Religion and Individualism - 3105 Words

Lilit Markosyan Different countries have different cultures, traditions and values. They represent the image of the nation, people’s mentality, how they think and behave, and what they strive for and struggle for. With the help of them we judge of what is important in life of a person, of a nation, of a country. America is not an exception. Despite the great number of various ethnic groups that inhabit United States, there are things that unite all the people. Among them are such values like freedom and independence that entirely characterize America. The American founding fathers felt that this concept was of utmost importance when they were deciding what the United States Of America would be and how it would function. In the second†¦show more content†¦The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.† He insisted that there were no unbridgeable differences. Both were God fearing people and worked hard. He went on to describe the strange fact that both sides pray to the same God for a successful resolution and improvement of each of their ideals. Both could not win. It was providence that willed that slavery should be abolished and in his speech, which was almost like a prayer, he hoped to calm both. Lincoln suggested that the cause of the war was the North and the Souths common sin of slavery. He continued, Fondly do we hope - fervently do we pray - that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-mans 250 years of unrequited toil shall be sunk and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, so as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. He uses religious imagery to enlist the belief that God is against slavery. Lincoln placed the outcome of the war into the hands of God to whom all seemed to be praying, saying that whatever Gods desire on these issues would be, that would decide the fate. He said that if it is Gods will that the war should continue until all funds beShow MoreRelatedThe Puritan Views Of Puritans860 Words   |  4 PagesThe Puritans led their lives accor ding to a strict moral code, centered around religion, which they had followed and conformed to. In addition conformity, Puritans believed, was crucial to uniting the community, and therefore resulted in anti-individualistic beliefs. However, when they deviated from the religious code they were threatened with banishment from the community and often experienced public shaming. Also the Puritans, whom had come to the colonies seeking religious freedom for themselvesRead MoreIndividualism And Secularism In The Renaissance867 Words   |  4 PagesIndividualism and Secularism were ideas that were introduced in the Renaissance and became fairly popular with the citizens who had experienced this time period. Secularism and Individualism though separate terms have a lot in common. They both have to do with separation of church from daily life. Secularism separating the government, and individualism pushing people to look less at what the Bible said and more at what was relative to thei r day to day lives. The emphasis on these two ideas duringRead MoreEssay on Western Civilization1179 Words   |  5 Pagesthis course in terms of progress, they will be religion, humanism, individualism and secularism. I will discuss these concepts within the countries of England, France, and Russia, and show my point of view on each. Religion was very dominant throughout the early history in England, especially during the 16th and 17th centuries. This started to change during the late 17th century, when people started focusing more on human reason rather than religion. One of the reasons that people started losingRead MoreAlexis de Tocquevilles Democracy in America Essay example982 Words   |  4 Pageswhich he expressed the ability to make democracy work. Throughout his travels Tocqueville noted that private interest and personal gain motivated the actions of most Americans, which in turn cultivated a strong sense of individualism. Tocqueville believed that this individualism would soon sap the virtue of public life (395) and create a despotism of selfishness. This growth of despotism would be created by citizens becoming too individualistic, and therefore not bothering to fulfill their civicRead MoreA Portrait Of An Artist1522 Words   |  7 PagesIn James Joyce’s novel A Portrait of an Artist, he exe mplifies the impact of religion and a lost identity within his character, Stephen Dedalus’ life through heresy, sin, epiphany and redemption. Stephen goes through various changes throughout the novel in order decipher his identity through his Catholic religion. Stephen’s religion influences him to become someone he is not by the strict conformity of his parents, the catholic church and the priests. The arduous combat Stephen comes to face is whetherRead MoreA Brief Note On Western Culture And Individualism1107 Words   |  5 PagesHistorical Framework: Individualism means that they are solely depending on that individual person (Ayn, 1). There is no â€Å"we† in the way that an individualist person would think (Culturematters.com). Western culture and individualism is derived from knowledge and emphasis on the individual person. Western culture is open to anyone in any race, cultural background, age, and gender. Therefore, history has changed itself throughout the years when it comes to the way we think. If you refer back toRead MoreEssay on American Culture: Individualism1091 Words   |  5 PagesHollywood and Disney World. Underneath the layers of TV advertising and hyper-consumerism, there is a cultural DNA that makes America what it is. Here is a brief look at several cultural â€Å"genes† that influence the way Americans think and act. Individualism Individualism is a way of life by which a person places his or her own desires, needs, and comforts above the needs of a broader community. This does not mean that Americans have no concern for other people, but it does mean that they give high priorityRead MoreCritical Analysis of Alex de Tocquevilles Democracy in America1366 Words   |  6 Pagesdownfall of democracy. Throughout his travels he noticed that private interest and personal gain motivated the actions of most Americans. He believed this cultivated a new concept, the concept of individualism. He believed this individualism was one of the greatest threats to democracy. He believed individualism would eventually sap the virtue of public life and create a despotism of selfishness. This growth of selfishness would be facilitated by citizens becoming too individualistic. They would, thereforeRead MoreHabits of the Heart793 Words   |  4 Pagesa culture. The first tradition is the biblical tradition followed by the re publican tradition , the utilitarian individualism and expressive individualism. All four of these traditions combine to make up the culture in which everyone in the world lives. My ideal culture would consist of 40% of the republican tradition, 30% of utilitarian individualism, 25% of expressive individualism, and 5% of the biblical tradition. I believe that if each of these traditions is given the proportions I listedRead MoreThe Renaissance Prince Essay853 Words   |  4 Pagescontrolling the land, although the church would still have a hand in government. It would no longer shun the vast stores of knowledge created in the past and ignored for a thousand years, although opponents would remain. The ideas of humanism, individualism, and secularism would come to play a role in society as they had in the past. Niccolo Machiavelli lived in a time when the Renaissance was at its peak, and, as a part of it, manifested its ideas in his works. His most famous piece, The Prince