The ethical principles and teaching of one religion Essay Example for Free

The ethical principles and teaching of one religion Essay Examine the ethical principles and teaching of one religion, focussing particularly on what is believed about the nature and value of human life, and the relationship between humans and the environment. Most religions have similar ethical principles and beliefs on the value and nature of human life; however this essay will be focusing on one religion in particular, Islam. Islams main principles about the human life are quite similar to the other religions, and the fact that life is sacred. This underpins all issues dealing with medical ethics such as Abortion and Euthanasia. Muslims believe that all human life is sacred because it is given by Allah, and that Allah chooses how long each person will live. Human beings should not interfere in this, which is why Islam would most definitely favour sanctity of life over quality of life, as the Islamic view is based on the very high priority the faith gives to the sanctity of life. The Quran states: Whosoever has spared the life of a soul, it is as though he has spared the life of all people. Whosoever has killed a soul, it is as though he has murdered all of mankind. (Quran 5:32) It is a manifestation of the dignity of man that Islam has placed an infinite value on human life. This is expressed in the Quran in the following terms: We ordained for the children of Israel that if anyone slew a person, unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land, it would be as if he slew the whole of mankind. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of a whole people. (Al-Maida, 5:32) If Euthanasia is taken as an example, Islam believes human life is a value to be respected unconditionally, irrespective of other circumstances. The concept of a life not worthy of living does not exist in Islam. Justification of taking life to escape suffering is not acceptable in Islam. Prophet Mohammad taught: There was a man in older times that had an infliction that taxed his patience, so he took a knife, cut his wrist and bled to death. Upon this God said:My subject hastened his end, I deny him paradise. All these teachings are derived from the Holy Book of Islam, The Quran, which is said to be the word of Allah. There are many other quotes from the Quran which support the argument of the sacredness of life. If anyone kills a person unless it be for murder or spreading mischief in the land- it would be as if he killed the whole people. (Quran 5.32) When their time comes they cannot delay it for a single hour nor can they bring it forward by a single hour. (Quran 16.61) And no person can ever die except by Allahs leave and at an appointed term. (Quran 3.145) Destroy not yourselves. Surely Allah is ever merciful to you. (Quran 4.29) There is a vast amount of emphasis put on the sacredness of human life, and how it should be protected at all times, however Islam permits killing, under very strict circumstances, in a war called Jihad, and is often mistranslated to mean holy war, however its true meaning can be anything from an inward spiritual struggle to attain perfect faith to a political or military struggle to further the Islamic cause. The Prophet Muhammad has given clear instructions about the behaviour of the Muslim army. He observed: Set out for Jihad in the name of Allah and for the sake of Allah. Do not lay hands on the old verging on death, on women, children and babes. Do not steal anything from the booty and collect together all that falls to your lot in the battlefield and do good, for Allah loves the virtuous and the pious. So great is the respect for humanly feelings in Islam that even the wanton destruction of enemys crops or property is strictly forbidden. When thinking of the nature of life, it is natural to ponder upon creation. For example how would Islam manage to answer lifes unanswered questions such as, When does life begin?, Where does life come from?, and What happens at death?. As with all religions Islam tried to answer them, with help from the Holy Scriptures, such as the Quran and Hadith. The question of when a human life begins is a profoundly intricate one, with widespread implications, ranging from abortion rights to stem cell research and beyond. A key point in the debate rests on the way in which we choose to define the concepts of humanity, life and human life. Islam states that human life begins at the moment when a male sperm penetrates a female ovum and becomes united with it. The impregnated ovum constitutes the first cell that contains a full genetic record of the human kind in general and of the individual foetus itself that will distinguish it from any other being at any point of time. This first cell will then start reproducing itself throughout the various developing stages of the conception period until the moment of birth. The moment a woman conceives and the conceptions said to be stable in the uterus, the life shining in this uterus has full respect and is protected by established Islamic law provisions. If the foetus reaches the stage when a soul is breathed into it (some say after 120 days, others after 40 days), its sanctity becomes greater as agreed upon, and this results into certain provisions of the Islamic law. Islam also believes that all types of life were created by Allah, from water. Let us look at what Allah has said in the Quran about our creation to back up this theory: Now let man but think from what he is created! He is created from A drop emitted Proceedings from between the backbone and the ribs: Surely (Allah) is able to bring him back (To life)! The Day that (All) things secret Will be tested, (Man) will have No power, and no helper. (Quran 86:5-10) As Allah has given life, he can also take it away, and has a plan for us all. Muslims believe that the present life is a trial in preparation for the next realm of existence. All