What Is a Religious Sect

A sect is a religious group that is a subset of a religion or denomination. Sects typically share the same beliefs as the religion that is their foundation but will have marked differences in some areas. Sects Versus Cults The terms sects and cults are often used interchangeably, but this is incorrect. Cults are small, extreme groups, and are often marked by corrupt leaders, and intense, manipulative, or unethical practices. Sects are not cults, in most circumstances. They are just religious offshoots of other groups. But because of how often the two terms are confused, many people who belong to sects describe themselves as being part of a small denomination, to avoid negative stigma. Examples of Religious Sects In history, religious sects have been the cause of new movements and radical changes. For example, one early sect of Judaism was the Nazarenes. This group was reportedly made up of Jesus apostles after his death. While they were a Jewish sect, the Nazarenes were the foundation of Christianity. Today, sects are still prominent. One of the most well-known is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, more commonly referred to as Mormons. The Mormon sect eventually evolved into its own denomination of Christianity and continues to increase in followers. Sects are often subsets of religions due to their perceived need for reform. As the sect grows, it becomes more established, builds a congregation, and becomes more accepted into the mainstream. At that point, it becomes a denomination. Modern Christian Sects Christianity has the largest number of sects. In the past, Christians associated sects with heresy and blasphemous beliefs, but in recent years, sects have become more respected for their beliefs. A Christian sect is recognized as separate from the core religion over certain beliefs and practices. Within the Catholic Church, there are many sects that operate separately but still consider themselves Catholic: Community of the Lady of All Nations: Founded in 1971, this sect believes that its founder, Marie Paule Giguere, is the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary. This differs from the Catholic belief that reincarnation is not possible and that Mary was assumed into heaven.  Palmarian Catholic Church: The Palmarian Catholic Church does not recognize the current papacy as valid and infallible, splitting with the Roman Catholic Church. They have not recognized the authority of the Pope since the death of Pope Paul VI in 1978. Modern Islamic Sects Islam also has a number of religious sects that deviate from Islams traditional teachings. There are two core groups, but each one has several sub-sects as well: Sunni Islam: Sunni Islam is the largest Muslim sect, and differs from other groups in the matter of the prophet Muhammads successor.Shia Islam: Shia Islam believes that Muhammad did appoint a successor, in stark contrast to the Sunnis.   While sects are often used to describe extreme religious views, many sects are peaceful and simply differ with a denomination over some particular issues. As time passes, many become accepted as mainstream denominations.

Impact of Religion on Youth - 4279 Words

Introduction The impact that religion has exerted on mankind’s history is phenomenal, even in the twenty first century, perceptions are beguiled more by religion than any other factor. Too many policies, political associations, economic stances and military actions are dictated to a large extent by religion for anyone to take it lightly. This holds much greater significance for the people of the subcontinent than other places, save a few exceptions. Whether this was due to the success of the â€Å"Divide and Rule† policy of the British Raj, or the prevalent conflicting nature of the different tenets of the respective sects, the subcontinent was divided on the basis of ideological differences. The vehicle of transformation is the†¦show more content†¦This is too low a percentage of the muslims taking into account the possibility of distortion as they claim The Holy Quran to be the one true source of their religion. Considering the fact that the proportion of muslims in our vast population is almost 90% (89.7% according to the Bangladesh Census 2001), this is bad news as Islamic tenets can be portrayed as commands for intolerance and interpreted wrongly this manifests as extremism.61% of the respondents said that the depth of their learning is limited to what is taught in the school curriculum and portrayed in the media. This is a good way to learn but not as effective as one pursuing the religion on his or her own and from the authentic base of the religion. Considering something as mind numbingly powerful as religion, it should be pursued from its original source and left to one’s own faculties for deciphering, otherwise the true meaning is never grasped. Second hand information based religion leads to an extrinsic state of belief as opposed to the very beneficial intrinsic sense of belief, which is when one builds a personal relation with God. According to Hills and Francis (2002), eminent psychologists from Oxford Brookes University, the difference between these two forms of religious practice have implications for future research and for the interpretation of all research on religious practice. There is a substantial difference betweenShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Religion On Youth And Youth1518 Words   |  7 PagesReligiously Organized Groups in Universities from a Youth Perspective Although how youth associate religion has been discussed in literature to a varying degree, this literature review will mainly focus on four major themes found in the relevant peer reviewed articles of recent studies. Those themes are, impact of religion on youth, youth and organized religious groups, religious groups and social capital and religious involvement of youth in university context. 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A Life

