Definitions and ExplanationsCulture is a way of life at a particular time, though dynamic it has a very strong element of consistency. It involves practices and shared values that are considered the norm among a group of people at that time. These values and practices are learnt through social interactions and distinguish the group from others. Culture [...]
Religion has always been one of the most widely discussed topics throughout generations. It is a powerful and emotive subject to the extent that people have killed others and given up their lives for religion. There are many things that have influenced the way man has lived over the years but among all these there [...]
Democracy is a form of government where the power lies with the people (being governed). The term comes from the Greek word “demos” meaning people and “kratos” meaning power. The underlying principle behind democracy is freedom and equality for all its constituents. Democracy acknowledges the decision of the majority, and in a democracy, all constituents [...]
What is History? – Learn about Its Popular Areas of Study Anything that has something to do with the study of the past is history. The word was derived from the Greek word “historia” that means knowledge obtained by research or in simple term, “inquiry”. The study of history is relevant to the problems of [...]
The origin of this particular kind of classification of human beings is not well documented but it has a history that begins from around the 1600s. There is no single universally accepted definition of the term though most definitions will agree that it has something to do with inherited features among a group of people [...]
Faith is the belief in something, whether a person or an idea, even in the absence of proof to support such a belief. Faith is usually used in the religious sense, as a verb and as a noun. As a verb, it is the act of believing in a creator or a divine being even [...]
What is Philosophy? Philosophy is one of the oldest and most controversial subjects that mankind has ever come up with. It is has mostly been a source of questions on every facet of human life while offering very little in the form of answers that are acceptable to a wider portion of the population. The [...]
What is Socialism? Socialism is a form of society wherein the citizens are the owners of the means of production, as well as the decision makers in how wealth will be distributed. Under socialism, citizens will have equal standing in society, equal income, land, and opportunities. One of the key terms that are closely associated [...]
What is Sociology? Sociology is the study of human behavior in the societal context. Sociology falls under the social sciences, and sociology’s focus is on the study of human groups. Sociology comes from the Latin word “sociologie”, literally meaning the “study of companion”. At least as early as philosopher Plato’s time, there have already been [...]
What is Critical Thinking? Critical thinking is a way of thinking which allows the person to look at a problem or a situation and be able to judge what is right or wrong through the use of logic and reasoning, beyond his own prejudices. Critical thinking requires an open minded approach in viewing things, knowing [...]
What is Karma? Karma is a belief by certain religions, specifically by Buddhists and Hindus, that all actions made by humans in this lifetime have a consequence that will come back to them. Everything that is happening to a person’s life at the moment, whether good or bad are the product of something that he [...]
What is Lybrel? Lybrel is an oral contraceptive or birth control pill manufactured by pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. Lybrel is a continuous use pill, and comes in a 28-day blister pack. The active ingredients in Lybriel are 90 micrograms of the hormone progestin (in the form of levonorgestrel) and 20 micrograms of estrogen (in the [...]
What is Muslim Brotherhood? Muslim Brotherhood, also often called The Society of the Muslim Brothers, is a movement that spans across many countries, and is in politics the biggest opposition group in many Arab nations. It is also considered by many the most influential group of its kind. The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt [...]
What is Pashtunwali? Pashtunwali is an unwritten code of ethics used by the Pashtun tribes people of the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. It is also interpreted as the “way of the Pashtuns” or the “code of life”. It is also practiced by many Afghan and Pakistani non-Pashtuns who live in close proximity of Pashtun communities. Pashtunwali is [...]
What is Philippine Culture? The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia. The country was subject to centuries of colonialism, having been under the rule of the Spanish, the British, the Americans and the Japanese. Because of this the Philippines is an amalgamation of many different cultures, which makes it unique—and many say an anomaly—as [...]
What is Worship? Worship is commonly used in the religious and divine sense, pertaining to the act of devotion accorded to the supernatural. The word worship is taken from the original old English word “worthscipe” which means worthiness. Worship can also apply to the heightened sense of reverence given to a thing or person, such [...]
What is Diversity? In which ever context the word diversity is used, it basically means having elements that have a range of visible and invisible differences. These elements could be people, investments, areas, species and many other groupings that have variety. Diversity if appreciated can result in great achievement as all parties have a unique [...]
What is 123 Agreement? – A Short Overview What is this Section 123 Agreement all about? This agreement is also popularly known as the “Cooperation with Other Nations”. The123 Agreement is a section of the United States Atomic Energy Act of 1954. The agreement establishes cooperation being a prerequisite for nuclear deals between USA and [...]
