There are so many Art & Design Programs available for the student who wants to enhance their creativity and readiness for their chosen career, that it can become difficult to narrow the options down to just one. Earning your architecture degree can be pretty difficult, but in the end you will be prepared to design buildings and be able to see what you have created come to life! There is a lot of knowledge for aspiring architects to gain about new architectural software and methods of planning, which now rely almost wholly on technology.

Since architecture relies very much on being comfortable with mathematics, you could also consider going to interior design school if you are more of a left brain type of person. It is a field that is closely related to architecture because of its need for a creative eye. Although interior design also relies on math in a fundamental way, it will not become as complex as the math you would use to design a skyscraper. Graphic design school is another great option for people who are simultaneously interested in technology and art. Career options for this field are very flexible, so finding a job should be relatively easy once you graduate.

Getting a musical education is a very underestimated path to greatness, and there are many very distinguished schools that specialize in enhancing already accomplished musicians to a professional level. Taking an acting class can really help if you are interested in being an actor, either on stage or in films. Acting class is a great option if you are enrolled in school and are unsure of what you want to do, because many acting classes are offered on an individual basis.

There is also photography school and film school for the kinds of people who enjoy being behind the camera instead of in front of it. It’s a myth that you can’t succeed in this field. If you are talented, you will be able to find numerous jobs that will be thrilled to use your skills. Fashion Design Education has become a prerequisite for any aspiring fashion designer and extends to almost all the related fields of fashion. The competition can be tough in the world of fashion, but if you are passionate about having a career in this field, you can certainly gain everything you need from taking a range of classes that relate to fashion and design. You may even have the opportunity to travel abroad!

Although the Christian Religion has divided into many denominations over the years, all of them agree on such fundamentals as the Bible, The Trinity, and the teachings of the Creeds. Most of the denominations that exist at present, developed since the Protestant Reformation.

Christianity was founded in the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, early in the 1st century, 30-33 AD, with his teachings, miracles, crucifixion and resurrection.

Today it is the largest religion in the world, with about 2 billion followers. Especially dominate in the western world, today’s Christianity has a wide variety of forms, beliefs, and practices, but all center on faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Within the Christian Religion, we believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah that was written about within the prophecies in the Old Testament, The Son of God, True God and True Man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He came to earth as the Savior of man by taking the sin of man to a crucified death upon the cross. Three days later Jesus rose from the dead and days later Ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, and will come again on the final days to judge all people.

Over the following three hundred years, even though followers were persecuted, the Christian Religion continued to grow throughout the Roman Empire. The conversion of Emperor Constantine, to Christianity in 312 AD served to establish official toleration of Christianity. In 380 AD Christianity was made the official Religion within the Roman Empire.

In 386 Augustine also converted to the Christian Religion. For the next 600 years there was great conflict between the Eastern and Western churches, resulting in the Great Schism in 1054 that led to separate groups recognized today as The Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.

The next key events in the history of Christianity takes place approximately 1517, when Martin Luther wrote his 95 Theses, which challenges some of the practices within the Catholic Church, significantly rejecting the validity of indulgences. Martin Luther taught justification by faith alone, authority of scripture alone, because of Christ alone, which was in direct conflict of the church’s doctrines of indulgences.

Protestantism is an umbrella term that was given to a collection of traditions that came into existence following the Reformation. From out of the Religious revolutions of the early 1500’s, this collection of traditions and beliefs emerged.

Calls within the church for reform were becoming more and more insistent. Complaints about abuses were on the increase. Complaints that centered on the money hungry bureaucracy, the practice of concubines by too many members of clergy that were sworn to celibacy and the strife among the religious and military alliances.

Doctrinal misunderstandings concerning the practice of indulgences (payments to excuse sin), and the Grace won by Christ for believers, was confusing for many. When attempts to bring reform to the Roman Church internally failed, the result was the formation of a number of churches separating from papal authority.

