Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Elvis Presley

2007-05-04T01:51:59Z

Emerson:

{{expand}}

'''Elvis Presley''' was an early pioneer of [[Rock and Roll]] music. He was one of the most successful musicians of his day and appeared many in [[Hollywood movies]]. His dancing was sexually evocative, and encouraged young people to fornicate. He died of a drug overdose, God's retribution for a wicked and sinful life.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Presley, Elvis}}
[[Category:Musicians]]
[[Category:Actors]]

Sesame Street

2007-05-04T01:46:50Z

Emerson: Cookie monster controversy

[[Image:sesamestreet.jpg|200px|right|]]
'''Sesame Street''' is a television show for children on the [[PBS]] network. It has been around since 1969 and has spawned a series of movies, books, magazines, and toys. Sesame Street features [[muppet]]s interacting with adults and children in an educational setting that emphasizes learning numbers and letters. The show has won a number of [[Emmy Award]]s and is shown in over 25 languages around the world.

==Spinoffs==
Sesame Street successfully launched the career of [[Jim Henson]]'s muppets and has produced countless imitations and variations. A number of Sesame Street movies have been made, including ''Follow That Bird'' and ''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland''. Sesame Street characters have made appearances on a number of game and talk shows. Many stuffed animals of the Sesame Street characters are sold in amazing quantities and the [[Tickle Me Elmo]] is considered to be one of the best selling toys of all time. A number of musical albums have been released by Sesame Street characters, most notably ''Bert's Blockbusters'' which scored an unexpected success in 1974 with the single ''Doin' the Pigeon''.<ref>[http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sesame_street/berts_blockbusters/ Bert's Blockbusters - #4 Album of 1974]</ref>

==Muppet Characters==
* [[Big Bird]]
* [[Cookie Monster]]
* [[Snuffleupagus]]
* [[Oscar the Grouch]]
* [[Elmo]]
* [[The Count]]
* [[Bert & Ernie]]
* [[Telly Monster]]
* [[Kermit the Frog]]
* [[Grover]]
* [[Miss Piggy]]

==Controversy==
Sesame Street has been accused of having a liberal bias and criticized for encouraging children to watch television. The characters Bert and Ernie are often recognized as a homosexual couple, as they live in the same house and share clothing and a bedroom<ref>[http://www.northernstar.info/articles/?id=989 Homosexual Themes corrupt Sesame Street]</ref>. However, PBS has repeatedly denied this <ref>[http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/gaymupp.htm Urban Legends]</ref>. Other Christian groups have criticized the portrayal of Cookie Monster, who tempts children with cookies in order to get them to perform sexual favors.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.sesameworkshop.org/sesamestreet/ Sesame Street homepage]

Mexico

2007-05-04T01:43:27Z

Emerson: Mexican threat to sovereignity

[[Image:Mexicof3b.gif‎ |thumbnail|right|0px|The Mexican flag.]]

'''Mexico''' is a country in [[North America]], directly south of the [[United States]]. It is a newly industrialized country, meaning it is in the intermediate stage between third world and full development. However, some parts of the country (mostly in the south) are noted because of a poor economy, causing it to be the main contributor of [[illegal immigration]] to the [[United States]] to find work.

The states of [[Texas]], [[New Mexico]], [[California]], and [[Arizona]] were part of Mexico until the [[Mexican American War]]. Many U.S. citizens in this region speak Spanish as their native language.

Mexico is the source of most of the [[marijuana]] imported into the United States.{{fact}} Many immigrants and terrorists are smuggled across the border into the United States. Once here, these illegals think they can breed with Americans. There is concern amongst many Americans about miscegenation and the loss of white Christian culture because of the massive illegal border crossing of the Mexican people. For the US, this is a significant threat to sovereignty.

==Religion==
The dominant Religion of Mexico is [[Roman Catholic]]ism<ref>https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mx.html#People</ref>. Mexican society tend to be conservative in certain aspects, such as family values. The current president is [[Felipe Calderon]] from the PAN or [[National Action Party]]. Calderon and the PAN are [[conservative]].