the Prophets of God called their people to worship God and to believe in life after death. They laid so much emphasis on the belief in life after death that even a slight doubt in it meant denying God and made all other beliefs meaningless. Islam teaches that after death there will be a Day of Judgement. When people die they remain in the grave until the Day of Judgement. When the Day of Judgement comes, Allah will decide what happens to people and his decision is final: To Allah belongs the knowledge of the unseen of the heavens and the earth; and the coming of the Hour of Judgement is like the twinkling of an eye, or even quicker. Surely, Allah has full power over everything. (Quran 16:77) Allah will also judge all believers, not just Muslims: Those who believe in the Quran, and the Jews and the Sabians and the Christians, any who truly believe in Allah and the Last Day and act righteously, shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. (Quran 5:69) People who have followed the teachings of Allah will go to Paradise, which will be a perfect world of rest and pleasure. Here they stay forever. This is called akhirah or in other words life after death. People who have ignored Allahs teachings will go to hell where they will be punished. Those who have believed and acted righteously will be made happy in a splendid Garden. Those who disbelieved and rejected Our Signs and the meeting of the Hereafter will be brought face to face with punishment. (Quran 30:15-16) Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam has no teaching about reincarnation. Muslims have only one chance to live their lives and they are judged on how they do this. When researching the value of human life there are many reasons not to destroy life in Islam however Islam does not always see destroying life as wrong. For example there are many quotes in the Quran, as mentioned beforehand, as to why life is so sacred, and only Allah has the right to take it away. If we look at the issue of abortion, Muslims regard abortion as wrong and haram (forbidden), but many accept that it may be permitted in certain cases. All schools of Muslim law accept that abortion is permitted if continuing the pregnancy would put the mothers life in real danger. This is the only reason accepted for abortion after 120 days of the pregnancy. The Islamic view is based on the very high priority the faith gives to the sanctity of life. This passage has been stressed many times by myself, for it is the main valid point for backing up the sanctity of life and in the Quran it states: Whosoever has spared the life of a soul, it is as though he has spared the life of all people. Whosoever has killed a soul, it is as though he has murdered all of mankind. (5: 32) Most Muslim scholars would say that a foetus in the womb is recognised and protected by Islam as a human life although. Islam allows abortion to save the life of the mother because it sees this as the lesser of two evils and this is a general principle in Sharia (Muslim law). Abortion is regarded as a lesser evil in this case because, The mother is the originator of the foetus, the mothers life is well-established, the mother has with duties and responsibilities, the mother is part of a family, and allowing the mother to die would also kill the foetus in most cases. Islam also regards the relationships between humans and the environment very highly. The world Earth appears no less than 485 times in the holy book of the Quran. Sharia, the word for Islamic Law, literally means source of water. In the words of Allah, There is not an animal in the earth, nor a creature flying on two wings, but they are nations like you. (6:38) The question of the creation of human beings is relevant; to understand the role of religion in the environment the Holy Quran states Blessed be He, in whose hands are all sovereignty. He has power over all things. He created death and life that He might put to test and find out, which of you acquitted himself best. He is Mighty, Forgiving One. (67:1-2) Life is thus, a brilliant demonstration of Gods wisdom and knowledge. He has shown the humans a right path of life. Theres complete stability and unity in the laws of the universe. Man being a part of the whole system must also operate justly in the sphere over which he is given control and power; otherwise, he is working against the natural laws of the Universe, as well as his own nature. The result of which can be destruction in the environment. In conclusion, as with many other religions, Islam has similar concepts and principals about human life and the environment which are clearly outlined in Holy Scriptures such as The Quran and may influence our personal morals and views on ethical issues. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1) http://www.islamweb.net 2) http://www.bbc.co.uk 3) http://www.earthisland.org 4) http://www.muhajabah.com 5) The Puzzle of Ethics Peter Vardy Paul Grosch 6) Understanding Islam Duncan Baird Publishers

The Facebook In Education English Language Essay

The Facebook In Education English Language Essay Facebook is a networking site, which connects people all over the world, making the Earth a global village. This social networking giant was launched by Mark Zuckerberg and his friends. The website mainly aims at connecting people or helps them socialise and makes its revenue out of advertising. This paper mainly tries to tell what facebook is all about, and concentrates on how it can be used for educational purposes. It also highlights few of the security problems faced by the users of facebook. This paper mainly tells about the student- teacher interaction, students council on facebook and how it will be useful to their education above and beyond portraying results of a FB opinion poll which can divulge and justify the creation of this study. INTRODUCTION: Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg and his roommates at Harvard. He