Religion in the US

Islamic Spirituality In America, the matters of religion profoundly influence the degree of spirituality of the Americans. People are allowed self-determination in matters of spirituality. Spirituality is a conviction that gives people an understanding of what they value and how people coexist (Sheldrake 1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Religion in the US specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Islamic spirituality teaches about the union of Muslims with Allah. According to the sayings of Imam Ali, Muslims’ â€Å"†¦affairs are attached to the destiny decreed by Allah†¦their best plans lead them to destruction† (Balagha 15). This shows how Islamic faith teaches about total union and submission to their God. In his Poetry, Rumi says, â€Å"Union with God is sweeter than body comforts† (Coleman Light Breeze Stanza 3) to portray the value that the Muslims attach by submitting to their God. Islamic spirituality also teaches about commitment and devotion towards spirituality. The sayings of Imam Ali show that the Islamic faith devotion is paramount to other things. In his poetry, Rumi says, â€Å"You have a spirit body; don’t dread leaving the physical one† (Coleman Light Breeze Stanza 5). This further affirms that Muslims should be courageous to exercise commitment and devotion to their faith. Islamic faith also teaches about the importance of being prepared for life after death. According to Ali, â€Å"Blessed is the man who always keep life after death in his view† (Balagha 44). This depicts how life after death is critical to the Muslim faithful. Every Muslim should evade sins that may separate him/her from attaining it. In his poetry, he reveals how the Islamic faith discourages secularism besides teaching on the importance of embracing spirituality for the sake of life after death. Islamic spirituality denounces greed indicating how greed is d iscouraged and that those who become greedy, for example, for power, money, and wealth are to face disgrace consequently. Greed is also discouraged by the poetry of Jalal al-Din Rumi. He says, â€Å"If you could leave your selfishness, you would see how you’ve been torturing yourself† (Coleman ‘Moving Water’ Stanza 7). This depicts torture as the consequence of greed with comfort being the result of evading selfishness. They also teach about seeking knowledge and wisdom.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Imam Ali, seeking knowledge is an indication of how Islamic spirituality values wisdom (Balagha 80) even from those who do not profess the Islamic faith. Rumi also teaches on the importance of seeking wisdom. His words, â€Å"Do not insist on going where you think you want to go. Ask the way to the spring† (Coleman ‘Moving Wa ter’ Stanza 10) show that the Islamic spirituality values wisdom. Imam Ali and Rumi teachings about faith Imam Ali and Rumi teach that faith requires perseverance. According to Ali, â€Å"Those who have come alive out of a blood –bath live longer and have more children† (Balagha 84). This indicates the value of perseverance during danger and difficulties with a reward for those who persevere. They are blessed with abundant life and even property. They also teach that faith requires conviction. In his poetry, Rumi says, â€Å"Where are those qualities of bravery and sharp compassion in this group?† (Coleman Not Here Stanza 2). Therefore, for one to have complete faith, he/she requires courage. In his sayings, Ali teaches that faith requires one to be passionate and self-assured of what he/she believes in (Balagha 30). Imam Ali and Rumi teach that faith cannot thrive in hypocrisy. In his poetry, Rumi says, â€Å"Lukewarm won’t do†¦Not here† (Coleman ‘Not Here’ Stanza 8). This teaches that one cannot enjoy full faith if he/she is a hypocrite. Ali also shows hypocrisy as an impediment to one’s faith. Whoever professes a certain faith should therefore do so without hypocrisy since it can be an impediment to commitment. They also depict faith as a self-will. No one should be forced to profess a certain faith. In his sayings, Ali says, â€Å"I wonder at a man who loses hope of salvation when the door of repentance is open for him† (Balagha 87), which shows how human beings should have the free will to profess whatever faith they believe pertinent. Rumi also teaches on the need for self-will in faith to show how one needs to be the master of his/her faith. People should make the choice of belonging and even joining any faith. This enables them to be committed to it. Qualities of People who are close to God People who are close to God are devoted to him. According to Ali, â€Å"Those who give up religion to better their lot in life seldom succeed† (Balagha 105). This shows how devotion matters in one’s spirituality especially those who are close to God who is supreme to any other thing.