" In all likelihood, theistic religions will eventually be replaced with more inclusive and real world-oriented social and moral values and thereby eliminate the most pervasive source of international war and societal conflicts. Nevertheless, especially in the short-term, it could be very difficult to overcome the degree to which religion has become entrenched within societies and the minds of individuals. By the time children are indoctrinated with religious beliefs and the

Personal Belief This I believe: when a person sings or smiles while singing -- which can be done -- that person is going to raise her level of happiness and make others happier. Scientific research verifies the idea that smiling lowers the blood pressure, relieves stress and makes humans more appealing to others, among other benefits. Research also shows that singing in a choir is a way to change one's

Race: Personal Educational Experiences and Reflection Race was seldom discussed explicitly during my early, grammar school education. When the topic of race was broached, it was usually in the context of a lesson on the Civil War or Civil Rights movement. Although such discussions were valuable, they gave the impression that race was something located in America's past, rather than worthy of discussion in the present. However, this did not mean

Personal Ethics Development A personal ethics system is a category of philosophy that stands apart from other ethical systems such as business ethics, legal ethics, value ethics, or any of the other various ethical perspectives. The component that makes a personal ethical system special is that it is uniquely derived from an individual's experiences and beliefs. Although an individual's ethical system may share overlapping material from more formal systems, it also

Man sought to alter the disposition of these gods in his own favor by means of magic and prayer. The idea of God in the religions taught at present is a sublimation of the old concept of the gods. Its anthropomorphic character is shown, for instance, by the fact that men appeal to their Divine Being in prayers and plead for the fulfillment of their wishes." Even though it seemed

Similar to Gestalt therapy, I also did not incorporate existentialist thinking into my theory. However, similar to Jungian analytical psychology and Gestalt therapy, I view this type of therapy as very philosophical in its' nature and application. Therapy methods that are very philosophical in their application do not appeal to me because they do not seem to adequately address the "real-life" problems, and instead seek vague answers that can be