Ahmed Abidali
Mr. Bludworth
10/6/2015
Essay
Portfolio Essay
In my Rel 240 class, Introduction to Southeast Asia, I have learned many Interesting things from lectures, broadcasts, videos, and the textbook. For example in the video “Indonesia at the Crossroads”, I learned about how activists seek to return to their country back to its original way. More specifically they wanted to go back to the old traditional and moral values after period of rapid of economic growth. Another aspect of the video that intrigued me is seeing all the Christians and Muslim and other faiths living side by side in harmony. It’s a great thing to see such a thing because there is major conflicts and clashes between religions in other parts of the world that often leads to bloodshed. Another great thing that i noticed is that the Christians and the Muslim activists got together to try and return their country back to its moral roots and values and try to implement a democratic System.
In another video called “Indonesia: Wham! Bam! Islam!” is a video that I find controversial. This is because how the superheroes are portrayed in the comic. They are supposed to symbolize the 99 names of Allah (God’s name in Arabic), however because I am a Muslim this to me seems like blasphemy because one cannot attribute God attributes into things that God is superior to. When one does this you now have 99 gods and not one, just like how the Greeks worship demi gods. The comic is the first of its kind, a western style
One of the greatest controversies occurring today holds prominently in religion. These issues lies mainly with tradition, politics, gender, multiculturalism, violence, and sex. Religion is continuously evolving and so is society. With all this change controversy is inevitable. Problems with religion surround us: in the workplace, at school, in society, and politics. Religion is a very broad topic and according to Wikipedia, there are an estimated 4,200 religions in the world. It would be nearly impossible to discuss all of these religions and the issues that interfere with it today. For this research paper, I decided to discuss the top two religions in the world: Christianity and Islam. As a country we have overcame many battles. But even to
Rather brutally honest with their views on the conflict, the children spoke with the minimal prior knowledge they had. This way, the film sought to capture the impartial opinions of victims in the crisis. However, the consequence of this supposed path to reality lies in the children’s unweighted belief in their single and likely predisposed source of knowledge -- correlated with using a microcosm to explain a macrocosm. Religion -- the man-made practice of worshipping a supernatural force -- distorts a country’s peace. Some may argue that religion unifies a country because of its standards and morals. Nevertheless, religion has been created by man -- an interpreted way to practice faith, which is commonly misconcepted as religion. Religion is one’s interpretation of a practice that will satisfy a supernatural force. While every interpretation differs infinitesimally, so does religion -- from individual to individual. With this as a basis for such a prime conflict in Southwest Asia, no matter who decides to step into both shoes of the conflict, impartiality will never be achieved because of the infinite number of shoes that must be stepped into. That said, only a portion of this conflict was covered by the film, but must not be held against the film because of the impossibility to do so. Additionally, because this film was a primary account of the conflict, it definitely veered from conventional classroom notes which are secondary or tertiary
Religion is important to most of the world's population. Throughout history, religion has played a key role in shaping events. While ignorance contributes to intolerance and hate, understanding how others believe fosters not only respect but also peaceful coexistence. Through the centuries, people have done much good in the name of religion (Haynes). Examples can be given to the Crusades.
Marvel Comics has recently drawn flak after an Indonesian Muslim artist included coded anti-Semitic and anti-Christian references in the pages of the first issue of its latest “X-Men Gold” comic.
“Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace. -Dalai Lama” The cause of many of today’s current event tragedies are results of ignorance and inessential hatred. However, the World Religions course modulates the ignorance in our generation in view of the fact that it visualizes the correspondance between religions, the diversity in our society and generates compassion within it’s students, which are additionally the 3 insights I have personally gained when studying this course. In addition, the educating of World Religions has formed its students into better citizens due to the comprehension they have gained on the various cultures. Furthermore, this course has also shaped its students into better Christians due
This study shows an increase in inequality of Christians in other Countries. There is a increase in the amount of restrictions and laws put on Christians and their Human Rights in other Countries with more Government leaders putting guidelines on other religions and not liking the freedoms that the people in the western Countries have, like the United States. What we can do to help with this problem
However, there is an entirely opposing viewpoint to this, and this opposing viewpoint sparked incredible violence and retaliation. “The violence came one day after protestors in neighboring Damascus, Syria, torched the Norwegian Embassy and the Danish Embassy, furious that newspapers in both nations had published images banned under Islamic law” (Protesters burn consulate over cartoons, 2006) The violence escalated into “fights between Muslims and Christians.” Now, how did one page of cartoons cause all of this trouble? Chapter 42, verse 11 of the Quran reads: “The Originator of the heavens and the earth; He has made for you, from your selves, mates, and from the cattle mates: by this means He multiplies you. There is nothing whatever like Him” (The Holy Quran, Ch 42). This is traditionally taken further by Muslims to mean that Allah simply cannot be depicted by human hand. Attempting to do so is an insult to Allah (Q&A: Depicting the Prophet Muhammad , 2006).