A Life-Changing Event Essay Most news stories one hears just goes in one ear and out the other. It may resonate with some for a few minutes where that person feels devastated from the world producing cruel events. But, for something to change your opinion and you learn from mistakes, you have to endure the action and realize how it affects you and the surrounding people. Typically, most news revolves around negative stories and that is why that reaction stays with you for a few seconds. There is so much negative going on it is tough to remember all of it. When going on with life these news stories continually accumulate but not one time have I actually understood that anything similar could happen to me. One of these events did not happen to me personally, but someone in my community in the same age group was affected. His name was Francis Duddy, a junior who attended Donovan Catholic. On February 8th, 2014 he was killed in a drunken driving accident by his best friend Connor Hanifin. I did not hold a personal relationship with either of these fellow high school students; but I was attending the same party they were. There was no doubt that Nanling was a good place for traveling during the spring season. We planned to go to the top of Nanling in order to enjoy the wonderful view. We hired a local driver to take us up to the top. Before going up Nanling, the driver asked us to make a mental preparation, because we would have a very tough process. What does he mean by that? ,  I asked myself. Anyway, I was curious and excited of it. We were on a minibus and it headed to the top of the mountain. The road was tough and narrow like a snake that was coiling up. The mountain rolled up like that all the way to the top. The minibus drove on such a road that make me feel like it was off-track and at any second would drop from the edge of the road. That was what the driver was talking about! Oh my goodness! I couldnt help holding my breath. My right hand was covering my left hand, and I was praying to God that bless us with arriving safely to the top. I was struggling with myself to calm down. In the meanwhile, my mom had already been uncomfortable because of the carsickness. I turned around holding my mothers hand and I comforted my mother and talked to her, Well be fine, mom. And we will enjoy the wonderful view on the top. Try to think about the moment when we get to the top. We are standing on the top of the highest mountain. All of the beautiful views will be absorbed by our eyes. We will suck the fresh air and enjoy the comfortable spring wind. What a wonderful moment we are going to spend! Just hold on ten more minutes. The happiness is coming. You can do it. And we all can do it!  . We were shaking in the minibus the entire time because of the tough road. There was no doubt that it was making us even more nervous. But fortunately, we finally arrived safely to the top. And we all breathed a sigh of relief. However, we were stocked by our views. The mountain was very quiet and spring was brushing over the place. The peach blossom in the branches were shyly flashing a light red, a great temptation, like love was covered on the branches flashing shining colors. When the breeze contacted with my face, like my mothers hand gently touching my face. I liked that feeling, with coolness and so relaxing. Looking toward the distance, the hills rose straight up from the ground as if they were waving at us. They seemed to welcome us. Nearby was a green forest. A clear river looked liked a snake was wriggling in the forest. Those big trees just liked green umbrellas protecting the earth from the sunshine. We did enjoy a wonderful view on the top of Nanling! This trip was breathtaking and exciting, wasnt it? When we were on the minibus, nobody knew if we would arrive safely to the top or drop down. We were suffered by our fear and nervousness. If we give up and return, we could not enjoy such a wonderful view at the top. But we didnt. We all defeated our fear and nervousness. We tasted the sweet after the bitter. It was such an unknown experience that make me still remember it clearly.

