Analysing Sunnis And Shiites Split Religion Essay

Analysing Sunnis And Shiites Split Religion Essay The difference between Sunni and Shia sects of Islam are not to the gigantic proportions as most Western literature assume. It is true that there are minor variations in the way they take their respective religious heads and attribute meaning to the history of the family of Muhammads, however, cultural and political differences hold the most divisive power over the religious forces. It is therefore significant to note that both sects believe and put emphasis in the Five Pillars of Islam, believe in and read same Holy Quran, and furthermore consider each other Muslims. The five pillars that form the core of their spiritual sanctity are Testimony of faith (Kalima), Prayer (Salat), Almsgiving (Zakat), Fasting (Sawm), Pilgrimage (Hajj) (Huda, 2010). The split between the Sunnis and Shia can be traced back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad, and the dilemma of the successor of Muhammad as the leader of the Muslim nation. Prophet Muhammad died in the evening of June 8, 632 A.D. (the twelfth of Rabi al-Away) at the age of sixty-three. There after, the Sunni Muslims were in agreement with the stand taken by most of the Prophets companions that the new head should be chosen from among those deemed competent of the job. This is the position that was adopted and implemented. The Prophet Muhammads close acquaintance and counselor, Abu Bark, consequently became the first Caliph of the Islamic nation. It is worth noting that the word Sunni is an Arabic word meaning one who follows the traditions of the Prophet. Contrary to the Sunni belief over the succession, some Muslims hold the idea that leadership should have been from the Prophets own family, handed over to those specifically appointed by him, or amid Imams chosen by God Himself. These were the Shia Muslims. They believed that after the death of Prophet Muhammad, leadership ought to have been passed on directly to his cousin/son-in-law, Ali. Since those historical years, Shia Muslims have not acknowledged the power and authority of elected leaders. The Shia Muslims instead opted to recognize and obey the Imams they believed were chosen by the Prophet Muhammad or by God Himself. The word Shia is an Arabic word for a group or supportive party of people. It is short form of Shia-t-Ali, or the Party of Ali. Shias are also referred to as followers of Ahl-al-Bayt or People of the Household (of the Prophet) (Huda). Majority of the Muslims are the Sunni Muslims at 85% of all the Muslims allover the world. A tangible number of Shia Muslims are found in Iraq and Iran, with some large minority communities in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain etc. Having looked at the brief history of the split of the two sects and the reasons behind the split, it is fundamental therefore, to look at the differences in religious belief s, leadership, texts, and any other that may be. From the historical differences in political leadership, some spiritual life aspects were consequently changed and since diverge between the two groups. However, as note hitherto, the Shia and Sunni Muslims hold in common the fundamental articles of Islamic belief and are brethren in the Islam faith. As a matter of fact, rarely or never at all will a Muslim identify themselves as Shia or Sunni Muslim but rather as Muslim (Austine Cline). Shia Muslims believe that the Imam is naturally sinless since his authority comes directly from God. From this, the Shia Muslims revere and adore the Imams as saints and strive to perform pilgrimages for divine intervention to their shrines and tombs. Countering this is the Sunni Muslim belief that there is no foundation in Islam for a hereditary advantaged category or rank of religious leaders. They therefore have no place for the pilgrimage to the saints shrines. Sunni Muslims argue that control of the community is not hereditary or a birthright, but a trust that must be earned and therefore can be given or taken away by the people themselves. Another difference comes in the sanctity of religious texts. Shia Muslims have some resentment to some of the contemporaries of the Prophet Muhammad. This sprouts from their stands and deeds in the historical years of discord about leadership among the Muslim nations. It is said that Abu Bakr, Umar, Aisha, etc (Sunnis) narrated much about the Prophet Muhammads life and spiritual encounters, practice and journey. The Shia Muslims reject these Hadith do not take them as a basis for their religious practices. This accordingly informs divergence in religious practice between the Sunnis and Shias. The differences concern aspects of religious life: prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and so on and so forth. For instance Shiites can condense the five daily prayers into 3 or 4 yet Sunnis dont, Shiites might pay their alms (Zakat) directly to the poor, yet Sunnis pay to the state. Shiites also promotes a provisional marriage (muttah) for men travelling far from home while Sunnis dont ascribe to this (Sunnis vs. Shiites). The Shias place their forehead onto apiece of natural material while praying (clay tablet, soil or sand from Karbala(where Imam Hussain was martyred), rather than onto a prayer mat. The Sunnis however recommend that one should not prostrate on a natural surface. Shias hold their hands at their sides while praying while Sunnis on the other side their arms-right over left- and clasp their hands, though either is acceptable. Religious Shia women black like the male religious leaders. Conventional Sunni women cover around the perimeter of the face with the hijab but only to below their chin such that the chin can show in part while the Shia women will cover the perimeter of the face and the chin completely. Shias more often than not derive their name from the name or titles of saints. They often draw their lineage from to Ali and Fatimah. The three Sects of Shiites Although, through history there were several branches of Shia Muslims, currently only three are predominant. The Ashariyyah, profoundly called the Twelvers, the Ismaili and the Zaidi. Ashariyyah or Twelvers as the adherents are called believe in the twelve divinely ordained leaders, known as the Twelve Imams. These were the successors of Prophet Muhammad and were spiritual and political leaders. On average 85% of Shia are Twelvers. Ismaili is the second largest sect of the Shia Islam after the Twelvers. They derive their name from their acceptance of Ismail ibn Jafar as the divinely-appointed spiritual successor to Jafar as-sadiq, they differ from the Twelvers, who accept Musa al-Kizim, the younger brother of Ismail, as the proper Imam. Zaidi are followers of the Zaidi fiqh and they identify with the first four of the Twelve Imams but they accept Zayd ibn Ali as their Fifth Imam, in place of his brother Muhammad al-Baqir. After Zayd ibn Ali, the Zaidi recognize other descendants of Hasan ibn Ali or Husayn ibn Ali to be Imams. Among the well known Zaidi Imams are Yahya ibn Zayd, Muhammad al Nafs az-Zakiyah and Ibrahim ibn Abdullah.

