The Looking Glass Self - 863 Words

Looking Glass Self Reflection Activity 10/10 Good observation!!! What is acceptable in one group is not always acceptable in another. Therefore, you change your appearance based on what you what others to think about you. The others’ perceived judgment about your style makes you change your style depending upon the group. Directions: Answer the Pre-Reading questions using Chapter 5 Section 2 Guided Reading Notes. When finished, read the article The Looking Glass Self: Who Holds Our Reflections. Read the short article and answer the Guided Reading questions. Finally, write a response to the journal activity. Pre-Reading: 1. According to Charles Horton Cooley, how do people develop their personality? People develop their†¦show more content†¦Dress up to convey others image, speak in certain way and what is the importance of their statement. 2. How do we become members of a group? We should adapt the social member. 3. While our surroundings shape us, what choice do we have as individuals upon our personality development? We can choice people or group that we should be affected by. For example, if I want to be healthy, I should not hang out with people who drink alcohols. Post-Reading Journal Response: Below explain a personal example about a time in your life where you experienced the Looking Glass Self. What was your imagined appearance? What were people’s reactions? How did the perceived reactions make you feel about yourself? I have two nationalities when I was born because my parents are Japanese (my father) and Thai (my mother). That means I have international family, so that I have more opportunities to interact among different nationality. When I dress up or set my hairstyle like Japanese which I think very cool style, my Thai relative, such as grandpa and grandma, looks me strangely because they does know Japanese style. It is not just only my relative but also my friends sometimes. Since there are different perspective between Japanese and Thai, I have to adapt my looks due to who IShow MoreRelatedThe Looking Glass Self1648 Words   |  7 PagesThe Looking-Glass Self by Charles H. Cooley I will be talking about the looking glass self, made famous by famed American sociologist Charles Horton Cooley. This concept stems from our interpersonal perception of what another individual’s impression is on us and how we form ourselves towards that initial perception. Out of all the theories that are at our disposal in sociology, this is the theory that interested me the most and here is why. To me the looking glass self is not just a concept orRead MoreThe Concept Of The Looking Glass Self1423 Words   |  6 PagesThe interactionist approach in sociology has been formed and it refers to the integrity of the human personality and self-determination in the micro-social environment. In this research paper, I want to consider the interactionist theory, as it perfectly reflects micro-social processes and explain the nature of human identity. â€Å"The Self† Concept The concept of the looking glass self is one of the first concepts of personality psychology, sociology. It does not come from the internal characteristicsRead MoreUnderstanding The Looking Glass Self1129 Words   |  5 Pageswell as classifying them into these groups. These classifications that we are assigned include, economic status level, education, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. By doing so, we perceive the view of ourselves and others in the world. The Looking Glass-Self allows us to see our interactions with others as well as what they expect from us according to our behavior (Verderber, 34). That is what sociology is; the study of society and social interaction. Throughout our lives, we have learned and willRead MoreLooking Glass Of One s Self884 Words   |  4 PagesLooking-Glass of One’s Self As a result, society has devalued heterosexual males and homosexual males that don’t fit into the construction of gender that society deems appropriate or inappropriate masculine behaviors (Epstein, D., 1998). In particular, within society heterosexual males are ridiculed for choosing a position that is a non-traditional profession (Evans, J., Frank, B., 2003). For instance, nursing traditionally is a female profession but heterosexual men are being ridiculed for obtainingRead MoreThe Looking Glass Self By George Herbert Mead831 Words   |  4 Pageswas on the mind he developed a sense of self and opened up discussions about the impact of subject and creativity on society to the rather objective approach to the constitution of society. Cooley saw himself as less of a sociologist than as a scholar in history, philosophy and social psychology. The looking glass self was introduced in his book Human Nature and the Social Order the primary group was introduced in Social Organiz ation. The looking glass self describes how an individual develops hisRead MoreThe Looking Glass Self By Charles Horton Cooley889 Words   |  4 Pagesfield of sociology by Charles Horton Cooley, an American sociologist in the early 1900s, famously known as the ‘looking-glass self’. The name of the theory itself gives ideas of a person looking through glass to determine their inner self. Whereas, this glass is a mere reflection of the person in the eyes of the people. The basic looking glass theory lays the foundation of how a person self grows in life based on the social interaction of that person, i.e. the influence a certain group on the mind-setRead MoreThe Looking Glass Self By Charles H. Cooley994 Words   |  4 Pagesemployee, a house wife, and a student. When we are trying to play all of these roles at once, the concept of role conflict has emerged. So what cause this concept appears in this society. Charles H. Cooley come up with the concept called the looking-glass self, which illustrates that as human we tend to identify ourselves based on what others think who we are, and change ourselves due to what others are expecting us to become. (Steckely Letts,p117). This concept can easily lead us in to the situationRead MoreThe Digital Self : Through The Looking Glass Of Telecopresent Others974 Words   |  4 PagesThe internet has provided humans