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It is somewhat ironical that, at the very time globalization – with the interdependence and increased exchanges it entails – is shaping more and more the lives of people around the world, propagation of religious beliefs by missionary groups arouses suspicions in different areas and varied religious environments across the world. The purpose of the paper is not only to provide some examples of the dynamics leading to such conflicts over proselytism, but also to understand the underlying issues and to observe similarities in different contexts. Indeed, if one looks at the reactions of Buddhist activists in Sri Lanka, Christian believers in post-communist countries, Hindu nationalists in India, Muslim militants in the Middle East, there are some common features in concerns which are expressed. Missionaries are not just seen as carriers of other beliefs, but also as people with a hidden agenda. Reactions actually reveal as much on hot issues in societies where such reactions are observed as on missionary tactics. When speaking on religious coexistence, there is often a natural tendency to focus on major players, i.e. on “traditional religions” in one area. While such a focus is legitimate, one should not forget that smaller groups will increasingly come into the scene and may sometimes act as “irritants” not to be overlooked. The purpose of the paper will be to bring an awareness of those elements and show how such controversies are not specific to one area or one religious tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A section from chapter 7 of the book "The Columbia History of Western Philosophy," edited by Richard H. Popkin is presented. It provides an overview of pragmatism in the late 19th century. It discusses the doctrines associated with pragmatism, including the idea that beliefs are hypotheses and ideas are plans of action. It names Charles Sanders Peirce as the founder of pragmatism and who formulated the doctrines in papers in 1868 and 1877-78.

The article discusses, that ignorance is due to a failure to advert, in this case, a failure to look to see whether anyone might be walking in the street below. The need for taking this precaution is obvious. And as the case is described, there's no reason to doubt that the workman was able to do this. What we seem to have, then, is a paradigmatic instance of negligent action.

Recent experiments using mainly character unigram distributions in authorship attribution tasks are discussed. Results so far indicate efficacy in similarity judgements seemingly good enough for ‘balance of probabilities’ standards, but not yet for proof ‘beyond reasonable doubt’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chapter 6 of the book "The Idea of Greater Britain: Empire and the Future of World Order 1860-1900," by Duncan Bell is presented. It highlights John Robert Seeley, an advocate of a federal Great Britain and a notorious figure in the pervasive battles over the nature of religious belief. It examines the views of Seeley on the decline of British political life in the period resulting to the writing of "The Expansion of England."

Chapter 10 of the book "Thomas Carlyle: Biography," by John Nichol is presented. It explores the retrogression that appears in Carlyle's religion, as well as the foundations of his faith and morals. It examines the sincerity of his conviction that he had to make war on credulity and to assail the pretences of a formal belief. It highlights the aspect that qualified him to be the exponent of the religious epochs in history.

Chapter XIII of the book "Villette," by Charlotte Bronte is presented. It focuses on challenges faced by Snowe in studying her German lesson which is filled with stories of saints and morality that offend her Protestant upbringing. It highlights her anger on the lecture where she almost broke the tips of their scissors by stabbing them in the table.

Book I of the book "The Valley of Decision," by Edith Wharton is presented. It explores the history of the Pontesordo, a fortified manor of the Dukes of Pianura, and describes the first people who lived in the chapel. It highlights the challenges faced by a boy named Odo Valsecca who suffered in a dumb animal way without understanding why life was so hard on little boys and how his faith in the goodness of God was tested through time.

Chapter XLIII of the book "PAUL FABER, SURGEON," by George Macdonald is presented. It explores on the bible reading of Mr. Polwarth and his niece Ruth wherein they are going to interpret the lines of the passages as well as its implications of spiritual growth. It offers information on the conversation among Juliet Meredith, Polwarth, Ruth and other visitors that have come to their house.

Chapter XXVIII of the book "PAUL FABER, SURGEON," by George Macdonald is presented. It explores on the contemplation of the old minister Walter Drake regarding the trials and challenges he faced together with his family as well as the status quo of his faith and belief in God. It offers information on the conversation among Drake, Mr. Barwood, and the delegation of Cow-lane chapel to congratulate Drake on his positive achievement.