Radical Pathways calls for intensified cooperation across the disciples to generate the kind of integrated knowledge that is needed to counter the increasingly complex challenge of violent Muslim radicalization in Indonesia and beyond (Ramakrishna 14).
Religious intolerance is a major concern in Indonesia. Religious freedom in Indonesia requires that politicians stop using Islamist fringe groups for their own ends. It also requires that the government extend official recognition beyond the six currently recognized religions to other beliefs and abolish a 1965 law on the “Prevention of Misuse or Desecration of Religion” (Platzdasch, B. 2011).
The biggest problem faced by the world today is hate. Too many people hate one another because of differences in religion, beliefs, or culture. This hate causes war, death, and despair. The only way that it could be solved, is for people to be tolerant of others. For one to be tolerant of another, they may need to be able to relate to them. People should learn to see that even though someone is of a different culture, they still live a similar life or do similar things. Educating people is the first step to tolerance. Once people are educated about religion and culture, they will see the good in it. Once someone’s eyes are opened to a different view, even though they may not believe in it, they will not hate it blindly. No longer will actions
Indonesia is one of the countries that has the largest Muslim population. More than 60% of Indonesian is Muslim and the rest are other religions such as Christian, Catholic, Buddhist, and Hindu. The various types of religion in Indonesia in small scope gives freedom to people both in their thought and attitudes. In bigger scope, different religions in Indonesia brings some effects in several life aspects, such as the economic system, politics and area of power. There are many different ways of how religion effect the economic system, politics and the area of power in Indonesia. Since Muslim has the largest population in Indonesia, Muslims have more power over other religions. Though they are different, it
Matoa Indonesia is the first wooden watches brand in Indonesia. This brand’s name inspired by the name of the origin fruit from Papua and Sulawesi Island. This unique name chooses to promote Indonesia in global. This happened as people will be curious to the Matoa’s name. Then they will googling it and the Indonesia will come first as a result. So besides the profit, Matoa also consider sharing the Indonesia pride and culture through its name.
As I used to stay in Indonesia for 17 years, I know exactly how is the culture, the people’s habit in Indonesia, even the customs. But now, as an international student who went to study abroad in New Zealand, I have seen many differences between Indonesia and New Zealand, especially for the customs. The customs between both countries are totally different. Something that I have encountered in New Zealand, not necessarily I found it in Indonesia, and vice versa. If we look from the land area and population in both countries, it is clearly different. The food and the way in which Indonesian eat is also different from New Zealander. Moreover, New Zealander also has more self-awareness while they are driving compared to Indonesian.
The Dutch had an impact on Indonesia artistically throughout its 400-year reign. The Dutch were the first westerners to actually colonize Indonesia and the Dutch brought Western European culture and influences in Indonesia. The Dutch impacted Indonesia’s tradition with incorporating many different events such as “ Christmas, Easter, New year, and the celebration of Birthdays.” (Quora par.5). The Dutch also brought in many foods and culinary techniques which were used in Indonesian food such as “Butter, Bread, Cheese, and Ice cream” (Quora, par.2). Many Musical elements and instruments were also brought in Indonesia such as the “Violin, Cello, Guitar, and Piano” (Quora, par. 7). Indonesia’s culture has been massively impacted by the Dutch and
There has also been a slow decline of Indonesia’s economy and this has been going on since the past decade. I believe that if Indonesia keeps building these megachurches the citizens of the country are going to see how this is going to affect them financially. The most interesting thing i found from listening to the broadcast Megachurch Symbolizes Indonesia 's Tolerance was the fact and idea of religious tolerance that the Megachurch represented. What I also thought very interesting was that it directed its attention towards the various different aspects of beliefs and also their different interactions that it possessed. For the most part the Muslims and the Christians lived together peacefully, but the Muslims opposed the Christians to talk to their fellow Muslims about conversion.