Thursday, December 26, 2019

Analysis Of Mrs. Dalloway - 1298 Words

Walt Whitman’s poem When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer shows a moment which captures the beauty of self-reliance and non-conformity. In the poem, the speaker listens to a lecturer who speaks about astronomy through calculations and measurements. Being sick and tired of the lecture, the speaker wanders off outside to see the stars for himself and becomes struck in awe of the physical beauty of the stars. He also regains peace within himself after finding a new outlet for understanding. This idea of non-conformity being a precursor to self-actualization and inner-peace similarly resonates in Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs. Dalloway. The portrayal Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Smith are both examples in the novel that show the negative consequences of conformity. In the beginning lines of the poem, the speaker begins to tell an anecdote about a time he heard a â€Å"learn’d astronomer†. The man is perceived to be highly intelligent and specifically inves ted in the study of astronomy. However, Whitman contracts the word â€Å"learned†, presenting a plain voice that contrasts to the revered sophistication of the astronomer (Whitman 1). This ironic use of tone could be used in order to make fun of the astronomer, despite being a well-educated man and a master of astronomy. Continuing on, the astronomer presents his mathematical â€Å"proofs†, â€Å"ranged in columns† by using â€Å"figures† and the â€Å"charts and diagram† (2-3). The speaker at this point hears the lecture as a list of randomShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Virginia Woolfs Mrs. Dalloway1756 Words   |  8 PagesIt is itself doubtable that Virginia Woolf’s 1925 novel Mrs. Dalloway would or even could exist, as we know it today, without T.S. Eliot’s 1922 poem The Waste Land – but what’s near-certain to me now is that Woolf may not have ever even written the character of Septimus Warren Smith, had she not read E liot’s poem first. Moreover, after going back and reviewing both of these works, the presence of The Waste Land in Septimus, and of Septimus in The Waste Land, are intensely palpable, if not completelyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Novel Mrs. Dalloway Essay1461 Words   |  6 PagesBritish Literature October 2, 2016 Signature Assignment: Mrs. Dalloway In Virginia Woolf’s book Mrs. Dalloway, she describes the different social class rankings in the 1920s and her characters are compared and contrast during this time. In this time period, class was based on your social upbringing and how you made a living. Clarissa is described as an upper class woman, who is high in society and is married to a wealthy man, Richard Dalloway. She is seen in society, as a woman who has a sense of expensiveRead MoreMrs Dalloway Character Analysis973 Words   |  4 PagesHow far would you go to balance your internal insecurities to keep your external world perfect? In the book, â€Å"Mrs. Dalloway† by Virginia Woolf the main character Clarissa Dalloway struggles to find a steadiness between her lavish outside life and her insecure emotions on the inside. Clarissa lives a high-class life and is a rich housewife. She often finds herself thinking about death and living her life over again. She struggles with sharing her emotions and likes to a ct as if she is a shallow personRead MoreAnalysis Of The Novel Mrs. Dalloway2371 Words   |  10 Pages Mrs. Dalloway is a novel that examines the world of sexuality and gender amongst the repressive social structure of post-war London through Clarissa and Septimus, two individuals who struggle with queer desires and socially constructed categories of gender. The novel’s title suggests the inescapable structure that Clarissa in particular is bound to regarding the status and assumptions of what it means to be a woman. The particular sets of choices both Clarissa and Septimus make reveal a tumultuousRead MoreAnalysis of Mrs. Dalloway by Ââ€" Virginia Woolf Essay1460 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of Mrs. Dalloway by Ââ€" Virginia Woolf Mrs. Dalloway, published in 1925, is a romantic drama with deep psychological approaching in to the world of urban English society in the summer of 1923, five years after the end of World War I. The book begins in the morning with the arrangements for a party Clarissa Dalloway will give and it ends late in the evening when the guests are all leaving. There are many flashbacks to tell us the past of each character, but it does not leave the range ofRead MoreAnalysis Of Mrs. Dalloway By Virginia Woolf1279 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Beautiful, complex, incisive†¦. One of the most moving, revolutionary artworks of the twentieth century† (Michael Cunningham) Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf is not only a book that entertains millions, like Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, or E. L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey, but it is a work of