See also [[Mexican History]].
==References==
<references/>

[[Category:North American Countries]]
[[Category:Mexico]]

Islam

2007-05-04T01:39:01Z

Emerson: Declaration of faith

'''Islam''' is a [[monotheism|monotheistic]] [[religion]] based on the teachings of [[Muhammad]], a 7th century [[Arab]] [[politics|political]] and religious figure. The word "Islam" means "submission." The followers of Islam are called Muslims, or Moslems. Muslims follow the teaching of Muhammad, whom they believe to be [[God]]'s last and greatest [[prophet]].

Muslims believe that God (Allah, in [[Arabic]]) revealed the [[Qur'an]] to Muhammad. The [[Qur'an]] is considered to be the pure and [[holy]] word of Allah. Like [[Christianity]], and [[Judaism]], Islam originated in the [[Middle East]] and claims to trace its roots back to [[Abraham]]. Muslims do not believe that Muhammad was the founder of Islam, rather that he restored the original faith of Abraham and the prophets, which had been corrupted and/or misinterpreted over time.

Islam is the second largest religion in the world, with over 1.4 billion followers, the number of Muslims is rapidly growing, mainly due to high birth rates in Muslim countries. Both Christian and Muslim sources agree that conversions to Christianity outnumber those to Islam.<ref>[http://www.bible.ca/global-religion-statistics-world-christian-encyclopedia.htm World Christian Encyclopedia]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles6/AlJazeerahAfrica.php Translation of AL-Jazeerah interview between Maher Abdallah and Shiekh Ahmed Katani]</ref>

[[Image:Mecca.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Mecca]], the Islamic holy city.]]

===Five Pillars of Islam===

*'''Shahadah (Profession of Faith)''' -The Shahadah is the Muslim profession of faith. 'ašhadu 'al-lā ilāha illā-llāhu wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh, a loose English translation reads "''There is none worthy of worship except the Allah, and [[Muhammad]] is the messenger of Allah''" This testament can be seen as the foundation of all of the other tenets of Islam.

*'''Salat (Ritual Prayer)''' -All Muslims are required to Pray to Allah five times each day while facing [[Mecca]].

*'''Zakat (Charity)''' Able Muslims must donate to the poor based on the wealth one has accumulated. In current usage it is interpreted as 2.5% of the value of most valuables and savings held for a full [[lunar year]].

*'''Sawm (Fasting)''' All able-bodied Muslims (children, the elderly, and the ill are exempt) must fast during daylight hours during the daylight hours of the entire month of [[Ramadan]]. According to Muslims, this purifies the body and soul. Some Muslim sects allow military, police and emergency services personnel to receive an exemption from fasting from an imam, on the grounds that their work supports the community or national good.

*'''Hajj (Pilgrimage)''' All able-bodied Muslims must make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives.

[[Image:Quran.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Pages from the Qur'an, the holy book of the Islamic religion.]]

==Islam and Christianity==

While Muslims do not believe Jesus to be the Son of God or in the resurrection, they consider him to be one of God's most important prophets. However, the Qur'an warns against worshiping Jesus, for fear of [[idolatry]].<ref>[http://www.ccg.org/_domain/ccg.org/Islam/Islam.htm Christian Churches of God Articles on Islam], March 10, 2007</ref>

The Qur'an states that Christians will be punished, though the nature of the punishment is not specified:

"Surely, disbelievers are those who said:
"Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity)." But there is no god but One, Allah.
And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them.

Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah is OftForgiving, Most Merciful.

The Messiah , son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a Siddiqah (i.e. she believed in the words of God and His Books ).
They both used to eat food (as any other human eat).
Look how We make the signs clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth)."

Qur'an 5:73-75

However, Islam does recognize Christians and Jews as "people of the book" since both refer to one God only, and recognize Abraham (Ibrahim in [[Arabic]]) as a founding prophet.

