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Islamic Teachings and Beliefs
Jun 4th
Islamic Teachings and Beliefs
The religion Islam does not believe in the concept of “original sin.” According to the teachings of Islam, people are born guiltless. They remain so until an individual himself or herself, commits a sinful deed. Islam is neither an ethnocentric nor a sacramental religion. The followers of this religion observe no sacraments. Anyone can become a Muslim by his/ her discretion. Introduction to Islam involves no sacramental ceremony, no involvement by any clergy, and no authentication by any organized body. All that a true Moslem needs to do is follow the teachings of Islam. These teachings are:
Doctrine of God: Islam is a strictly monotheistic religion. The followers of Islam believe that there is no other God than Allah.
Doctrine of Angels: The throne of God is surrounded by Angels. They serve as His messenger to people. The most important of all angels is Gabriel. Iblis is a fallen angel, he is also referred to as the Satan or Devil. He has authority over the djinns who are male and female demons.
Doctrine of Inspired Books: The Moslems believe in the sacred books which include the Torah, the Gospel of Jesus, the Psalms, and the Koran (Qur’an). The followers of Islam believe that Koran is the only book which is completely error free. Sections of the holy book Koran have resemblance to the Bible, the Apocrypha, and the Jewish Talmud. There are many stories in Koran that are similar to stories of various prophets in the Old Testament.
Koran is somewhat shorter in length than the New Testament. Islam’s followers are expected to memorize as much of the Koran as they can. Those who memorize the whole book by heart are highly honored.
Doctrine of Prophets: According to the teachings of Islam, there are many persons who are considered to be prophets. Among them are Abraham, Ishmael, Moses, Noah, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Mohammed. Mohammed is considered to be last prophet. His proclamations completed the message sent by God to people.
Doctrine of Last Judgment: Moslems believe that there will be a day of final judgment. At that time, the non-believers will be sentenced to the burning fires of hell, while the believers will enter heaven. However, the pleasures of heaven will be given to the believers according to the degree of faith and morality they displayed in their lifetime.
The followers of Islam believe that the moral and legal codes of Islam apply to all areas of human life.
The Major Religions of the World….Revisited book includes information about Islamic religion and beliefs; and its comparison with worlds other 4 major religions Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism.
Dr Gary Miller Reference Page www.mydeviant.com
Asia Travel Destinations – Tibet, A Land Of Enchantment
Jun 4th
Asia Travel Destinations – Tibet, A Land Of Enchantment
One of the world’s most exotic and mysterious travel destinations, Tibet is the ultimate spot for climbers, trekkers, adventures and those interested in Buddhism. Located in the main part of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, China’s southwest frontier, and covering an area of 463,320 square miles, at an average of elevation of 13,123 feet above seat level, Tibet is known as the Roof of the World for good reason. Isolated from the Indian subcontinent by the Great Himalayan, this fabled land is home to many of the world’s highest summits, with over 50 peaks that are more than 22,996 feet above sea level.
Although Tibetan history can be traced back thousands of years, the written history dates back to the 7th century when King Songtsan Gampo, who united Tibet, sent his minister Sambhota to India to study Sanskrit. On his return, Sambhota invented the present Tibetan script based on Sanskrit.
The majority of Tibet’s population is native Tibetan, with good numbers of ethically related minorities and smaller numbers of ethic Chinese, Mongol and Kazakh. An agrarian society, farmers make up 90 percent of the population.
Mahayana Buddhism is the predominate religion of Tibet, though Bon is still practiced. The Buddhist faith is deeply rooted and encompasses all aspects of life in Tibet and to its people.
Tibet’s Main Festival: Losar, Tibet New Year (February or March) is one of the most important festivals for Tibetans as it is a time for family reunions and to convey greetings and best wishes for the coming new year.
The Monlam Festival ( First to the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year ) is the largest religious gathering in Tibet. It was introduced by Tsongkhapa, founder of the Yellow sect, in 1490 AD. During the festival, Lamas from the three largest monasteries gather in the Jokhang to recite scriptures and prepare to take an examinations for their next degree.
Saga Dawa Festival (May or June) is the holiest of Tibet’s festival. It celebrates Buddha’s birth and his enlightenment.
Gyantse Horse Race & Archery Fest takes place in May or June. Horse racing and archery are popular in Tibet and Gyantse enjoys the prestige of being the birthplace of both activities in Tibet. Conforming to the lunar calendar, Gyantse’s Festival offers equestrian and archery contests followed by a few days of other activities.
Shoton Festival is in August. Shoton, the Yoghurt festival is Tibet’s largest festival. In times gone by, pious people went into mountain hermitages to do penance. On the last day of penance, as rewarded, yoghurt was served and followed by entertainment. Nowadays, it has evolved into a music festival that usually lasts for seven days.