Why Christians Should Watch the Big Bang Theory

Sarah Blair 10/11/12 Final Draft Lipscomb Seminar Why Christians Should Watch â€Å"The Big Bang Theory† The Big Bang Theory is a show about adult nerds who happen to be prodigies at science. In every episode something enviably goes wrong, or a conflict arises. Five main characters makeup the core cast in the Big Bang Theory. These characters are Sheldon Cooper, Leonard Hofstadter, Howard Wolowitz, Rajesh Koothrappali, and Penny. The dynamics and interactions between these characters are what helped this show win an Emmy, GoldenGlobe, and consistently attract 16 million weekly viewers.The first season aired in 2007 and has been signed to keep producing seasons through 2014. Because of the Big Bang Theory’s large following, Christians should watch the show because it will help them understand specific social groups through humor and grow a greater understanding of how Christians are perceived in the secular world. For a Christian it is important to see how outcasts are t reated. Sheldon, with all of his quirkiness, tends to be socially awkward. People within Sheldon’s group of friends are usually accepting, but the rest of the world does not seem to know how to handle him.Sheldon and his friends fit within the mold of nerds and often time’s people find it hard to relate with them because they are different from the rest of the world. This show brings to life the reality that certain groups of people might not always get along. But that no matter what social affiliation a person may belong to, Christians should seek out a relationship because Jesus called them to be all things to all people. If Christians are only interacting with people who it is easy to talk with, then they are avoiding what God has called them to do.In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Paul writes, â€Å"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law, so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law, so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. †(Bible). Here Paul talks about being all things to all people. A Christian should read this and use it as an example of how they should live their life. That is why the Big Bang Theory is a good show for Christians to watch. The Big Bang Theory helps Christians understand nerdy people and how to connect with them, so that when they come across someone who exhibits those personality traits they will know how to be â€Å"all things† to them. In the beginning of each episode evolution is mentioned.No matter what, the show always has a prevailing message of evolution and a disbelief in God. The w ay evolution is mentioned is through the discussions on science and Big Bang Theory’s theme song. Here are the lyrics to the song called The Big Bang Theory by the Barenaked Ladies, â€Å"Our whole universe was in a hot dense state, then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait†¦? The Earth began to cool, the autotrophs began to drool,? Neanderthals developed tools,? We built a wall (we built the pyramids),? Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries,?That all started with the big bang! † (Lyrics To Barenaked Ladies). A Christian can see the evident message of evolution and the theory of the big bang in how the producers chose the theme song. Another obvious scientific significance that the show is conveying is the name of the show, the Big Bang Theory. The name of the show serves to attract interest and to focus in on the main themes. For the show, the Big Bang Theory, the title attracts interest because believing in the theory of the big b ang has become one of the most popular views of creation.The Big Bang Theory’s title focuses on the how the shows emphasizes the theory of the big bang and the disbelief in God through any and all means of scientific methods. Christians usually do not believe in evolution, to be more specific, macroevolution. An example of Macroevolution would be a fish evolving into a land animal. Many Christians do not believe that this can happen, but do believe in microevolution. Microevolution can be seen through how there are many types of dog breeds. Dogs vary in size and traits, but at the same time their all still considered dogs.This is the type of evolution used to describe varying trait differences in dog breeds. Even Christians, who do believe in the theory of the big bang, see God as the source of life behind everything. As a whole, Christians tend not believe in the most commonly thought of term â€Å"evolution† which often times is referring to macroevolution. This whol e view of evolution is what the show and its creators are forcing on their viewers. Another reason why Christians should not watch this show is because God is the one who made everything and the show does not support this form of creation.In Genesis 1:1 the Bible says, â€Å"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth†(Bible). Here the Bible says that God made everything and not evolution. If Christians believe in God then they should also believe that He created the world. Star Trek, Star Wars, World of Warcraft, comic books, religion, relationships, jobs etc. are just a few of the many topics that this show derives humor from. In one episode Sheldon lets Amy Farrah Fowler, the girl he has been seeing, go on a date with another man. After a short while Sheldon becomes paranoid by what he just allow to happen.Sheldon then decides to crash Amy’s date to the movies. Awkwardly, Sheldon sits himself in between the couple and proceeds to tell Amy that he