Unfortunately, this means that Muslims will not be saved. As Jesus, our Savior, said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
==Islam and Paganism==

Although Muslims profess belief in a single, almighty [[Allah|God]], some Western scholars believe that some Muslim beliefs, like some of the [[church]] and indeed early Judaism, can be traced back to distinctly polytheistic antecedents. Some, for example, have attempted to link Allah to a moon deity, though Allah is cited in the Qur'an as the God of Abraham and Isaac (Judaism and Christianity). <ref>Abramahov, "Islamic Theology". Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh, 1988. [http://www.amazon.com/Islamic-Theology-Binyamin-Abrahamov/dp/0748611029/sr=8-4/qid=1172042917/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4/105-1837174-2630046?ie=UTF8&s=books]</ref> Others have pointed to the pagan roots of various Muslim prohibitions, such as the ban on pork (also practiced in Orthodox Judaism) originating in the 3rd-century AD Damascene [[cult]] of the pig-god Jamal. <ref>Ibid.</ref> . As well as various recently-recovered scrolls that hint at early Muslim human sacrifice, which was also a part of early Judaism (eg: Story of Abraham being ordered to sacrafice his son by God. The story can be found in both the Bible and Qur'an). However such claims remain unverified. <ref>Esposito, "The Oxford History of Islam", p. 523. Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1999. [http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-History-Islam-John-Esposito/dp/0195107993/sr=8-1/qid=1172042853/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-1837174-2630046?ie=UTF8&s=books]</ref>

==Sharia==

[[Sharia]] is the body of Islamic law. The term means "way" or "path"; it is the legal framework within which public and some private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on Muslim principles of jurisprudence. It is not actually part of the canonical Qur'an; that is to say, it is not believed to be the direct word of Allah by Muslims, but rather the interpretation of it.

Sharia deals with many aspects of day-to-day life, including politics, economics, banking, business law, contract law, sexuality, and social issues. Some Islamic scholars accept Sharia as the body of precedent and legal theory established before the 19th century, while other scholars view Sharia as a changing body, and include Islamic legal theory from the contemporary period.{{fact}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://muslim-canada.org/islam_christianity.html Islam and Christianity] - excellent article comparing and contrasting the two
[[Category:Islam]]
[[Category:Religion]]

Muhammad

2007-05-04T01:36:00Z

Emerson: God's grace

== Life of Mohammed==
Mohammed (A.D. 570-632) or [[Muhammad]] was the founder of Islam. He began life as a wealthy tradesmen, one of the elite of his city of [[Mecca]]. He claimed to be privy to certain [[revelations]] in middle age, speaking of a need to abandon worship of the many gods who dominated Mecca's religion at the time, and worship the one God, [[Allah]].

These early revelations spoke of a need to return to the [[monotheism]] of [[Abraham]]; in this way, at an early age, Mohammed saw himself as reviving an ancient faith, a perceived correction to [[Christianity]] and [[Judaism]], and restoring his people to what he saw as their rightful position as the true founders and heirs of monotheism. In these revelations, submission to the will of God - [[Allah]] - was critical. Mohammed's fledgling religion continued to develop throughout his life, through periodic revelations often relating directly to events currently facing his new faith.

The faith caught on slowly, winning only a few converts in Mecca (the first being his wife). Under increased pressure and ostracism from elders in Mecca, Mohammed began the [[hijra]], an organized exodus of his followers from Mecca to the city of [[Medina]]. [[Muslims]] date the formation of their religion to the ''hijra'' itself, even beginning their dating system at this point.

