The place of worship in the middle Ages was a place where
anyone, regardless of the class, could belong. The source of unity,
it accomplished influences on art and architecture. As time began
to change from the antique system of the Romanesque period, new
standards of understanding independence began to take hold; the
birth of Gothic. Here, the Church became a place where people
became more acceptable; becoming the adequate place to observed
such new ideals. The unique Gothic architecture characterized most
in the great cathedrals of the 12th thru 14th Centuries in St.
Denis, Notre Dame, Chartres, Salisbury, Durham, Amiens, and more.
Most Gothic structures emphasize the vertical, drawing one’s
eyes upward toward the heavens with the awesomeness of God. These
cathedrals built with ascending peaks, pointed arches and
strengthening giving influences of cooperation and radiance. One of
the main achievements of the 12th and 13th centuries was to
determine the engineering expertise of the ridged vault, pointed
arch and help to give a famous cathedral that is at once
sophisticated than the ones before. Even though, the pointed arch
could prove more powerful than its former, there was still an issue
of finding a way to improve the large masonry ceiling vaults over
large ps.
In order to maintain the outward thrust of barrel vaults,
vertical foundation walls have to be unusually clear and powerful.
What makes possible the extended use of ridged vaulting and pointed
arches to open and revitalize the walls and extent of the cathedral
link above the aisle roof that extends from the upper nave wall,
where the first thrust of the central dome is the greatest. The
result is to add structural strength and solidity to the building.
In today’s society, we can use some of the most well known
influences and values without realizing where it came from or where
it began.
I think that the influences from architecture, art, and even
religion. The influences of the middle age building structures can
be established on how it molded our world today. The influences of
the mastery of the architectures have helped many of the buildings
that we have today, everything from the past help contribute our
lives in modern society. As I look around at several buildings I
know that I don’t see the gargoyles but looking at some of the
Catholic churches and some of the other buildings that are well
structured. Muhammad, considered the dominant prophet and founder
of Islam, born in 570 A.
D. forced to get a job to take care of himself at an early
age. He was a driver and married his boss at the age of 25, to
Khadija, by which he had only four daughters. The right word Islam
means “submission”. The meaning behind the word submission is to
the will of Allah, the one and only true God according to the
Muslim faith. To be considered a Muslim one would have to be
submitting themselves. The basic theme of Islam is extremely easy
and straightforward: There could not be any other God but Allah,
and Muhammad is the first Prophet of Allah.
According to the Koran Islam teaches that there is one God
Allah, the creator of the universe. Muhammad would be the one who
taught his new followers that this God, Allah, is compassionate and
just. He taught them that because being the spokesperson for Allah,
he would be held accountable. Allah calls all people to believe in
Him and worship Him. On the Last Day, all the dead would resurrect
and either be reward go to paradise or be punished and go to hell.
In today’s society Islam is one of the most well practiced
religions besides Christianity in the United States.
The Islam faith has grown over the years with millions of
members around the entire word. The Koran reveals how a Muslim is
suppose to live their lives. The religion shaped our society
because many of the citizens here in the United States respect the
faith of Islam and even have several Mosques build in many states.
Although, Islam has been one of the most feared and perhaps
misunderstood religions, there are many who have learned more about
this religion. Islam celebrates Ramadan each year where Muslims pay
homage to their faith.
Buddhism is a belief that has gained 300 million people
around the world. The word comes from ‘budhi’, to awaken. Its
origins about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as the
Buddha, was himself awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35.
Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or ‘way
of life’. It is a philosophy because philosophy ‘means love of
wisdom’ and the Buddhist path can be summed up as: to lead a moral
life, to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and to
develop wisdom and understanding.
Siddhartha Gotama was born into a royal family in Lumbini,
now located in Nepal, in 563 BC. At 29, he realized that wealth and
luxury did not guarantee happiness, so he explored the different
teachings religions and philosophies of the day, to find the key to
human happiness. After six years of study and meditation he finally
found ‘the middle path’ and was enlightened. After enlightenment,
the Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the principles of
Buddhism called the Dhamma, or Truth. Today Buddhism, help
structure many lives by the disciplines, the Four Nobles Truth, and
Karma, Recycle of Life.
Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent
injustice and inequality around the world and it provides a code of
practice or way of life that leads to true happiness. Life is
suffering which includes pain, getting old, disease, and ultimately
death. We also endure psychological suffering like loneliness
frustration, fear, embarrassment, disappointment and anger. This is
an irrefutable fact that cannot be denied. It is realistic rather
than pessimistic because pessimism is expecting things to be bad.
Instead, Buddhism explains how suffering can be avoided and how we
can be truly happy.