literature that revolutionized the art of writing, which continues to influence people’s philosophies, beliefs, and views on life— even roughly afterRead MoreAnalysis the Use of Stream of Consciousness in Mrs Dalloway8784 Words   |  36 PagesAnal ysis the use of stream of consciousness in Mrs Dalloway BY Qian Jiajia Prof. Zhang Li, Tutor A Thesis Submitted to Department of English Language and Literature in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of B.A in English At Hebei Normal University May 8th , 2009 Abstract As one of the representative writers of novels of stream of consciousness, Virginia Woolf has made important contributions to the development of the technique of stream of consciousnessRead MoreAnalysis Of Virginia Woolfs Mrs. Dalloway1131 Words   |  5 PagesVirginia Woolf suggested that the War was towering too closely and tremendously to be worked into fiction yet†¦ (Tylee, 154). Regardless of this, Virginia Woolf was able to successfully portray individual aspects of the war through her novel Mrs. Dalloway, using a variety of stories to historicize this catastrophic event. One lens in particular, the love story, provides an important parallel to the war. This spectacle shows the potency of this war, as strain was created in even what should beRead MoreAnalysis Of The Novel Mrs. Richard Dalloway 1446 Words   |  6 Pagessafe route. She married a well-off politician, and lives a materially satisfying lifestyle. However, she constantly questions her life choices and is plagued by self-doubt. She seems to have lost her sense of self, seeing herself simply as â€Å"Mrs. Richard Dalloway† (10). Her lifestyle causes her to become concerned with her image in society, and she becomes burdened by her constant worry about living up to her role as a politician’s wife. Septimus, on the other hand, risks his life to fight in the warRead MoreAnalysis Of Peter Walshs Mrs. Dalloway1603 Words   |  7 PagesPeter Walsh is a temporarily homeless character inhabiting the pages of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. Away from his adopted home of India, he finds lodgment in memories of the past (his own and other’s), Clarissa Dalloway’s party and living room, Regents Park, a hotel room and a restaurant – along with the streets he traverses. While the Dalloways and the Smiths arrive at home, Walsh is in a state of motion or potential motion throughout the text. After he arrives at the decision to attend Clarissa’s

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Loss of Innocence in A Long Way Gone Memoirs of a Boy...

A prominent theme in A Long Way Gone is about the loss of innocence from the involvement in the war. A Long Way Gone is the memoir of a young boy, Ishmael Beah, wanders in Sierra Leone who struggles for survival. Hoping to survive, he ended up raiding villages from the rebels and killing everyone. One theme in A long Way Gone is that war give innocent people the lust for revenge, destroys childhood and war became part of their daily life. In the A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah, a twelve-year-old explains how he used to go on a swim with his friends and his love for rap music and hip-hop dance. When Ishmael and his friends went to visit Mattru Jong, they visited Ishmaels grandparents in Kabati. While staying at the Mattru Jong, they†¦show more content†¦Then, the boys were caught by a group of guarding villagers and they were sent to the chief of the village. When the chief is decides to drown the boys, the rap tape in Ishmaels pocket leads them to discover that they arent a th reat and only innocent boys. The boys stayed in Kamator for one month until it was finally attacked. Ishmael and his brother were seperated and never seen him again even his friends. Surviving alone in the forest for a month, Ishmael was able to find the exit of the forest and joins a group other boys. When the boys reach seashore, they were caught by fishermen. The fishermen gave the boys shoes because of their severe burn feet on the hot sand. After two weeks, the villagers caught the boys and when the chief saw Ishmaels rap cassette, they allows them to leave. When they are travelling to the next village, Saidu became sick and quiet. When they boys arrived, A woman was able to tell Ishmael about his family in the next village. The next day, Saidu died at night and he was givena funeral arrangements and Ishmael and the other boys became sad because of their friends sudden death. After Saidus death, they head to the next village looking forward seeing their families. They came acro ss Gasemu and walk with him, but when they reached the village, the rebels were already attacking and the boys were hiding. Then, the rebels were able to hear them and Gasemu and the boys began to run while theShow MoreRelatedA Long Way Gone : Memoirs Of A Boy Solider1244 Words   |  5 Pages A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of A Boy Solider is a biography of a young man, Ishmael Beah, during his years of growing up as a child of war in Sierra Leone, Africa. The story begins in January