Abstract
This paper looks at the religion of Islam and the concept of democracy within the religion. The author first defines Islam and democracy and explains that, although the concept of democracy in pre-Islamic tribes in Arabia historically was not identical to present-day democracy, they share the same fundamental principles. The author goes on to explain how verse 4:59 from the Quran is very often misconstrued by dictators and monarchs to justify their undemocratic ways of ruling. The paper then lists and studies the key fundamentals of the Islamic political order and states that through proper interpretation, democracy does indeed exists in Islam.

Outline:
Defining Islam
Defining Democracy
Misunderstanding the Concept of Democracy
The Political System of Islam
Present Situation
Conclusion

From the Paper
"This verse cannot be used to justify unlawfully comprised authority, as that would mean taking the Quranic verses out of context and changing their actual meaning. Looking at verse 4:59 in conjunction with verses 42:38 and 3:159, one can clearly deduct that the Quran means for Muslims to obey their democratically elected leaders. Therefore the formation of a legitimate, democratically elected authority is of fundamental significance. The idea of shura can be reinterpreted to confirm the modern view of democracy, including the creation of diverse democratic associations in which democratic appointment is obligatory."

Tags:religion, politics

Abstract
This paper examines both the Christian and Islamic conceptions of who Jesus is/was. It focuses on specific areas including Islam's view of Jesus - their admiration for him and significance of names attributed to him in the Qur'an. Furthermore, the paper delineates particular areas of contention between the two faiths with respect to Jesus including views on Jesus' miracles, his nature in relation to the Trinity and his divinity, and his death.

From the Paper
"Three of the most frequently cited names for Jesus in the Qur'an are ones used for personal identification: Isa, Son of Mary and Messiah. The name Isa is an Arabic form of the word Jesus. Scholars attribute the Hebrew background of the word to mean "God Saves." In the New Testament, Mary is commanded by an Angel to name her baby boy, Jesus (Greek Yesous) because "he shall save his people from their signs" (Mt. 1:21). Yet, the Qur'an makes no reference "to this theological meaning and Muslims are generally not aware of it." The most frequently used name for Jesus is the Qur'an is that of Son of Mary which is quite contrasted to the New Testament where this title is only used once. Muslims scholars believe that the use of this name is because Jesus' unique origin born of Mary as a virgin. The Qur'an speaks quite admirably of Mary but never mentions Joseph. "

Tags:Trinity, Qur'an

Abstract
This paper discusses the history, practice and evolution of the Qu'aran and Islam as it relates to women in society. Roles of women, freedoms, rights, and obligations are all viewed both in present times and in traditional Islamic society of centuries ago. The paper shows positive evidence of progress for women in Islamic society, as well as roadblocks yet to be overcome.

Tags:feminism, islam, rights, sociology, studies, women

Abstract
This paper examines the historical background of the conflict in the Middle East between Palestine and Israel, and notes that while this conflict is promoted in the media as being a relatively ?new? phenomenon that it is actually another stage in an ongoing conflict between these two peoples. Factors that are addressed as contributing to this conflict are those of religion and politics. There is a strong slant towards the Palestinians being unjustly vilified in the media. There is a brief mention of Osama bin Laden and his involvement in the conflict.

From the Paper
"The recent hostilities between the Palestinian and the Israeli people is a negative note in what had seemed to be progress in ending the ongoing conflict between these separate people. Prior to the events of violence that were started once more in the spring of last year, the Palestinian and the Israeli people were apparently working towards a position of peace in the Middle East. However, this was not to be. The existing social tensions between the Palestinian and the Israeli people was too deeply rooted within their histories and cultures to provide a simple solution, which the negotiations that were prevalent at the time were attempting to achieve. "

Tags:accord, arab, arafat, bin, jerusalem, jew, laden, muslim, nations, osama, oslo, united

Abstract
This paper shows how the three great empires of the Ottomans, the Safavid and the Mughals represented growing interdependence with an exchange of people, technology and ideas. The paper examines each of the empires and the history of their rise to power and then looks at the major similarities between the empires. Lastly, the paper looks at the decline of these Islamic empires.

