20 Computer Science Project Topics

20 Computer Science Project Topics If you are writing a computer science project, and you need computer science project topics, consider the list of 20 topics below. The Best Defenses Against Web Security Attacks How to Improve Government Websites Containing Citizen Data Cloud Computing and the Healthcare Industry: A Critical Analysis The Importance of 3D Modeling in Healthcare Difficulties of Producing Computer Programs Capable of Passing the Turing Test Facebook API: The Positives and Negatives of Their Technical Approach How to Find Better Algorithms for Fourier Transform and Matrix Multiplication How to Build Quantum Computers Capable of Factorizing Numbers into Primes P Versus NP Problem: What is the Solution? Artificial Intelligence: Formalizing Human Capabilities Data Mining: How Machine Learning and Hardware Architectures Are Helping Grow Businesses Bio-Informatics: How Computational Biophysics Offers Understanding of Molecular-Level Interactions Inside Organisms Biomedical Engineering: The Use of Microprocessor-Based Systems to Monitor Vital Signs Without Doctors Prosthetics: The Development of Computer Aided Designs Computer Assisted Education: Programming Support for Skill Learning and Cheat Proof Grading for Teachers Natural Language Processing: How Human-Computer Interactions are Growing Optical and Quantum Computing: Emerging Technologies Human-Computer Interaction: Emotion and Intent Detection Large-Scale Networking: How User-Facing Services are Growing High Turnover Rates among IT: Why This Exists in a Field with So Much Potential Growth Aren’t those great topics? Remember that these examples are meant as a guide just the same as the topics above. If the topics do not sufficiently conform to the requirements of your report writing you can always consider something the backup of our 10 facts for a college project on computer science and also our guide. Well, below you will find a sample writing piece on one of the topics from the list above to help you gain a better idea of how the writing process works: Sample College Project: The Importance of 3D Modeling in Healthcare Today there are many things in the healthcare industry which have helped to improve the way patients receive medical care and the way that doctors interact with patients. Perhaps one of the greatest breakthroughs in the last few years has been the development of 3D printing. 3D printing offers doctors a new way to really get inside of their patient without any form of invasive surgery. In fact 3D printing allows physicians to use 3D replications of internal structures and organs in a way that facilitates a better in-depth understanding of current medical conditions, progress, and regression. The 3D replications allow Physicians to spend time inside of certain facets of the body and develop the best practices for treatment or procedures possible in a way that even invasive surgery would prohibit. 3D printers have revolutionized the way modern healthcare functions. This tool revitalizes is imaging in the smallest areas of a patients body, helping to better diagnose and rectify a multit ude of diseases. The conversion of 2 dimensional images of things such as the heart into exact 3D printed replicas allows surgeons to hold in their hands the physical replica of each patient and utilize surgical planning to its highest capability. These models used in modern medicine have improved surgical outcomes for patients and led to the creation of multiple libraries among the National Institutes of Health specifically for 3D hearts and other 3D organs. By continually improving exact replication process doctors can look inside of hollow organs through a refined manual process to get a better look at things such liver or even the brain. A 3D model of patients with certain diseases can be observed over different points in time. Such observations can help doctors to review the growth rate of cancer or to see how invasive certain diseases really are and how they wrap around the internal structures of the body. Such tools have made it better to communicate across different specialties in the medical field. Doctors around the world have started using 3D printing from scans taken in a CT or an MRI. These images use a 3D data set that can be viewed from 2D which allows for multiple types of interpretations. Radiologist for example might spend their life looking at complex images in order to determine information necessary for other clinicians without the same background. And in most cases specialists who are in charge of making medical decisions have to walk through images multiple times before they can truly understand them to the same level as a radiologist. But today the use of 3D technology has augmented this otherwise time-consuming process. 3D technology has allowed for virtual realities as well as holographic display to really become the cornerstone of medical diagnostics. 3D modeling makes viewing an anatomical image into every field of medicine which allows doctors to make better diagnosis, plan for surgeries in a more practical and beneficial fashion, and educate themselves on d iseases and outcomes to a greater degree. The simplicity of 3D models also allows better communication between doctors and the families of their patients. The overall goal of integrating 3D technology and printing among the healthcare industry is to create a future state work clinicians are able to interact with pathology and human anatomy in ways never before seen. Today there remains untapped potential for the improvement of 3D modelling and its understanding and soon enough a new reality will exist   where medical imaging in a 3D fashion will far outweigh the use of 2D, something which will allow for better health outcomes across the board. Overall the implementation of 3D technologies and particularly 3D printing among the healthcare industry is a necessary transition across the world. By implementing these new technologies doctors in all countries will be better suited to provide the best possible care for their patients all the while learning a great deal more about diseases and the body than ever possible before. Such opportunities for growth will allow for the continued development of better healthcare resources and improved medical care. References: 3D Scanner Can Identify Early Foot Deformity In RA Patients.  