Book IV, Chapter X of the book "An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding," Volume II, 2nd Edition, by John Locke is presented. It focuses on the capability of men to know the existence of God through their senses, perceptions and reasons. It discusses the awareness of men on their existence and how powerful and good God is. It explores the two sorts of beings in the world that men know or conceives, cogitative and incogitative.

Book IV, Chapter XI of the book "An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding," Volume II, 2nd Edition, by John Locke is presented. It focuses on men's knowledge about their existence, the existence of God, and the existence of other finite beings. It discusses the vital role of the senses in proving the existence of things and other finite beings. It explores the general propositions that are known to be true concern abstract ideas.

Chapter XXXIX of the book "Lander's Travels: The Travels of Richard Lander into the Interior of Africa" is presented. It features the explorers' departure from Kirree and cites how they have witnessed the superstitious beliefs of the natives upon visiting the Eboe Town. It highlights the character of the Kings of Africa and the conduct of the Eboe citizens.

Chapter XXIX of the book "The Betrayal," by E. Phillips Oppenheim is presented. It discusses the arrival of Colonel Mostyn Ray in the cottage of Guy Ducaine explaining what had happened in his encounter with the Duke. It highlights the conversation between Lady Angela and Ducaine about the command of the Duke on the engagement of the former with Colonel Ray.

Chapter 2 of the second section of the book "Twilight in Italy," by D. H. Lawrence is presented. It explores the author's experience in Italy's Casa di Paoli and his encounter with the owner of the inn Signor di Paoli. Moreover, it highlights the author's tour in the lemon garden of the padrone and the author's concept of God and man is also discussed.

This article focuses on families and religious beliefs, and practices that influence these families. There is tremendous diversity in North America in how individuals and families experience and express spiritual beliefs and practices, with as much diversity within major faith groups as between them. According to the 2000 U.S. census, there is widespread variation in how family households are structured. Religiosity is a three-dimensional construct composed of religious beliefs, religious practices and religious communities. On the basis of a doctrine presented in Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious texts, gay and lesbian couples are less likely to find congenial homes in most conservative and moderate faith communities than elsewhere. Certain types of religiosity also have been connected with greater support for gender inequality which could contribute to lower satisfaction. Meta-analytic research indicates that there is a relation between religiosity and commitment to marriage. In connection with sexual practice, religiosity has been consistently associated with lower premarital sexual activity.

Chapter 5 of the book "Wild geese overhead" by Neil M. Gunn is presented. It mentions that the battle against terrorism, the fear of recession and the decline in adherence to established religious beliefs, are symptoms, albeit in different guise, of an uneasiness with regard to world stability and the erosion of traditional values and beliefs.

This chapter explores belief, a highly nuanced aspect of consensual ideology, its complexities as well as systems of alternative beliefs. Consensual ideology is often treated in terms of belief. Its first function is to foster in people that the current system is right, that alternatives are threatening. In short, it operates to overcome the consensual deficiencies of positive self-interest, without recourse to coercion. When people acquiesce or not into a certain social structure in dependent on what they believe about that social structure, about themselves and about the possibility of alternative structures.

The article presents Chapter Three of the book "Dialogues on Values and Centers of Value: Old Friends, New Thoughts," by Thomas M. Dicken and Rem B. Edwards. It presents letters and replies concerning memory and its philosophical significance, mind, bodies, and doubt. It notes that the purpose of memory is to screen, filter, and select useful or valuable information.

The article presents a speech by William F. Lawhead, president of the Mississippi Philosophical Association (MPA) from 1984 through 1985 and 1993 through 1994, delivered at the 1985 MPA meeting. He discusses the relationship between belief and understanding. He examines several theses of the understanding-condition.

An essay is presented on the belief of people in unseen beings who thought that it affect their lives. It explores the belief of traditional tribal peoples in demons or spirits, as well as ancestral ghosts that are thought to cause mental derangements, physical illness, and misfortunes. The author says that the belief in unseen beings complicates human morality and its evolutionary basis.

The article focuses on the argument to religious experience as a basis for belief in God. It states that the appeal to experience is concerned with claims that God was never experienced while the empirical argument considers various evidence in history and nature. It says that majority of religious communities make a point of developing religious awareness in children aside from argument.