Nakchu Horse Festival: In August, colorful appliqu
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Christian Faith|Faith Based Funding for Students
Jun 4th
Faith Based Funding for Students
Your spirituality is very important to you, so much that you want to apply it in your career or maybe you just want to attend a Christian or Faith Based College. If so, here are a few places to look for funding.
1. Your College – Before checking any place else, check with the school you are interested in. Since a great many of these are awarded to students that are enrolled at the institute that they are offered at, you should schedule an appointment with your financial aid advisor and request information from her/him concerning what awards would be available to you.
2. Churches – Ask your pastor or head of your church if they offer grants or scholarships. Your church may not offer a specific scholarship, but church members may be willing to help fund a portion of your college education.
Additionally, church foundations offer scholarships, such as the United Church of Christ’s scholarships. Ask your clergyman for the list of scholarships available from your organization. Many exist for those wishing to enter the clergy or do missionary work and several exist for those applying for general scholarships in both graduate and pre-graduate studies.
3. The Government – Another place Christian teens can find money for college is the government. There are government supported loans and grants that many college students opt to use to pay for their college costs. Grants are the better option, because they do not need to be paid back, but federal loans should not be discounted if scholarships and grants do not cover all costs. Every U.S. student, no matter how much contribution they receive from their parents, should put in a FAFSA application.
4. Private Lenders -Not every Christian teen will be eligible for government-backed loans and grants, and those same students may not receive as many scholarships they need. Another option for those students could be private loans. Several private lenders are now offering loans to students or their parents in order to help pay for a college education. However, these loans often come with higher interest rates and less flexible repayment options, so other options should be explored first.
Want to explore some more specific organizations that offer funding? Try these:
• Women’s awards are also available for Christian women and minorities. Two notable ones are the Women’s Missionary Union Scholarships and Lee Frances Heller Memorial Award.
United Church of Christ.
• The UCC offer the Brown Scholarships, which award awards up to ,000 annually for students seeking pastoral degrees. This award is administered by the seven seminaries of the United Church of Christ and the Council of Racial and Ethnic Ministries (COREM).
• American Bible Society -Scholarships for Education, Medical and Seminary Students. The American Bible Society has received two endowments to fund scholarships.
• The William and Alice Brown endowment will provide a ,000 scholarship for outstanding academic accomplishments and leadership potential in the fields of Medicine and Education.
• Lt. Colonel Robert and Mrs. Rae M. Goodridge, USAF Reserve Retired, Phd, have made possible four scholarships of ,000 each, only for residents of Hawaii, who are full-time students in a post-graduate Protestant seminary or divinity program.
• Woman’s Missionary Union – The WMU offers a number of scholarships to women or children of women missionaries and clergy. The foundation seeks to advance the support of Christian values through charity, educating and missionary work. Most of the awards are under 00.
• R. Keith Parks Scholarship Fund: For post-graduate work for students wishing to enter the foreign missionary field.
• Carolyn Weatherfod Scholarship Fund: Another post-graduate award for students entering foreign missionary work.
• Julia C. Pugh Scholarship: This is for children of international and North American missionaries.
• Mattie J. C. Russell Scholarship: Another award for children of North American missionaries
• Lee Frances Heller Memorial Award
This is a scholarship sponsored by Julie Ann Johnson and awarded to a Christian transgendered student and can be used at any college or University for religious studies. Ms Heller made her life’s work seeking to educate people in the Christian faith, focusing on her sisters of the transgendered community. This scholarship does require an essay of how your transgender identity and your membership in a church have related to one another. They also ask you to submit your home church and any other related leadership experience. Successful applicants will receive the scholarship in the amount of 00.
Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of private student loans and information on student loans and consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net
Sharing the Victory Magazine sits down with New Orleans’ Saints QB Drew Brees. Find other great resources at FCAResources.com
The Origins of Buddhism
Jun 3rd
The Origins of Buddhism
Buddhism as a religious tradition started during the life of Buddha who was known as Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Shakyamuni.
Buddha was born in India around the end of the sixth century.
The teachings of Buddha were an inspiration to many and soon started to spread.
Buddhism spread from India on to Sri Lanka, from their, it soon covered most of Southeast Asia.
Sometime during the first or second century as more and more people embraced the teachings of Buddha, it was brought north and into China. From here it was not to long before it spread to Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
In the seventh century, teachers of Buddhism travelled North across the Himalayas and brought the Buddhist faith into Tibet. Buddhism today is practiced by people in many countries the world over.
Although we believe THE Buddha to be Siddhartha Gautama, Ancient texts known as Jataka show that he was also taught by previous Buddhas. Buddhists believe that the Buddhism tradition did not begin in the sixth century but in the far distant past, perhaps even at the beginning of time.
After the death or Nirvana of Siddhartha Gautama, A group of followers followed his instructions and had his body cremated, they then distributed his ashes as relics, which were enshrined in funerary mounds also known as stupas. Veneration of his remains is what gave rise to the tradition of Buddhism as we know it today.
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Christian Lessons|Christian Behavior: Turn The Other Cheek, Or Why Do You Smite Me?