Springer Healthcare News  1.1 (2012): n. pag. Web. Brookshear, J. Glenn. Computer Science. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 2000. Print. Crow, G. B., Muthuswamy, B. (2014). International outsourcing in the information technology  industry: Trends and implications.  Communications of the IIMA,  3(1), 3. Dutta, S., Mia, I. (2011). The global information technology report 2010–2011. In  World  Economic Forum  (Vol. 24). Feigl, Beatrix and Dietmar Hutmacher. Eyes On 3D-Current 3D Biomimetic Disease Concept Models And Potential Applications In Age-Related Macular Degeneration.  Advanced Healthcare Materials  2.7 (2013): 1056-1062. Web. Ling, Yanglv. Computer Science In Industrial Application. Print. Montgomery, D. C., Peck, E. A., Vining, G. G. (2012).  Introduction to linear regression  analysis  (Vol. 821). John Wiley Sons. Nelis, D., Kotsou, I., Quoidbach, J., Hansenne, M., Weytens, F., Dupuis, P., Mikolajczak, M.  (2011). Increasing emotional competence improves psychological and physical well-being, social relationships, and employability. Emotion,  11(2), 354. Treleaven, Philip and Jonathan Wells. 3D Body Scanning And Healthcare Applications.  Computer40.7 (2007): 28-34. Web.

Pros and cons to being friends with your boss

Pros and cons to being friends with your boss In a perfect world, since you spend such a large chunk of your life at work, you’d be friends with all of your colleagues. But when it comes to your manager, lines can be difficult to define. No matter how well you get along and how chill your office is, becoming besties with your boss isn’t always in the cards. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though- there are pros and cons to turning that professional relationship into a friendly, personal one. Pro:  Congratulations! You just made a new friend!Well, this one’s pretty obvious. It’s the pro of making friends with, well, anyone. Making friends is great! It’s always nice to have someone new to chat with and lean on for support in times of stress. If you and a coworker click well and have a great rapport and lots in common, who cares if that someone happens to be your boss?Con:  Constructive criticism becomes complicatedOne downside to having a buddy as a boss is that he or she might be l ess inclined to give you negative feedback when you’re not working up to your full potential. And sometimes you really need that criticism. Offering constructive criticism is often a key aspect of a boss’s job, but if she or he feels uncomfortable giving any for fear that it might damage a friendship, you’ll keep making the same mistakes over and over again and fail to grow professionally.Pro: Knowing your boss as a friend means knowing what your boss needsBefriending your boss is not just beneficial on a personal level. Believe it or not, it can actually make you better at your job. If you know your boss as a friend, you have a better understanding of your boss’s personality and needs. Knowing a boss inside and out makes any employee a better one.Con: Worlds colliding can be toughLeaving work behind when you walk out the office door is healthy. That will be a lot harder to do when you’re meeting up with your boss during your free time. Conversatio ns may veer back toward work issues. Over cocktails, your boss might even start picking your brain about other employees who aren’t pulling their weight, and that’s when issues of betrayal can arise and things can get really sticky from 9 to 5. Also, your boss may also learn things about your personal life that could come back and bite you at work.Pro: You’re less likely to get in troubleBeing friends with the boss isn’t just a pro in times of plenty. It can also be a real benefit when things go awry. If you mess up at work- and who doesn’t from time to time- you might be less likely to get chewed out if the chewer has plans to go to the movies with you this weekend.Con: Here come the accusations of favoritismYour relationship with your boss can get a bit weird if the two of you become friends, but just think of what it will do with your relationship with the other employees! First of all, they’ll probably get a little wary whenever you get a promotion or a raise, wondering if you got that benefit on merit or because the boss likes hanging out with you. Your co-workers might start making accusations of favoritism, which often leads to†¦Con: You May alienate your peers†¦being on the outs with your office peers. Becoming really tight with the one in charge can do a lot of damage to your relationship with your co-workers. If they think you’re getting preferential treatment, they won’t just accuse you of receiving favoritism- they won’t want anything to do with you, or in worst case scenarios, they may actively work against you.The bottom line? Tread carefully when it comes to bonding with your boss on a personal level. There may be some superficial pros that come with it, but the cons can be pretty serious.