At Medina, the new Muslims immediately adopted an aggressive stance, seeking to coexist with the [[Jews]] living in Medina on ''his'' terms. The encounter ended badly, though, with Mohammed dividing and conquering the Jewish groups in Medina, ordering the massacre of the [[Qurayza]] [[Jewish]] tribe, as they refused changing their [[religion]] to his submission, after (possibly) fabricating a cause to break what is called by modern historians the [[Compact of Medina]].<ref>Berkey, ''The Formation of Islam''</ref>

== After Mohammed's Death ==

Mohammed's death at an early age caused the splintering of his religion into new sects, over the question of succession. The groups called themselves the [[Sunnis]] and the [[Shiite|Shi'as]]. Many attribute this split to the high degree to which authority was centered in the powerful character of Mohammed himself: without his powerful personality, the movement could not survive intact.<ref>Bernard Lewis, ''What Went Wrong''</ref>

The failure or splintering of movements built around a charismatic leader is a recurring sociological problem, often studied by psychologists, and referred to as the problem of the [[routinization of charisma]]. [[Christianity]] faced the same problem, and many attribute the conquest of this problem to the leadership of the apostle [[Paul]].<ref>Maximillian Weber, ''Theory of Social and Economic Organization,'' in the chapter "The Nature of Charismatic Authority and its Routinization," see also Len Oakes, "Prophetic Charisma: The Psychology of Revolutionary Religious Personalities"</ref>. Without the Grace of God given to Paul on the road to Damascus, Christians would also be a bunch of diaper-headed terrorists.

==See Also==
*[[Islam]]
*[[Muhammad cartoons controversy]]

== References ==

<references/>

== Notes ==

HIR | Muhammad's massacre of the Jewish tribe Banu Qurayzah [http://www.hirhome.com/islam/art.htm]

[[Category:Islam]]
[[Category:Religious people]]

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

2007-05-04T01:32:13Z

Emerson: Christian point of view

HIV ''(Human Immunodeficiency Virus)'' is an infectious human [[retrovirus]] that causes [[Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome]] ''(AIDS)''. It is primarily a [[sexually transmitted disease]]. Currently, HIV/AIDS kills approximately 2-3 million people per year, primarily in developing countries. Currently in the U.S., there are approximately 500,000 people infected with HIV.

God gave us HIV to get rid of homosexual sinners.

== Transmission ==

HIV is primarily spread by sexual contact and intravenous drug use. Most early infections in the US were via homosexual sex, and to a lesser extent via intravenous drug use and blood transfusions; most current infections in the world are via heterosexual contact and vertical transmission from mother to child. Mothers infected with HIV transmit the virus to their baby ''in utero'', during childbirth. Mother-to-child transmission can be significantly reduced by the proper use of antiretroviral agents.

Until recently, it was thought that breastfeeding increased the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child. However, research in KwaZulu Natal <ref>''The Lancet'', March 30th 2007</ref> showed that babies of mothers with HIV who receive a mixture of milk and solid foods are 11 times more likely to become infected than those who are exclusively breastfed. Those given formula milk as well as breast milk are nearly twice as likely to become HIV positive. Even in countries with high HIV prevalence, it is calculated that exclusive breastfeeding could prevent 13% of deaths in children under five years-old.

The KwaZulu Natal study involved around 2,700 babies born between 2001 and 2005. Major efforts were made to encourage and support women in breastfeeding by sending counsellors to their homes twice a week. The success of the strategy surprised the researchers. The authors say exclusive breastfeeding "ordinarily protects the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, which thereby presents a more effective barrier to HIV".

Less commonly, contact with infected blood causes HIV transmission. This can occur in health care providers (HCPs) or others exposed to infectious bodily fluids. Transmission is facilitated by breaks in the skin or direct contact with mucosal tissues, such as those found in the eyes, mouth, anus, or vagina. Early in the epidemic, blood transfusions were a significant source of HIV transmission.

Other less likely means of transmission exist, though are rare. There are no confirmed cases from contact with the saliva, sweat or tears of an infected person.

Early on in the epidemic, there was much confusion about the transmission of HIV. After decades of study, this has been clarified. HIV can be found in various body fluids, however its highest concentrations are found in semen, blood, and vaginal secretions. It can also be found in breast milk, but recent research <ref>The Lancet, March 30th 2007</ref> shows that exclusive breastfeeding tends to protect against HIV transmission.