Jun 3rd
Christian Behavior: Turn The Other Cheek, Or Why Do You Smite Me?
When faced with an immediate threat of bodily harm, what is the proper Christian response? Some, through probably not many, would say turn the other cheek. They would say, “resist not evil”. They may even site bible verses to the effect of giving also thy cloak to one who has already taken your coat. Others might proclaim that we have a right to defend ourselves. They could quote bible that speaks of using “the edge of the sword against men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep,” (1 Samuel 22:19). This, and other such verses, would only be the beginning of their arguments. The leaders of the secular world might say accept a beating and then take it to court. The flesh would say fight now and go to court later. But on this matter, where should stand the Christian?
Now you know that I believe in bible balance. What follows is not a rule but rather a pointer. Every situation is different, and every response must be made in alignment with the measure of the situation.
In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks in this wise:
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away,” (Matthew 5:38-42).
To many, this may seem clear-cut: submit to your enemies and resist not. But is it really so plainly laid out? Perhaps not, perhaps true bible balance demands a deeper look into this matter.
In the book of Acts, the apostle Paul stands before a council of men, brethren, and priests: his crime, in their eyes, is that of teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the course of the matter, the high priest makes command that they should smite Paul across the mouth. Listen now, to the reaction of this apostle who was once lifted, in body or spirit alone we know not, into the third heaven.
” Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?” (Acts 23:4).
Perhaps you say that though an apostle, Paul was yet a mere man and that he lost control. The balance of that particular portion of scripture would indicate that this is exactly what happened, that Paul loss control that Paul messed up that Paul sinned. It also makes clear that Paul knew the law, and that his capturers were in violation of their own court. Now if you conclude that Paul was not fully aware of his choice and action in the matter, I suggest that you read again these verses, only this time read with an ear to what the Holy Spirit is herein making clear.
Perhaps this is still problematic; let us call upon another scripture so that we may further examine the depths of this lesson. For that purpose, we will visit the drama of yet another earthly trial.
In this trial, Jesus the Lord of Salvation stood before yet another high priest of men. Here too men stand in violation of their own truths and laws for here too the high priest, though not himself demanding the attack, stands in approval as a nearby officer ignores the law of the court.
“The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me,” (John 18:19-23).
Here we see that he who was without sin spoke likewise concerning those who ignore their own laws. Yet in neither event do we see a resistance beyond that of bringing forth words of conviction. He who said, “turn the other cheek” not only refused to fight back, but he also chooses to speak truth and therefore suffer even greater consequences.
What do you do when as a Christian, you stand on bible truth; and in return they beat you, and curse you, and kick you out of the church buildings, and burn you at the stake, and feed you to the lions? Rejoice, and speak truth more boldly so long as you are able to speak, for you have been counted worthy.
A Point of Difference
Christians know that they will suffer for Christ, if indeed they do labor for Christ. But what of innocent suffering? If someone or some group should jump you in the darkness of an alley, do you surrender without a fight? Do you permit yourself to be kicked and trampled? Do you give also your cloak as they walk away laughing at your pain?
This now becomes opinion, for I cannot use scripture as a firm confirmation of what follows. It seems that for a Christian to suffer unjustly is expected. If you do not believe this pause now for a late night visit into a certain garden over beyond the brook Cedron. See, in this place a man who is innocent by a measure that cannot be fully comprehended by the finite mind of man. Yet he submits without struggle.
Something unique happened when Jesus died. The greatest victory that evil has ever known was but a temporary flavor. Jesus had the right, he had the power, and he had the authority to end forever all of creation. But he knew that there are only two methods for ending evil: 1) fully thrash it by wiping out every trace of wickedness and in so doing he would have to take out the entire created world; 2) Overcome it by living a life of perfect resistance, dieing before its perceived power, and then rising again in total victory that many might win the crown of authority over evil.
What do we do when face to face with an enemy that is determined to assault us in a physical, mental, or emotional manner?
I can tell you of scripture that speaks of a woman’s right to separate herself, for a time, from her husband when need be. This surely deals with domestic violence. I can also write of how a woman must submit to her husband. The circumstances must balance.
But beyond that, I want to explain how that what Jesus did on the cross can teach us about confronting immediate threats of brutality upon our persons. You see, Jesus used only enough power to subdue the evil, and to overcome it. He forego that ultimate step, that total annihilation of creation; and rather used a limited yet more powerful method.
We too have the ability to use a limited force. We too can act only with as much strength and resistance as is necessary. This is the definition of meekness. It is to have power that you do not overuse. We can stop evil without rendering evil for evil. Justice is permitted, even required.
But a Christian is never permitted to act out of wrath, hate, or revenge.