initially founded a website called Facemash for Harvard students. Since the website attracted many users, he was motivated to programme Facebook. Initially, the usage of this website was limited to Harvard students. Later, seeing the response that this website received, it was extended to the students of other universities as well. In 2009, the services of this website were made global to anyone above the age of 13. The users of this website have to create an account using a valid email- id. Each user has a separate profile, which bears some personal information about the user. Users can edit their profile, add pictures, post on their wall (a wall is a private space provided by this webpage. It is more or less like a personal notice board, where in, users can write, comment, add videos, pictures, etc.), send messages (the message option is more or less like the email and is a secure communication link) or even poke their friends (a partially fun and partially boring event to let other users know that you exist). Users are also allowed to customize the privacy settings for their profiles, where, the contents of their profiles will be viewed only by their friends, or a selected, customized few. Any registered user can search for and add any other member as friend, provided the other person accepts the friend request. Users can also categorise their friends as close friends, family, high school friends, etc to keep track of their close ones activities. Further, users are allowed to create or join groups of their interests. Users are also allowed to create Events and send out online invitations with the RSVP option thus providing the organizer an efficient and simple tool to make their organizing a huge success! Facebook also provides notifications, where in users are reminded about various important happenings, meetings, dates, etc. This interface also informs users if they have been tagged on someone-elses profile. Facebook provides the chart, calendar and clock applications as well. Facebook has emerged as a new dais not only for mere communication but for learning and teaching as well. With the help of breakthrough technology, facebook is supported in all mobiles, tabs and computers. This indeed has turned FB as a teaching platform where we can share materials, have a discussion, conduct contests and assessments and above all it requires no pre-training to start with [4]. Even though FB users range from school going children to elderly people, the ratio of teens and college students is substantially large. The reasons behind this are it is a new-fangled venue to utter and convey themselves, innocuous lurking, identity marking apart from acquaintances, mythoi and quixotic affairs, which are the prime facades of juvenile growth. Elaborate cram based on the time the college youth spend per day, how and why they exercise FB also portray the same end results [13]. From both the students and teachers point of view, facebook can be efficaciously practiced as a social network; Students envision FB as a course and mà ©tier for vigorous participation, to solidify self pride and poise etc whereas rendering inferential outcomes, explicating diverse didactics, adapting and updating to the scenario of expectations of students etc are some added vantages to the teachers [3]. Another angle of approach is how facebook can be made use of to dig into instructors strike of self-revelation which tops on a students reliability in addition to immediate apprehension. Studies are going on in this invited research area which analyses the essence of computer-liaised teacher disclosure. Facebook is likely happened to be a worthy asset to abide academic alliance with faculty. Findings indicate that the latters self-revealing tendency may stimulate students for efficacious learning by means of interactive sessions [6, 11]. Prior to be used for educational purposes, FB is nowadays used by the students to pre-register to engage with an educational institution, to socialize and to integrate with the other students [2]. Detailed works shed light on social networks evolution, peoples horizon, FBs entailment on executives, its prospects on campus networking in time to come and also mentionable is interface with studying environs [8]. Apart from just learning, it definitely acts as a powerful medium in spreading a social matter which draws attention of millions in just a few seconds. More theories deal with this thought and several analyses are done for the practical possibilities [1]. Apart from general studies, finical reports state that several SNSs (certainly including FB) have come under daily cum inevitable means of (academic) communication. Statistics, surveys, questionnaires etc render helping hand to know the diversified impression of SNSs. Having mentioned that, via those one can come to an idea of their grandness, innovation, requisite, uses and intention. Though SNSs have some drawbacks, their overhaul and resources have grown their usance to a phenomenal extent and, which, now have become very common. Some grounds of FB which have made it unimaginably popular are self expression, entertainment quotient, maintaining relations, visual familiarity, global updates of all forms, media drenching, following famous icons regularly etc. [7,9]. Not only meant for entertainment and educational platform, through FB, researchers across the globe are experiment the mental attitude, especially of students, depression references. There exist some strategies to approach a person who have expressed his/her personal opinion about something or somebody. Since it is now a rising issue, this topic is worth discussion [5]. A mathematical experiment on FB and its users reveal the approximate percentage of the genders, the time each race spend, various purposes like chatting, finding friends, lurking, work and event reminder, multimedia sharing, games, business and many more [12]. Thus, Through FB