File Systems sed by Windows Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

File Systems Used by Windows - Essay Example In a more generalized format, these are a set of non-figurative data types, put into practice to serve the purposes of storing, the formation of hierarchies, maneuvering, routing, admittance, and reclamation of data. The File System that is supported by nearly all the versions released of MS Windows is File Allocation Table (FAT). It was an advanced version of what MS used in Disk Operating System (DOS) – the operating system launched by MS prior to Windows. FAT included several features and had much more to offer to its customers through Windows than its previous versions did. On a general note, many further features have been added to it making it a further enhanced file system; these features have been derived mainly from UNIX. The other file system used by Windows is Net Technology File System (NTFS), alongside the previously mentioned FAT system. FAT has a lengthy history against its name; its previous versions were known as FAT12 and FAT16 that had a number of constraints reducing the level of its performance. The first and the foremost major constraint was a limit on file name i.e. 8 characters, and then there was also a restriction on the extension characters utilized and that was 3 characters. These two restrictions were bundled together by the name of 8.3 filename limit. Microsoft then introduced VFAT which was essentially an advanced version of both FATs i.e. FAT12 and FAT16 in the NT 3.5 version of Windows. This version was also a part of the Windows 95 version launched by MS; it essentially permitted the utilization of Long File Names (LFN). Another version of FAT introduced was FAT32; it did address a number of constraints that were present in 12 and 16 FATs respectively, but yet it had issues that needed repair work.

Women's Involvement During Word War II Research Paper

Women's Involvement During Word War II - Research Paper Example The importance of this lay in the immense economic and sexual changes that then gave way to new formations in the family and the workplace. This paper shall look at these and the role that women had to play in the Second World War that led to the changes that have been talked of. The creation of the fictional character James Bond can be seen in the light of the wound that the collective masculinity of the British suffered following the Second World War. This can be seen in the hyper-masculine rhetoric that Ian Fleming employs in this series of novels where he builds up the British agent as a super-male. After the loss of colonies following the war, British soldiers returned home to find that many of their jobs had been taken up by the women who had till then been a part of the home and the family. They had, during the war, since many frontline positions had been taken up by the men, taken up the posts of office workers that had been left vacant. This shows that the women were a part of the war that created a void in the land where the war was not an everyday reality as it was on foreign land. This shows that the records of bravery that have been recorded regarding the war have been masculine accounts that have been made to suit the male needs of history. There are also accounts that say that women, especially those women who are a part of lower class backgrounds, have always worked for a living and to supplement their family’s income. In the cases of people of African American communities, it has always been the case that women have contributed a significant part to the economy of the land (â€Å"The Image and Reality of Women who Worked During World War II†, n.d.). Such commentators look at the recruitment of women during the Second World War as nothing but a channelization of the energies that women had directed towards other fields towards that of the war. This direction of energies towards the war resulted in an increase in the social status t hat was enjoyed by women and women of all races. A lot of the women were a part of the Nurse Corps that was instrumental in the reduction of the number of the casualties during the war. They were also sometimes a part of the army that fought at the frontline. Apart from this, there were women who were a part of the communities that stayed at home and created items that were necessary for the victory in the war. This included those women who worked in factories so as to keep the war a well-oiled machine and also those who would collect blood and roll bandages so as to keep the work of the nurses going. This led to great improvements in the way the war was fought and was also a great morale booster for the people who were at the frontline of the war (National Women’s History Museum, 2007). Despite these changes, even during the war, women were seen as secondary to the larger idea of serving the interests of the men who were at the forefront of the war. They were mostly paid les ser wages than the men and they were also viewed with a great deal of suspicion. This can be seen from the fact that they were not a significant part of the trade unions that came up following the war. They were also laid off by many employers or were forced to work at lesser wages than the men who returned from the war. This was very different from the attitudes that were adopted by the people who had employed them when there was an acute shortage of labor in the industries. What the women felt following the euphoria of the victory of the war was a sense of betrayal