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Christian Lessons|Essential tips for handling Christian home school writing lessons
Jun 3rd
Essential tips for handling Christian home school writing lessons
Writing and language go hand in hand. Competency in language and effective writing as well as speaking could very much secure the future of children in any field that they want to go to. Language is used in any kind of transaction, transfer of knowledge, business dealings and creative expression. Writing is a more personal, thorough and powerful method of expressing an idea, an argument or a new kind of knowledge for the world to uncover. At the very start, parents who are home schooling their kids should take advantage of a Christian home school writing curriculum to make their kids be ahead of the game when it comes to language competency.
Learning how to write and express the self well makes an individual more adaptive to various disciplines and fields. It is a fact that being capable of writing can make someone more confident about any venture they go to. A Christian home school writing curriculum should be custom made to fit to the competency and level of the child so as he or she could fully grasp concepts and ideas. Learning grammar is primary in the curriculum. For children, teaching grammar could be tricky and so being creative while building their grammar skills is essential. If their basic knowledge about word and sentence building has a sound grammar then it is on to the next step.
When the child is confident about building sentences, it is time to improve their creative side. Letting them be creative and write things about tons of interesting topics could help them improve their personal writing skills. This will also challenge them to look for new words to improve writing. While this is happening, introduce them to reading. Reading can improve the sense making of children about how words and paragraphs are made. Reading books and short stories and other literary forms like poetry can enhance their vocabulary and challenge them to use their critical thinking. This means the Christian home school writing goes to another level.
When they start becoming more comfortable in writing, it is time to boost their writing experience by letting them come up with topics that they want to write about. This will enhance their research skills, the use of the Internet and library and further reading to enrich their vocabulary. Be it creative writing or a small assignment, it requires researching and taste making. In higher levels, writing responsibly is also applied. The concept of plagiarism should be introduced early on so they know how to handle research projects and creative writing assignments with responsibility and creativity.
The Christian home school writing curriculum could be customized to fit the needs of the child. By understanding their level of confidence in terms of language usage, grammar as well as creative and academic writing, parents can either advance to a higher level or focus on an area for improvement so that they will not be confused in the future. After all these challenging experiences, the children will surely feel more confident in handling interdisciplinary topics that require writing, reading and researching.
There are numerous benefits to Christian Home schooling and choosing the proper home school curriculum for your child. For more information about Home School Curriculums and subjects like Christian home school writing curriculum, please do visit our site – http://www.homeschoolcurriculum.org/
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In Bible versus Quran, Moses is God to Aaron
Jun 3rd
In Bible versus Quran, Moses is God to Aaron
Jews, Christians and Muslims, all admire Moses as a great prophet. He is considered the greatest prophet in Judaism and he is the most frequently cited Prophet in the Quran.
In the Bible,
The Lord’s anger burned against Moses.
The Lord God made Moses like God to Pharaoh.
The Lord God said unto Moses, you shall be as God to Aaron.
Aaron is Moses’ Prophet.
In the Quran,
Allah’s never ever get angry of Moses.
It is Pharaoh who proclaimed that he is the highest lord!
Moses asked Allah to appoint for him a minister, Aaron, his brother, Moses said: “confirm my strength with him and let him share my task” (verses 20: 29-32).
———————
In the Bible, the verses of Exodus (4:14-16 and 7:1) say:
The anger of Jehovah was kindled against Moses, and he said, is there not Aaron your brother? I know that he can speak well. And you shall speak unto him, and put the words in his mouth: and I will teach you what you shall do. And he shall be your spokesman unto the people. And Jehovah said unto Moses, See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh and Aaron; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.
———————
In the Quran, Verses 79:15-26 say
Have you, O Muhammad received the story of Moses?
How his Lord called him in the holy valley of “Tuwa”; it is Holy because of its goodness and grace. And Allah said unto Moses:
Go to Pharaoh; he has indeed become rebellious, he is arrogant and too proud and has refused to believe in Allah; he has exceeded all bounds with his disbelief,
And say unto him: Would you purify yourself by bearing witness that there is no god but Allah; O Pharaoh would you become righteous, surrender and believe in Allah’s divine Oneness?
And then I will guide you to your Lord, to show you how to know Him by way of proofs, so that you may have fear of Him
So Moses showed him the tremendous token, the hand and the staff.
But Pharaoh denied Moses and disobeyed Allah.
Then he turned his back, to faith, to think what to do about Moses, going about in haste, throughout the land causing corruption.
Then he gathered the sorcerers and his armies and proclaimed,
And Pharaoh said, ‘I am your most high lord!’ above whom is no other lord.
So Allah seized him and punished him and made him an example for the after life and for the former. The punishment that he suffered in the life of the world is drowning and the punishment of the Hereafter will be in the Eternal Fire.
It is also said that this means: Allah has punished him because of his former and latter pronouncements. His first pronouncement being: “I do not know of any other god for you except Me” [verse. 28:38] and the second being “I am your Lord the Highest” in these verses.
It is said that there is an interval of 40 years between the first and second pronouncements.
Assuredly in that, which Allah did to Pharaoh and his host, is a lesson and is a moral for the one who fears Allah, exalted be He.