of 1993 in his hometown village Mogbwemo. Beah who is twelve at the time is a part of hip-hop dance and music group with his brother Junior, and friend Talloi. The boys leave their village one day to the neighboring city to perform in their friend’s talent show. While the rap group is away, rebels attack theirRead MoreA Long Way Gone Argument Essay examples990 Words   |  4 PagesEddie Salcedo Mr. Stone December 5, 2012 7th period A Long Way Until The End of This Essay The author of A Long Way Gone argues against boy soldiers but also against the loss of innocence. Beah’s parents are burned alive by the rebels; this is the first step towards his animosity towards them. In his story he talks about snorting brown brown, shooting men and how he was slowly corrupted by the men around him, turning him into a machine. It tells the story of a world as horrendous as anyRead MoreA Long Way Gone By Ishmael Beah2157 Words   |  9 PagesA Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah, published by Sarah Crichton Books in New York in 2007, tells the haunting story of Ishmael Beah, a child soldier during the Sierra Leone Civil War. The book begins in January of 1993 in Ishmael’s small village called Mogbwemo, located near Mattru Jong, Sierra Leone. A Long Way Gone addresses a plethora of geographical issues such as refugees and population movements, child exploitation, and most of all: war. Each of these issues directly affects Ishmael, the autobiographerRead MoreThe Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers2124 Words   |  8 Pagesall else as the rebel forces engaged the army. Sprinting, standing, crouching, or lying down, the soldiers focused solely on one thing: killing their enemies. With an assortment of weapons and under the influence of drugs, they carried out their jobs with ruthless efficiency. They spared no one because each side believ ed the other to be monsters. Kill after kill with blood on their hands, the soldiers fought on, driven by their desire for revenge and justice. To them, they were doing their countryRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Beowulf 3700 Words   |  15 Pagesone’s status in the ancient culture of Beowulf. The only way to prove oneself as a warrior was in battle and by violent, heroic deeds. 2. As a classic of English literature, the poem presents a basic theme: good vs. evil. Explain how the poem presents this theme. Compare it to other works which share a similar theme. You may use all forms of media as support. Why do you think this theme has been and continues to be so popular? In many ways, Beowulf follows the pattern of the simplest kind of epicRead MoreFarewell to Manzanar Novell Analysis Essay3943 Words   |  16 Pagesof Farewell to Manzanar 1)Title-Farewell to Manzanar, published in 1973, was written by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston. It is a classic memoir of the life and struggles of a young Japanese internee and her family at Manzanar during World War Two. The title, Farewell to Manzanar, automatically sets a theme of grief, sadness, and loss. The significance of the title throughout the book, is that Jeanne is forced to say farewell to her father, friends, and previous lifestyle atone pointRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesvaluable. Peter Holdt Christensen, Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark McAuley et al.’s book is thought-provoking, witty and highly relevant for understanding contemporary organizational dilemmas. The book engages in an imaginative way with a wealth of organi zational concepts and theories as well as provides insightful examples from the practical world of organizations. The authors’ sound scholarship and transparent style of writing set the book apart, making it an ingenious read

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Cultural heritage free essay sample

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM Sustainable tourism is a form of tourism that follows the principles of sustainability. According to the WTO, the principles that define sustainable tourism are: The natural and cultural resources are conserved for its continuous use in the future, while they reported profits. Tourism development is planned and managed so as not to cause serious environmental or socio-cultural problems. The environmental quality is maintained and improved. It seeks to maintain a high level of visitor satisfaction and the destination retains its prestige and commercial potential. The benefits of tourism are spread widely throughout all the society. The Ten recommendations for sustainable tourism† are: When planning your trip, choose those suppliers that offer guarantees of quality to you and respect for human rights and the environment. Use natural resources such as water and energy in moderation. Remember they are scarce goods. Try to minimize waste generation. They are a source of contamination. Objects figure in the study of human history because they provide a concrete basis for ideas, and can validate them. Their preservation demonstrates a recognition