Table of Contents:
Ottoman Empire - Present day Turkey
Suleyman the Magnificifent
Safavid Persia (1500 - 1722)
The Great Mughal Empire (1523-1739)
Similarities between the Three Empires
Decline of Islamic Empires
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The three great empires of the Ottomans, the Safavid and the Mughals represented growing interdependence with an exchange of people, technology and ideas. They set forth a concept of globalization which the Western world later adopted and advanced. Theirs was a supreme legacy of religion, art and nationalism. The three dynasties proved their supremacy to the rest of the world and advanced their military conquests to areas earlier unknown. They were technologically superior in their time, but refused to conform with evolving technological advancement, which led to their downfall."

Tags:dynasty, Ottomans, Safavid, Mughals

Abstract
This paper examines the use of birth control in Islamic and Christian regions during medieval times, its prevalence and acceptance in Islamic regions versus Christian regions, and the social and cultural implications surrounding it. Through an analysis of the reasoning of medieval Islamic jurists regarding contraception in contrast with the writings of St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, it shows how Islam permitted birth control, and Christianity did not. It looks at how Islamic rulings were based primarily on reason and logic and were rooted in a strong understanding of the principles of biology, not religious fervor. In contrast, it shows how, tragically, countless women died in Europe because Church leaders denounced contraception and kept from the public contraceptive means.

From the Paper
"Knowledge of the biology of reproduction is one important factor affecting attitudes on birth control and abortion. Another is the nature of human life, for example, when does the fetus have a soul? The Islamic argument for the permission of contraception is a fascinating case where biological and scientific knowledge directly influenced ethical attitudes. Medieval Arabic literature, such as treatises on medicine, materia medica, and popular literature treated both contraception and abortion as two aspects of birth control. They recognized the difference between the two, and could distinguish between preparations that would work only as a contraceptive, as an abortifacient, or would work for both purposes."

Tags:abortion, chuch, thomas, saint, augustine, aquinas, biology

Abstract
This paper explains that, in the recent Muhammad cartoon controversy in Denmark, Cultural Editor Fleming Rose and the Danish newspaper "Jyllands-Posten" sacrificed what Muslims consider their freedom of religion to preserve Denmark's press freedom and the Danish people's freedom of speech. The author points out that, by examining the timeline of the controversy including the backlash to the cartoons, the views of Muslims around the world, Denmark and its values and Fleming Rose's explanation and apologies, this cartoon was not a malicious anti-Muslim act but rather one journalist's attempt to draw attention to a dangerous change in Denmark's freedoms and rights. The paper contends that the North American press coverage of the story fueled the situation by not including the back stories of both the Muslims in Denmark and the strong Danish tradition of freedom of speech.

From the Paper
"On September 30th, 2005, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 editorial cartoons depicting Mohammed along with an editorial by Fleming Rose. Muslims in Denmark and around the world were outraged, and reacted by filing a complaint against the newspaper with Danish police on October 27th. By January 6th of the following year, the investigation was discontinued as no law had been broken. Danish Imams put together a dossier containing the 12 cartoons published by Jyllands-Posten, along with pictures from another Danish Newspaper, Weekendavisen, hate-mail consisting of pictures and letters they alleged were sent to Muslims in Denmark, and a televised interview with a prominent Dutch Member of Parliament and Islam critic, Hirsi Ali."