———————
The Bible (King James Version)
Exodus 4:14-16
14And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
15And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
16And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
Exodus 7:1
1And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
———————
Verses 79:15-26 (Yusuf Ali translation)
15. Has the story of Moses reached thee?
16. Behold, thy lord did call to him in the sacred valley of Tuwa:-
17. Go thou to pharaoh for he has indeed transgressed all bounds:
18. And say to him, ‘wouldst thou that thou shouldst be purified (from sin)?-
19. And that I guide thee to thy lord, so thou shouldst fear him?
20. Then did (Moses) show him the great sign.
21. But (pharaoh) rejected it and disobeyed (guidance);
22. Further, he turned his back, striving hard (against Allah).
23. Then he collected (his men) and made a proclamation,
24. Saying, “I am your lord, most high”.
25. But Allah did punish him, (and made an) example of him, – in the hereafter, as in this life.
26. Verily in this is an instructive warning for whosoever feareth (Allah).
———————
Back to my question to the smart and interested reader:
Are the Scholars truthful when they claim that the Quran quoted from the Bible?
Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil, Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Head (ex-) of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit, Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors, Honorary President of SPIC-Egypt (The Society of Practitioners of Infection Control – Egypt), Co-Chief Editor of the Egyptian Journal of Lab. Medicine Member of the Egyptian union of Writers, Published 5 Books and some 60 Medical Articles, Supervisors for 79 PhD theses and111 Master Degree theses.
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Discover 10 Historic Facts About Human Hair
Jun 3rd
Discover 10 Historic Facts About Human Hair
Since the inception of human history, hair was a symbol of social status and an ever-changing human fashion. From the caveman to the Roman empire, through the Classic era to the 21st century – hair came in all shapes and forms.
We have an emotional connection to our hair, as is evident from the amount of time we spend taking care of it, stressing about it, worrying about losing it, coloring it, primping it, and fondling it absentmindedly. But the significance of a full head of hair is more than emotional. Men battling hair loss today are following the footsteps of many other men and women in history, and not surprisingly, almost every culture on Earth, past and present, attach at least some social significance to hair. Hair can symbolize strength, virility, affluence, and class. In many cases, a King could lose his kingdom by losing his hair, or even just going gray! The next stories spread throughout history and displays the importance of hair in the eyes of past rulers and long lost civilizations!
Samson:
Everyone knows the story of Samson and his long tresses that gave him strength. Because of his long hair, he was able to fend the attacks of the Philistines, protect the newly settled area, and be an all around hero to the Hebrews, who were having a hard time dealing with those pesky Philistines that did not take the Hebrew invasion very kindly! Samson, however, had one weakness, namely, the lovely Delilah. One night, after an ardent session of lovemaking, Samson fell into a deep sleep, and the Philistines entered his chamber and cut off his hair, and with it, his strength. Although Samson recovered his powers by intense prayer and piousness, but this story definitely warns us against cutting men’s hair, and links superhuman strength to long hair!
The Egyptian Pharaoh:
It is really hot in Egypt, and was very hot 4000 years ago, and even 5000 years ago. Egyptians mostly wore their head shaved, a practical way to deal with the extreme desert heat. The Pharaohs, however, when in ceremonial dress and demonstrating their power and wealth, wore elaborate wigs made of real human hair, dressed with oil, in locks, and braids. The Pharaoh’s son traditionally had one lock of hair uncut in the center of his head, which he would wear in a bun. No one else was allowed to wear their hair in this particular way, on pain of death!
Caesar:
Julius Caesar, perhaps the most famous Roman ever, was terrified of his hair loss. It is said that he was so embarrassed by his receding hairline that he introduced the fashion of a laurel crown to hide his high forehead… Caesar used to force his defeated enemies to shave their heads to their scalp. Perhaps he thought that if his enemies had even shorter hair than his, he would appear more powerful, as if conquering half of Europe was not enough!
Married/Unmarried Women in Imperial China:
Unmarried Chinese girls’ hair was usually worn long and braided while married women combed the hair back from the face and wound into a knot at the nape. The married or unmarried status of the girl could be signified by her hair, thus avoiding any unwanted advances on married women. Chinese girls’ hair heavily influenced their value in the marriage market. A girl without long, luxurious, very black hair was not considered as good marriage material as girls with.
Japanese:
Samurai would cut their hair when defeated in Medieval Japan. To this day, Sumo wrestlers have a “hair cutting” ceremony when they retire! In Japan, cutting hair was a symbol of defeat and lost of honor, very similar to the honorable Harakiri (ceremonial suicide practiced by the Japanese samurai when disgraced or under a death sentence). Women of samurai families used to cut their hair and even became nuns when she had to part her loved one, and to this day some Japanese girls cut their hair when they have had their heart broken!.
