Michael Joshua's Blog, page 2
October 7, 2019
Things you need to know about unreported sexual attacks
The term sexual assault, a kind of sexual violence, applies to a wide range of unwanted and forced sexual activity. These activities include sexual touching or unwanted fondling, attempted rape, forcing somebody into non-consensual sexual acts, and more.
Sexual attacks have become a far too common problem across the globe today. While these activities can take a huge toll on the victim’s mental and physical health, unreported sexual attacks can pose a serious threat to society as well.
Sexual assault statistics are generated from two major sources: cases reported to the law and victimization surveys. But when the incidents go unreported, what can be done by the criminal justice systems?
An analysis of ‘violent crime in 2016’ done by a Justice Department revealed that almost 80 percent of sexual assaults and rapes go unreported. It’s very common for sexual attack survivors, most frequently women, to decline to report the incident to police. It may sound unbelievable, but the truth is that only about 23 percent of survivors report these crimes to police.
There’re several reasons behind survivors not reporting the incidents to the police. Most common ones include worrying about retaliation, distortion of allegations, fear of revictimization, fear of not being believed, fear of the impact on the family as well as community, among others. Survivors may be accused of fabrication and lies. Rape stereotypes and myths can be invoked. Detailed questioning can recreate the terror and powerlessness of the actual assault.
Given these statistics, everyone should be doing everything in his/her power to eliminate structural and societal barriers to lessen the number of unreported sexual attacks.
Call to action:
According to you, what can be done to lessen the number of unreported sexual attacks? Let me know in the comments section below. To take the communication further, you can also reach out to me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To have some interesting reads, be sure to check out my books.
References:
McCarthy-Jones, Simon. “Survivors of sexual violence are let down by the criminal justice system – here’s what should happen next.” THE CONVERSATION, March 29, 2018. https://theconversation.com/survivors-of-sexual-violence-are-let-down-by-the-criminal-justice-system-heres-what-should-happen-next-94138
Kimble Cameron, Chettiar M. Inimai. “Sexual Assault Remains Dramatically Underreported.” BRENNAN CENTER, October 4, 2018. https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/sexual-assault-remains-dramatically-underreported
The post Things you need to know about unreported sexual attacks appeared first on Michael Joshua.
October 1, 2019
How to succeed in the effort of having God anytime
While hardships, setbacks, and obstacles are unavoidable parts of life, one can overcome all these and live a happy life by having God with him/her all the time. As long as one holds faith in God and look up to Him during difficult times, impossible things can be made possible.
Every relationship needs time to grow and so does one’s relationship with God. One needs to spend time with God to foster intimacy with Him. Prayer is one of the biggest privileges as believers: one needs to make it part of his/her everyday life. It should be as normal as eating and sleeping, and as necessary. To many, today’s hectic lifestyle makes it difficult to pray to God regularly. Here’re some tips to prioritize God and succeed in the effort of fostering a relationship with Him.
Minimizing distractions: Though it seems impossible to eliminate them completely, one can take steps to maintain his/her focus. This may include not using electronic devices until one’s prayer is complete.
Remembering God first: Starting the day with prayer is a great idea to strengthen the relationship with God. One can ask God to speak to him/her and help him/her understand His Word every day.
Memorizing: Knowing scripture by heart helps one to stay away from sins, provides guidance, reminds him/her of God’s promises, and allows one to meditate on God’s Word anytime and anywhere.
While it’s good to follow the above methods to pray regularly, one can pray in his/her heart as he/she walks down the street, drives, or talks with a friend in order to succeed in the effort of having God all the time.
Call to action:
How do you manage to pray to God every day? Let me know in the comments section below. To take the conversation further, you can also reach out to me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To have some thought-provoking poems, you can check out my books.
References:
Graham, Billy. “We Can Pray Anywhere, Anytime.” Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, September 14, 2015. https://billygraham.org/answer/we-can-pray-anywhere-anytime/
Kathy. “11 Tips for a Quality Quiet Time with God.” Kathy Howard, April 1, 2019. https://www.kathyhoward.org/11-tips-for-spending-quality-time-with-god/
The post How to succeed in the effort of having God anytime appeared first on Michael Joshua.
September 24, 2019
An overview of the popular belief – Americans travel less
Americans may express they like to travel but their travel statistics, especially when it comes to moving outside the city regularly, don’t seem to support the statement. There’s a popular conception that says ‘Americans never leave home.’ It may not seem to be completely wrong as a recent survey, conducted on 2,000 Americans throughout the country, revealed that a surprising 11 percent of survey participants have never traveled outside of their states.
Results also revealed that there’s a strong desire to travel in a huge percentage of respondents looking to travel more compared to what they do currently. However, there’re different reasons that are preventing many of them from taking the plunge, ultimately making Americans travel less.
