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Module 1-

Current Event- https://www.dw.com/en/german-court-bans-mosque-from-call-to-prayer-in-oer-erkenschwick/a-42432256

A German couple complained and requested a mosque to stop their weekly call to prayer. They grew up as Christians and said that it violated their religious rights. From the couples’ perspective, they said that the content of the call was placing Allah over the God of the Christians. They felt like they were forced to participate. From the mosque’s perspective, the call is only two minutes only on Fridays. They never had any complaints before and the German couple also lives very close to the mosque.

This could be explained through conflict theory. Conflict theory states that society is in a state of constant conflict because of competition for limited resources. Social order is maintained through domination and power rather instead of consensus and conformity. There was a conflict between the German couple and the mosque because there were people living in the same community with two different faiths. Christians have killed Muslims in the past during holy wars over holy land. There is still division, hate, hurt and hostility.  

My perspective might be biased because I grew up as a Christian in a Christian household. But I think it’s good that German court banned mosque from call to prayer. The call to prayer invaded their religious right by forcing the couple to listen to prayer that went against their faith and belief.

 Module 2-

Current Event- https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/07/06/its-official-the-us-is-becoming-a-minority-majority-nation

U.S. is officially becoming a minority majority nation. Data shows that there are more minority children under age 5 than whites. Hispanics make up the largest minority, followed by African Americans. Some people are both majority and minority. The minority population will continue to rise and this means that “no group will have a majority share of the total and the United States will become a 'plurality' [nation] of racial and ethnic groups," America is becoming increasingly diverse due to immigration and intermarriages.

This could be viewed through structural functionalism. Structural functionalism theory focuses how Americans play a role in continuing, interfering, and contributing to social cohesion. Immigration plays a significant role in social cohesion. Immigration allowed social networks to be built among immigrants.

I do think that the United States is becoming more diverse over time because we are accepting immigrants from all over the world.  In an increasingly competitive global economy, diversity is a positive thing.

  Module 3-

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_2720/Spotlight-2720.html

Serious mental illness is more likely to affect adults below the poverty line. Adults living in poverty have a harder life because they have to deal with health care costs, decreased productivity, and poor general health. If you are poor, then your likelihood of suffering from mental illness goes up. But having a mental illness could also cause you to become poor.

This view could be explained through conflict theory. Conflict theory states that society is in a constant state of conflict from limited resources and power. According to the conflict theory, those with wealth and power sustain their status by oppressing those who don’t have wealth and power. They maintain inequality and dominance by preventing others from joining them.

Some people have more powers than others. This creates structural inequality where some benefit and others suffer. Money plays a huge role in structural inequality.

 Module 4-

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/22/transgender-primer-manning/2687869/

Transgender people align their bodies to match their gender identity. They feel like they were born in the wrong body. The new manual changed the name from “gender identity disorder” to “gender dysphoria” which means that they feel conflicted inside. The process of coming out as gay/lesbian is very different from coming out as transgender.

Symbolic interactionism theory carries a potential for readdress gender construction. We cannot get rid of gender however we can redo gender.

I think that transgender people should be treated just like anyone else. They shouln’t be discriminated against. If we categorize LGBQT people as different, then we are putting them in a box. People should be accepted for who they are.

Module 5-

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/02/22/will-nations-third-largest-church-split-up-over-lgbt-debate-leaders-try-reach-an-answer/?noredirect=on

United Methodist church, the third largest church could split up over LGBT debate. The different opinions among both clergy and believers could result in schism. A lot of the leaders oppose the idea of being a part of the church that supports homosexuality.

This could be viewed through conflict theory. Homosexuality challenges the heterosexual relationship that the Bible talks about. Many think that it is a sin and try to change them.

My perspective on this might be biased because I went to church all my life where I was taught that homosexuality is a sin. I think that lusting after another person of the same sex could be a sin but I don’t know if loving someone of the same sex is a sin.