a portal into the digital world and this digital world lead to Shanyang Zhao and his analysis: The Digital Self: Through the Looking Glass of Telecopresent Others. Shanyang begins his article by explaining to his readers the rudimentary system of socialization that has taken place prior to the development of the internet: â€Å"the significant others a child interacted with on a daily basis resided primarily in the corporeal copresence†¦ in Western society [it usually consistsRead MoreCharles Horton Cooley s Concept Of The Looking Glass Self870 Words   |  4 Pages1902, Charles Horton Cooley fashioned the concept of the looking-glass ‘self,’ this concept was researched to learn how identity is shaped. The authors concluded that people shape their identity based on the perception of how they think others view them. Three ideas comprise the looking-glass ‘self’: First, we see in our mind’s eye how we appear to others, second we imagine their judgment of how we appear to them, and third we develop our ‘self’ (our own identity) receiving the judgments from othersRead MoreSymbolic Interaction Theory : The Looking Glass Self And Romantic Relationships1126 Words   |  5 Pagesinteraction with others. Symbolic interaction theory has greatly impacted our world. This theory helps one understand how individuals shape their own reality and create norms. This essay focuses on the symbolic interaction theory through the looking-glass-self and romantic relationships. Symbolic Interactionism focuses on face-to-face communication. It is also micro-level theory; meaning this theory covers very specific relationships between individuals or small groups. Micro level theories are

The Cultural Industry Enlightenment As Mass Deception

In The cultural industry: enlightenment as mass deception, Theodore Adorno and Max Horkheimer are examining how we are presented movies and different mass media outlets. Also discussed is how life is now indistinguishable from movies; the same can also be said with reality TV and how audiences are fed the simple idea of †reality.† (3) Reality TV has become one of the top ways audiences consume information that is not necessarily true, but instead produced for views. A large part of the study is Adorno and Horkheimer compare this to a false personal identity created by the cultural industry to produce identical mass culture. (1) This means that entertainment is produced not for art’s sake, but for consumption of media, they even go on to say the following: â€Å"movies and radio need no longer pretend to be art. Instead the truth is they are just businesses that create an ideology to justify the rubbish being produced.†(1) The real question now is why? Why do people watch this form of television? Is it because the documentary production puts the audiences trusts in the creator of the show? A large part of the documentary production style relies on interviews, which underscores the authority on the subject. That idea gives the audience a picture of what is and what isn’t true, however, that is a problem because even though documentaries spend more time researching the topic of the narrative they are â€Å"edited,† which makes it impossible to know the legitimacy of its narrative.Show MoreRelatedCulture is a Mean of Social Control: Theodor Adorno998 Words   |  4 Pagesbecome a commodity it is mass produced because the demand for it has increased. Adorno was a part of the thinkers, who found a connection between Culture has a huge part in globalisation because there are certain big media companies, which promote same ideas, which are spread through the media all around the world. Every person, who consume those products become sympathetic to it and accepts the imposed way of thing. Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception is the title of a chapterRead MoreRelationship between Mechanical Reproduction, Art and Culture754 Words   |  4 Pagesreligion, and art. Max Horkheimer, Theodor W. Adorno and Walter Benjamin are three of the most notable critics of Marxism. They write about the production of cultural subject in capitalist societies, agreeing that reproduction of art has drastically changed due to mechanization. Horkheimer and Adorno’s The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception and Benjamin’s The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction are two texts that to depict how technology, the modes of production, have allowedRead MoreFilm, By Max Horkheimer And Theodor Adorno1176 Words   |  5 Pages There is no doubt that film is a powerful mode of cultural production that caters to politicians, academics, and the general public. We are, in our quotidian existence, unwittingly exposed to a stunning amount of sensorial st imulation. Much of this stimulation comes from film, a form of media that has captivated sociologists, psychologists, and philosophers. In the Frankfurt School, Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno interpret the sociopolitical implications of film differently from Walter BenjaminRead MoreHow Characteristics Of Culture Maintain Capitalist Society1664 Words   |  7 Pagespurpose of this paper is to examine how characteristics of culture maintain capitalist society. I will be using Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer’s The culture industry: enlightenment as mass deception, as the backbone of my analysis. This will be accomplished by assessing aspects of society such as: monopoly capitalism, the entertainment industry and relevance to modern day society. This paper argues that capitalism transformed culture into an ideological means of domination, and acts as brainwashingRead MoreThe Culture Industry : Enlightenment As Mass Deception By Adorno And Horkheimer1086 Words   |  5 Pag esAdorno and Horkheimer’s essay â€Å"The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception† (1944) describes culture industries, such as film, radio, and magazines, as ideological mediums of domination that reduce consumers into passive subjects. As members of the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory which critiqued post World War II Western modernity, Adorno and Horkheimer viewed the culture industry’s