Recent orders
David Maldonado in his article, Hispanic Christianity within Mainline Traditions
David Maldonado in his article, Hispanic Christianity within Mainline Traditions, highlights the seismic shift of Hispanic Americans from Catholicism to Protestantism in America. In the last 15 years, about one million Latinos have left the Roman Catholic and joined other Evangelical Protestant churches. The author tries to explain the reasons behind the major religious migration by comparing Catholicism, conservative and mainline Protestantism. Socioeconomic factors greatly influence the shift since human beings seek material and spiritual compensation from the church; thus, they shift to a low-tension community that will meet their needs accordingly and flexibly.
The author gives two possible causes for the shift. Firstly, Catholic churches are unresponsive in that they fail to meet the needs and expectations of the followers particularly the poor. Conversely, the sectarian groups fill in the vacuum by providing enthusiastic, community fellowship, culturally accessible and sensitive leadership to the worshipers. Secondly, the sectarian groups offer the platform for the Americanization of the Latinos who seek to be part of the mainstream society and break from their archaic traditions. However, the author considers the second explanation more credible than the first because Latino Protestants have decent jobs and lifestyles. Transfer of loyalties to Protestant religious groups has been an essential tool for Westernization and modernization, and the Latinos utilize it for assimilation and accommodation into the mainstream society, in America.
The possible discussion questions derived from this article could be as follows. Why are people drifting from Catholicism and joining Protestant groups? What are the social factors that influence this religious phenomenon? What will be the future of Catholic Latino churches in America in the next 10 years?
The article is quite convincing and detailed because it attempts to unravel the reasons behind the massive movement of Latinos from Catholicism to Protestantism. The empirical approach that the author uses to answer tentatively some of the questions related to the Hispanic shift is satisfactory. From a personal opinion, I would concur with the thoughts of the author because Protestant churches are more flexible in interacting and communicating with the followers than Catholics. Therefore, they attract Christians because they meet their spiritual and material needs, which is what a majority seeks by attending church.
David Keirsey four personality types preferences
Personality Type
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Step one
David Keirsey’s four personality types’ preferences include: the HYPERLINK “http://www.personalitypage.com/html/four-prefs.html” l “EI” Extraversion and Introversion; the HYPERLINK “http://www.personalitypage.com/html/four-prefs.html” l “SN” Sensing and Intuition; the HYPERLINK “http://www.personalitypage.com/html/four-prefs.html” l “TF” Thinking and Feeling; and the HYPERLINK “http://www.personalitypage.com/html/four-prefs.html” l “JP” Judging and Perceiving. A personality type is included in the temperament categories which is a combination of any two personality types. From the Humanmetrics Jung Test I took, my personality type is ESFJ which reflects that I have a 1% preference of extraversion over introversion, a 1% preference of sensing over intuition, a 38% moderate preference of feelings over thinking and a 22% slight preference of judging over perceiving (Fischer, 2209).
Validity of my personality type
The ESFJ is a personality type who is described as a caregiver. According to David Keirsey, an ESJF is a warm hearted, popular and conscientious individual. They usually have a strong sense of duty and responsibility in which case they put others’ needs over their own.
E- Extraverted
An ESFJ has a primary mode of living whose focus is externally. An ESFJ personality type reacts to things in the manner he feels about them or in relation to what his/ her value system is. Apparently an ESFJ secondary mode is internal in which case he/she perceives things using the five human senses. Extraverted feelings mostly dominate their personality. They usually consider their values and morals and weigh them against the world that surrounds them. What defines their morality is the world that surrounds them rather than their internal values (Fischer, 2209). They have the ability to give a confident opinion without shying off.
S-Sensing
This aspect indicates how we acquire the information on which we base our decisions. ESFJs have an introverted sensing in which case the primary means in which they acquire information is through perceiving the underlying meaning of what people say or. They usually consider the implications of particular courses of actions before making decisions (Fischer, 2209). ESFJs are most satisfied with structured environments since they enjoy doing things that involve theoretical concepts, impersonal analysis or abstract. They also tend to enjoy creating structure and order (ESFJ personality page).
F- Feeling
People can also make decisions based on two criteria which include thinking and feeling. Thinkers make decisions based on logic and reason. On the other hand, individuals who make decisions based on their value judgment are perceived to be using their feelings in reasoning. Relying more on thinking establishes guidelines for performing tasks and having clear preferences on certain issues, decisions are also made on logic and reason. ESFJs have an extroverted feeling dominating their personality. They usually weigh their values against their morals (Fischer, 2209).
J- Judging
This preference refers to individuals’ attitude towards the external world. One is either have a judging preference or a perceiving preference. When one has a judging preference, it implies that one forms and expresses judgment on issues in life more often. ESFJs believe in rules and laws of authority in which case they expect the same from others. They also prefer doing things in established conventional ways. (ESFJ personality page) (Fischer,2209).