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Religion in the US specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In his poetry, Rumi further affirms that those who are close to God are courageous to exercise commitment and devotion to their faith. They are ready to be persecuted and even to lose their lives for the sake of their faith and union with God. People who are committed to God have a deep conviction about Him. According to Ali, â€Å"When Imam Ali was asked about Faith in Religion, he replied that the structure of faith is supported by four pillars endurance, conviction, justice and jihad† (Balagha 30). This tells the reader that those who are close to God believe in Him. Besides, they are deeply convicted that He exist s and that what He says about them is true or will eventually happen. In his poems, Rumi says, â€Å"Because of willfulness people sit in jail, the trapped bird’s wings are tied† (Coleman Moving water Stanza 4). This indicates that, with a deep conviction about God and his abilities, those who are close to Him can have faith to confront any difficulty that they pass through following their faith in Him. People who are close to God are united. They value their peaceful coexistence with others. Compassion and love form the foundation of their faith and spiritualism (Kalchuri 22987). For example, according to Rumi, â€Å"water flows through, infinity everywhere, yet contained under a single tent† (Coleman Moving Water Stanza 12). The words indicate that those who are close to God value the diversity of humankind just like water flows to infinite places. Besides, they value the union of human beings, as contained in a single tent. Therefore, those who are close to G od have the characteristic of valuing unity. Ali says, â€Å"Unfortunate is he who cannot gain a few sincere friends during his life and more unfortunate is the one who has gained them and then lost them (through his deeds)† (Balagha 11). This tells the reader that unity of people will always be evident from those who are close to God: those who value others besides being afraid to make enemies. Benefits to Non-Muslims from the teaching of Imam Ali and Poems of Rumi Non-Muslims can also benefit from the teachings of Imam Ali and the poems of Rumi. Both teach on the importance of unity amongst people. This virtuous characteristic can be learnt and be applied even by the non-Muslims. Everyone would want to be virtuous even to level of associating with people who like unity. Unity results to peace in the world. Hence, all nations can benefit from this teaching.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The non-Muslims can also learn to persevere. Perseverance is vital in attaining one’s goals or even in perfecting his/her faith. Both Imam Ali and Rumi teach on the importance of perseverance in what people do or encounter because there is always a better reward for those who endure to the end. According to Ali, â€Å"Those who have come alive out of a blood –bath live longer and have more children† (Balagha 84), which encourages people to press on even during difficult times. This applies not only to Muslims but also to all people regardless of their religious backgrounds. Non-Muslims can also learn to accord others self-determination in matters of faith. This will enable them earn spiritual pleasures and inspiration for their lives (Waaijman 1). They can learn that no one should be forced to profess a certain faith, or even be discriminated based on his/her faith. For example, in his sayings Ali says, â€Å"I wonder at a man who loses hope of salvation when t he door of repentance is open for him† (Balagha 87). This shows that human beings should have the free will to profess whatever faith they believe is important. In his poetry, Rumi also teaches on the need for self-will in faith. He says, â€Å"Reach for the rope of God† (Coleman Moving Water Stanza 3). This is an inspiring message to the non-Muslims to let other people join the faith of the religion they so wish without any coercion. They should let them reach for the rope rather than giving them the rope. The message addresses the issue of freedom of worship, which is the cry of all people regardless of their religion. Works Cited Balagha, Nahjul. Nahjul Balagha Quotes Imam Ali, 2009. Web. http://balaghah.net/old/nahj-htm/eng/index.htm Coleman, Barks. Rumi Poetry, 2009. Web. http://peacefulrivers.homestead.com/rumipoetry1.html Kalchuri, Bhau. Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, the Biography of the Avatar of the Age  Meher Baba. London: Routledge, 1986. Print. Sheldrake, Phil ip. A Brief History of Spirituality. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2007. Print. Waaijman, Kees. Spirituality: forms, Foundations, methods. Leuven: Peters Publishers, 2002. Print. This essay on Religion in the US was written and submitted by user Brandon Goff to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

55 Boxing Idioms

55 Boxing Idioms 55 Boxing Idioms 55 Boxing Idioms By Mark Nichol Despite the waning popularity of pugilism, or the sweet science, as boxing is also called, the sport has contributed a number of colorful words, phrases, and expressions out of proportion to its current stature among athletic endeavors. Here is a list of idioms that originated in boxing and were subsequently extended to the world outside the square ring. 1. bare-knuckle: fierce or determined (from boxing done without gloves) 2. beat (someone) to the punch: accomplish something before someone else does 3. blow-by-blow: a detailed account (referring to commentary during a boxing match) 4. bob and weave: be evasive (as a boxer ducking to avoid an opponent’s blows) 5–6. come out fighting/swinging: be immediately aggressive or energetic 7–10. deliver/land a (knockout) blow/punch: hit 11. down and out: destitute (an analogy to a boxer who has been knocked down and remains motionless) 12–13. down/out for the count: defeated or overcome (as a boxer who has run out of time to stand up after being knocked down) 14–15. drop/take off the gloves: