that for every new retail job created by Wal-Mart, 1.4 jobs are lost as existing businesses downsize or close. The study also found that the arrival of a Wall-Mart store reduces total county-wide retail payroll by an average of about $1.2 million (Flandez 1) So it would seem that local ownership is vital to the livelihood of a community, as well as the survival of the community’s traditions and to prevent global homogenization of consumer products and services. The obvious question for a member of a local community, concerns how to take back the consumer market. Perhaps local supermarkets can offer more comprehensive and effective promotional material or increase the scope of product being sold. A community member can do his or her part by buying from the local Farmers Market. This action has been proven to help local economies, and it is also currently trendy to be a devout â€Å"locavore† in certain places in New York City. The fact that farmers are selling direct to the most proximal residents means revenue stays within the community. Even if every need cannot be fulfilled from a local market, each local purchase has an incremental impact; and, when applied by the masses, grows exponentially. By supporting local food, Tierney (1) points out some benefits to the local community: one does not support shopping malls, chains, and the roads and infrastructure needed to nourish them. Instead, one supports farms, and the natural habitat that comes with them. This is a positive from a conservationist perspective. Lastly, but by far of least importance, is that locally grown food is fresher, and more flavorful. If the model of the farmer’s market can be applied to any other commercial product, it should; and other forms of push-back by consumer behavior modification such as this should be used to enhance the benefits of local markets on their respective communities. The fact that these markets are growing independent of government influence is a sign that people do value their small community enterprises. Every aspiring entrepreneur has big dreams. Many have small budgets, though, and globalization processes have led to the suppression and elimination of these entrepreneurial types to actualize their dreams and help the communities and maintain the cultures they were born into. Globalization has changed the look and feel of my community, as well as the very physical and social definition and boundaries of my community. A visitor in Crown Heights today, taking a stroll down the street intent on some consumer purchase, may have come from much further away compared to decades past. Hopefully, this consumer will consider the affect of his or her dollar on the local economy and chose wisely about where to spend it. Many times one will find that buying a product which is â€Å"grown locally† won’t cost you more than the alternative; and even if it it does, your purchase helps future generations of your community. Even in the slow-changing conservative religious community of my youth, commercial globalization takes a toll on the local economy and eventually effects traditional values, yet we still have choice as a community about where we shop. It is my hope that the small budget entrepreneur of today’s market will make a comeback in my neighborhood! Sources Clawson, Julie. â€Å"Globalization and Consumerism.† Onehandclapping: incantations at the edge of uncertainty. Julie Clawson, 20 Nov 2008. Web. Web. 28 Feb 2013. Flandez, Raymund. â€Å"What Can You Do to Fight Wall-Mart.† Wall Street Journal. 20 Mar 2009: n. page. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. Marco Lauteri, et al. â€Å"Combining Demographic And Land-Use Dynamics With Local Communities perceptions For Analyzing Socio-Ecological Systems: A Case Study In A Mountain Area Of Italy.† Iforest – Biogeosciences & Forestry 5.3 (2012): 1-8. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 Jan. 2013. Tierney, John. â€Å"Fresh and Direct From the Garden an Ocean Away.† New York Times. 30 Aug 2011: n. page. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. Zhu, Ting, Vishal Singh, and Anthony Dukes. â€Å"Local Competition, Entry, And Agglomeration.† Quantitative Marketing & Economics 9.2 (2011): 129-154. Business Source Complete. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.

Rhetorical Analysis - 1431 Words

Rhetorical Analysis Raina Kelley covers societys issues and cultural controversies for Newsweek and The Daily Beast.’s. In her article â€Å"Beauty Is Defined, and Not By You† aims to convince her readers that women success or not is not depends on beauty. â€Å"When I’m on m deathbed, I hope to be smiling in satisfaction about all I accomplished, not that I made it to 102 without any cellulite.† One of her goals is to remain all girls do not get influence by this society, just be brave and continue to reject that beauty is the only way to get ahead. Kelley used personal experiences, facts and examples, also counter argument to create a convincing argument. This is an article from â€Å"The Daily Beast†, an American news reporting and opinion†¦show more content†¦She also used the situation most of the women might experienced, â€Å"I’m sorry, if you are older than 30 and your feelings get hurt by strangers commenting on the thigh sizes of 14-year-olds in a magazine, you need to toughen up.† She let the readers know that, there is something that we cannot control, we just have to face and trust that beauty would fade but succeed would never change. In this article, we can see that Kelley is really stands on what she believes are right. She is proud of what she achieved in her life. â€Å"And I, for one, am not going to spend my life worrying about when to start Botox treatments. When I’m on my deathbed, I hope to be smiling in satisfaction about all I accomplished.† She also asked the readers to be brave and fright back. â€Å"Yes, people can be vicious in their categorization of women’s looks. Insult them back or ignore them.† And Kelley created a very professional personal impression to the readers, â€Å"And yet I somehow managed to graduate from Yale, find a job I sometimes like, and miracles of miracles, get married and have a kid.† It shows that how she does not a beauty woman to this society, but now she is successful and has all things that most of the women want to have. Also, in the middle of the paper, she stated a point that we need to get healthy, not get liposuction. She used her own experience to support her view. â€Å"Getting healthy is the reason I’m onShow MoreRelatedThe Tipping Point: Rhetorical Analysis Essay813 Words   |  4 PagesThe Tipping Point: Rhetorical Analysis Throughout The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell explains to his reader his ideas about drastic changes in society, and how they seem to occur so rapidly. 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Marino then end his article by saying many great leadersRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of A Life Beyond D o What You Love Essay2042 Words   |  9 Pagesuse of rhetorical devices. Dr. Marino is a very highly educated philosopher who earned his Ph.D. at University of Chicago, M.A. university of Pennsylvania, and B.A. Columbia University. He typically publishes to the New York Times, for his writing mostly appeals to all people because so many can relate to this article. Marino effectively argues that sometimes individuals must sacrifice their passions to provide for their loved ones using rhetorical devices, hypophora, anecdote, rhetorical questionsRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Rhetorical And Rhetorical Analysis1188 Words   |  5 Pages1. Rhetorical Analysis is the careful examination of texts, videos, and images to understand how they function in conveying their message. The definition of rhetorical analysis will help me better understand what I should be looking for when I receive a text, as rhetorical analysis is different than literary analysis. Therefore, the devices for each are also different (Lunsford et al. 88). 2. Intended audience is the initial step to any rhetorical analysis. If you are unable to identify an audience