What Are Smart Meters Information Technology Essay

What Are Smart Meters Information Technology Essay The aim of this research project is to give a critical review of the smart metering system. Climate change needs to be tackled and one of the possible solutions is the smart metering system, as it allows users to monitor and reduce their energy usage. This report will look at the past metering systems and their problems, the present metering systems and how they can be improved for future metering systems. The project will try to analyse the current issues like costs and how these can be reduced. Introduction Over The last decade, businesses have been increasingly talking about smart technology. Mercedes, for example, developed the Smart Car; there is the concept of Smart Money, and nowadays almost everybody is carrying the latest technology with Smart Phones. The utility industry is also taking part in this wave of Smart concepts, with the development of Smart Meters, which is fast becoming a topic which promotes various discussions on Smart Grids. Smart metering is a topic which has been getting a lot of coverage in the media and amongst many of the Engineering institutes. It is a topic which promises many benefits, both to customers, utility companies and the environment. Global warming and climate change are topics that, at the present date, we are seeing regularly on the news and in newspapers. It is a topic which has become the norm for discussions and debates. Global warming is caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses resulting from human activity such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. There are a number of ways we can fight climate change as individuals. One of the best ways is to reduce the unnecessary consumption of energy from goods and services in all aspects of life. This could be anything from driving on short trips to the shops, to taking several holidays a year on aeroplanes. There are alternative methods to these actions for example, walking or cycling to the shops. Concerns about the greenhouse effect, global warming, air pollution and energy security has resulted in increased public and government interest in the development of renewable energy sources. Many people are unaware of the amount of energy that they are using unnecessarily around the house or at work, and are unaware of the consequences it is having on the environment. The present financial economy is also posing a problem and more people are realising how important it is to save money. People are trying to save money in all aspects of life including on their energy bills but are unaware of how much energy they are consuming. Allowing customers to be aware of the amount of energy they are using makes a very big difference to our overall energy consumption. If we are aware of how much energy we are using, basic changes in our lifestyle will help to reduce this level of consumption, for example, ensuring all lights are switched off when leaving a room, switching off electrical devices over night rather than leaving them on standby. A solution is needed that will allow us to minimize the amount of energy we use in our day to day activities without changing our lifestyles dramatically. This is where the smart metering system comes in. Brief Overview of Smart Meters and Smart Metering 2.01 What are Smart Meters? Smart meters are the next generation of gas and electricity meters. They collect information about your energy use electronically.[1] [1] http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk (visit date: 18/11/09) Smart meters are digital meters which collect, store, and display information with regards to the energy usage. The digital meter can communicate between utilities to control the energy usage in a house or a business. This information is available to both the supplier of energy and the customer. It displays real-time information of not only the energy usage but also the tariffs. The smart meter will allow customers to control the amount of energy they use. 2.02 What is Smart metering? Smart Metering electronic remote, real time monitoring or collection of usage data is achieved by the use of communications enabled utilities meters.[2] [2] http://www.beamaenergy.org.uk (visit date: 18/11/09) BEAMAEnergy, the UK trade association group for the controls, metering and energy related communications industries, define smart metering as the statement shown above. From this statement we can determine that the term smart metering is given to a metering system which communicates wirelessly between utilities and a Smart meter, to determine the amount of energy being used. Figure 1: Smart Metering System Figure 1 above shows a smart metering system. It consists of a sensor which is connected to the meter. Figure 1 shows an electricity meter, but this could be a gas meter or even a water meter. The sensor picks up the usage data and sends this information to the portable display unit, or the smart meter, via a transmitter. There are three concepts relating to the collection of the data in the smart metering system, AMR, AMM and AMI. Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) is a remote reading system based on advanced technologies which allow utilities to read electronic meters over long distances. Through AMR, the energy consumption can be read on an annual, monthly, weekly, daily or on an hourly basis. Consumption and status data, such as time stamps, are through various connection media being transmitted to a central system for billing and analysis. The automatic data collection enables billing based on real time consumption as opposed to an estimated consumption. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) refers to systems that measure, read and analyse energy consumption. These systems are also able to read electricity, gas, heat and water meters remotely. AMI systems can be defined as an extension of the simpler AMR-system. The AMI always communicates two-way and comprises the whole range of metering devices, software, communication media, and data management systems. Automated Meter Management (AMM) or Smart Metering is another expansion of a remote reading system that includes the possibility of performing technical measurements and functions and carrying out customer-orientated services via the system. [3] [3] http://www.thegreendifference.info/12792/AMR%2C-AMM%2C-AMI (Visit date: 21/11/09) In order to fully understand the smart metering systems and its benefits, we were required to investigate the energy management systems of the past, identify its problems and what properties does smart metering have that overcome these problems. Past Energy Management Systems Mechanical What was it? Advantages? Disadvantages? Problems? How has it developed over the years? 4.0 Present Energy Management Systems Digital The current system in place, or which is currently being implemented is the Smart Metering system. It involves the installation of a digital meter at both residential and business customers, and the reading, processing and feedback of energy consumption data to the customer. The smart meter has the following capabilities: Real-time or near-time registration of energy usage and locally generated energy Smart meter -how does it work? PLC 4.1 Delivery Models There are three delivery models that are being considered for the arrangement of responsibilities for smart metering and related communications services. These options were given a full analysis for the Government by Baringa Partners. On the basis of the analysis, the Governments preferred method is a model which: Gas and electricity supply companies will have responsibility for the provision of smart meters; and A single provider will be appointed centrally to provide communications services to and from meters. 4.11 Competitive Model The competitive model is based on the existing metering market model, where electricity and gas suppliers are free to determine their own deployment strategy, choose the metering services they require and have the ability to contract the management of such services. Suppliers would remain responsible for all other metering services. 4.12 Central Communications Model This option would introduce a new market function to implement and manage communication infrastructure and data carriage, whilst maintaining metering competition. The communications provider would be organised on a national basis. All suppliers would be obliged to use the central communication function via licence conditions. Suppliers would also remain responsible for all other metering services. 4.13 Fully Centralised Model This option would introduce regional franchises to manage meter asset selection, ownership, deployment and maintenance, via a time based competitive franchise or licence awarded under competition. Communications services would be managed centrally as under the previous option. Predicted Costs for Each Model Current Projects around the world (what have the results shown in each project, their standards etc) Advantages of smart metering Disadvantages of smart metering Security (General security, i.e. environmental effects, wireless vs wired; cyber security) Case Study? UK Energy companys analysis on implementing smart metering 5.0 Future Prospects? Intelligent home Intelligent Meter 6.0 Conclusion

A Discussion on the Dialectical in Hero

Discuss the usefulness of the idea of the ‘dialectical’ with regard to any of the texts on this module. ‘Dialectic’ refers to the dialogue between two or more positions, holding different perspectives about a subject, who wish to establish the truth of the matter by dialogue with reasoned arguments. It may be postulated that Hero works on a Hegelian dialectic model, in that the tensions between the protagonist and antagonist of the film are constantly reworking the other, till a synthesis of their essence is achieved. Aufhebung† or sublation, being the motor by which the Hegelian dialectic functions (Palm, 2009) indicates the preservation of a useful portion of an idea, while moving beyond its limitations. The dialectic of Hero is realized in two ways; multiple narratives and multiple forms of dialogue-and suggests that