standardization and mass production as mechanisms of control under Capitalism, an economic system meantRead MoreModern Film On Our Rational And Critical Thought Processes1372 Words   |  6 PagesThe Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception, Horkheimer and Adorno argue film oppresses our ability to think critically. They base their argument on how culture today is infecting everything with sameness (Horkheimer 94). That is, the ubiquitous nature of film infects everyone with identically diseased notions. The connotations of infection are clear: afflicti on, contamination, and disorder. For Horkheimer and Adorno, the infection (film created by the bourgeois cultural elite) forcesRead MoreThe Effects Of Modern Film On Our Rational And Critical Thought Processes1395 Words   |  6 Pagesmodernity. In The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception, Horkheimer and Adorno argue that film oppresses our ability to think critically. They argue how culture today is infecting everything with sameness (94). That is, the current state of film infects everyone with identically diseased notions. The connotations of infection are clear: affliction, contamination, and disorder. For Horkheimer and Adorno, the infection (film created by the bourgeois cultural elite) forces us into aRead MoreEssay On Digital Space1252 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Post World War II America saw new forms of mass communication develop. The emergence of the entertainment industry exploded and sought to create profit through the production and distribution of cultural products. Theodor W. Adorno and Max Horkheimer critically engaged with these new cultural conditions by assessing the ways television, radio and film had been increasingly commodified and was, in their estimation, a medium for capitalist ideological domination. They argued that, â€Å"theRead MoreDialectic Of Enlightenment By Theodor Adorno1243 Words   |  5 PagesIn his work, Dialectic of Enlightenment, Theodor Adorno analyzes the nature of the culture industry. People everywhere are constantly being consumed by the culture industry, which is a term for the mass production of cultural goods such as films, magazines, and music. Adorno is concerned that the government uses the cultural industry as a way to deceive the masses and manipulate them into passivity. This idea remains tru e in today’s society. Young men and women are more interested in the releaseRead MoreThe Relationship Between Art And Commerce1261 Words   |  6 Pagesartistic and creative potential of the art while art is viewed as a form of creative and cultural luxury that needs protection from external corruption. This argument has been brought up continually in academia, all similarly suggesting that there is something inherent in commerce and economics that undermines the purpose and authenticity of art. Whether this be the classic Bourdieun analysis of for-profit industries and their negative influence on art culture or the modern day parent who views the popular

Simon Responsibilities Under the Tort of Negligence

Question: Discuss about the Simon Responsibilities Under the Tort of Negligence. Answer: Issue Whether the waitress or restaurant owes Simon responsibilities under the tort of negligence and if there any remedies available to him Rules Section 13 Supply of 1982 Goods and Services Act Section 49 of the 2015 Consumer Rights Act of England Section 54 of the 2015 Consumer Rights Act of England Section 1, clause 1 of 1945 Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act of England Analysis Definition of a tort As I offer a solution to Simons incident, I will first analyze what the tort of Negligence in the law of England is. In common law authorities like England, any civil wrong by a person unfairly leads to harm or loss of another, resulting in legal accountability for such person that commits the act is termed a tort. Therefore, a tort is an omission or act which gives leads to harm or injury of another amounting to a civil wrong that the law courts enforce liability. In England, the tort law covers three basic categories; torts that are intentional, negligence and torts of strict responsibility. A tortfeasor is the individual committing the act. The general law of Negligence in England In tort law, negligence is certainly the largest area of law. In England, Negligence is a comparatively new type of tort and has largely been developed by the bench. It is flexibility, thus, can be applied by law courts to ascertain liability in the new settings. The classic cases of Donoghue v Stevenson and R v. Adomako detail what every plaintiff must avail as proof for a court to find on negligence. Firstly the plaintiff must show that the respondent owed the plaintiff an obligation of care. In the Donoghue v Stevenson case, the House of Lords deliberated on the concept of duty rejecting the earlier law. The court in Donoghue v Stevenson stated that the duty of care entailed taking reasonable care to evade omissions or acts that one can realistically foresee as to possible injure their neighbor. In applying this principle to Simons situation, the waiter was obliged to an understanding that the individuals like Simon, direct and close to him are affected by his acts. This entails the actions that the waiter reasonably ought to have contemplated as so affected when they direct their concentration to such omissions or acts into question like the cork popping out to injury Simon. The recent case of Crown v Zaman offered a three-level test of establishing if a duty of care exists. The first stage is whether a proximity relationship between suit parties exists. The second stage is if the injury on claimant was foreseeable. Last is whether it is reasonable, fair, and just for a duty to be imposed. Courts of England prefer to resolve the question of liability at the breach step after a complete argument on the essential merits of a case have been adduced. Upon the claimant establishing the respondent owed them the care duty; the next step is demonstrating that it was the defendant at fault. That is, it is the defendant that breached their duty of care. In Arnold v Britton