walls, students can keep up tight-knit links, call off one, and establish new contacts, not only generally but with other institutions as well. As far as students are concerned, they can share and exchange information about both teaching and learning and can develop themselves better practically than by being bookish. It definitely introduced an online fashion where people can get together with their near and dears and distant pals [10]. http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSS8X54-PUsZBG3dGKIjT3eqsNpN-HERvBQ4MVw_OrCvban6QZXTw The above picture is that of a facebook profile. THE USAGE OF FACEBOOK FOR NETWORKING PURPOSES: This networking giant is the second most used website in the world and has an online traffic of about 900 million across the world. This website is not only a platform for networking but is also useful in bettering education, making news more accessible, advertising and promoting businesses, etc,. Because of the variety of applications provided by this network, it has almost become ubiquitous. THE USE OF FACEBOOK AS A GLOBAL CLASSROOM: A lot of teachers today feel that since the usage of facebook is very familiar with students across the globe, it may prove to provide an upper hand in their education, if used properly. Teachers and students may become facebook friends. That way, teachers may know a lot about their students personally. The student teacher interaction which may not be plausible in the classroom may be made possible online. Teachers and students can post study related videos and articles on their wall, for other students to view and learn. If students and teachers are facebook friends, students will be able to ask doubts any time and get clarified based on the availability of the staff online. If the topics and dates of submission for assignments are posted on facebook, it would be convenient for both the staff and the student. This networking may create a bonding between the preacher and the preached that may not be possible in todays classrooms. http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXfXWpQFLMswGgkIzEXGEd0oNeZrPI7lcUH4wy094nMH30wiZAtAThis picture shows how networking is made easier by writing in some ones wall on facebook THE USE OF FACEBOOK AS A STUDENTS COUNSEL: An online forum or group may be created in facebook wherein students can counsel among themselves. Such groups may be very interactive and useful for students to do group activities and combined studies. A new innovative idea of any student may be shared among their fellow beings any time, and discussed. Discussion about any topic on their subject or any assignment may be done online and students may get a good participation from other fellow students. THE CRITICS ARGUEMENT: Critics however say that students and teachers should not be friends on facebook because it changes the entire relationship between the teacher and the taught. A few people also say that teachers or students may misuse or take advantage of this online friendship. A survey conducted by Kirschner and Karpinski on the students of Midwestern University, USA, states that students spending time in facebook were found to have lesser GPA, than the ones not using facebook. Though this might not be the only reason for these students reduced GPA, this might also have accounted for it. This might be true in the western part of world. But an emphatic study at universities in the eastern part of the world, show that the usage of facebook and GPA are not related. THE THREAT FOR PRIVACY ON FACEBOOK: There is always a threat for privacy in facebook. With the increasing use of pseudo identity by unlawful people, there is even more of a security threat on facebook. But, according to a study conducted on students, they did not face any real time security problems (for example, being stalked by strangers either online or in the real world) because of using facebook. Also, not a lot of students care about their identity being disclosed on facebook. THE STUDENTS USAGE OF FACEBOOK FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES: A survey, via a questionnaire was conducted on about two hundred and fifty students of SASTRA University. The following questions were asked and the students were requested to answer them briefly. Name: Age: Gender: The time that you spend on facebook: Your marks in %: The number of hours that you spend online: The activities that you do in facebook: Can facebook be used in education: yes no If yes, please elaborate: If no, please elaborate: Does facebook in any way help you in your academics: Does the use of facebook affect your studies: Can facebook be used as a global classroom: yes/no If yes, please elaborate: If no, please elaborate: Can facebook be used as a students council: yes/no If yes, please elaborate: If no, please elaborate: The following results were obtained. About 86% of students reported that facebook can be used for education, 64% of them told that facebook helps them in their academics, 70% of them agreed that facebook does not affect their studies, 68% of them voted that this networking site could be used as a global class room, 83% of them voiced that the networking giant could be used as a students counsil. CONCLUSION: As we all know, there are two sides to a coin, to an untold story and to every other thing on earth. Everything has its pros and cons. Hence, facebook, if used properly can be made a powerful educational tool. But, the students who spent more than six hours on facebook were found to have lost interest in studies and eventually, their GPA were less. But, the advantages of facebook can be made to outweigh its disadvantages if educators start using facebook as an educational tool. In conclusion, this study is all about fore fronting the emerging phases of Facebook with special attention to education and academic purposes. Therefore, this paper triggers empiric and theoretical probe on academic activities in Facebook.