there is no absolute truth, and that we arrive at the final truth through the dialectical interplay of different truths that challenge , change and preserve each other at once.The framed narrative structure of Hero displays the dialectic that exists between the King and Nameless as multiple narratives are being set up to communicate the different points of view existing between Nameless and the King. The celebration of the multiplicity of perspectives, or points of view, serves to highlight the nature of truth as a product of dialectical interplay between multiple presented truths. Hero functions as a prism, as seen from the division of the film into various vibrantly colored narratives as emblems of different truths.The self-similar fractal dimension each narrative holds highlights the fact that each narrative contains elements of the narrative before it, and each truth is derived from the truth before it, where each progressive narrative retains select elements of the previous one but changes others to create a different story. This is evident in the dialogical exchange between Nameless and the King, where the Ki ng chooses to accept parts of Nameless’ story as true and other parts as false.This fragmentation and subsequent reinvention of the truth creates a disjoint between the perceived truth and the accepted truth, suggesting that truth consists of many individual parts, and that in order for a unified truth to be assembled, deconstruction of it into its individual parts must happen before it can be reconstructed into a larger whole. Hence, the dialectical interplay between the multiple truths creates a new composite truth that retains the essence of each truth before it.Sublation occurs in the interaction between Nameless and the King, where both of them have their own truths in terms of ideologies, and the dialectical interaction of the two allows the two truths to interact and change each other as a result. For example, in order to get within 10 feet of the King, a limitation Sky, Broken Sword and Flying Snow could not breach, Nameless presents their weapons and in Broken Swordà ¢â‚¬â„¢s case his calligraphy. The items here are symbolic of each swordsman’s ideologies, and Nameless through accepting their weapons has similarly internalized their ideologies, hence changing his own truth as a result.Nameless as the bearer of Broken Sword’s truth then influences the King, so much so that the latter places his life in his would-be killer’s hands. Broken Sword’s truth resonates strongly with the King’s truth here, and this unification of their truths represents the power of the unification the King is striving to achieve, in the sense that it is powerful enough to make Nameless give up his goal of killing the King, something he had trained for more than 10 years for and defined himself by.Therefore even though Nameless has to be killed for the preservation of the social order, the King who is left standing at the end of the film has been changed, and this is evident from his hesitance in sentencing Nameless to death, something h e would not have hesitated to do prior to their meeting. Truth is seen here as something that we define ourselves by, and when our truth is changed, so do our definitions of ourselves and hence our identity.The dialectic in Hero finds physical form through the dialogical form that fighting takes on in the sense that there is an oppositional structural clash between two people holding on to different ideals. Over the course of the film, fighting is seen as a form of self-expression, and it shows how two people, charged with different ideals, clash, with the result that the one left standing has been changed in some manner by the other.The fight at the end of the film, between Broken Sword, who has forsaken his revenge for the sake of unification, and Flying Snow, who holds on to her revenge and blames Broken Sword for giving up his, represents exactly this point. The dichotomization between opposite ideals creates a cognitive dissonant effect which highlights the struggle between per sonal ideals and greater ideals that supersede the self. This conflict is ealized in Flying Snow whose triumph over Broken Sword grants her the unfortunate belated realization that at some level she yearned for coexistence with his ideal despite its clash with hers, as connoted by the repetition of â€Å"why didn’t you defend yourself? †, and this dissonance leads her to commit suicide to be reunited with her lover. Ultimately the clash of two people representing their own ideals has resulted in the prevalence of one person whose ideal has changed as a result.The communicative exchange between Nameless and Broken Sword as seen in the swordfight, over the water’s surface, in which calligraphic elements are embedded, signals a dialogic exchange not only of martial arts but also in terms of ideals. The constant parallelism of each other’s movements in the water signals that it is not a swordfight of conflict but rather conversation, as seen from the sword st rokes through the water akin to the strokes of a calligraphy brush on a canvas.Significantly the fight climaxes in the back-and-forth hitting of the water droplet, where the fluidity of water alludes to the fluid nature