What is Blairism? Blairism refers to the political ideology that supports former British Labour party and Prime Minister Tony Blair’s political views. People who advocate Blairism are called Blairites. Tony Blair left his prime minister post in 2007. Meanwhile, Gordon Brown supporters are known to support “Brownism”, although the difference between the two ideologies are [...]
What is Qiyam al-Layl? A practice in Islam, Qiyam al-Layl is a prayer made outside of the five mandatory daily prayers in a Muslim’s life. Also called Taraweeh, the prayer is recited during Ramadan. Qiyam al-Layl literally means “standing at night”, referring to how the prayer is recited, punctuated by the occasional bowing and sitting. [...]
Leadership is one of the most powerful of human qualities. Though it is yet to be agreed whether leaders are born or made, there is no debate as to the power that anyone who is considered a leader wields. Leadership involves getting others to voluntarily submit, follow and work towards a vision that they believe [...]
If you would ask people around about how they will define ethics, you would get different answers. What is ethics? Generally, ethics is defined to be the science of morality. To some it is simply a feeling that tells a person if a thing to do is right or wrong. There are disputes on the [...]
In the broadest sense, justice can be defined as the implementation of what is right, appropriate and deserved. It is a sense of moral uprightness, and the struggle to keep a balanced system of performance and reward, as well as crime and punishment. Justice is usually depicted as the Lady Justice, mostly seen in courthouses, [...]
What is Labor Day? Labor Day is an official US holiday celebrated annually on the first Monday of September. Labor Day serves to honor workers and laborers that contribute to the country’s growth and prosperity. For many people, the celebration of Labor Day makes that long weekend the last opportunity to enjoy an outdoor outing [...]
What is Toastmasters? Toastmasters International is a worldwide organization that aims to improve communication skills, public speaking skills and leadership skills among its members. It promotes the values of proper speaking, proper listening and critical thinking, to apply to the public speaking scene. Toastmasters traces its origins to a single club, the Smedley Club Number [...]
Islam is one of the major religions of the world, and the second biggest in terms of following with roughly 1.57 billion followers worldwide. Islam, a monotheistic religion, follows the Qu’ran or the Islamic holy book, which they believe to be the verbatim and literal word of God as told through the prophet Muhammad. Islam, [...]
What is Catfish About? “Catfish” is a movie filmed in the documentary style, although there has been dispute over whether the film is really a documentary, or a fiction movie posing as a documentary (such as “The Blair Witch Project”). The film revolves around social networking and the consequences it poses when it merges with [...]
What is Cartesian Doctrine? Cartesian Doctrine, also known as the mind-body dualism, or simple dualism in philosophy, is the concept that the mind and the body are two separate kinds of substance. The word Cartesian is derived from its source, French philosopher and mathematician Rene Descartes, who is also known as the father of modern [...]
What is a Fatwa? Fatwa is a religious edict or religious decree issued by (ideally) an Islamic religious scholar regarding issues concerning a Muslim’s life. It is not legally binding but most are akin to legal advice for most. Contrary to popular belief, a fatwa is not a death sentence, albeit it could be. A [...]
What is Paganism? Paganism is an umbrella term used to categorize religions that do not belong to the major religions in the world, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism. Contrary to popular belief, paganism is not a religion, but rather a collective term for religions and beliefs outside of the major religions. Likewise, pagans [...]
What is Insha Allah? Insha Allah is a generally Islamic expression used by Muslims which means “God willing”. While other religions from Arabic countries also use the expression, it is more closely tied to Islam because of the use of Allah, the term for God used by Muslims. The term insha’Allah is used when speaking [...]
What is Renaissance Monarchy? Renaissance monarchy pertains to the monarchical institutions which adapted the cultural and governmental practices brought about by the Renaissance period in the 14th-17th century. The renaissance period literally means the period of “rebirth”, and was the period where there was a revolution in terms of the arts, education, and governance. Part [...]
What is High Art? High Art is a 1998 film directed by American filmmaker Lisa Cholodenko, starring Ally Sheedy and Radha Mitchell. The movie revolves around the two main characters Sydney (Syd), an assistant editor for a high art photography magazine, and Lucy, a once famous photographer who is now a heroin addict. Syd accidentally [...]
What is Darvish? Darvish is a commonly misspelled version of the word dervish, which pertains to a person in the Sufi Muslim faith who is seeking a path of asceticism. An ascetic is someone who lives a life whose main purpose is to seek spiritual and religious enlightenment. Thus, a dervish is the Sufi Muslim [...]
What is Infantilism? Infantilism is a condition wherein a person feels the desire to wear diapers or wear other baby accessories as a way of somewhat regressing back to their infantile days, without any medical reasons at all. Some of them do it occasionally, while others do it 24/7, wearing diapers under their clothing all [...]