Vagueness and Identity :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

Vagueness and Identity ABSTRACT: The view that identity can be vague holds that there are statements of identity which are neither true nor false. The view that composition can be vague holds that unities can have borderline constituents — that is, elements that are neither parts nor non-parts of some larger unity. The case for vague identity is typically made by way of an argument for the vagueness of composition. In this paper, however, I argue that the thesis that composition can be vague is actually incompatible with the thesis of vague identity. The argument for the incompatibility of these two views arises out of a demonstration of the way in which constituency facts (even vague constituency facts) are grounded in the other facts about how a larger unity is configured. Thus, I show that composites that are allegedly vaguely identical are actually different configurations. Hence, the alliance of vague composition with vague identity is taken to be all that is needed in order to show that compos itional vagueness is indefensible. I It is sometimes held that, like other things, identity can be vague.But care should be taken about what this means. The claim that identity can be vague is best understood as the claim that there can be statements of identity which are indeterminate in truth value. This view gains in attractiveness when the precision of the concept of identity is contrasted with the lack of precision endemic to various criteria of identity. As Sainsbury notes, diachronic artifact identity must surely be governed by principles such as this: "Replacing some, but not too many, parts of an artifact does not destroy it, but leaves the very same artifact". Such principles are vague. How could the identity relation, which they determine, be precise? Considerations like these extend to members of natural kinds like mountains and cows as well. What's consistent throughout these views is that identity requires enough of the appropriate sort of continuity. This reliance on continuity goes for not only the way w e re-identify things over time, but for the way we individuate objects at a time as well. So for example, spatio-temporal continuity at least partially explains how it is that at Broadway and 42nd I am standing on the same road I stood on when I was at Broadway and 41st. Since identity deciding conditions like continuity and contiguousness can be weak or strong or more or less, it appears the vagueness of those concepts has a limiting effect on how precise identity claims can be.

The bulest eye :: essays research papers

Claudia and Frieda MacTeer live in Lorain, Ohio with their parents. Their lives are hard, but their parents provide a stern and loving household. To make money, their parents take in a boarder, Henry Washington. Soon after, another young girl, named Pecola, comes to live with the MacTeers after her father, Cholly, burned down her house. The three girls become friends. Pecola loves milk and Shirley Temple; it quickly becomes clear that she believes that all things Caucasian are beautiful. It also becomes clear that Pecola considers herself ugly because she has such strong African features. She does not believe she can be loved. Pecola eventually moves back in with her family. Life there is not pleasant. Her father is an alcoholic, her mother is distant, and the two of them often fight. Pecola's older brother, Samuel, often runs away from home. Pecola also runs away but into her own fantasies: she dreams of having the bluest eyes in the world. Pecola's life away from her family is no better. She is often picked on and called ugly by those around her. Claudia and Frieda realize that the entire neighborhood agrees with Pecola that Caucasian features are beautiful. Pecola's parents have both had difficult lives. Pauline always felt like an outsider in her family and constantly suffers through feelings of loneliness and ugliness. She wants to love her daughter but finds Pecola unattractive. Pauline works for a wealthy white family and finds her solace in their house and in movie theaters showing the glamorous white world. Cholly was abandoned by his parents and brought up by his aunt. He was often humiliated by white people and built up a great rage toward whites and women. When he met and married Pauline, things were good for a time, but he soon felt trapped and unhappy. The marriage is listless and dull, except for those moments when they are fighting. One day, as he returns home and finds Pecola washing dishes, Cholly's life of rage and aborted desire wells up and he rapes his daughter. Pauline blames Pecola for the rape, irrationally seeing it as Pecola's fault. Pecola becomes more obsessed with getting blue eyes and visits Soaphead Church, a sham mystic, who promises to help her. Instead, he uses her to help kill a dog he doesn't like. Pecola discovers she is pregnant. Over the course of her pregnancy, Pecola goes mad.

Use of Mise en Scene in the Film Yellow Earth :: Movie Film Essays

Use of Mise en Scene in the Film Yellow Earth The film â€Å"Yellow Earth† is the sad tale of a girl being forced to follow her â€Å"fate.† She sees an opportunity to escape in a foreigner, a soldier from the south. In this film, director Chen Kaige and cinematographer Zhang Yimou create windows into their characters. Several scenes are made more significant because of the use of mise en scene. This technique allows the viewer to see everything that happens during the course of the scene. The most impactful scene is perhaps when the soldier Gu is first brought into their home. Although the camera will show different shots, time is still continuous. It is not an interruption and is only moving to provide the audience with a better view. The continuousness of time is important because the audience knows everything that is occurring between the characters. The viewer hears their conversations and their silences. This use if mise en scene allows the viewer to get a sense of the tension between Gu and the family (as he is a newcomer), and between Cuiqiao and the others. There are two main angles that Yimou uses in this scene. One is centered on Gu and the other is centered on Cuiqiao, from slightly to the right of Gu’s perspective. Whenever the shot is facing Gu, it is at his level. Everything is level with his camera angle and straight with his life. Cuiqiao’s angle, however, is looking down on her. This is reflective of her current emotional state. She is sorrowful and repressed. Whenever a character performs an important action, the camera shows them. The first time that Cuiqiao and Han Han are spoken to, they become visible. Also, we see Cuiqiao’s reactions when they are important to her characterization. Gu speaks somewhat about the South and how free and wonderful it is. Cuiqiao’s curiosity is expressed on her face. The audience also sees Cuiqiao forgetting about what she is doing with the bellows.