Here’re some of the most common reasons.
They consider they’re living in the largest melting pot of the world
Many Americans still value work more than travel
The cost of leisure and travel proves to be an obstacle for many Americans
It can be said that it’s not the lack of ambition that makes the number of Americans travel outside their city pretty low. Instead, it involves lack of finances, having an unprepared feeling etc.
However, the landscape of travel is getting changed by millennials. Studies reveal that while millennials hold a few qualms about leaving jobs which don’t meet their expectations, they strongly advocate for a work-life balance. In addition, with the emergence of various budget-travel tools and easy access to social media, they started to realize that travel isn’t nearly as difficult or expensive as they had imagined – a great contributing factor in breaking the belief that Americans travel less.
Call to action:
What do you think about Americans’ nature of travel? Let me know in the comments section below. To take the conversation further, you can also reach out to me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To have some interesting reads, be sure to check out my books.
References:
Schmall, Tyler SWNS. “A shocking number of Americans never leave home.” NEW YORK POST, January 11, 2018. https://nypost.com/2018/01/11/a-shocking-number-of-americans-never-leave-home/
Snow, Blake. “Off The Grid: Why Americans Don’t Travel Abroad.” Paste, April 14, 2016. https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/04/off-the-grid-why-americans-travel-domestic-instead-1.html
The post An overview of the popular belief – Americans travel less appeared first on Michael Joshua.
September 17, 2019
Why we need to separate church and state
People are often told that one shouldn’t mix religion and politics and the saying has a solid truth: when religion is utilized for various political purposes, it takes the eternal meaning out of religion and becomes just a cynical method of obtaining power. The topic of separation of church and state is highly debated as there’re proponents on both sides.
Many people incorrectly think that this phrase is in the constitution but according to the history of separation of church and state, the it was actually stated by Thomas Jefferson in his letter to the Danbury Baptists. The metaphor was exclusively used to keep the state away from the business of the church, not to keep the church away from the state’s business. This, in conjunction with many other factors, makes the metaphor an icon for removing anything having to do with the theism of church and the religion.
Those looking to understand why some people propose to separate church and state, here’re the probable key reasons.
One of the biggest advantages of separating church and state is it allows for personal choice. Without the separation, there remains a possibility of having the state dictate which religion one can follow.
It promotes discussion as viewpoints of people will always differ from one another. This is one of those reasons to separate church and state that create the need for healthy discussion that helps the society to learn and grow together.
It stops both the church and the government from influencing families.
While the pros and cons associated with the separation will always be debated, by reviewing the above factors, it can be said that the separation may help to develop a respectful society for everyone.
Call to action:
What are your thoughts on the separation of church and state? Let me know in the comments section below. To keep the conversation flowing, you can also get in touch with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To read some inspiring poems, remember to check out my books.
References:
Ayres, Crystal. “11 Pros and Cons of Separation of Church and State.” Vittana, Accessed May 28, 2019. https://vittana.org/11-pros-and-cons-of-separation-of-church-and-state
All About History. “Separation Of Church And State.” Accessed May 28, 2019. https://www.allabouthistory.org/separation-of-church-and-state.htm
The post Why we need to separate church and state appeared first on Michael Joshua.
September 10, 2019
What does a Christian know about other religions?
If one takes a closer look at the world religions, it can be seen that major religions include Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Each of these religions comes with own beliefs, their idea of God, and what someone can gain by following that religion. In order to live a successful life, it’s important to have a clear religious knowledge and an understanding of the core beliefs of other major religions. Here’s what does an average Christian know about other religions.
First of all, Christianity beliefs are based on the concept of one eternal God who offers everybody a personal relationship with Himself. The Bible is regarded as God’s written message by the followers of Jesus. Christians believe that everyone sins, including themselves and Jesus is the Savior.
In the context of what does the average Christian know about other religions, it’s worth mentioning that many conservative Christians believe that people who agree with their beliefs are the only valid faith and all other groups are in error. Some of them also believe that the beliefs of their group are fully true and all other groups only hold part of the truth. Many liberal Christians view the world’s other religions as different attempts to comprehend questions related to humanity, deity, and rest of the universe.
When it comes to the uniqueness of Christianity from other religions, the major difference is that though major monotheistic faiths like Islam, Christianity, and Judaism believe in one supreme God, it’s only Christianity that recognizes the human predicament of original sin. The Bible gives lots of examples of how humanity falls short of perfection.
Call to action:
According to you, how does Christianity differ from other religions? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section below. To take the conversation further, you can also get in touch with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To read some thought-provoking poems, be sure to check out my books.
References:
Robinson A. B. “How Christians view other religions.” RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, Updated September 7, 2007. http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_othe1.htm
TRUE LIFE. “How Is The Christian Religion Different From All The Other World Religions?” Accessed May 28, 2019. https://www.truelife.org/answers/how-is-the-christian-religion-different-from-all-the-other-world-religions
The post What does a Christian know about other religions? appeared first on Michael Joshua.