What is Mormonism? Mormonism refers to the religious practice of the largest branch of the Latter Day Saints movement, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints or LDS church. The term Mormonism also covers its denomination, the fundamentalist Mormons, a sect which continues to practice polygamy as a way of life (and [...]
What is XOXO? XOXO is a symbol or a series of letter which means “hug and kisses”. In some cases, X is representative of kiss and O is representative of hugs, while in some the reverse is true. In modern letter writing such as in mail and emails (or even chat), XOXO is a sign [...]
Originally starting out as a group wearing Chuck Taylors, Wiz Khalifa’s clique “Taylor Gang” became more than just a hip music group. It has now become a lifestyle. The Taylor Gang is headed by Wiz Khalifa, a fun-loving rapper from Pittsburgh. Members of the gang include Sledgren, Chevy Woods, Big Lonn, Gangsta Will, Motor, IDLabs, [...]
What is Diligence? – Key to Riches Diligence is otherwise known as persistence or determination. It is a character of a person that is persistent and determined to complete or accomplish a goal. Diligence is a key ingredient for a person to be successful. It is an important trait that helps a person do extremely [...]
What is Eid al-Adha? One of the most important religious holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world is the Eid al-Adha. In English, the term Eid al-Adha is more commonly known as “Festival of Sacrifice” or “Greater Eid”. The religious festival is celebrated to honor or remember how willingly Abraham sacrificed his son, Ishmael to [...]
What is Discrimination? Throughout the history of mankind, society has always had various forms of classification and categorization. In most communities this was initiated to respond to various needs such as accomplishment of tasks. Once the task was accomplished, the group often remained together and gained a certain label or reputation. This continues to happen [...]
What is Taoism? Taoism, which is sometimes referred to as Daoism, is a set of religious practices that started in mainland China. It is believed to be founded by both Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu and attracted immense attention and gained many followers during the Tang Dynasty. Taoism comes from the root word Tao that [...]
What is Eid Mubarak? Eid Mubarak is a phrase used as a greeting by Muslims used in Islamic religious festivals Eid Al-Adha (feast of sacrifice wherein the faith of Abraham was shown through his willingness to sacrifice his son to God, after which God accepted a sacrifice of a ram instead) and Eid Ul-Fitr or [...]
What is Lady GaGa’s Real Name? Born in Yonkers, New York with an Italian decent, a brunette baby was named Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. Nobody new back then that this girl would soon be famous and be called by a different name. Stefani, her real name until this girl got famous, grew up in New [...]
What is Rosh Hashanah? Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year celebration. Jews observe this celebration on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month in the Jewish calendar, and is ten days before Yom Kippur. The Torah describes it as “Zikaron Terua”, or the remembrance of the blowing of the horn. Rosh Hashanah [...]
What is Zion ? Zion refers to the Biblical land of Israel – Jerusalem, where God dwells among his people. Reality emerges from Zion. Zion is located in Holy of Holies of First, Second and Third Temple. Zion was surrounded by valleys on all three sides. According to bible it was the City of David. [...]
What is Existentialism? Existentialism is a philosophy of the 19th and 20th century. The philosophy concentrates on the study of human existence. It tries to understand how humans realize their existence in this world. Existentialism believes in the idea that humans initially exist and everyone run through series of self-exploration to change their nature in [...]
What is Characterization? Characterization is the process of establishing a character’s personality in a narrative or drama. This can be done in a number of ways, through a character’s actions, speech, appearance, thoughts and what the other characters in the narrative or drama say or think about him. There are two types of characterization: explicit [...]
What is Evangelism? Evangelism is the act of telling other people the good news found in the Bible. It is especially intended for those who haven’t found salvation through Jesus Christ yet. Evangelism is for those who are hungry of the truth about God’s gift to humanity. Evangelism, when translated to Greek, is “euaggelistes”. The [...]
What is Heaven? People often learn about heaven through religions. Religions commonly define heaven as a destination, where people go to continue their existence after dying. In short, people are given an afterlife in heaven. Heaven is frequently described as the holiest place where a person could possibly be. Heaven is always associated with a [...]
What is Ayoba? Slang words are getting popular as the languages evolve. One example of a slang word that is getting more popular each day is the word “ayoba”. What is this ayoba all about? According to people who are familiar with the word, ayoba means a word of approval. It was believed to be [...]
What is Panache? Panache is a term that in the modern context is used to describe a person or style who/which is dashing and flamboyant. The origin of the word panache comes from the Middle French word “penacche”, from the old Italian word “pennacchio” (or old Latin word “pinnaculum”, meaning little wing) which is an [...]