Louis the Fourteenth, King of France:
King Louis XIV, the Sun King, inventor of Ballet and Tennis, was also a particularly vain peacock of a King. When faced with the beginning of hair loss, the King began yet another fashion (in addition to silk vests and high heels for men) – the Male wig. Louis’ wings were so elaborate, that they were built on a wire frame, and more often than not, consisted of three heads of hair in one wig!
The Plains Indians:
Male warriors wore their hair long among the Plains Indians in Northern America. They decorated their hair with feathers and beads, and Chiefs wore large featherhead dresses with additional locks of hair and strings of beads hanging from them, which were considered to be highly impressive. Perhaps the most telling sign of the significance of the hair and scalp in their culture was scalping. People firmly believed that by taking your enemy’s hair you strip him off his manhood. An Indian warrior with the greatest number of scalps hanging from his wigwam was a very powerful man indeed!
The Rastafarian Dreadlocks:
Perhaps the most significant indicator of the Rastafarian social and religious movement is the dreadlocks, which became so popular to this day. The Rastafarian express their spiritual beliefs by wearing locks.
Shaving off the Hair:
Most Monks of all religions, as well as Nuns of the Buddhist faith, shave their head as a symbol of releasing the vanities of the material life. The fact that the vanity involved in hair is so embedded in the human mind is definitely a factor in these vows. Simplicity means having no hair to be vain about, the Buddhist Monks and Nuns say. The unsaid current is, of course, how powerful and strong and beautiful our hair can make us feel, and how deeply we are attached to it.
The Cowboy:
There is probably a second, less verbalized reason for the Cowboy Hat then just sun protection. Cowboys, embodying the most masculine and virile male archetype, battled their hair loss magnificently. The most tough and hardened cowboys lined up to spend their hard earned money on worthless “Snake Oil”, hair growing tonics peddled by charlatan “Doctors” from the side shows and stages of the great wild west medicine shows. Cowboys also used the trick of rubbing grease into their hair, causing it to look thicker. While this was slightly effective, it was a very messy process.
So you see, being obsessed with your hair is a completely normal human emotion!
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State Of Zen With Yoga
Jun 3rd
State Of Zen With Yoga
Some people have a foolish way of not minding, or pretending not to mind, what they eat. For my part, I mind my belly very studiously, and very carefully. For I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly will hardly mind anything else.–Samuel Johnson (poet, essayist, biographer, lexicographer)
Nowadays, people are so conscious about their health and body figure. Many people regularly visit the gym for weight training, cardiovascular exercise, or to simply have friends who share their passion for fitness. Many fitness gyms offer the latest in weight and cardio-machines. Others specialize in special fitness programs or routines like Pilates, Tae-Bo, Belly Dancing, Hip-Hop Exercises, and even Pole Dancing.
But lately, Yoga and Tai Chi classes have been gaining popularity especially among women and above-40 fitness buffs. These Indian and Chinese methods of meditation and exercise are popular due to the health benefits experienced by those practice them. Many health buffs claim that they now enjoy a stress and anxiety-free lifestyle because of their Tai Chi and Yoga lessons.
Studies show that these kinds of exercise do have beneficial effects on the mind and body. These religious-philosophical movements gave emphasis to the state of Zen. According to Buddhism, the term “zen” refers to the attainment of a stage of “awakening.” This belief was introduced in China by a Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma in A.D. 520. According to studies, people who cling to the teachings of Zen endeavor to achieve “satori” which is also called “nirvana”. “Satori” in general can only be reached through a meditation called “zazen” which, in turn, leads to a state of mushin or “no mind”. Mushin is the ability to see things more clearly mentally. It means that one’s judgment will not be blurred with negative thoughts. Although this belief originated from the south, many Western students and practitioners of Yoga and Tai-Chi are satisfied with the health and vitality it brings.
Yoga benefits
Practicing yoga increases flexibility because stretching exercises the different tendons, ligaments, and joints of the body. Studies also say that yoga is probably the only form of activity that massages all the internal organs and glands in the body. These may include the prostate, which according to medical specialists hardly receives stimulation. This massage or stimulation may keep certain individuals from diseases and other forms of illness. Yoga ensures the best supply of blood to the body. This helps detoxify the body of toxins and, in the process, delays aging and renewed energy. Muscles are also toned because of repeated stimulation through yoga.
Tai Chi benefits
Medical researchers and Tai Chi practitioners claim that immediate benefits occur from day one of practice. These may include a more relaxed and clearer mind. Clinical studies in the US show that improved balance and peace of mind took place after only eight weeks of training. These benefits were immediately evident after performing very simple set of movements taken from different Tai Chi styles. Other benefits of this “soft” martial arts include improved internal organ functions, improved breathing, and better sleep. Additional reports show that people who practice Tai Chi enjoyed improved strength and reduced stress, aside from gaining the ability to better deal with anxiety attacks.
However, people with a history of heart disease, back injuries, and those who have undergone recent surgery should consult a physician before starting a Yoga or Tai Chi routine. In general, Tai Chi and Yoga are very effective routines to bring back health and a sense of peace of mind to a devoted practioner. Done properly, these ancient arts of exercise and meditation can help provide anxiety relief and alleviate other forms of stress.