Bush Intercontinental Airport-Houston

Bush Intercontinental Airport-Houston, is among the top few international airports in the U. S. The volume of tasks handled at this airport- the ninth busiest in the U. S- is enormous, yet it functions smoothly. The secret behind the smooth and hassle-free functioning of this airport is to be found in its strong, high-tech, state-of- art IS network. The airport consists of the four terminals-A, B, C and IAB that were built in over a period from 1969 to 1990, resulting in a mix of technologies to be managed by the Aviation MIS department.The network at the airport is primarily fiber-optic with T-1 lines connecting the Ethernet-based LANs at each airport to create a citywide WAN. A non-collapsible fiber ring around the city of Houston connects all the airports to the administration building. Even as the IAB had the newest technologies available, terminals A, B, and C handled the bulk of the traffic and revenue generated by the airport. Terminal C and a major part of terminal B are leas ed to Continental Airlines, who handle three-fourths of all the traffic. The network at the airport is leased from the local telephone company, Southwestern Bell telephone.The Department of Aviation (DOA) manages eight LANs supporting 455 personal computers and 12 servers. Four Stratus minicomputers also support airport operations. Two of the Stratus systems run IAH’s most crucial safety and scheduling system. A mainframe computer located in downtown Houston is connected to the DOA network. Over and above, each individual airline that has leased space from DOA has its own terminals for its own uses. There is a proposal to install OC3 servers, the equivalent of 100 T-1 lines as the backbone of the network, giving the IS here the cutting-edge technology.What are the key components of the IS infrastructure at IAH? Effective IS are critical for an airport to run smoothly. They save time. They ensure smooth overall functioning of the various sub-systems within the airport system. An advanced IS, as at IAH is not only a source of pride for the airport personnel, but helps determine an airline where to expand its services. What is even more significant, an advanced IS system can directly impact the bottom line of airport budget, as well as the entire economic success of the region in which the airport operates.IAH, the ninth busiest international airport in the United States boasts of a large complex information system. Some of the standard business applications used here are budgeting, records management, rates and charges, warehouse inventory and purchasing. There are various other tasks for which the airport requires the automated systems as flight information, security access control, ground transportation, paging/information, airfield lighting, radio and facility maintenance, vehicle maintenance, parking, concession tracking, and a wide range of planning, design and construction activities.It is in fact due to the advanced IS that a passenger waiting for a connecting flight here, for instance, feels comfortable and is able to taxi to a waiting lounge, pass through immigration, retrieve baggage, complete custom, check the video-display for connecting flight and use his wait-time to make calls, have a snack, visit the restroom and get to the gate in time to upgrade his seat.The passenger then boards his flight, handing the gate-attendant his electronic boarding pass which is computer-scanned at door of the plane, confirming that the passenger is cleared to board the plane for the next leg of his trip. Consider the software applications in this architecture. Which do you think are running on the local PCs and which are running on the servers or mainframes in the network? Softwares on the PCs used at IAH include standard business software applications for budgeting, record management, rates and charges, warehouse inventory applications and purchasing.They run on the local PCs, and are used by the airport personnel. Besides these, the ai rport requires the automated systems for managing flight information, security access control, ground transportation, paging/information, airfield lighting, radio and facility maintenance, vehicle maintenance, parking concession tracking, parking, design and construction tasks. The Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel and Access is used. E-mail, calendaring and scheduling programs run in all the computers in Microsoft Outlook.They run on an exchange server. 1. Software on the PCs Standard Business Applications as well as Specialized Applications Standard Business Applications: budgeting, records management, rates and charges, warehouse inventory and purchasing. Specialized Applications: flight information, security access control, ground transportation, paging/information, air-field lighting, radio and facility maintenance, vehicle maintenance, parking, concession tracking, planning, design and construction. 2. Software on servers and mainframesE-mail, calendaring and Schedu ling programs in all computers in Microsoft outlook. What are the advantages and disadvantages to the DOA of leasing the networking from Southwestern Bell? Advantages 1. Fiber-optic network at the airport. 2. T-1 lines connecting the Ethernet-based LANs at each airport to create a city wide LAN. 3. A non collapsible fiber ring around the city of Houston that connects all the airports to the administration building. 4. Non collapsible ring ensures, if one link fails the entire network does not collapse.5. The improvement program will install OC3 service, the equivalent of 100 T-1. lines. 6. Innovation perspective. Disadvantages 1. The airport has four terminals built over a wide time frame resulting in a mix of technologies managed by Aviation MIS department. 2. The infrastructure needed to manage this airport must include both new and old technologies. 3. This mixture presents a challenge. 4. DOA itself manages eight LANs supporting 455 personal computers and 455 personnel. 5. Innov ation at the cost of smooth functioning.