The driving force behind the Reformation was Martin Luther’s famous 95 Theses, which he said, was nailed on the door of the church in Wittenberg in 1517. Martin Luther was a professor of Theology, whose intent was not to separate from the Roman Church by posting his 95 Theses, but to address matters of salvation that concerned him. Martin Luther became convinced that faith alone justified the Christian, which was in conflict with the doctrines of indulgences and need for good works. While Christians recognize that works are essential, they believe they are a result of God’s forgiveness and Grace.

Over the next few years debate over doctrinal issues led to much conflict with church authorities and in 1521 Martin Luther was excommunicated by the Pope and condemned by the Holy Roman Empire.

The Protestant Believers were united on these beliefs:

Denying the universal authority of the pope.

  Affirming the Reformation Principles of justification by faith alone.

The Priesthood for all Believers.

The Bible is the only source of infallible, revealed truth.

Some of the many Religions that have come out of the Reformation are; The Anglican Church also known as Episcopal Church in America, The Lutheran, Methodist, Adventist, Baptist, Congregationalism, Pentecostalism, Church of God, Assemblies of God, Presbyterians, and Fundamentalism.

Based on the very broad scope of denominations under the Protestantism umbrella, it is difficult to attempt to generalize any doctrines, beliefs or faith.

The word “Islam” is a noun derived from the infinitive of a verb meaning “to accept”.

A Muslim is someone who submits or commits himself to Islam.  A question of worldview or perspective: a community of like minded people who have committed themselves to a particular view of God. Muhammad, from this perspective, is not a founder or originator of this view, but rather, a messenger of this view. Thus, Muhammad’s biography of relatively lesser importance than the revealed message: the message embodied in the miracle of Qur’an.

The Qur’an itself is the central foundation on which the Islamic faith builds itself. The central creed of Islam or Shahada is the utterance: la ilaha illa Allah; Muhammad rasul Allah (There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah).

Little historical record remain of the early inhabitants of Pre-Islamic Arabia : Indigenous sources remain in the form of legends, and aside from a few inscriptions nothing in writing has been found. Arabs are mentioned in the ancient chronicles of Persians, Romans, Greeks, and Hebrews : Kingdoms in southern part of the peninsula from around 2nd millennium B.C.E. Pre-Islamic Arabs possibly represented at least two ethnic/cultural groups separated by the vast desert (Al Rub al Khali) in central Arabia: the northerners were primarily nomads, while the inhabitants in the south possessed a more settled urban civilization. Southern Arabian economy based on some agriculture and trade: well-known in the Mediterranean for frankincense and myrrh (produced from gum resins extracted from trees that grow only in southern Arabia and Somalia).

Judeo-Christian beliefs familiar to the population: Himyarite rulers converted to Judaism in 525 C.E.

Rulers of southern Arabia controlled the important trade routes of the southern Mediterranean : Mecca and Medina were important stops between southern Arabia and Palestine, Damascus Poetry as the principal source of information : Tribal prince poet Imrul Kais (540?) instrumental in establishing the classical Arabic language.

Social organization centered around the clan with emphasis on unswerving tribal loyalty and collective responsibility.

Sheik/Sayyid as the elected head of the tribe chosen by the elders : Authority and prestige based on morality. The sheik would lead the tribe in battle, act as a conciliator when peace was restored, and mediated tribal blood feuds

Pre-Islamic Religious Culture also reflected the social dichotomy of the region : Astral cult in southern Arabia, along with nature worship.

Three goddesses worshipped in Mecca: al-Lat (mother goddess), al-Manat (goddess of fate),al-Uzza (morning star).

Allah as the distant creator God, revered by Muhammad’s tribe, Quraysh Lesser spirits, beneficial angels as well as harmful jinns

Sacred Space:

Kaba: Cube shaped meteorite built into the holiest shrine in Arabian peninsula with images of deities in its interior (reference in Roman historian Diodorus Siculus, 60 B.C.E.)

Mecca as the major pilgrimage site in Pre-Islamic times : Four months of the year designated for pilgrimage. No violence or warfare permitted in the area.

Confluence of economic and religious interest in Mecca proved beneficial to the Meccan elite: Mecca’s importance as pilgrimage site undiminished after the decline of the southern commercial culture.