wants th eir relationship to become an official, exclusive thing. Amy agrees and her relationship with Sheldon then becomes official and exclusive (CBS). Humor like this is what the Big Bang Theory is built on. Often times, people go looking for a laugh in the wrong places. In the world today people’s actions have a direct correlation with their own motives. People tend to get a laugh at another persons expense.But for Christians, it is not right to shame another person like this. However, God does have a sense of humor and He wants everyone to also be filled with joy and laughter. He simply wants the source of laughter to be wholesome. In Psalm 126:2 David wrote â€Å"then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them. ’†(Bible). Here David mentions laughter and joy when referring to a change in people. God wants everyone to experience humor and that is why Christia ns should watch the Big Bang Theory.The Big Bang Theory is a good source of laughter that is light hearted and lifts ones spirits. Christians should not watch the Big Bang Theory for its evolution standpoint, but also for how it condones excessive drinking. In many episodes of the Big Bang Theory, characters drink in excess, which lead them to becoming drunk. The character Raj is a man who has a hard time talking in front of women. However, when he is intoxicated he can actually hold a conversation with women. But being drunk is not a good way to glorify God. To be specific, Christians are called to not become drunk.The Bible says in Ephesians 5:18 â€Å"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,† (Bible). Through this scripture, a Christian can see how God does not want His children to become drunk. A person can argue that any form of alcohol is a sin, but the Bible only states that drunkenness is what is wrong. As a whole, if Christians are not strong enough to stop drinking before they become drunk, they should abstain from alcohol. Christians who do not approve of drunkenness should also not approve of this show.The Big Bang Theory is filled with many things that are not glorifying God and none of them should be taken lightly. The last reason why Christians should watch the Big Bang Theory is because it paints an interesting light on Christianity. Christians are viewed many ways, and this show tends to showcase them in a negative manner. However, the Big Bang Theory does show truth in their view of Christianity. The Big Bang Theory sees Christians as uptight, close-minded, condemning, self-righteous, and hypocritical. A website called www. hetvcritic. org also views Christians very negatively, but they do feel as if the Big Bang Theory treated Christianity â€Å"inappropriately†¦ (and that it) implied a level of pushiness and insensitivity†(TheTvCritic). The sad thing is that hypocrisy a nd other negative traits like this can be found in Christians. That is why it is important for Christians to understand how secular people view them. So that they can be how Christ wanted them to be. God never said that the world would love Christians and that life would be easy.He did call Christians to stand up for what is right, but He did not call Christians to be so pervasive. God called everyone to love each other. In an episode Sheldon’s mother comes to visit and she takes everyone on a church tour with her. Sheldon’s mother is a so-called â€Å"devout† Christian(CBS). However, she bad mouths everyone and puts herself on a holier than thou pedestal. Many Christians who watched this episode were greatly offended, but Christians should rather use this secular view of Christianity as a learning tool and source of personal growth of how to not act in their own lives.Christians need to remember Matthew 7:5 â€Å"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. †(Bible). This verse is something all Christians need to remember, to keep them humble, loving, filled with grace, and gentleness. That is why watching shows like the Big Bang Theory are not always easy, or make Christians feel good, but are necessary in order to keep a realistic view of the world. Sexual immorality happens to be another common occurrence that the show is complacent on.In many Big Bang Theory episodes, sexual topics are talked about or immoral intercourse happens. Many times this sexual act is referred to as coitus. Throughout the six seasons, two characters Leonard and Penny have had an interesting relationship where they have sex. Christians should not be in favor of this type of sexual interaction since Leonard and Penny are not married. In 1 Corinthians 6:18 the Bible says, â€Å"Flee from sexual immorality and all other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body,† (Bible).Here a Christian can read that this type of behavior is not moral or uplifting to God. This is why Christians should not watch the Big Bang Theory because if they were to do so, they would be supporting such actions. These are all reasons why Christians should watch The Big Bang Theory. The choice of characters in their socially awkward nerdy lifestyles will cause Christians to think outside of themselves and grow in order to find ways to reach the outcasts. The humor will lighten their day and have them enjoy the simple things God has created. But most of all, Christians will be aware of how the world views them.That if they are going to make a bigger impact in the world they need to truly love people for who they are and where they are at. Christians should give this show a chance; they might be surprised with what new thought they come away with.