Ors and Blyth v Birmingham Waterworks Co, the courts stated that courts often apply the test of reasonable to establish if there was a breach of the duty of care by the defendant. According to Montgomery v. Lanarkshire Health Board, the test is of an objective nature where the law courts often find a balance between foreseeability degree and possibility of injury as against the price of evading such harm. This is due to the fact that any defendant is not liable for any kind of injury that they might not have reasonably foreseen. In State v. UK, court opinioned that courts also put into consideration the societal profits if such activity was never carried out. To applying the breach of duty ingredient to Simons situation, there is no dispute that the Restaurants waiter clearly popped the cork that injured Simon. In negligence cases, the Simon must prove causation. He must show it was the breach of the duty of the defendant that initiated the damage he suffered. According to Stapleton 2016, pp. 699, the test for causation in negligence is the famous but- for-test. It states that but for the tort of the defendant, would the plaintiff have faced the damage or loss. If the answer is not in the affirmative, then the test of causation is fulfilled. If the answer is in the affirmative, the respondent is not held liable, though they performed negligently (Stapleton 2016, pp.700). Even where the plaintiff fulfills the but-for test, they ought to demonstrate that this damage they suffered is not that remote of the negligence of the defendant. For instance, the court in Simons case might find that a waiters act or even Simon himself caused the injury. Simons failure to foresee the cork popping and protect himself can be held to have broken the causation chain between the act of the waiter and the injur y suffered. The last ingredient of negligence is that the injury suffered by the plaintiff must be of a type that is recoverable under negligence law. For instance, where Simon has suffered the loss of a chance of avoiding physical injury, this loss will not be compensable. Simons situation Section 49 of the 2015 Consumer Rights Act of England states that services to consumers must be executed with reasonable skill and care. Section 54 of the 2015 Consumer Rights Act of England offers consumers the right to treat the term as incorporated in every contract and the omission of it as a breach this particular section requires. This section is supplemented by Section 13 of the Supply of 1982 Goods and Services Act of England states inter alia that in every relevant contract of supplying service where the provider is performing in their course of business, an inferred term exists that such provider will, with reasonable skill and care, undertake their service. The liability of the waiters employer to Simon stems from the doctrine of vicarious liability. Vicarious Responsibility is enforced on the Restaurant or employer for the workers tort committed against a Simon in the progress of their employment. Liability herein is strict because it is the duty of the employer (the restaurant) to effectively supervise their employees. In Cox v Ministry of Justice, the judge noted that this doctrine has developed from a societal convenience and such bumpy justice. The company is better placed to reimburse a victim, as well as extend out losses through insurance. The employer receives benefits from the business and so must similarly bear tort risks occurring in the performance of their trade. Any plaintiff, like Simon, to successfully sue the restaurant under this vicarious liability doctrine, must demonstrate three finding: First is that the waiter (offender) was an employee (not a sovereign contractor engaged by the restaurant to undertake work. Second is that the worker (waiter) committed a tort (popped the cork). Last is that the tort (damage to his teeth) was committed by the waiter in their progress of work. Englands most current case has adopted the neighbor connection test to ascertain whether (the tortious) act was actually in defendants course of service. The highest court of England in Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets has recently stated that it is essential to have a comprehensive approach to the employment nature, for any court to ascertain if the alleged tort is that closely associated with defendants employment (Morgan 2016, pp. 204). So that it is reasonable, fair, and just to find the company liable; or if the tort fits in a risk generated by the business known to be integral to it. Toulson J held that in every court of law must consider which functions are entrusted to such employee in question, that is, what the nature of their job is. This issue must broadly be addressed. Secondly, it must be ascertained if a satisfactory connection exists between the situation ... and the employees wrongful behavior to infer the right for their employer to be deemed liable under the social justice principle. On such basis, attending to clients, like Simon and reacting to client inquiries was part of waiters job. The waiters actions and injuring Simon was within their field of undertakings assigned to the waiter. The events that followed amounted to a continuous series of happenings, an unbroken event. The remedies in the law of negligence available to Simon In English trials on negligence, the judge hears, decides the lawsuit, and rewards damages, not the jury. If the above criterion is fulfilled, Simon is eligible to full compensation. In the law of negligence, a claimant must be restored to the position they must have been had such tort never occurred. Punitive reparations do not exist in negligence laws. As soon as the law court is contented with the negligence of defendant, then it must advance to assessing compensations. Normally, injuries are deliberated on as a whole. Such evaluation finalizes Simons rights, thus, no right for Simon to approach the court in the future to have another assessment of the damages. Scarman J in the case of Lim v Camden Islington Health Authority indicated that only a single certainty exists: the imminent proves the reward as more so excessively low or high. For reasons