First Great Awakening

Revival history is an interesting topic and one that can be explored at great depths. Revivals of the past, if looked at through the right lens, can awaken hope and desire for God to move again, even in the darkest times. Revivals show us that God is still very much active and interested in His people. The Father desires that we would know Him as a real Person and who loves to make Himself known through His Son Jesus. I wrote my paper on the First Great Awakening mainly because I am from New England and I have a passion to see the church set ablaze again in that area.The heritage is so rich in that land and I believe that the Lord would love to encounter His people again with a great spiritual awakening. Below, I will go over the Great Awakening in detail discussing the dates, location, key leaders, scope of impact, main features, main message, controversial aspects, principles learned, and our application for today. The First Great Awakening was a religious revitalization movement t hat took place in the northeast, mainly in the New England area.The Great Awakening spread throughout the colonies on the eastern seaboard. The dates of when the First Great Awakening began vary due to the opinion of the chosen historian. Most say that the dates begin somewhere in the early 1700’s – 1740’s. The earliest stirrings of revival were recorded in the 1730’s in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The next noticeable move of God was in Northampton, Mass around 1734 – 36. The final thrust of awakening took place   in the 1740s with the arrival of the powerful orator and itinerant speaker, George Whitefield.A contributor to the National Humanities Center validates these claims by informing, â€Å"The earliest manifestations of the American phase of this phenomenon—the beginnings of the First Great Awakening—appeared among Presbyterians in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Led by the Tennent family—Reverend William Tennent, a Scot s-Irish immigrant, and his four sons, all clergymen—the Presbyterians not only initiated religious revivals in those colonies during the 1730s but also established a seminary to train clergymen whose fervid, heartfelt preaching would bring sinners to experience evangelical conversion.Originally known as â€Å"the Log College,† it is better known today as Princeton University. †1 When looking historically at the Great Awakening, many may not recognize that the hand of the Lord was already starting to awaken hunger for revitalization of religion before the man Jonathan Edwards came on the scene. While serving as the new local congregational minister of a Northampton church, Jonathan Edwards noticed the spiritual dullness and condition of the town. He wrote this quote: â€Å"Just after my grandfather's death, it seemed to be a time of extraordinary dullness in religion.Licentiousness for some years prevailed among the youth of the town; they were many of them very much addicted to night-walking, and frequenting the tavern and lewd practices, wherein some, by their example, exceedingly corrupted others. † 2 Afterward, Jonathan was moved to the point of calling the young people to gather into small groups to join for prayer and a time of discussion. The next recognized stirrings began in December 1734 of Northampton, Massachusetts. Two well known young people died in the town and the population began to become concerned with death, life after death, eternity and other spiritual matters.In this stirring context, Edwards began preaching a teaching series on Justification by faith alone. It was at this point that six young people were converted. One of whom was a young girl who was said to be known by many young men in the town, meaning she was very immoral. The town of Northampton was shaken to its very core and three hundred more conversions took place following the initial 6. With the entire town boasting 1,100 people, this equates to 25% of the population getting saved. About a year later in 1736, the town went back to normal mainly due to the suicide of Jonathan Edward's uncle.The next wave of revival to hit New England was in 1740 upon the revival of George Whitefield. He was another key figure and leader during this great spiritual awakening and stirring. George at one point spoke to 30,000 people in England. The night before he died he saw that 2,000 people had gathered out his home so he went to his balcony and preached on the excellencies of Christ. The key leaders of the Great Awakening as mentioned previously were Gilbert Tennent, Jonathan   Edwards and George Whitefield. Gilbert Tennent was born in 1703 in Ireland and was the son of William Tennent.Gilbert had immigrated to the United States in 1718 and lived in Pennsylvania. After wrestling over his salvation during his teen years he was converted at 20 years old in 1723. It was only three years later that he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. Ten net was a stirring speaker and from his sermons he led many into a conversion experience. In 1739 Gilbert met George Whitefield and went on tour with him throughout New England. They both shared a great passion for revival. While on tour Gilbert introduced George to many different ministers which aided in making the tour a great success.When George returned to England, Tennet continued on with preaching throughout New England and from these speaking engagements little revivals sparked. The revivals in New England were scattered but aided in creating what we now call â€Å"The Great Awakening†. Jonathan Edwards, a native to the New England area was born in East Windsor, Connecticut on October 5, 1703. Jonathan grew up as the only son out of 11 children. From a young age he lived a life of prayer and study in the word. He also studied many topics and was one of the most brilliant minds to be produced on American soil.Edward’s didn’t have his actual conversion expe rience until January 12, 1723. Jonathan studied the bible 13 – 14 hours a day and wrote over 120 pieces of literature which many can still be found. Edward’s was bold in his proclamation of the truth and didn’t not shy away