of the necessity of the past and of the things that tell its story. [1]  In  The Past is a Foreign Country,  David Lowenthal  observes that preserved objects also validate  memories. While  digital acquisition techniques  can provide a technological solution that is able to acquire the shape and the appearance of artifacts with an unprecedented precision[2]  in human history, the actuality of the object, as opposed to a reproduction, draws people in and gives them a literal way of touching the past. This unfortunately poses a danger as places and things are damaged by the hands of tourists, the light required to display them, and other risks of making an object known and available. The reality of this risk reinforces the fact that all artifacts are in a constant state of chemical transformation, so that what is considered to be preserved is actually changing – it is never as it once was. [3]  Similarly changing is the value each generation may place on the past and on the artifacts that link it to the past. What one generation considers cultural heritage may be rejected by the next generation, only to be revived by a subsequent generation. Cultural property  includes the physical, or tangible ultural heritage, such as  buildings  and historic places,  monuments, books, documents, works of art, machines, clothing, and other artifacts, that are considered worthy of preservation for the future. These include objects significant to the archaeology, architecture, science or technology of a specific culture.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Why Americans change in religious preferences Essay Example

Why Americans change in religious preferences Essay Just recently, a couple of months back, the issue regarding Americans change in religious preferences has been discussed and reported nationally. Most newspapers have integrated this phenomenon to their news due to a lot of developing information about Americans changing their religious affiliations. The growing numbers through the years with regards to this issue have attracted nationwide clamor. This trend among religious affiliations has developed through the years and has created a huge effect on America. Realizing and analyzing the reasons behind these changes in religious affiliations can help understand what was done wrong and what ideas were misunderstood.THESIS STATEMENTWhat are the reasons why Americans change their religious affiliations?PEW SURVEYThe PEW Survey was the most recent survey that hit the news. This survey attracted the nation and raised awareness among the issue of   change in religious affiliations.â€Å"More than a quarter of adult Americans have left th e faith of their childhood to join   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   another religion or no religion, according to a new survey of religious affiliation by   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. The report, titled â€Å"U.S. Religious    Landscape Survey,† depicts a highly fluid and diverse national religious life. If shifts   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   among Protestant denominations are included, then it appears that 44 percent of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Americans have switched religious affiliations.† (Banerjee, 2008).Scholars have stressed, for at least a generation, that there is an increase in Americans moving among faith while there is an erosion in denominational loyalty. Tracking religious affiliations is not conducted by the United States   Census, but the survey from PEW which was based from interviews of more than 35,000 Americans, suggests the truth among the trend that the scholars have been stressing.During the 1980s, an indication from 5 percent to 8 percent of the American population identified themselves as unaffiliated with a certain or specific religion. This was conducted by the General Social Survey by the National Opinion Research Center.â€Å"In the Pew survey 7.3 percent of the adult population said they were unaffiliated with    a faith as children. That segment increases to 16.1 percent of the population in   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   adulthood, the survey found. The unaffiliated are largely under 50 and male. â€Å"Nearly   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   one-in-five men say they have no formal religious affiliation, compared with roughly   Ã‚   13 percent of women,† the survey said.† (Banerjee, 2008).The most affected group are the ones from the Catholic Church. Almost one-third of the survey takers said they were raised as Catholics and have no longer view themselves as such. Among the data given, it can be concluded that roughly 10 percent are former Catholics from th e American population.Immigration also plays a key role in this matter. Most immigrants are Christian and Catholics are almost half. The Muslims challenge the Mormons for acquiring the biggest families. While the Hindus are the most-educated and among the most affluent religious affiliation that the survey showed.