abandon civility (from the practice of using bare fists rather than gloves) 16. duke it out: argue (likely from dukes as rhyming slang for fists; â€Å"duke of Yorks† was substituted for forks as slang for fingers or hands) 17. glass jaw: vulnerability (from a reference to the target point on a boxer that is most fragile) 18. go down swinging: persist (from the notion of a boxer fighting up to the point at which he or she is knocked out) 19. have (someone) in your corner: have an ally (from the boxer’s support team, positioned in a corner of the ring) 20. heavy hitter: an influential person or other entity (from the term for a boxer who lands particularly hard punches) 21. heavyweight: see â€Å"heavy hitter† (from the boxing and wrestling weight class) 22. hit below the belt: act unfairly (from the act of landing a blow below an opponent’s waist) 23. in-fighting: conflict within a group (from the term for boxing close up) 24. keep (one’s) guard up: stay alert (from the idea of protecting one’s face with a gloved hand) 25. kisser: lips 26–28. knockout/KO: a decisive blow; a knockout is also a very attractive or impressive person 29. lead with (one’s) chin: take a risk (from the inadvisable act of exposing one’s chin) 30. lightweight: an insignificant person or entity (from the boxing and wrestling weight class) 31. low blow: a hurtful or unfair action or comment (see â€Å"below the belt†) 32. on the ropes: in trouble (an analogy to an exhausted boxer who is hanging onto a rope on the perimeter of the ring) 33. one-two punch: a combination or sequence of two impactful things 34. pull (one’s) punches: hold back from using full force or full resources (as when a boxer does not use his or her full strength) 35–36. punch-drunk/punchy: dazed or fatigued (from the notion of a boxer disoriented from receiving multiple blows) 37. put up your dukes: said by someone as an invitation to fight (see â€Å"duke it out†) 38. ringside seat: a position close to an incident or event or chain of events 39. roll with the punches: be flexible (from the idea of a boxer remaining in motion despite having received repeated blows) 40. round: one of a series of activities or events (from the name of a period of time during a boxing match) 41. saved by the bell: rescued from difficulty at the last moment (from the bell rung at the end of a round in boxing) 42. slap-happy: see â€Å"punch-drunk/punchy† 43. slugfest: a literally or figuratively combative event 44. spar: fight or dispute (from the term for a boxing maneuver, used in the phrases â€Å"sparring match† and â€Å"sparring partner†) 45. square off: prepare for conflict (from the tradition of boxers standing facing each other at the beginning of a match) 46. straight from the shoulder: direct and forthright (an analogy to a blow delivered using one’s full strength) 47. sucker punch: an unexpected blow 48. take a dive: fail (from the slang phrase referring to a boxer falling after being struck) 49. take it on the chin: stand up to criticism (from the idea of a boxer receiving a blow on the chin without falling) 50. the gloves are off: said when someone begins to act mercilessly (in reference to boxing without gloves) 51–53. put/throw/toss (one’s) hat into the ring: issue a challenge or indicate one’s interest in participating (from the custom of a challenger throwing his hat into a boxing ring when a boxer takes on random opponents) 54. throw in the towel: give up (from the custom of a member of a boxer’s support team tossing a towel into the ring to indicate that the boxer concedes defeat) 55. undercard: a subordinate activity or event in a series (from the term for the category of one or more boxing matches preceding the featured bout) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:25 Subordinating Conjunctions"Gratitude" or "Gratefulness"?The Two Sounds of G

Popular American Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Popular American Culture - Essay Example Other significant influences came from different parts of Europe. Countries from which large numbers of people immigrated these include Ireland, Germany, Poland, and Italy. American culture holds a significant pressure on the cultures of its neighbors in the World. The cultural divisions in United States depend on a number of factors such as social class, political orientation, ancestral traditions, sex and sexual orientation. Well every country’s culture plays an important part in the decision making of the people who live in that country or belong to that country. For example while I make any decisions the first aspect would be to keep in mind the benefits of my country and to respect the norms and believes of my culture, every other aspect would be secondary to that. The United States is a country that has evolved its culture by a mixture of several cultures hence the popular culture keeps changing. For example looking at the music industry of United States, for a long time pop music was very famous and continued to be a trend but right now Rap has taken its place. People prefer to listen to artists like Akon, Eminem and 50 cents on the other hand Rock music will always live, it’s like an evergreen trend. Hollywood has become a famous place not only in United States but also all over the world and the movies launched and made their have become a popular trend in the United States. Comics have also become a trend in the United States comics having super heroes have had a major impact on the people.