Deborah Tannens I Only Say This Because I Love You, And...

Introduction Interpersonal conflicts are inevitable. Different texts suggest not how to avoid conflict, but rather how to effectively communicate when involved in one. However, the â€Å"rules† of constructive communication can completely change in conflicts between people in long-term, interdependent relationships. This paper will focus on analyzing a conversation between a mother and her adult son, while applying ideas from William Wilmot and Joyce Hocker’s Interpersonal Conflict, Deborah Tannen’s I Only Say This Because I Love You, and the â€Å"Conflict Styles† lecture. Conflict Styles In Interpersonal Conflict, Wilmot and Hocker reference Rahim’s (2011) model of five different conflict styles: obliging, avoiding,†¦show more content†¦He does so in a way that is assertive rather than aggressive. Instead of aggressively pushing his thoughts onto Dianne without explanation, Earl works towards achieving his desired goals by openly expressing his frustration as a response to his mother’s commands. In conjunction with his dominant conflict style, he threatens, â€Å"the more you tell me to, the more I won’t,† which qualifies as a threat, because it meets the two required criteria. First, â€Å"the source of the threat must control the outcome.† Earl controls the outcome of the situation since he has the ability to either obey or disobey Dianne. Secondly, â€Å"the threat must be seen as negative by the recipient.† In this case, the recipient Dianne sees the condition of Earl’s comment as neg ative since she will not get her way (Wilmot and Hocker, 159). Earl uses the threat in an attempt to put an end to his mother’s current and future demands. However, the use of a threat begs the question, â€Å"what is gained?† Although Earl solves his immediate issue of changing the sheets at his own convenience, he risks leaving the â€Å"bigger† problem unresolved and damaging the relationship with his mother (Wilmot and Hocker, 160). After this one instance, Dianne may feel the need to force

The Legalization Of Marijuana Should Qualify Trillions Of...

The legalization of Marijuana could earn trillions of dollars for the government. â€Å"As governments struggle with decreased revenue and rising costs, the legalization of Marijuana will boost income to fund projects, such as new parks and road repairs† (â€Å"19 Primary Pros and Cons of legalizing weed† 2015) . Since 2006 more than one hundred thousand people have been estimated to have died in the drug war. This happens due to the lack of supervision in handling drugs with distribution, and use. Problems most illegal drug users face are the quality of the drugs they purchase. Some people lace drugs with other ingredients to either improve or change the effects they make on a person. Sometimes the suppliers lace the drugs with†¦show more content†¦One situation that is a major cause for concern is underground dealings between drug lords and law enforcement, also may include bribes. People can be bribed and put in situations where drug cartels have major influences in that region and law enforcement has most likely been paid off. There is no situation worse for a citizen than lack of protection against drug lords. Racism plays a major role in the drug war as well. â€Å"Although rates of drug use and selling are comparable across racial lines, people of color are far more likely to be stopped, searched, arrested, prosecuted, convicted and incarcerated for drug violations than white people are.â€Å" â€Å"A proportion of people incarcerated for a drug offense in a state prison that are black or Hispanic, 61 percent† (â€Å"Drug War Statistics†2014). This ongoing drug war is not the solution for the safety of our people. People are sadly dying due to the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong. These violent crimes are something that could easily be avoided. Minorities are being mistreated in regards to law violations, and its causing so much trouble in today’s society. The main concern over marijuana legalization are ethics and morals. A lot of people are against the legalization and