of truth and how it can be molded to serve one’s purpose. The fight ends when the water droplet hits Flying Snow’s face, and Nameless who turns back from his original purpose of striking Broken Sword also ends up with water droplets on his face.By drawing a parallel between Flying Snow and Nameless, who both sought revenge against the King for the destruction of their homelands, we see a tension between Nameless and Flying Snow’s common ideal and Broken Sword’s ideal. This tension is only resolved through Flying Snow’s death, and Nameless’s act of turning away, suggesting that when one holds on to a particular ideal such that it becomes one’s truth and identity, the inevitable clash of this truth with another’s will result in the deconstruction of one and the reconstruction of another.In conclusion, when we view things through different lens, we will come away with different truths each time. Hero exemplifies this for us and causes us to examine the nature of truth through the dialectical intercourse of each truth. Truth serves an existential purpose and it is important for each and every one of us to derive our own truth and hence determine our identity and purpose in life.The message of Hero is that though there are forces in existence that are greater than ourselves, the power of a common truth of all the nameless citizens can sometimes influence the truth of the one in power, in this case the King, and determine his actions. Everyone’s truth is different, but it is the meaning that we attach to it that defines us and sets us apart. Bibliography Palm, R. (2009). Retrieved October 17, 2012, from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven: https://lirias. kuleuven. be/bitstream/123456789/23467 0/1/PALM+dissertat..

Ministering to Mormons

Reflecting on I Love Mormons: A New Way to Share Christ with Latter-day Saints Most people associate the Mormon faith with the church that is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, Mormonism has its roots in New York State, where Joseph Smith founded the Church of Latter-Day Saints during the nineteenth century, when he was allegedly visited by an angel that he called â€Å"Moroni.† The principles upon which he based this church underwent many changes as the founders of the faith traveled westward, so many that people might question whether it is the same faith or not.   It is not unusual, however, for a young faith to undergo many changes: it can be argued that Christianity experienced many of the same dynamics in it beginnings as it moved from its country and culture of origin and spread across the world.   David Rowe’s text suggest that individuals who would preach Christianity to Mormons should approach Mormonism as less of a cult and more of a culture and will less zeal than love, Section 1: Overview of Mormon Theology According to its founders, the Mormon faith is based on the teachings of the descendents of ancient holy men and the faithful who came to this continent even before the birth of Christ.   The original teachings of the church were supposed to have been translated from golden plates that the angel Moroni, which were given to Joseph Smith. Some of those early teachings have fallen into disuse or have changed completely. For example, while Smith might have included polygamy and believed in a priesthood open to only a chosen few, polygamy is now discouraged, if not openly condemned by the church and the priesthood has been open to men of all races (Rowe 2005).   Other tenets have been added or subtracted from the faith or have altered in some way as the Mormon faith seeks to solidify itself. While the Mormons consider themselves to be a Christian faith, a number of beliefs and practices set them apart from other Christian denominations.   Some of these beliefs and practices include: Baptism of the dead Eternal marriage, known as a â€Å"celestial marriage† performed in the temple The belief in four sacred texts: the Holy Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and The Book of Mormon, and Teaching that God, the Father and Jesus Christ, the son, are of separate earthly bodies (Rowe, 2005). The Mormon Church also places a lot of emphasis on the family and on gender roles.   The church emphasizes the woman’s role in staying home and caring for the children, while men typically take on leadership roles–although these things are not absolute.   In addition, church members are intended to follow the law of chastity and to abstain from certain food, drinks, and substances. Church members are expected to proselytize.   All male members of the church are expected to perform a mission, which begins at 19 years of age and lasts two years.   Although women are not forbidden from going on missions, the requirements for women are different in terms of serving during a mission.   Finally, the LDS Church tends to believe that the individual can receive revelations from God, particularly in personal matters.   There are many precepts of this complex faith that are not covered by this paper; however, the ones that are listed represent some of their more important beliefs. The Mormon faith does not have a single, monolithic form.   Rather, it is comprised of splinter groups.   