20th Century Art free essay sample

Art in the 20th Century In the first half of the 20th century, the world was in complete upheaval. Between 1900 and 1945, there were two global wars, and people everywhere saw the rise in Communism, Fascism, Nazism, and the Great Depression (Gardner 724). In this time, there was an extreme change in art; artists questioned the meaning, purpose, form, and overall traditional outlook on the arts. These painters and sculptors explored the boundaries of art and they openly rejected classical, academic, and conventional examples of what art was supposed to be (Video Notes). At this time in history, ocial, political, and economic terms were being reshaped and redefined, and the artistic world followed suit. There were many different artistic movements that were sparked by the chaos and instability of the world before World War II. These include, but are not limited to Fauvism, Cubism, and Dadaism (Gardner 724). Fauvism refers to wild beasts (artists/fauves), a name given by a critic, who expressed whatever they wanted to however they wanted to. Cubism emerged with Pablo Picassos Les Demoiselles dAvignon, which was a painting that presented a radical new way to represent form and space. This particular painting had fgures that were inspired by the rediscovery of primitive art (with African and ancient Iberian influence). Picasso experimented with visual expression, and he took a dramatic departure from careful representation of a visual reality. It seems as though the fgures in his paintings were put onto canvas as he thought them, not in a rational or organized way (Video Notes). As a result of WWI, Dadaism also hit the artistic world. Dada was a massive movement and response to the corruption and homicide that was going on in the war. The Dadaists had a particular attitude and mind set, rather than a specific style. They believed that Enlightenment and reason had produced global devastation, and they turned away from logic to prize the irrational (Video Notes). Critics thought this movement to be outwardly absurd. But, the Dadaists were successful in relaying their message of confusion and pessimism in regards to the war. They had disdain for convention and tradition, and this fostered a serious examination of the basic premises and rules of art. An example of a Dada artist and piece is Marcel Duchamp and his Fountain. Duchamp took a ready made sculpture, (a urinal), and tried to force iewers to see a new light on the object (Gardner 745). This was outrageous, of course, in the eyes of critics. But Duchamp was able to aggressively challenge artistic conventions and boundaries by signing his name to artworks that were everyday objects. These three movements are only a handful that tried to bring out the irrational in art. These movements influenced others, and led to more expressive art that could test the meaning and definition of what art was supposed to be. The second World War left an intense mark on the latter half of the 20th century. Even though the global war ended, there was not global peace. There was upheaval in the cultural sphere of the world, and tradition was shattered by rebels all around. The youth questioned the status quo, and broke free from the mainstream social standards by supporting unconventional dress, manners, and habits (Gardner 788). There was a new spirit of rebellion in the air, which resulted in a sexual revolution, the use/abuse ot drugs, rock and roll music, and a rejection ot sexism and racism. The war had created a pervasive sense of despair, disillusionment, and skepticism, which was an ideal subject and form for the artists of that time. Many cynics in Europe found their voices in Existentialism, which was a philosophy asserting the absurdity of human existence and the impossibility of achieving certitude (Gardner 789). Many of the people who embraced Existentialism also started to question the existence of God. This social ideal reflected itself in the art found in postwar expressionism, especially in Europe. The artists showed despair, brutality, roughness, and pessimism in their art (Gardner 789). From this new-found expressionism came abstract art. Abstract art explicates the state of mind of the artist, and is purposed to trike emotional chords in the viewer (Gardner 790). A well known abstract artist that came from this time was Jackson Pollock. In his painting, Number 1, Pollock rhythmically dripped, splattered, dribbled, flung, and poured paint onto a vast canvas. It was a spontaneous, but accordingly, choreographed art where Pollock emphasized the creative aspects of abstract art. The term was coined action art, because Pollock actively applied paint to the canvas with more than Just a paint brush. He fully immersed himself into his paintings, and was able to completely express himself. This was true abstract art, and had come a long way from the traditional, organized, and precise paintings of Raphael and Michelangelo. There was also a social-economic change in the 20th century. In the Renaissance and other art movements, artists were given patronage by high-class citizens and churches. Art then was created for a purpose, whether it was to promote a King or to tell a Bible story on a church wall. As the century changed, economic ability changed, and middle-class people were now able to buy and sponsor art (Video Notes). This created a dynamic change in the status quo of art, because before it was only for the ich. Now, middle-class art lovers could enjoy high-quality art in their own living room. The subject of art changed from informative and propaganda to expression and interest. It also started a new way to view art. Museums and Art Clubs emerged, and people openly interpreted and critiqued art. This was influenced by the new time and thinking: that traditional aspects in art should be questioned. In the later quarter of the 20th century, social and political movements formed, and art was created to support those movements. Some of these movements fought or things like equality between races, womens rights, and environmental protection. There were also significant gains in artistic mediums as video, photography, multimedia art, ceramics, etc. filled the artists time and energy. The world was in revolution and change, and art followed the example. Where art was once planned, beautiful, and religious; it became rugged, different, and abstractly subjective by the end of the 20th century. It is interesting to note how art changes with time, especially with social, political, and economic changes. It seems as though art went through its own Existential Crisis in the 20th century.

