scholarly journals Divorce: Men Do Not Hold all the Cards—The Qur’an Actually Levels the Playing Field Through Mandated Process and Etiquette

2021 ◽  
pp. 179-197
Author(s):  
Leena El-Ali
Keyword(s):  
Marital Discord ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
False Idea

AbstractDivorce is a huge topic of concern for God in the Qur’an. Even as He makes clear that it is His least-favourable solution to marital discord and even as He counsels a period of reflection and even recommends mediation, God makes explicit His commandment that the divorce process be kind and fair to women in contrast to the then-prevailing customs. But custom to this day has been neither kind nor fair to women: the “wedding-knot” (‘isma) has been deemed by society to be held solely by the man, limiting a woman’s ability to obtain a divorce at all, much less a fair one. This has often also impacted women’s access to their own children upon divorce, surely a most unkind situation, one that is only emboldened by the false idea that men are “guardians” of women as it makes them feel even more entitled to be the sole guardians of their children.

Esotericism and the “Coded Word” in Mormonism

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-54
Author(s):  
Clyde Forsberg Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Popular Religion ◽  
Latter Day Saints ◽  
Social Commentary ◽  
Joseph Smith ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Book Of Mormon ◽  
Divine Inspiration ◽  
History Of ◽  
New Interpretation ◽  
New Religion

In the history of American popular religion, the Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, have undergone a series of paradigmatic shifts in order to join the Christian mainstream, abandoning such controversial core doctrines and institutions as polygamy and the political kingdom of God. Mormon historians have played an important role in this metamorphosis, employing a version (if not perversion) of the Church-Sect Dichotomy to change the past in order to control the future, arguing, in effect, that founder Joseph Smith Jr’s erstwhile magical beliefs and practices gave way to a more “mature” and bible-based self-understanding which is then said to best describe the religion that he founded in 1830. However, an “esoteric approach” as Faivre and Hanegraaff understand the term has much to offer the study of Mormonism as an old, new religion and the basis for a more even methodological playing field and new interpretation of Mormonism as equally magical (Masonic) and biblical (Evangelical) despite appearances. This article will focus on early Mormonism’s fascination with and employment of ciphers, or “the coded word,” essential to such foundation texts as the Book of Mormon and “Book of Abraham,” as well as the somewhat contradictory, albeit colonial understanding of African character and destiny in these two hermetic works of divine inspiration and social commentary in the Latter-day Saint canonical tradition.

The (Mis) Education of Immigrant Children in Today’s America

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Gabriela E. Gui
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Immigrant Students ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Immigrant Children ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Survey Interviews ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
General Education Classrooms

In today’s America, not every child starts on a level playing field, and very few children move ahead based solely on hard work or talent. Generational poverty and a lack of cultural capital hold many students back, robbing them of the opportunity to move up professionally and socially. Children of immigrants are especially at-risk because, in addition to facing poverty, race, geographical location or economic disadvantages, they are also confronted with failure due to their limited or non-existent English proficiency. This study focuses on the degree to which teachers in a mid-sized urban school district take into consideration the individual needs of immigrant children in the process of their education. The study also examines the preparation teachers have had to equip them with knowledge of best practices in teaching immigrant children, and the relationship between teachers’ practices, beliefs, and their demographic and personal characteristics (age, gender, years of experience, level of education, etc.). Quantitative data was collected via a survey. Interviews with teachers and one central office administrator provided data for the qualitative section of the study. The findings revealed that teachers, in general, appeared to lack knowledge of specific policies for mainstreaming immigrant students into general education classrooms; their use of effective teaching practices for working with immigrant children were limited; and most of the teachers had not participated actively in professional development that focused on teaching immigrant children.

OER and Equity in the Classroom

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Newman
Keyword(s):  
Student Achievement ◽  
Barriers To Success ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Course Materials

This infographic presents a sample scenario for how the high cost of a textbook affects student achievement. Depending on the method that students use to obtain their course materials, there are many barriers to success in their course. OER levels the playing field by giving students access to course materials on day one.

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