September 2, 2019
An overview of Jesus in Islam
Both Islam and Christianity are two major monotheistic and both of them share some common aspects with each other. While it’s true that Christians don’t believe Muhammad to be a prophet, Muslims do believe that Jesus is one of the greatest messengers of Allah. Learning the elements common in these religions can help one to understand that Jesus holds an important place in Islam.
First of all, one needs to learn about what the Quran says about Jesus. The amount of importance provided to Jesus in Islam can be clearly understood by how many times Jesus’ name is mentioned in it. It’s interesting to note that Jesus, or Isa, is mentioned 25 times in the Quran. The Quran also refers to Jesus as ‘ruh min Allah’ or ‘Spirit from God’, ‘rasul’ or ‘Prophet-Messenger’ of God, ‘kalimah min Allah’ or ‘Word from/of God’, and more.
Average Muslims believe about Jesus that he was a prophet and was given a special message to convey to all people. In the Quran, Jesus’ Mother Mary is highly revered and is a respected figure in the entire Muslim community. Muslims also believe in the miracles of Jesus. Several of Jesus’ miracles are discussed in the Quran including raising the dead, giving sight to the blind, breathing life into clay birds, and healing lepers.
However, despite the highly revered place of Jesus in Islam, Muslims don’t believe that he was the son of God or divine. While the Quran describes Jesus’ miracles, it doesn’t ascribe those to his divinity.
Call to action:
What are your thoughts about Jesus in Islam? Let me know in the comments section below. To take the conversation further, you can also reach out to me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To read some inspiring poems, be sure to check out my books.
References:
Farina, Marianne C.S.C. “What do Muslims think of Jesus?” U.S. Catholic, September 19, 2016. http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201609/what-do-muslims-think-jesus-30772
Incorp, Halal. “20 Muslim Beliefs About Jesus Every Christian Would Benefit from Being Aware Of.” Medium, June 1, 2018. https://medium.com/@halalincorp/20-muslim-beliefs-about-jesus-every-christian-would-benefit-from-being-aware-of-41ee4f3b97f3
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August 26, 2019
Things you need to know about the spirituality of Jesus
There’re some people who often say “I’m spiritual, but not religious”. But what does this statement actually mean? To understand this, one needs to understand the core principles and doctrines of spirituality. After all, spirituality deals with matters of the soul and spiritual growth refers to the enlightenment of the soul.
In order for this growth to occur, one needs to make sure he/she possesses a truly spiritual life first through having faith in Jesus. Though learning how to attain spiritual growth is a life-long journey, one can learn a lot of invaluable lessons from the spirituality of Jesus.
The spirituality of Jesus was grounded in both the book of Scripture and the book of Nature. He knew the importance of personal solitude and retreat, for spiritual recreation and personal refreshment. He refused to place himself under the continuous pressure of self-imposed performance or external need. These retreats would’ve been times of intimacy with God and aloneness.
In order to understand Jesus and spirituality, one needs to learn from his humble surrender to God’s will. This humble dependence upon Him was the key to the healing ministry of Jesus. Jesus was dedicated to doing His will, devoted to seeking His glory – to the end of his life.
True spirituality of following Jesus not only connects one to the Creator, but it also brings transformation in one’s life and makes one a better person. Jesus knows everything about true spirituality. He knows what’s inside a man and what one needs in order to succeed spiritually.
Call to action:
How to do you try to follow the path of spirituality? Let me know in the comments section below. To keep the conversation going, you can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To read some thought-provoking poems, you can check out my books.
References:
St Albans Presbyterian Church. “The Spirituality of Jesus.” Accessed May 27, 2019. http://www.stalbans.org.nz/spirituality-jesus
AllAboutGOD. “Spiritual Growth.” Accessed May 27, 2019. https://www.allaboutgod.com/spiritual-growth.htm
The post Things you need to know about the spirituality of Jesus appeared first on Michael Joshua.
August 19, 2019
An overview of spirituality of Buddhism
Because of the long-time debate over the religiosity of Buddhism, some people don’t see any spirituality of Buddhism. Some think of Buddhism as an intricate philosophical system developed by a man around 2,500 years ago.
When it comes to Buddhist philosophy, one needs to understand who the Buddha was. Though different schools of Buddhism come up with different views, one thing is certain that he wasn’t a divine being, deity, or God. His faculties were completely human and anybody can follow his path, and the person’s enlightenment will exactly be the same as his.
Buddhism is a path of practice as well as spiritual development that lead to insight into the actual nature of reality. Buddhism spirituality revolves around practices that are the means of changing oneself in order to grow the qualities of wisdom, kindness, and awareness. An enlightened being experiences the nature of reality completely clearly, as it is, and lives naturally and fully in accordance with that vision.