â€Å"Experts said the wide-ranging variety of religious affiliation could set the stage for   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   further conflicts over morality or politics, or new alliances on certain issues, as   Ã‚   religious people have done on climate change or Jews and Hindus have done over   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   relations between the United States, Israel and India.† (Benerjee, 2008).The Key findings from the survey:â€Å"Faith is fluid: 44% say theyre no longer tied to the religious or secular upbringing of   Ã‚   their childhood. Theyve changed religions or denominations, adopted a faith for the    first time or abandoned any affiliation a ltogether.† (Grossman, 2008)â€Å"Nothing matters: 12.1% say their religious identity is nothing in particular,   Ã‚  Ã‚   outranking every denomination and tradition except Catholics (23.9%) and all groups   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   of Baptists (17.2%). â€Å" (Gorssman, 2008).â€Å"Protestants are fading: 51.3% call themselves Protestant, but roughly one-third of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   this group were unable or unwilling to describe their denomination. Immigrants   Ã‚   sustain Catholic numbers: 46% of foreign-born U.S. adults are Catholics, compared   Ã‚   with only 21% of native-born adults. Latinos are now 45% of all U.S. Catholics ages   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   18-29.† (Grossman, 2008).GIVEN DATA ABOUT RELIGIONSAccording to the American Religious Identification Survey or ARIS, the proportion of Americans who are Christians during the year 1990 is 86% and by the the year 2001 it dipped to 77%. The United States is going through an unprecedented chang e in religious practices. Many Americans are changing affiliations or disaffiliating from their religions due to some various reasons.During a 2001 polling data conducted by the American Religious Identification Survey, there were 81% American adults who identify with a specific religion during the year 2001. 76.5% or 159 million of them are Christians. As of May 2007, the percentage dipped to 71% for Christians. By the end of the year of 2008, it is expected to fall below 70%. It could be concluded that by the year 2042, non-Christians will outnumber the Christian in the United States.Also by 2001, there were 52% of Americans who were Protestant, 24.5% were Roman Catholic, 1.3% were Jewish, while 0.5% were Muslims or followers of Islam. Also during the year 2001, according to ARIS, the fastest growing religion in America is Micca (a neopagan religion). While there are various religions in America, there are 14.1% of Americans who do not follow any organized religion.According to th e ARIS survey, about 16% of adult subjects interviewed have changed their religious affiliations. The Baptists picked the largest number at 4.4 million but they also lost 4.6 million. The Catholics lost the greatest number at 9.5 million but also picked up 4.3 million.REASONS FOR CHANGEMarriage also affects this issue. The inter-faith marriages are also causes of change in affiliation. The idea of love and romance overpowers the principles of some people towards their religion, thats why when they get married to people from another religion they usually give up their own religion rather than give up their love.Political affiliations also affect religious affiliations. One example is that 59% of the Assemblies of God followers prefer the republicans. Republicans have 13% who are Jews, while 9% are Buddhists. Democrats on the other hand have 56% Jews.Americans going to adulthood is the course of life when they are most open to religious change and growth. It is at this phase when most Americans convert to another religion. The instability of this phase in life was pinpointed at the General Social Survey.Various reasons have been attributed to the waning religiosity. Most common are the secularization of higher education in college and the guilt caused by the religious deviation from the norms taught by parents. When Americans go to college, the university classrooms give them expanded horizons which becomes the breeding ground to rethink their religious beliefs. The new found freedom leads to the opportunity to stop religious activities like going to church they used to do. Suddenly, they become uninteresting to them and they become curious about other beliefs and at times motivated by their peers which place them at odds with their religious teachings. So it can be further said , new found freedom usually found in colleges or social institution or a certain age group can promote secularization which in turn may lead to stop believing and change affiliation with regards to religion.Other reasons why Americans change their affiliations are the following:-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Poor religious instruction – some do not even   understand why they are in that religion in the first place which happens to most Catholics. These misunderstandings about their original religions create conflict among a person and confuses him or her and his or her principles. This confusion leads to a search for a better answer or a clearer view of religion. Some people tend to change their religion due to this. Instead of trying to understand more the original religion, they result to find a new one, one that they consider as a more understandable one.