above, in courts awarding the damages, the judge compensates the plaintiff only what the respondent is answerable for and not future injuries. This rises from the finality-in-litigation principle. In such a classic personal wrong case, Simon will be recompensed for the pecuniary loss. This entails the 20,000 (cost of therapeutic care), his pocket expenditures occurring due to the offense. For the non-financial loss, Simon is entitled to damages comprised of compensations for amenity loss, as well as for suffering and pain. The court in Battram v Dr. Geoghegan Clinical Risk held that at trial date, the court assesses the reward necessary for whichever future harm to earnings and the therapeutic care, where the impairment will continue even after court hearing (Maunder 2017, p.2). Exceptions to the finality-in-litigation principle While damages are never re-assessed at a future date, the case of Mulholland V Mitchell provides an exception. The court was requested to re-open the evaluation of compensations due to a very noticeable change in the injured individuals situation just after the proceedings. Since the matters arising after the trial date were largely of degree and discretion and the Court of Appeal in its discretion admitted fresh evidence, the conditions in this particular case were exceptional. The finality in lawsuits principle must always be in the judges minds and not every such evidence must be admitted on such changes that could have befallen since the court trial. Hodson J stated that from the Mulholland V Mitchell case, it is fairly contended that the grounded on which this lawsuit was reached at court trial was materially and suddenly fabricated by a dramatic amendment in circumstances. There is a pending appeal on whole damages question, so, it is unsatisfactory for the law court to deliberate on the appeal short of taking falsification into account. Where there is no fresh proof, the Court is restrained from deliberating on the case with such reality before it. On a point of negativity, fresh proof must never be admitted if it has bearing on the matters subsiding within the area of uncertainty or the field; an area the judge has already covered. However, it may positively be admitted where certain basic assumptions, known to both parties, have evidently been forged by succeeding events, particularly where such falsification occurred by defendants act. Similarly, it is expected that law courts allow new evidence if to refuse the evidence would insult common logic or an intellect of fairness. All the above are merely non-comprehensive exceptions; whose application should be left to law courts. The extraordinary personality of lawsuits in which new evidence is permitted is entirely recognized by law Courts. To appreciate the English law of negligence and assess the chances of Simon successfully suing the Restaurant, it is important Simon avoids indicating the following situations (defenses to the tort of negligence). There is a situation is termed contributory negligence that Simon should avoid indicating when they sue the restaurant. That is, that he similarly acted carelessness and that his negligence contributed to the damage he incurred. The reason for this caution is that the law court will then apportion the responsibility between the waiter and Simon; adjusting Simons damages according to Section 1, clause 1 of 1945 Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act of England. In both Craig Sparrow v Arnaud Andre and the case of Tompkins v Royal Mail Group, the court held that a verdict of contributory causation is reached when the plaintiffs own carelessness contributed to the injury they complain of. Therefore, Simons damages will be reduced where he would have suffered same damage had he applied reasonable care for guarding his safety (such as moving away or telling the waiter to pop the champagne elsewhere or close his mouth) Volenti non fit injuria is another defense to Simons negligence assertions where the restaurant can disregard their liability totally if they can demonstrate to the court that Simon consented to the specific possibility of harm. The volenti non fit injuria defense obliges a voluntary and entered agreement by Simon, in the full awareness of Restaurant circumstances, to pardon the Restaurant of every legal result of their arrangements. References Case law R v. Adomako, 3 All E.R. 79 (1994) Crown v Zaman T20150463/T20157235 Donoghue v. Stevenson, 1932 A.C. 562 (1932) Arnold v Britton Ors [2015] UKSC 36 State v. UK, No. 113,900 (Kan. Ct. App. Oct. 7, 2016) Montgomery v. Lanarkshire Health Board, 2015 U.K.S.C. 11 (2015) LIM POH CHOO V CAMDEN AND ISLINGTON AREA HEALTH AUTHORITY [1979] UKHL 1 Mulholland V Mitchell [1971] AC 666 Tompkins v Royal Mail Group PLC [2005] EWHC 1902 Craig Sparrow -v- Arnaud Andre [2016] EWHC 739 (QB) Articles Maunder, C. (2017) "Battram V Dr Geoghegan". SAGE Publications [online] 1-3, available from https://sci-hub.cc/10.1177/1356262217695626 [31 March 2017] Morgan, P. (2016) "CERTAINTY IN VICARIOUS LIABILITY: A QUEST FOR A CHIMAERA?" The Cambridge Law Journal [online] 75 (02), 202-205, available from https://www.cambridge.org.secure.sci-hub.cc/core/journals/cambridge-law-journal/article/certainty-in-vicarious-liability-a-quest-for-a-chimaera/FE9F18656F1A01CB7F1811D06D9A8BB0 [31 March 2017] Rix, K.J., 2017. After a prolonged gestation and difficult labour, informed consent is safely delivered into English and Scots law. BJ Psych Advances, 23(1), pp.63-72, available from https://apt.rcpsych.org/content/23/1/63.full-text.pdf+html [31 March 2017] Stapleton, J. (2016) "An Extended But-For Test For The Causal Relation In The Law Of Obligations". Oxford Journal of Legal Studies [online] 36 (1), 697726, available from https://sci-hub.cc/10.1093/ojls/gqv005 [31 March 2017] Yeo, S., 2016, 09_Gravity of Provocation Revisited, 32-34, available from https://14.139.60.114:8080/jspui/bitstream/123456789/17487/1/009_Gravity%20of%20Provocation%20Revisited%20(34-54).pdf [31 March 2017]

Why Scientology is not a Religion