What are the Amounts That are Received from the Catholic School Grants?

Depending upon the association you are taking the grant from, the values of your Catholic school grants may range between $ 100 and $ 4000 per year. The minimal amount may not be enough to cover your school tuition expense but the maximal amount is more than enough to cover the expenses. So choose your grant wisely so that you can get maximum benefit from the financial aid.

Who are Eligible for the Catholic School Grants?

• The Catholic school grants are mainly available to the students who are financially unable as well as Catholics. Along with the criteria required for the other grants, the only addition would be that your mother or father has to be a parishioner and you have to be a Catholic school attendant.
• You need to be a US citizen as well as the States citizen or an eligible noncitizen with a valid security number.
• You must have filled the FAFSA form.
• You must have a particular GPA and certain credit hours per term as asked for by the state.
• You must attend a college which is affiliated by the Catholic school grants of that state.
• Have satisfactory academic progress.
• You mustn’t have any criminal or drug records.
• You must not be affiliated to any other grants and not have any pending education loans.
• You must have a particular attendance. Although if you are disabled according to ADA you may receive a roll even if you are pursuing study from home.
• You must not have another bachelor’s degree or any other equivalent degrees.
• You must have been enrolled in a proper course.
• You must be a high school graduate.

Although a very biased form of grants, Catholic School Grants are still a great way to help the needy Catholics to attain education in today’s high priced world. This type of grants is very useful to help eager students attain education and become literate.

Need Help? Ask all questions!

In the spirit of Late Night with David Letterman, here is my Top 10 List for Job Seekers.

10) Get out of the house. Hey, you can’t effectively conduct a job search from your home office.  Get away from the computer and go talk to somebody. Now! (Do that often enough and you won’t need to read the rest of this top 10 list.)

9) Remember, networking is NOT about YOU!  Shine your shoes.  Even if you are just running to the 7-11 for a Slurpee, you want to dress like a professional.  You never know who you are going to meet when you are out.

7) Have a great elevator pitch.

6) Have plenty of Business Cards / Contact Cards on hand.

5) Be memorable, and I mean this in a good way!  One guy always wears a red sweater to these events.  Then, when he contacts someone later he says, I’m the guy in the red sweater you met last week at the networking meeting. He’s pretty hard to forget!

4) Check your teeth before you leave the house.  You don’t want some yucky-green thing stuck between your teeth!  Bad first impression! (see #8)

3) Spend at least 90% of your time at a networking event listening and asking questions.  Remember #9, networking is NOT about YOU.

2) Go where the action is.  Lots of job seekers hang out in groups with other job seekers.  While thats a good place to start and practice your elevator pitch, sooner or later you need to show up someplace where people who would hire you hang out.

and the number 1 tip for job seekers is . . . .

1) Have fun!  My good friend Cleon Cox III has a motto which goes like this:, Have fun, meet people, and learn something.  I agree!

Also, use career coaching online platform!

So the Golden Rule goes something like this:  treat others as you want to be treated.  But there is a classic problem with this formulation what if you want to be treated in perverse ways?  We can call this the Problem of Perverse Desires.  What if I, for example, like being spanked by strangers in public?  Does that mean that I can do this to others?  I’d be treating them the way I want to be treated

How should we deal with this problem?  There are two strategies.  First, one can use the Golden Rule as a general rule of thumb.  A moral rule that will get you the right answer most of the time (unless you have really messed up desires.)

Second, one can elevate the level of abstraction.  Perhaps in the spanking case above one may respond with something like:  the person who likes being spanked should not infer that it is okay to spank others, rather he should infer that he ought not to do to other people what they dislike.  The principle that the odd spanker should get from reflection on the Golden Rule is something like:  don’t touch other people unless they want it.  This may be a generally good principle, but it is very different from the original formulation of the Golden Rule.  There is no reference, for example, to the desires of the person making the moral choice.

In general, I think that the first approach is the  best option.  This principle should be taken as a general heuristic which will usually give you the right moral answer but not always.

Don’t let your sins eat you!