The basic principles of Buddhist teaching are practical and straightforward: actions have consequences, nothing is permanent or fixed, change is possible etc. Buddhism addresses itself to everyone irrespective of caste, nationality, race, gender, or sexuality. It teaches practical methods that enable people to realize and use the teachings to transform their experience.
The Spirituality of Buddhism isn’t about going somewhere else or becoming somebody different. It’s a vivid, simple world of direct experience that anyone can care for and enjoy. According to the Buddha, the key to a fulfilling life is meditating, living mindfully, and cultivating wisdom.
Call to action:
What are your thoughts on the spirituality of Buddhism? Let me know in the comments section below. To take the conversation further, you can also reach out to me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To read some inspiring poems, be sure to check out my books.
References:
MCLEOD, MELVIN. “Are You Spiritual But Not Religious?” LION’S ROAR, July 6, 2017. https://www.lionsroar.com/spiritual-but-not-religious-buddhism/
the buddhist centre. “what is buddhism?” Accessed May 27, 2019. https://thebuddhistcentre.com/buddhism
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August 12, 2019
An overview of the life project
When it comes to the true meaning of life, different people opine differently based on their own interpretations. For most people, this is an accomplishment of some goals and success. However, despite attaining these two, people often feel that there has to be something more and there’s something beyond merely existing.
One can work extremely hard to amass a huge amount of assets but the reality is, he or she will also have to die one day and the person won’t be able to take a single penny with him/her. So, what’s the actual goal of the life projects – to earn money through whatever means and leave behind everything ultimately? This cannot be the true purpose of life.
One needs to design the life he/she loves in such a manner that the real problem of life – the cycle of repeated birth and death – can be solved. And this can only be solved by comprehending the spiritual nature of the self.
To succeed in life projects, one should consider this earthly world as a place of spiritual training and spiritual development as the meaning and purpose of human life. Spiritual training can polish one’s mind and help him/her come back to the Spirit World with a greater level of awareness and state of mind. The causes of suffering and pain are actually created by humans themselves. Hence, one needs to reflect on his/her deeds and thoughts, and correct them through his/her own effort. The hardships and troubles experienced by one are parts of life and act as nourishments for the soul’s development.
Call to action:
According to you, how can one succeed in his/her life projects? Let me know in the comments section below. To keep the conversation going, you can also reach out to me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To read some thought-provoking poems, remember to check out my books.
References:
HAPPY SCIENCE. “What is the meaning of life?” Accessed May 27, 2019. https://happyscience-na.org/about/teachings/the-basic-teachings/the-meaning-of-life/
Bidawatka, Niraj. “THE REAL PURPOSE OF HUMAN LIFE.” SPEAKINGTREE.IN, Accessed May 27, 2019. https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/the-real-purpose-of-human-life
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August 5, 2019
An overview of insignificant parts of life
Humans occupy a very small part of a mind-bogglingly huge universe. It’d take humans 100,000 to cover the Milky Way by traveling at about 671 million miles per hour – the speed of light. This compels many people to become concerned about their size and status in this universe. While the universe is overwhelmingly big, humans are small and confined to a remote corner of it. This difference often makes people feeling insignificant.
The insignificance of human life becomes evident if one considers himself/herself in this grand scheme of things. Humans only have influence over a microscopically small blip of space-time. Comparison of the physical and temporal smallness often takes people to a darker hue, which is the thought of insignificant parts of life. Everything in a person’s life – successes and failures, busy ambitions, joy, anxiety, sadness, and all that make up human life’s material becomes inconsequential and insignificant.
Despite all these insignificant parts of life, one shouldn’t forget the potentials that make humans significant on the surface of this Pale Blue Dot. From harnessing energy from the sun to redirecting rivers to fertilizing infertile land, and more – lots of things have been done by humans.
One should also remember that despite all the insignificant things in life and the fact that no one does matter to the universe, the universe only exists in one’s consciousness. Once one can let his/her ego go, one can become free from suffering and worry. This is the realization where true empathy is born and one starts to understand the inherent importance of kindness.
Call to action:
Do you think yourself insignificant in the context of the universe? Let me know in the comments section below. To take the conversation further, you can also get in touch with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To read some inspiring poems, be sure to check out my books.
References:
Hughes, Nick. “Do we matter in the cosmos?” aeon, June 29, 2017. https://aeon.co/essays/just-a-recent-blip-in-the-cosmos-are-humans-insignificant
Humphreys, Joe. “Does the scale of the universe make human life pointless?” THE IRISH TIMES, October 3, 2017. https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/does-the-scale-of-the-universe-make-human-life-pointless-1.3235860
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