from it even when it was uncomfortable for the people. Edward’s desire for doctrinal purity is admirable and the dedication and devotion given to it is worth reduplicating. George Whitefield was born on December 16, 1714 in Gloucester England. George was the youngest of seven children.He was not raised in a Christian home but rather one that was dysfunctional. His father passes away when he was at the mere age of two. His mother did eventually remarry but it was indicated that the marriage was not peaceful. In 1733 Whitefield met the infamous ‘Wesley brothers† while studying at Pembroke College in Oxford. John and Charles Wesley at that time were leading what is known as the Holy Clubs and before Whitefield even had his con version experience he was apart of the holy clubs for 3 years. The schedule was one that was very rigors and it must have been the hand of the Lord to keep him enough content to stay.It took a very serious illness to confront him on his internal state while in England. Whitefield’s accomplishments are quite amazing he pioneered open air, square and field meetings. The church walls were filled to beyond capacity and thousands had to be turned away from hearing him. The scope of impact of the great awakening was a watershed event in the life of the American people. Before it was over it had spread throughout the colonies of the eastern seaboard. The revival had great impact on the church and saw 1000’s of sinners saved.The revival did more than effect the spiritual climate it also had an impact on the social and governmental levels. A contributor from a website dedicated to the Great Awakening gives more details on the scope of impact â€Å"The effect of Great Awakening unity was an attitude that went against the deferential thinking that consumed English politics and religion. Rather than believing that God's will was necessarily interpreted by the monarch or his bishops, the colonists viewed themselves as more capable of performing the task. The chain of authority no longer ran from God to ruler to people, but from God to people to ruler.The children of revivalism later echoed this radicalism and popular self-righteousness in the American Revolution, when self-assertion turned against the tyrannical ways of George III. It was not to any church that the signers of the Declaration of Independence appealed to, but directly to the â€Å"Supreme Judge of the World†. It was through the revivalism of the first half of the Eighteenth Century that the colonists were finally able to step out from under the protectorate of the established Christian churches and assert religious control over their own nation's destiny. In other words the Colonists re alized that religious freedom and power rested in their own hands and not in the church of England anymore. Some of the main features of the Great Awakening were men and women turning away from religious apathy and turning back to their puritan roots. Others who were not saved were being confronted with their need for a savior and the reality of eternity. Upon and from the arrival of George Whitefield in 1740 to Northampton Massachusetts where Edward’s resided the awakening spread wherever George went as he was an itinerant speaker who spoke mainly in open fields.One of the most famous messages was preached on July 8, 1741 in Enfield, Connecticut titled â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God†. The revival was titled the â€Å"Great Awakening† with good reason as it was a movement of religious revitalization within and outside of the church. The people of the towns had an understanding of faith as they or their father’s had come from England to have fr eedom of expression in their worship. But they had turned apathetic especially with the entrance of the Half Way Covenant.Essentially people who were baptized and lived half way decent lives but made no public confession of Christ were allowed to bring their children in to be baptized which led to people who did not profess to being Christians partaking of the Lord's Supper. This over time created a church that was disconnected from their state of desperation and need for a savior to save them from their sin. The main message was about justification by faith. Men and women were cut to the heart as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield spoke to them the word God.They could not be saved by works alone but it must be an inner working of the heart and faith in Jesus Christ alone. The preachers were calling them up higher from just a Sunday morning church goer mentality. One of the main controversial aspects of the Great Awakening was the phenomena that took place during some of the ser vices. Much opposition was stirred among conservative congregational ministers so Edwards wrote in defense â€Å"The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God† dealing with much of the bodily affects.He noted that these bodily affects were not necessarily a work of the spirit which forced him to write another apology in 1742 called â€Å"Thoughts on Revival in New England† noting the great moral improvement. Another one of the controversies which is still around to this day is the called the Old Lights and New Lights. The New Lights were those congregants who had a new light or perspective on sin and atonement. They were also those who also felt that the revival was from the Lord and that they would be able to continue in that kind of environment.The old lights were ones that did not like or enjoy change but wanted to keep things the way that they were. They were skeptical of the revival and depending upon which branch of the denomination they were from they took a stance with their view point. The old lights were also apprehensive because they were afraid that the new lights would act in rebellion and that they may possibly be a threat to authority.1http://nationalhumanitiescenter. org/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/grawaken. htm  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   2Edwards,   Ã‚  Ã‚   Jonathan. A   Ã‚  Ã‚   Narrative of Surprising Conversions. Wilmington, DE: Sovereign Grace Publ. , 1972. Print.