As summarized by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control:

<blockquote>An exposure that might place HCP at risk for HIV infection is defined as a percutaneous injury (e.g., a needlestick or cut with a sharp object) or contact of mucous membrane or nonintact skin (e.g., exposed skin that is chapped, abraded, or afflicted with dermatitis) with blood, tissue, or other body fluids that are potentially infectious. In addition to blood and visibly bloody body fluids, semen and vaginal secretions also are considered potentially infectious. Although semen and vaginal secretions have been implicated in the sexual transmission of HIV, they have not been implicated in occupational transmission from patients to HCP.</blockquote>

===Potentially Infectious Fluids===
''The risk for transmission of HIV infection from these fluids is unknown; the potential risk to HCP from occupational exposures has not been assessed by epidemiologic studies in health-care settings.''

*cerebrospinal fluid
*synovial fluid
*pleural fluid
*peritoneal fluid
*pericardial fluid
*amniotic fluid.

===Non-infectious Fluids===
''The following fluids are not considered potentially infectious '''unless''' they are visibly bloody; the risk for transmission of HIV infection from these fluids and materials is low.''

*feces
*nasal secretions
*saliva
*sputum
*sweat
*tears
*urine
*vomitus

<blockquote>Any direct contact (i.e., contact without barrier protection) to concentrated virus in a research laboratory or production facility requires clinical evaluation. For human bites, clinical evaluation must include the possibility that both the person bitten and the person who inflicted the bite were exposed to bloodborne pathogens. Transmission of HIV infection by this route has been reported rarely.</blockquote>

===Data===
'''Per-contact risk of HIV transmission:'''

:URA with a known seropositive partner: 0.82 percent
:URA with a partner of unknown serostatus, 0.27 percent (95% CI: 0.06, 0.49 percent)
:Unprotected insertive anal sex: 0.06 percent.
:Receptive oral sex: 0.04 percent.
(URA=unprotected anal-receptive sex)
''AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, August 9, 1999''

''"The overall, unadjusted probability of HIV-1 transmission per coital act is 0·0011 in this Ugandan population, and greater infectivity of predominant HIV-1 viral subtypes is unlikely to account for the explosive HIV-1 epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Transmission probability per act varies greatly with the HIV-1 viral load of the HIV-1-infected partner, which suggests that interventions to reduce viral load could reduce transmission.15,28 Younger age and genital ulceration also increased the probability of transmission per act."'' THE LANCET, Volume 357: Pages 1149-1153,
14 April 2001.

== Infection ==

After exposure, the virus invades and replicates in immune cells near the site of infection. It quickly spreads to regional lymph nodes and via the blood stream to the rest of the body. During this stage the patient may experience ''Acute Retroviral Syndrome'', a vague flu-like illness. The patient is often asymptomatic for the first 5-10 years after infection. By that time, untreated, progression to AIDS in inevitable, except in a small subset of patients.

== Treatment ==

Treatment issues are complicated by issues of poverty and education. In communities with adequate resources, HIV infection is treatable with Highly Active Retroviral Therapy ([[HAART]]). This therapy effectively prevents progression to AIDS in many patients, however there are many side effects to treatment, and resistance is a serious issue.

== Prevention ==

Prevention is an issue complicated by issues of poverty and education. Sexual transmission can be effectively prevented by avoiding sexual contact (abstinence), or by regular, proper use of latex condoms. A large percentage of those infected are unaware of their disease status, which complicates prevention. Spouses are often infected without their knowledge of their partner's status.

Occupational infection can be prevented with the use of universal precautions and by post-exposure prophylaxis.

Currently, no vaccine is available, and it is not clear if a vaccine will be available any time in the near future.

== References ==

Mandell, Bennett, & Dolin: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 6th ed., Copyright © 2005 Churchill Livingstone, An Imprint of Elsevier

Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis.
MMWR Recomm Rep. 2005;54:1-17.

www.cdc.gov

THE LANCET, Volume 357: Pages 1149-1153,
14 April 2001.

AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, August 9, 1999

THE LANCET, 30 March 2007, reported in ''The Guardian'', 30 March 2007 [http://www.guardian.co.uk/aids/story/0,,2046416,00.html]

[[Category:Diseases]]