Introduction In the recent past, conflicting arguments seeking to define and create a clear understanding of what religion is have been circulating all over the mass media. Compared to the ancient days, the modern society has assumed an open-minded approach concerning religion. This has led to the rise of the numerous religious systems hence creating a conflicting understanding of the real religious setting.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Why Scientology is not a Religion specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, freedom of worship is wrongly being used to create many beliefs that have been taken in as religious systems. This paper seeks to define and elaborate the original meaning of religion in comparison to some modern beliefs that can be classified as cults. In this paper, the religion in question is the Scientology church, which in my opinion should not be considered as one. The history of Scie ntology Scientology was developed to replace an existing self–help system called Dianetics created by L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard’s Dianetics system was created and intended to be a psychotherapy that would later became a fundamental foundation for developing his religious principles (Kant, 2001). In its psychotherapy function, this system induced a memory of traumatic events in an individual’s life in the past. This, according to Hubbard, would free individuals from being victims of their experiences (Kant, 2001). The church of Scientology is accepted in a number of countries as a religion and it has been rejected in some. Every authority has its own argument to defend their approach towards the church. Foundation The church is a product of a science fiction writer known as Ron Hubbard. He lived from 1911-1986 when he died aged 75. In 1953, Hubbard incorporated the first church of Scientology in New Jersey, Camden (Monaghan Just, 2000). He was driven by the belief that human beings had forgotten their true nature and that they needed a spiritual rehabilitation to return to their original position of spiritual power. The church of Scientology is one of the most controversial religions of our times. The controversy begins with the founder’s reputation in both social and academic circles. His academic background is not very impressive since he dropped out of college with failing grades (Derrida, 2001). He later joined the navy but left to begin his writing career through which he would launch a religion of his own. He is quoted to have said that, â€Å"Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion.† (Fitzgerald, 2012). In essence, it suffices to assume that his intentions in creating a new religion were not influenced by his quench for the truth and a better life for his followers.Advertising Looking for research paper on religion th eology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Instead, the founder was clearly looking for opportunities to create wealth if his statement above is anything to go by. Although he presented his Dianetics as a mental health therapy based on intensive and a careful research, there was no evidence that the said research ever took place (Josephson, 2012). There are no copies of his research protocols retrieved to date. Membership Controversies surrounding the Scientology church notwithstanding, the rising number of memberships of the church are worth noting. Nonetheless, the statistics given by the church officials often contradicts other surveys conducted by credible and reputable region surveyors. There has been a great disparity between the number of members that the church claims to have registered and the number of people confessing to belong to the religion. In 2005 for instance, the church claimed to have over 8 million registered memb ers (Timothy, 2000). However, the American Religious Identification Survey confirmed that in 2008 there were only 25,000 members confessing to be followers of the said religion. The church in their defense maintains that the low record of membership is because members fear public stigmatization. Hence, they opt to confess to belong to a mainstream religion. They argue that the society is hesitant to associate with the religion since it is not socially acceptable in many countries. Beliefs In Scientology, scientific laws are the main doctrines. The church believes that Scientology is 100% in an individual’s life if applied in the correct way (Craig, 2000). In fact, the church does not concentrate too much on converting people from their faith to scientology. Instead, their main interest is to encourage people to practice the principles of the region. The founder of Scientology once said that â€Å"For a Scientologist, the final test of any knowledge he has gained is, ‘d id the data and the use of it in life actually improve conditions or didn’t it?† (Omoko, 2005). Interestingly, unlike all other religions that believe in a supreme creator, Scientologists have a different approach.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Why Scientology is not a Religion specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They believe in the spirit and supernatural ability of humans. Their beliefs are based on a misconception that a person is predominantly and intrinsically good, omniscient and has an amazing capability to create (Broadhurst, 2010). They believe that humans give the universe its shape and that the universe does not have its own independent reality. Scientologists also believe that the universe derives its reality from the fact that human beings have agreed to its existence (Grim, 2012). They argue that we as humans have lost our power over the universe by allowing our own creation to rule over us. According to this religion, humans lost their original state of spiritual and creative power reducing their worth to mere embodied beings. Popularity Scientology has been identified as the fastest growing religion in the 21st century and a number of reasons influence this fact. It seems the demand for dianetics is rapidly growing all over the world judging by the increasing number of Scientology churches. In 2004, the religion launched the ideal strategy to transform religion into physical structural churches where adherents would go for spiritual freedom (Grim, 2012). This