Relationship between E, S, F, and J
The four preferences, ESF and J which form the ESFJ temperament are distinct but interact closely with each other to give my personality type. Apparently, the proportions in terms of percentage indicate the preference relationships with each other. This is illustrated by their dominant extraverted feeling, their introverted sensing, their extraverted intuition and their introverted thinking. However, the ESFJ personality type has a number of weaknesses which manifest in such individuals. For instance, their respect for authority may make them accept rules blindly without questioning them. In addition, their lack of intuition may prevent them from seeing the bigger picture of an issue. Moreover, they usually seek approval from others and are always hurt by indifferences. Usually, they have do not understand unkindness at all cost which ends up disappointing them. It is argued that ESFJs incorporate many traits which are present in women (Fischer, 2209).
Step two
From the personality test, as an employee, I have learnt the importance of understanding the various personality types of various individuals within an organization. In addition, it is also important to appreciate the fact that the characters and behavior of various persons differ according to the extent of a particular preference in their respective temperament in which they belong. As a manager, I have also learnt how to handle different workers in their respective duties and in relation to their personality types. In understanding the personality type of a worker, one is capable to identify the organization in which he/ she fits best and in the place he/ she will acquire the most satisfaction (Fischer, 2209).
Moreover, I have learnt that in order to achieve the best worker and co-worker relationship in an organization, it is paramount to adjust some of the dominant traits which portray more of a personality weakness. Furthermore, it enables me to improve my awareness of others’ personality types thus identifying the best way to communicate to fellow workers and my manager when it comes to various issues. Finally as a manager, it enables me to find appropriate strategies of training and counseling different employees by identifying their strengths and weaknesses in relation to the task at hand (Fischer, 2209).
References
Fischer, K. (2009). “Summer Session”. BMAL 500. Lesson 1: Worldview.
PowerPoint: Lesson 1 (in Module/Week 1).
The HYPERLINK “http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp” www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp website
The HYPERLINK “http://www.personalitypage.com” www.personalitypage.com website
Type Talk at Work
David Grants article Top 9 Reasons Congress is Broken
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David Grant’s article “Top 9 Reasons Congress is Broken” outlines a number of reasons why Congress is not just ineffective, passing a paltry 106 bills compared to the Congress of 1947-1948 which had passed 906 bills, but also why it is so poorly viewed by the public, achieving an approval rating of 10percent. According to the author, a gathering of scholars at the Woodrow Wilson International Center came up with a number of valid reasons for the level of dysfunction crippling the functioning of Congress. These reasons varied from insufficient presidential leadership and a lack of institutional knowledge to the Congress being back to the future by following a historical trend, all in all the author argues the current state of events cannot be allowed to play out.
According to Grant, one of the key reasons behind Congress’ failures thus far, is the lack of sufficient leadership from the presidency. Giving the example of President Clinton, the author argues that the president must know how to “work the system” in order for Congress to work effectively; for instance, the President should be able to motivate Congress to look beyond partisan interests. Secondly, Grant argues that in concurrence with the views of Thomas Mann in the Washington Post, the newcomer Republicans are at fault, as they have brought with them ideological extremes and are scornful of compromise, this has made it difficult for Congress to work in effectively. Perhaps also related to this, is the third reason: which is that members of Congress are less institutionally knowledgeable, and as a result find it difficult to be effective in deciding between policy alternatives.
Another key reason provided by Grant, is the increasing control that bmoney is having in ppolitics, as a result, members of Congress are actually forced to spend more time fundraising than is ideal, resulting in less time for Congressional functions. These changes have according to the author also spilled into the media industry, which has become significantly more vigilant, making deal cutting quite difficult, further hampering functioning of Congress. The sixth reason provided by Grant, is that of what the author refers to as the “Senate filibuster” a piece of legislation that allows a single senator to halt legislation that does not have sufficient votes (60) to overrule their disapproval. The provision has over the last two Congressional terms been abused further choking Congress’ ability to carry out its functions. Some of the other reasons provided are the electorate’s tendency to elect hardliners, the advent of strong interest groups that have usurped roles previously played by political parties and finally the advent of a partisan Congress interested in putting the interests of their parties above institutional effectiveness.
The author’s argument for Congress increasingly putting other interests above institutional effectiveness is in my opinion the most significant reason for the dysfunction currently being witnessed. This can however be intertwined with the initial reason; a lack of leadership. There is no doubt that a strong president capable of setting the agenda of Congress that cuts across partisan interests, would result in a more functional Congress, not to mention their ability to lobby a majority support for their bills, leading to greater functionality. These arguments by the author, are definitely the strongest, as they explain the shift in Congressional culture, as well as the greater Congressional functionality usually witnessed under specific presidents compared to others. I therefore agree with a majority of the reasons provided, but particularly feel that these two stand out and perhaps even encompass a number of the other reasons provided.