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Christian Lessons|Private ESL English conversation tutoring. 10 Points to help you get that second lesson
Jun 3rd
Private ESL English conversation tutoring. 10 Points to help you get that second lesson
If you’ve thought about teaching English privately to adults who speak English as a second language, you may not be aware that it is actually easy to organise the first lesson. It is a lot harder to get the second. If you don’t do a good job in the first lesson it is unlikely students will come back for the second!
So, before you even have the first lesson it is best to be prepared. Make sure you ask a number of questions of your potential student when you first schedule the lesson so that you are able to take along the appropriate exercises or conversation topics that the student wants. Obviously every tutor will want to prepare for their student but there are other qualities you need, to make the lesson successful, that have nothing to do with lesson planning.
The following checklist is helpful, and, in some cases, crucial in getting your private adult ESL students to come back for more lessons.
1. Patience
Patience is extremely important. You can’t do this job without patience. Patience to listen carefully to what your student says. Patience to understand completely what they are saying before jumping in with your answer. Patience to speak slowly and clearly.
2. Focus
If something bad has happened in your day, or you’ve had an argument with someone, or are worried about something, this will show up in your lesson and you may scare your student off. Be focused on the lesson and the student and don’t get distracted.
You must leave all problems at home. Your sole responsibility is to your student at that time. If you don’t think you can do that, reschedule the lesson.
3. Understanding
If you have strong opinions on things, you have to leave them at home too. It’s rare to get a student that will want to demonstrate his or her feelings for something, but if you do, and you strongly disagree, it’s better for you to ask them to explain their point of view.
Not only does it help them practice their English, it might also give you information that you can use in your next lesson, because, if a student finds you agree with them, they’ll be more comfortable with you and will want another lesson.
Of course, there are students that want to discuss and debate controversial topics, but you probably won’t find this out until after you’ve got to know your student over a few months. I’ve only met two students who were happy to pay me to debate a topic that they felt strongly about.
If this looks like you’ll need to be hypocritical, think of it as practicing your acting skills. “That’s an interesting idea”, “I haven’t heard that view before” and, “We must discuss this at length at another time, but now let’s move on to…” are good phrases if your student touches on sensitive topics, like ‘whales are delicious’ or ‘women should stay in the kitchen’ or ‘Come along to my church/Amway meeting this Sunday!’
So, understanding the characters, personalities and ideals of your students is a good way to continue your tutor relationship with them.
4. Be interested in everything
One skill I have that keeps students coming back to me is that I’m interested in almost everything. I can talk about bosing tang, cancer, Winter Sonata, Japanese chat shows, Brazilian criminals, Thai insect dishes, Chinese business development, Australian Aboriginal folklore, politics, economics, reincarnation, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity etc. The list is endless, but because I read from various different areas regularly I always have something to talk about and almost always have a ready comment on just about anything the students ask.
“What do you know about the latest developments in microparticle physics and time travel?”
“Why is Freud more famous than Descarte?”
“Is it true that Shiitake Mushrooms cure cancer?”
But if you don’t have the time or the inclination to be interested in everything, what can you do?
The first lesson is where you ask all the questions about hobbies and interests. I’ve learnt that surfers of huge Hawaiian waves need to be taken up to the top of them by speedboat, or that there’s a skydiving wind tunnel available in the States for people afraid to jump from a plane, purely because I had two students interested in those subjects.
Watching the news every night is good too. Avoid sports news. No use to you in a lesson unless you’re teaching someone who only wants to talk about sport. And you should focus on international news. After all, do you think foreign students are going to be fascinated by the local news?
So, after they’re happy with your first lesson, and to be prepared for your second lesson, go through all the hobbies and interests they brought up and produce related articles, news reports or exercises on them for the next lesson. I’m sure there’s at least one website out there with articles related to what you need!
5. Acceptance
Well, this is extremely important. You must accept everyone and everything if you want to be a good private English tutor.
So, if you have any racist attitudes, no matter how many stories you have to back up your view, you should accept every person as a unique individual. They may even surprise you!
I’ve learnt that just because 10 unrelated students, that originate from a particular country in Asia, have been late to my lessons, doesn’t mean that the 11th from that country will be. Or that even though some students from a particular country want to negotiate a lower price, some from that same country actually want to pay the full price for 10 lessons in advance!
So, you can’t stereotype your students. Treat everyone as different.
You also need to be flexible. Awhile ago while teaching at Adult English School I had a student whose schedule had been delayed and he hadn’t had time to visit his mosque before visiting me. He asked if he could use my office for a few minutes to pray. Of course I agreed and organised a space for him.
You must be able to appreciate and embrace the differences everyone has. Showing interest in another person’s culture or customs will enable you to better understand the problems they have with English.