is consistent with the goal that Hubbard the founder had envisioned in 1953. Globally, approximately 70 structures have been erected in major cities by the members of scientology church. Recognition Scientologists have been battling with the legal departments seeking for a legal recognition of their religious system. After a long struggle, the church was ultimately granted full tax exemption by the IRS in 1993 (Broadhurst, 2010). Since then, the church has gained the support of the United States government, which criticizes other governments for lack of religious tolerance. For instance, the United States has criticized Germany in its International Religious Freedom Reports from 1999 to date (Broadhurst, 2010). A letter sent to the German Chancellor in 1997 compared the discrimination of Scientologists in Germany to the treatment of Jews by the Nazi in the 1930s (Broadhurst, 2010). On the other hand, the Italian Supreme Court recognized the church of Scientology as a religion in the year 2000 (Timothy, 2000). Over the past decade, Scientology has gained official recognition and a significant following in a number of European countries.Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nevertheless, there are still countries that have over the years declined to recognize the religion. These include Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Belgium and the United Kingdom (Timothy, 2000). Defining religion Many scholars define region as a set of organized beliefs, cultural systems and worldviews that give humanity an order or a system of existence. However, religion can simply be termed as faith or a belief system. A religion is different from personal or private belief because it is a general social agreement. Statistics have shown that women are more inclined to religion compared to their male counterparts. Religion upholds the need for respect for things that are held sacred by a society or a community. According to Edward Burnett Tylor, religion is the belief of spiritual beings or a supreme deity (Timothy, 2000). Durkheim, a sociologist agrees with Burnett defining religion as a â€Å"unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things† (Timothy, 20 00). Categories of religion Religion can be divided into three major categories, which are; World religions Indigenous religions New religious movements World religions These are spiritual beliefs that are shared on a global platform. Some perfect examples of this include Christianity, Muslim, and Hinduism among other ancient and worldwide-recognized religious systems. Indigenous religions Also known as ethnic religion, indigenous religions include official civic religions that are headed by an organized clergy. However, adherents are defined by a particular ethnicity, which means in the event that an individual wants to convert to the religion he or she must assume the cultural beliefs of this particular ethnic group. New religions New religions are normally abbreviated as NRM, which stands for New Religious Movements. These are spiritual groups of modern origin. Such movements include the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Scie nce, and the Shakers (Josephson, 2012). Contradiction with religious beliefs Notable contradictions with the mainstream religious practices can be seen in scientology. The most predominant disparity is the belief that individuals have the supreme power to guide and control their lives and create for themselves the universe, as they want. Scientology does not support the notion of a supreme GOD or any kind of allegiance to a supernatural being. The supernatural abilities attributed to God in other religions are endowed to human beings according to the scientology’s beliefs. Scientologists claims to be consistent with other major world religions but in essence, this claim is farfetched. The Greek Orthodox Church is a world religion and in its beliefs, it contradicts the Scientology church. Orthodoxy believes that an individual is made up of a body and a soul, which are both created by God, but the individual is not a god by himself. The Church of England and the Roman Catholic uphold a similar worldview. The Scientologists believe that death is not caused by consequences since it happens time after time in an individual’s life. This is not a belief held by many of the international religions. Scientologists also believe that an individual can be saved through a process of counseling and clearance of one’s Engrams. This contravenes the Christian belief that salvation is only through Christ and the Muslims who believe in salvation through the prophet Mohamed. Most religions believe in a universe created by God but contrary to that notion, the Scientology church believes that the universe is influenced and crafted by human games and decisions (Josephson, 2012). Why Scientology is not supposed to be a religion Based on the above controversies and other reasons that will be discussed below, it is clear that Scientology should not be held as a religion. This claim is controversial but solid evidence has proven that Scientology is a lot more than w hat it seems to be. So many people have accused this church of fraud. In some extreme cases, the church has been accused of assassination claims, character assassination as well as blackmails. Controversies One of the greatest controversies surrounding the Scientology Church is its demand that members should cut-off their association with anyone who expresses any kind of antagonistic behavior against the religion. This is irrespective of whether it is a family member or a friend. The church also has had accusations where crimes have been committed on its behalf or directed by the church’s officials. Some of the most profound cases were the Operation Snow White and the Operation Freak-out (Josephson, 2012). As earlier mentioned, the founding father of the Scientology religion once mentioned that starting one’s own religion is the surest way of making millions in profit. Therefore, for the church to claim to collect a fixed donation to help the poor is quite inconsistent with the founder’s goal. In addition, the death of a Scientologist that remains