What is a Verb? Simply put, a verb is an ‘action word’, meaning it is a part of speech that signifies an action, or things that are done or indicate a state of being. Some samples of verbs are ‘eat’, ‘run’, ‘play’, ‘talk’, and ‘read’. In the sentence “Mary swims to get fit”, the action [...]
What is Muslim? Muslim and Moslem can be used interchangeably. The word Muslim pertains to a person supporting the Islam religion. The word literally means “one who submits to God”. It was known to all that every Muslim follows Sunnah. However, disparity in defining the Sunnah in terms of “what is” and “what is not” [...]
What is Illustration? An illustration is a piece of artwork or visualization in the form of paintings, drawings, or photographs. It is like a visual message conveyed by the artist to the viewer. Through illustrations, a better understanding of various forms of communications may result. It’s like when someone wants to convey an idea or [...]
What is Diwali? The countries Nepal and India celebrate a festival known as Diwali. Hindus consider Diwali as a sacred celebration. However, other religions in India celebrate the same festival. Communities composed of Hindu, Jainist and Sikh from all around the globe celebrate Diwali. Such communities celebrate a mini festival of their own. There is [...]
What is Jihad? Jihad as a word has Arabic roots meaning “to struggle” ,”strive”, or “labor”. It is a religious concept wherein followers of Islam are supposed to practice what they believe in despite being oppressed or persecuted. This struggle or effort may be in the form of fighting off the evil that’s within a [...]
What is Kosher Wine? Kosher wine is a kind of grape wine that is produced according to laws of Judaism. This wine is specially made for the Jews. In Hebrew, Kosher wine is called “yayin kashér”. Before Kosher wine is sold commercially to Orthodox Jews, the wine should secure a seal of approval or what [...]
What is Etymology? Etymology deals with the study of the origin of words. It involves how a particular word came about in terms of its history, usage, and meaning at a particular point in time. Some words have different spellings or meanings in the past when compared to their present usage. Etymology traces the roots [...]
What is Moral? Moral pertains to some form of judgment on which character or action is deemed right or wrong. It is like a practice or a belief on the goodness or badness of people’s thoughts, actions, or words. But more often than not, it is a perception of what is or what is not [...]
What is Virtue? Virtue refers to a character or trait of being morally right. When a person has virtue, he/she is said to promote well-being for oneself and for others. In its philosophical or religious sense, virtue pertains to acting under faith and love for God. It is like doing what God has created you [...]
What is Romanticism? Romanticism refers to a literary or artistic movement in the 18th century which was formed as a sort of revolt against aristocratic ways in the social and political arena. It was said to have helped redefine the norms of Western culture in the past. Romanticism was widely presented in the form of [...]
What is Rhyme in Poetry? Rhyme is basically a repetition of two or more words that sound alike. It is a widely used convention in many songs and different types of poetry like poems and sonnets among others. In a poem for example, the use of rhyme functions to unify the message of the said [...]
A thesis is an academic proposition that an individual is seeking to defend through a well-researched and thoughtful process. A thesis is usually applied to persons seeking an academic or professional degree, such as a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree. A dissertation is usually a thesis’ equivalent in the doctorate level, however, in many [...]
Biology, quite simply put, is the science and study of life and living organisms. Biology is commonly referred to as the “science of life”. The term biology comes from the Greek words “bios” meaning life, and “–logia” the study of. Biology is a natural science that deals with the living world; how it is structured, [...]
What is Pyaar? Pyaar is an Indian or Hindi term for “love”. Or some would say it refers to “loving someone from the heart”. This is why many use the term for relationships between a boy and a girl, or between a man and a woman. Though this particular term can also be used for [...]
What is Yayo? Yayo is an urban lingo or slang for cocaine. It originated from the Spanish word “llello” which is pronounced “yeyo” in the US. This is why some people sort of misspell the word and use “yeyo” instead of “yayo”. “Llello” or “yayo” is said to be popularized by an Al Pacino movie [...]
What is Bhakti Yoga? Bhakti yoga is a devotional type of yoga and is one of several yoga types based on Hindu philosophies and writings. It is called “devotional” since “bhakti” means some form of devotion to a personal God. The word “bhakti” has Sanskrit roots and signifies devotion based on typical human relationships whether [...]
What does Ulzzang Mean? Ulzzang, or sometimes Uljjang, is a popular term used by South Koreans when describing people who have good looks. The term literally means “best face” in Korean. The term became so popular that people in Korea have contests for the best “ulzzangs” or people with the best faces. Some also reach [...]
What is Rerum Novarum? Rerum Novarum is an encyclical or a memorandum sent to the church members of the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo XIII. Released in 1891, this particular letter or circular emphasized the Roman Catholic Church’s stand on a variety of social issues particularly those experienced by the working class. It was [...]