Teenage Smoking Essays - Smoking, Habits, Tobacco, Cigarettes

Teenage Smoking In a society where it is not unordinary to see a ten year old child smoking a cigarette in public, where large tobacco companies sponsor all big sporting events and where smoking advertisements are everywhere you look, how can it be understood that what is going on is a form of suicide. Smoking is comparable to a serial killer; a cigarette acts as the weapon used by tobacco companies and its victims subjecting themselves by their own free will to participate in the crime. The governments of the United States and many other countries have chosen to regulate addictive substances, like cigarettes, via taxation; minimum-age purchase laws; restrictions on consumption in schools, the workplace, and public places; and stiff fines for driving under the influence of alcohol. The prices of these substances will rise because of taxation; other forms of regulation, and bans. Thus, measuring their responsiveness to price is important in determining the optimal level of taxation and the impacts of legalization. Contrary to conventional wisdom, studies find that the consumption of addictive substances is quite sensitive to price. Teen smoking has been increasing since 1991. There are economic, psychological and sociological factors that play an important role in this increase. Economically, cigarettes are highly advertised, extremely affordable and accessible to practically anyone. As for the advertisement aspect in the sale of cigarettes, tobacco companies spend billions of dollars per year to advertise their brands. This money is spent on the actual advertisement, and also on manipulating the subconscious minds of teenagers. (Reynolds, 1999) Billboards and magazines lure teenagers to smoke, by using teen idols and appealing photos in their ads. The Canadian Government has been attempting to put a stop to tobacco industries using teen idols in selling their products, by passing Bill C-71, a legislation that forbids tobacco companies from putting up signs for events in which they sponsor. The car racer and teen idol, Jacques Villeneuve can no longer be advertised in his car racing suit as Rothman's cigarettes advertisements are highly visible on it, as this would give off a negative message to teens who look up to him. The only exception to this law however, is that the signs may be put up at the site of the event, in bars or in newspapers which are read by adults. (Scott, 1997) An example of a sporting event is the DuMaurier tennis tournament held in Montreal, and sponsored by the DuMaurier tobacco industry. This event was, until this law was passed, advertised (on billboards, in magazines and on television) all over Montreal. Bill C-71 was an attempt at preventing teenagers from seeing these advertisements, as the government believed this to be an important factor in the growth of youth smokers. This legislation though, was not very effective as statistics show that more than half of Canadian teens have seen advertisements for tobacco sponsored events. (Scott, 1997). During the 1040's and 50's smoking was popular and socially acceptable. Movie stars, sports heroes, and celebrities appeared in cigarette advertisements that promoted and heavily influenced teens. Influence also came from Television and other media sources. The desires to be accepted and to feel grown up are among the most common reasons to start smoking. Yet, even though teenagers sometimes smoke to gain independence, and to be part of the crowd parental influence plays the strongest role as to whether or their children will smoke, Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), 1991. Children are exposed to and influenced by the parents, siblings, and the media long before peer pressure will become a factor. Mothers should not smoke during pregnancy, nicotine, which crosses the placental barrier, may affect the female fetus during an important period of development so as to predispose the brain to the addictive influence of nicotine. Prenatal exposure to smoking has previously been linked with impairments in memory, learning, cognition, and perception in the growing child. (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 1995) Subsequent follow-up after 12 years suggest that regardless of the amount or duration of current or past maternal smoking, the strongest correlation between maternal smoking and a daughter's smoking occurred when the mother smoked during pregnancy. NIDA also reported that of 192 mothers and their first born adolescents with a mean age of 12 1/2, the analysis revealed that 26.6% of the girls whose mother smoked while pregnant had smoked in the past year. Tobacco companies target teens because 85 to 90% of all new smokers begin before or during their teenage years, so marketing demographics compel cigarette companies to target adolescents if they are the ones