unresolved to date is one of the most tragic and the scariest events to be associated with the church. Lisa McPherson died under the care of the church. After Her death, a lawsuit sponsored by Robert Minton against the church was filed. However, the lawsuit was settled in a confidential settlement between the church and the McPherson’s estate (Josephson, 2012). The church also has been accused of litigious actions against its critics and perceived enemies. In a normal situation, a true religion does not conduct such actions against fellow human beings. Confidentiality and Mental abuse The high level of prudence in the administration of Scientology church raises more questions than answers. In January 1995 for instance, the church through its lawyer Helen Kobrin made an ambitious attempt to gag an online media company for supposedly publishing their copyrighted materials (Josephson, 2012). While this seemed like an honest copyright fraud case, it was later discovered that the church was trying to protect its inside conduct which would have exposed its activities. The church has been accused by many websites for posting self-serving edits that were meant for self-victimization. The church on the other hand collects vital and very personal information from its followers. In this case, it becomes almost impossible for the members to leave the church for fear of disclosure. Cases have been reported where the church has used the personal information given by its members to abuse them psychologically when they become critics of the church. A normal religion will not take on a fight with its members regardless of the case at stake. With such kind of behavior, the Scientology church cannot pass for a religion. Physical abuse Former adherents of the church have come out in the public to expose the activities that normally happen in the background of the church’s front d oors. Personal confession of former followers proves that the church practices forced imprisonment, coerced abortions and gross embezzlement of church funds (Josephson, 2012). According to the former followers, physical violence and intimidation as well as blackmail are some of the activities that are used to keep the members from abandoning the religion. True religion does not coerce its members to subscribe to its principles. Scientology as a commercial venture The amount of money collected by the Scientology churches is huge throughout the world. Every organization under the church’s administration has to send ten percent of its collection to the headquarters. The administration always insists that the money is used for research but the research protocols have never been seen or availed financial interrogation. Hubbard is said to have been auditing his followers at a rate of US$ 50 per hour (Josephson, 2012). Going with his idea that it is easier to get rich by unveiling a new religion, Hubbard proved his ideology through his venture in the commercial religion business. The founder made millions of dollars from book sales. He used to publish a book on Dianetics every six months forcing his members to purchase the books as a sign of allegiance to their religion. He once boasted of having US$ 7 million in his two Swiss bank accounts. No one knew where he was getting all this money from and how he the money was utilized was unclear. True religion and a true religious leader cannot be entangled in such financial controversies and uncertainties. Freedom of worship In as much as the church of Scientology has so many loose ends in terms of credibility, there is one fundamental right that we all need to respect. Just like any other religion, followers of the Scientology church have a right to believe in their system of worship. Although there have been numerous confessions of the church’s negativity, we must also appreciate that other people also have confessed positively. A number of followers have gone public confessing about how the religion has transformed their lives and made them better. Therefore, focusing only on the negative allegations without considering the positive confessions is not being objective. Scientologists must be given a chance to pursue their preferred beliefs without undue pressure. Conclusion This paper has generally compared religion and the scientology church to prove that the latter has no basis to be held as a normal and credible religion. The paper is very clear on identifying some of the characteristics that make the scientific church lose its religious meaning. To understand how the scientific church is far from becoming a religion, the paper has defined and elaborated the different categories of religion. At the beginning of the paper, a background check has analyzed the difference between Scientology and other religions of the world. The Scientology church has prominent disparities compared to other religions and this has been well summarized in this research. Some of the popular controversial stories proving that the Scientology Church is a fraud have also been briefly narrated to emphasize the claim. References Broadhurst, N. (2010). Scientology Expansion. Web. Craig R. P. (2000) Religion and the Creation of Race and Ethnicity. NY: NYU Press. Derrida, J. (2001). Acts of Religion. NY: Routledge. Fitzgerald, T. (2007). Discourse on Civility and Barbarity. NY: Oxford University Press. Grim, B. (2012). Rising restrictions on religion. International Journal of Religious Freedom, 5 (1), 17–33. Josephson, J. (2012). The Invention of Religion in Japan. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Kant, I (2001). Religion and Rational Theology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Monaghan, J. Just, P (2000). Social Cultural Anthropology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Omoko, M. (2005).The Invention of World Religions or, how European Universalism was preserved in th e Language of Pluralism. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Timothy, F (2000). The Ideology of Religious Studies. NY: Oxford University Press USA. This research paper on Why Scientology is not a Religion was written and submitted by user Hazel Galloway 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.