Description Of A New Economic Climate - 1488 Words

Just in time in Kalamazoo Introduction In this new economic climate were every company and organization is looking for ways to save money and to improve on their bottom line. Companies and organizations are looking at the companies for the top to the bottom and the companies and organizations that are in the manufacturing world are looking at how to be more efficient in using their dollars wiser and more productive. Since the manufacturing arena is a customer based service they have been trying to make their service more customer facing and more customer friendly. In that they are finding was to not make items or products and hoping that the customer will accept what they have already manufactured but are going to a more customer friendly we will make it to your order. This has intern given the customer a product that is made to their order and it has given the organizations less inventory on hand which in turn cuts their cost through storage and warehousing the items. This process gives the manufacture the ability to ma ke the item or product and ship it straight to the customer thus cutting down on holding and warehousing a product until some customer wants instead it is out the door as soon as it is made. This process has been name the as the â€Å" Just In Time† Process (Songini, 2000). A Company specializing in mini motor homes located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Reviews how it might make changes in its inventory and other cost since they recently expanded its market from theShow MoreRelatedThe Climate Change Impact Statement1453 Words   |  6 PagesThe Climate Change Impact Statement (CCIS) should include the following: 1. Objectives of the CCIS: to provide a statement of the objectives of the CCIS. The structure of the CCIS should then be outlined and used to explain how the document will meet its objectives. 2. Executive summary: to convey the most important aspects and options relating to the project in a concise and readable form. 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The Girls in their Summer Dresses Free Essays

â€Å"The Girls in their Summer Dresses† by Irwin Shaw is about romantic love, fidelity, and marriage. The story is about Michael and Frances, a rich, young, outgoing couple living in midtown manhattan, who’s marriage is going downhill because of Michael’s desire for other women. Eventhough Michael has desires for other women, his wife, Frances, is unable to do anything about it because of society’s stagima. We will write a custom essay sample on The Girls in their Summer Dresses or any similar topic only for you Order Now Also due to the time period the story was written in, divorce was considered a really bad thing. Throughout the story we discover how Frances loves Michael so much, but Michael does not love her. Michael being totally disrespectful puts their marriage in jeopardy. There are many points in the story from which we find out that Michael does not love Frances. Firstly, Michael disrespects Frances by looking at other girls. If he really love her, he should show respect and pay attention to her instead of looking at these other women on the street. Even when he is with his wife he looks at other girls. Who knows what he does when she is not with him, even though he says he hasn’t touched any women in past five years since he is with her? Who knows! He isn’t even afraid for a single minute that his wife is walking with him and he shouldn’t watch other girls. He still think that he is macho guy according to the story â€Å"I am the envy of all men between the ages of fifteen and sixty in the state of New York.† He forgets his wife, his love. He didn’t even care once about what she will think about. He was totally not in love. They don’t have mutual understanding at all. Second, not that Michael is unfaithful now but as he said he could be in future. When they are having the discussion at a bar on 8th street, Michael tells Frances that he not only looks at pretty women on street but also fantasizes about being with them. He tells her â€Å"I love you, but I also want them.†(Shaw 8) This is no way to express that your love someone. This is considered cheating and obviously if there is cheating than there is no love at all. Furthermore Michael does nothing when Frances is crying face down into her handkerchief. â€Å"Michael didn’t say anything. He sat watching the bartender slowly peel a lemon.†(Shaw 8) This shows that Michael does not care about Frances’ feelings. It looks as though for Michael the relationship is based on physical appearance because even after a long discussion at the bar when Frances got up from the table, â€Å"Michael watched her walk, thinking, what a pretty girl, what nice legs.†(Shaw 9) If Michael really loves Frances he should try to see her inner feelings instead of her physical appearance. On the other hand, Frances being a good wife loves her husband. She tells him â€Å"Lets just hang around with each other. You and me.† This proves that she like being with him. She also has respects for him. Unlike Michael who is always looking at other girls she tells him she hasn’t looked at another man since the second time they went out. Moreover, we find out that she truly loves him when she says â€Å"I’d do any damn thing for you.† This shows that she is a good wife deeply in love with her husband. Frances being respectful, faithful, and loving proves that there are no complaints about their marriage from her side. In the ending, the most effective part of the story, we see how a women at that time period could not do anything to solve the problem but instead deal with it. Frances ends up calling the Stevensons instead of asking for a divorce. She could not be divorced because the society wont let her live. People will look at her with bad eye. Her love for Michael fades away because he shows neither commitment nor love. who would love someone that wants to be with someone else, especially after finding it out? Overall it seems as though Shaw is trying to tell the reader that not all marriages are same. He shows how for some, marriages are build with honesty, fidelity and love while for others, it’s just about physical apperance. And yes, time period is definately a matter. How to cite The Girls in their Summer Dresses, Essay examples