Inherit The Wind essays

Inherit The Wind essays The film Inherit the wind is about a young schoolteacher who dares to introduce his students to Darwins theory of evolution in Hillsboro. Hillsboro is a small bible town whose citizens not only reject the evolutionist point of view but deny the existence of evolution itself. They have been taught that the universe and all it contains was created by God; that any other point of view is blasphemous. In Hillsboro, it is unlawful to teach other than what is in the bible. The people there are very old fashioned and not open to questioning what has been written. Thus, the story surrounds the trial of the State vs. a schoolteacher; evolution vs. creation; religion versus science. The film was originally written as a play in 1955 by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. The focus of the story mirrors the events of what became known as the Scopes Monkey Trial where Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan squared off in a small town to determine the guilt or innocence of a schoolteacher, Scopes, who attempted to teach evolution in his science class. The movies characters are represented by defense attorney Henry Drummond, prosecutor Matthew Harrison Brady, and defendant Bertram Cates, respectively. All are gathered in the courtroom, including the press, to attend what seems to be an open and shut case. But as the story unfolds and the trial proceeds, there are many twists and surprises that further polarize and make impossible to exist the two points of view. Henry Drummond attempts to call several expert witnesses to aide his defense of Cates. The presiding judge, who happens to be running for political office and not wanting to rock the boat with the townspeople, easily disallows any and all witnesses presented by Drummond. However, when left with no other alternative, Drummond calls the only expert witness he knows will be acceptable, not only to the court but to the local population. He calls M ...

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 15

Economics - Essay Example They have therefore determined other sources of energy, which are pocket and environmentally friendly. Solar power and biomass power are commonly used in most of the households. According to the United Sate federal government, approximately 39% of the energy produced in America go toward the generation of electricity. To this end, generation of electricity in America has contributed to lingering environmental concerns including pollution and degradation. To be precise, electricity in the world is generated through burning oil, coal and natural gas. This natural products produce greenhouse gas including carbon dioxide when they burn. It is plausible to note that the more electricity that the community uses the more we add greenhouse gases to the environment resulting in global warming. According to various researches, these gases may have contributed to warmers environmental conditions in 1999 and in 1938 (Deru & Torcellini,  2007). Other environmental effects in our area are experienced when electricity causes fire, thereby destroying other ecological systems and produce global warming gases, which influence the climate. However, some households utilize e lectricity from renewable resources including geothermal, solar and wind technologies have no negative climatic changes including contaminating the local air. In our home, we use electricity to serve various purposes. It is the main source of energy that provided electric light and in pumping up electronics, including heaters, TV, personal electronic devices, computers, washing machines amid others. Electricity makes life easier and interesting because it helps one to keep things on standby without switching them off like computers, television and microwave. At the industry levels, electricity provides electric power to pump up machines and provide electric lighting (Xintao & Junzi,  2010). Our