Tags:heritage, marginalize, freedom, backlash, apologies

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that the Middle East is plagued with terrorist organizations and that religious terrorist groups succumb to strong fanatical beliefs that Jews and Western allies are satanic and must be abolished at all costs. The writer points out that this has forced peaceful nations to prepare for terrorist attacks from such groups such as al-Qaeda, Hizbollah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. The writer maintains that when examining the religion of Islam there are numerous similarities with western Christian beliefs; however, these terrorist groups have twisted the religion from peace to hatred. It is important for Western nations to understand these viewpoints to help establish public policy and military strategies. There is no doubt that the West is at war with various terrorist groups. Therefore it is critical to understand these groups and how they function. This paper examines religious terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hizbollah, al-Qaeda, and the Islamic Jihad. It discusses the hatred these groups have towards Israel and the West.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Two views of Islam and terrorism
The Iranian Revolution and Hizbollah's metamorphosis
The Islamic Jihad
Hamas
The rise of Osama Bin Ladin
Declaring war on the United States
Summary

From the Paper
"Osama Bin Ladin was a popular soldier in Afghanistan when at war with the Soviet Union. The Soviet retreat was a sign of God's power over Satan, and if God could bring down the Soviet Union through the work of the mujahadeen, other evil nations were doomed to destruction. After war with the Soviets, both Israel and the United States became prime targets for Osama Bin Ladin who is very popular with numerous Sunnis. This is ironic considering the United States CIA probably provided a great deal of resources to the armies fighting the Soviets such as the mujahadeen under Osama Bin Ladin. When the United States posted military personnel in Saudi Arabia, Osama Bin Ladin decided to attack."

Tags:al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hizbollah, Jihad

Abstract
This paper examines the compatibility of Islam and globalization and whether or not the religion is attuned with the existing model of Western globalization. The paper explains that Islam continues to be an essential ideological force in the lives of nearly one third of the world's Muslim population, and directly or indirectly affects the lives of millions of others. The paper goes on to note that the growth and expansion of Islamic resurgence in the recent years, and the intensification of Islamic fundamentalism has gained fuel in order to combat the popular western influence for socioeconomic reform, democratization, and liberalization. Islam is a way of life for its adherents, the paper clarifies, and a structure that dictates not only personal behavior, but also that of the society and the state. The paper compares this stance with westernization, which is now synonymous with the term globalization; it is a reflection of the separation of state and church, individualism, and materialism, and is thought by Muslims to be the root cause of social, economic and political ills. However, concludes the paper, although Westernization is condemned by Islam, globalization in its true form and modernization is not.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Westernization, Globalization, Islam
The Root of the Conflict
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"One of the major reasons for the current conflict between Islam and the Western world is centuries of bad blood, mistrust and fear. Starting from the Crusades, to suicide bombings and the discord between headscarves, the relationship between the two has never been smooth. The Christians, for centuries, considered Muhammad a false prophet, a belief that many in the Western world still hold. Islam, on the other hand, considers itself as belonging to Judaism and Christianity, with the three being branches of the same religion. It respects the Gospels and the Torah, but explicitly believes that the Quran alone contains the message of God."

Tags:globalization, westernization, religion

Abstract
This paper examines how historians and researchers have found that globalization has many different effects on Islam and how Islam in turn could potentially have many positive effects on globalization. It discusses how globalization of democracy could have a positive effect on fair representation in Islamic nations and how with fair representation on a political scale, the West could better understand the ideals of Islam which the West now consider negative. It also contends that the Islamic faith addresses concepts of peace, equality and human rights which need to be considered during the process of globalization which is now currently focused on economic and technological factors. With the inclusion of the components of Islam in the process of globalization, world wide communities could benefit from globalization instead of feeling a negative or exploitative impact.

From the Paper
"The ideals of globalization are also predominantly those of the West, Western faiths and Western technology and in many ways, the latest trend of technology that of genetic engineering leads people of Islamic faith from the East to wonder what Western elements of genetic engineering will be promoted and which elements will be ignored? While much of globalization is focused on the technological advances which occur, there are also other factors of globalization to consider, namely: globalization of the human condition; of civil society and multinational corporations; of governance; and of expansion of time and its elimination of space; all concerns to the future of Islam (Inayatullah, 2002)."

Tags:human, rights, peace, economy, free, trade