6. Clear Speaking
Are you a good enunciator? Do you pronounce your words clearly? It’s surprising how many people think they do and they actually don’t. The best way to find this out is if you record your voice onto a tape and play it back, then compare it to someone reading the news. If you can’t understand it easily, if your accent is too strong for someone to understand, you’re going to have to start speaking clearly.
A quick way of doing this is to say ‘Wow’ in front of the mirror a few times. If you can’t see your tonsils, you’re not enunciating well enough!. Open up your mouth more when you speak.
7. A friendly or interested personality
Yes, if you don’t show that you’re friendly or interested you’re not going to keep your students for long. You should know about pubs, clubs, travel, adventure, sports, parties, and people. Students want to hear crazy stories that increase their knowledge of particular subjects. If they want to ask about drugs, briefly tell them about your time in Amsterdam. If they’re interested travelling, tell them about the flies attacking you in Uluru.
If you’re an English teacher at High School or University, you would be teaching from a text book to a class and the students would listen carefully to every word you say and study for a test at the end proving they’ve listened. Private tuition is completely different. Students can cancel even on the day of your lesson so make sure you’ve got the personality to keep them coming back! (This may mean you’ll need to employ your acting skills, or become great at making up stories! Maybe those flies on your trip to Uluru lifted you off the ground!)
If you’ve been working behind a desk for too long and are worried that you may not be able to show your engaging personality, you can brush up your skills by either doing a short customer service, hospitality or acting course. Make sure that the course includes role playing! You could also practice your tutoring skills in a language exchange environment. You can find many people wanting free language exchange lessons at this site: Japanese Language Exchange
I have a student that has near perfect English who wants to continue practicing with me purely because I make her laugh! I’ve been teaching her for over a year now and have told her on a number of occasions that she doesn’t need any further lessons but she says I’m the only person she can practice her English conversation skills with and be entertained at the same time!
8. Pronunciation (also known as accent reduction)
This is probably one of the hardest parts of tutoring English. You are going to have to get into the habit of correcting almost everything that your student says (not all at once, of course!). And you’ll need to be able to explain to them how to pronounce difficult words like ‘lorry’ or ‘exists’. Tongue twisters and reading practice are good ways of helping students improve their pronunciation.
I had a student once who was so distressed by her experience with a previous teacher forcing her to read a turn of the century book about a blind woman for an entire lesson that she checked with me about what I was going to teach her and would only hire me if the lessons were interesting! Of course I guaranteed that I wouldn’t force her to read something she wasn’t interested in.
Reading aloud is the best way of improving a student’s pronunciation. But a few students hate reading aloud and hope to improve their pronunciation purely by talking with you. In these cases make sure you have a long list of subjects to discuss so that you can challenge their vocabulary and pronunciation.
Also, when you are correcting, concentrate on only one or two areas per lesson. If your student has problems pronouncing ‘th’, that will be your focus. Make sure they get it right. No point in totally depressing them during the first lesson by telling them all their pronunciation mistakes.
9. Grammar
Yes, I know. Who worries about grammar when speaking these days? Well, students from any country where English is a foreign language! Students want to know about modals, prepositions, conjunctive adverbs, collocations, euphemisms, phrasal verbs, idioms, puns, and more. They believe the more they know, the better they’ll be able to speak. It’ll be up to you to try and convince them that none of us learnt grammar when we were 5 years old and we could already have long conversations at that age. You need to explain that they have to make mistakes to communicate and learn. If they worry about ending a sentence with a preposition all the time they’ll never have any sentences to speak with (!) A grammar rule is a record of how we have spoken in the past. Not how we should speak. English changes daily. With 3.5 million English words and billions of ways to put them together, is a grammar rule going to help all the time?
If that doesn’t work, and you are unable to answer their complicated question about split infinitives and future perfect continuous, for example, you can say “hmm, that’s a very interesting question. It’s not part of today’s lesson plan so I don’t have any exercises on it with me, but I’ll prepare something for you for the next lesson and we can discuss it then.
10. Have fun!
You can have a lot of fun in your lesson too. Find out what your students love and surprise them with your knowledge in the next lesson. I had a student that wanted to know about Anime in Australia so I researched that, prepared an exercise, got hold of the beginning themes of our most popular anime and played them to him on my mobile phone. He was very pleased.
One of my female Korean students really wanted to have a late night lesson at the pub. So, we went to a popular pub for Koreans on George St in Sydney around 9pm, chatted for 2 hours, drank beer, talked about relationships and Korean customs in Seoul, and I got paid for it!
There are of course many other things you need to know before teaching a lesson and you may not yet have some of these skills. Don’t let that hold you back. You can always learn as you go. But you’ll find students stick around longer if you can prove to them you’ve got the skills to make the second lesson even better!
James Hogan is Principal of Adult English School in Sydney Australia and manages a group of private ESL English tutors. He has published an ebook entitled “Become an English Language Conversation Tutor” You can find out more about his ebook at English Tutor Ebook
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