-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Assimilation to American culture where there is strong individualism,choosing their own religious identity. Americans are one of the people in the world who has the strongest individualistic ideas. This individualism leads to freedom and this freedom leads to a more self-expressive form of identity. Being individualistic can be incorporated to having to want a self-learned religion, and not a religion that is passed on from generations.-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many finds the faith unreasonable and therefore unbelievable which does not make sense to most Americans and would seem irrational that leads to change of faith. The idea of not believing in ones religion is reason enough for change.-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another cause can be attributed to Americans being mobile people. During their lifetime theyre likely to change addresses due to changing jobs. So they meet people from other religious faith who influences their beliefs. Many things can happen and many people can affect our lives, these are the life-changing events that can alter a mans views and principles in life. Moving from different places cause different gathered ideas and varying opinions about different subject matters including religion.-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã ‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Immigration is another key factor for this change of religious affiliation. A fair percent of the American population are immigrants. People from other countries affect Americans and their beliefs. The growing number of immigrants also equal the growing number with regards to the change in affiliations. This diversity affects the wholeness of a certain religion and suggests more division or change.CONCLUSIONReligion is important for a mans spiritual life. It can be accounted that it has existed for thousands and thousands of years. The changes in religion is a reflection of the changes in time. The United States of America is one country who has been long regarded as having diverse people and diverse religion. The percentages shown by recent surveys have raised awareness among people. The changes in affiliations is caused by the changes of time. The world is changing rapidly and religious preferences is not exempted from it.There are a lot reasons that conjure up the not ion of change in religious affiliation in America. It can be due to peoples personal reasons or it can be social, political, racial, or just simply individual. These factors for example: marrying a person from a different religion, or cultural diversity, are reasons that support the over-all idea of change. The world is evolving in a lot of aspects, and America is one country that adapts to change.It is hard to come up with one single reason for Americans changing their religious affiliations, but the effect of globalization could also be one big factor. This globalization is the spread of different cultural ideas around the world. The rich and diverse culture of America has adapted to globalization and modern trends. The traditionalist Americans have been affected by the challenges of the modern times and their religions are also challenged along the way.So, America is adapting to change and religion is not an exception. There are many reasons to back this thought up. But the main points are, Americans have freedom, individualistic ideas and adaptive thinking. Americans have been affected by change and changing religious affiliations is one solution that some Americans conclude as one answer for it.WORKS CITEDBanerjee, Neela. â€Å"Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds†. The New York   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Times, 25 February 2008. ;http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-  Ã‚   religion.html?incamp=article_popular_2;.Caplovitz, David. The Religious Drop-outs: Apostasy among College Graduates, Beverly   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hills, CA: Sage, 1977.Grossman, Cathy Lynn. â€Å"Survey: Americans freely change, or drop, their religions†. USA   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Today, 25 February 2008. ;http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-02-25-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   survey_N.htm;â€Å"Study: Nearly Half of Americans Change Their Religious Beliefs†. 26 February 2008. Foxnews. ;http://www.foxnews.com/story /0,2933,332590,00.html;.â€Å"U.S. Religious Landscape Survey†. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. 12 May   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008. ;http://religions.pewforum.org/reports;.