Given the statement   in Rowe (2005) that Mormonism â€Å"may stand as an indictment to Protestants because they arose to compensate for some perceived failure in the Christian movement† that encouraged him to start â€Å"a single ‘true Church’ that he believed would unify all members and spell an end to denominational schism,† this fact is interesting and interesting one (pp. 18-19). In general, the term â€Å"Mormon† is most accurately applied to the individuals who followed Smith’s teachings and settled in Utah; however, the church elders prefer that it be known by the more accurate name of â€Å"Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints† (Rowe, 2005). Section 2: â€Å"Wisely and Gently† Kraft (1998) reminds the reader that God apparently wants people to be respectful of other cultures and that He gave such directions through the Holy Bible.   In 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, Kraft states, God’s purpose is indicated through Paul’s words about living like a Jew when among the Jews and living like a Gentile when among the Gentiles, and so being â€Å"all things to all men, that [he might] save some of them by whatever means are possible† (p. 384). Kraft discusses the various levels of culture, which is the manner in which people live their lives.   People are products of their culture, which determines the manner in which they view the world and the pressure for the individual to conform within that worldview is strong (Kraft, 1998).   In addition, Kraft reminds the reader that Jesus worked not by attacking people or their cultures, but by working with people within their cultures to effect change. Overall, Mormonism has a number of good principles behind it and yet its worshipers have been widely persecuted for their faith.  Ã‚   Today’s Mormons tend to be â€Å"thin-skinned, hypersensitive, and virtually expecting to be attacked† for their beliefs (Rowe, 2005, p. 49).   Whether or not the individual talking with a Mormon agrees with the positions of that person’s faith, Rowe states that they are deserving of respect. This position is particularly important, since Mormons typically have a certainty in the truth as preached by their prophet and the awareness of their nature as what Rowe (2005) calls â€Å"an exodus community† (pp. 48-49), both of which cause them to close the doors to communication more readily than individuals in other faiths.   Despite the apparent wisdom behind this statement of affairs, however, it appears to contradict the author’s assertion that Utah’s admittance to the Union ended the â€Å"us against them† mentality that existed between Mormons and the United States government at the time (p. 47). Section 3: Proselytizing Rowe (2005) constantly reminds the reader that the Mormons have their own culture.   For this reason, Christians are to treat them as they might adherents to Islamic, Hindu, or Buddhist cultures, as well as any other non-Christian cultures.   Rowe (2005) describes the Mormon Church as being â€Å"Christianesque† in that it is â€Å"linked to statements and images from the Bible† (p. 42).   However, some of the teachings are not Christian in nature, such as Joseph Smith’s vision of separate beings for God the Father and Jesus Christ. Because this teaching is so different from that held by other Christians, it is important to be prepared with gentle teachings about its error, as well as other errors held by the Mormon Church.   It is doubly important because the worldview of Mormonism is compulsive in its teachings, just as is the case in many Muslim cultures (Duin, 2006, p. 2).   Because it is not possible for Mormons to examine their faith for themselves, other Christians should be able to help them do so. According to Coleman (1993) Jesus was able to start with a small group of disciples because â€Å"it did not matter how small the group was to start with so long as they reproduced and taught their disciples to reproduce (p. 102).   It was a strategy that, as stated earlier, depended on assimilation to achieve results.   One thing to share, then, would be that Christ died for everyone on the Cross, not just for a significant few.   He accepted and cared for all faiths and races (Coleman, 1993). Rowe (2005) suggests trying to bring the two value systems into perspectives by working with the person being instructed to put the message of the Gospel into words according to each faith and then using that as a basis for discussion (p. 65).   Final, it would seem important to understand the Mormon teaching of two Beings known as God in the Mormon Church, and how it relates to or differs from the traditional Christian teaching of monotheism.   By understanding these differences and by being able to speak in a learned and intelligent manner to another individual from a Mormon perspective. References Coleman, R. E. (1993).   The master’s plan.   Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (3rd ed.), Ralph D. Winter and Stephen C. Hawthorne (eds.).   Pasadena, CA: William Carey. Duin, J. (2003).   The Washington Times.   New World Communications, Inc. Kraft, C. H. (1998). Culture, worldview, and contextualization. Rowe, D. (2005). I Love Mormons: A New Way to Share Christ with Latter-day Saints. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.