To what extent do you think that Charles Stuart Parnell damaged the cause of Home Rule free essay sample

To what extent do you think that Charles Stuart Parnell damaged the cause of Home Rule? Charles Stewart Parnell was born in 1846, and became one of the nost important figures in 19th Century Great Britain and Ireland. Parnell was the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and one of the strongest forces behind land reform in Ireland. Parnell also was the president of the Land League, and his relationship with William Gladstone, the four time Prime Minister, led to him being a huge part in the Home Rule battle. As important as Gladstone was, this was also a disaster for Ireland in his downfall. He was exposed as having an affair with the wife of one of his closest friends, Kitty O’Shea, and his refusal to back down from leading the Irish parliamentary party split his party in half, creating havoc for the Home Rule supporters, which is why some may agree with the statement as it ruined the chances of Home Rule. Alternatively, his close work with Gladstone and his efforts to unite the conventional and revolutional sections of nationalists means there is controversy over the matter. Overall, although his arrogance caused the Home Rule bill to become tainted, his crucial work in the years previously with unification and relationships means I feel that he did more to help than hinder the Home Rule cause. One of the main faults that Parnell had that hindered the Home Rule cause was his affair with Kitty O’Shea. Katherine, or Kitty O’Shea was the wife of Captain William O’Shea, until he issued a divorce notice citing Parnell as the cause for their divorce. Although the couple were already separated,. Captain O’Shea didn’t want to get a divorce as he knew Kitty was waiting on a substantial inheritance. Parnell was listed as the cause of their divorce by Captain O’Shea, but he did not contest this as it would have lengthened the divorce process and he wished to marry her himself. A divorce decree was granted on 17th November 1890. As if the divorce case itself wasn’t enough, it also lead to his party being split. Most of the Irish parliamentary party was catholic, and it is forbidden to remarry after divorce, so many of his own members were against him due to their religious beliefs. Parnell was actually warned by Gladstone that if he retained leadership it would mean the loss of the next election, the end of their alliance and also of Home Rule. However, Parnell was determined not to concede his power. 73 members of the IPP (irish parliamentary party) met in Westminster, and tried to reach a compromise, suggesting Parnell temporarily retired. Parnell refused,  and stated â€Å"If I go, I go forever†, and blocked any move to remove him, as he was the chairman. Instead of attempting to battle him, 44 of the present members simply walked out, led by Justin McCarthy to form the Irish National Federation. This created rival groups of Parnellites a nd anti-Parnellites. The minority that remained were led by John Redmond as the Irish National League, but of Parnell’s closest associates, Michael Davitt, John Dillon, Timothy Healy and William O’Brien all deserted him. This wrenched the former IPP in two, and crushed the Home Rule cause. After the divorce case, Parnell reacted furiously to a letter between Gladstone and Justin McCarthy, that told how support for home rule would not continue as long as Parnell was in power. Parnell released a manifesto to the Irish that denounced the Liberal alliance, re-affirmed the independence of the Irish Parliamentary Party and personally attacked Gladstone, thus undoing the political work he had spent the previous five years taking part in. Irish Nationalist MPs had a tough choice to make; either stand by Parnell and lose all chance of Home Rule and support from the Liberals, or denounce Parnell and separate from him yet keep his ideology. On the 1st December 1890, a meeting took place between the IP P. The party split, with 37 MPs supporting Parnell, but 45 MPs, led by McCarthy, separating from the Party. A few days later, the Catholic clergy leaders also called upon the Irish to repudiate his position. This arrogance severely weakened the party as there was now no united front on which to fight Home Rule, and some support was lost as this gave anti-Home Rule politicians ammunition against the cause as Parnell gave a bad reputation through his actions. Parnell also refused to agree, and continued with his irrefutable defiance. He participated in by-elections to try and regain power, but was beaten in each by anti-Parnellites. This defiance continued throughout his poor health, choosing to continue with his public agitation rather than keep himself well, even though he was suffering with a kidney condition. Parnell died of a heart attack aged 45 at his home on the 6th October 1891. A final reason that hindered the Home Rule cause in relation to Parnell is that people believed he was in it more for personal gain than for the good of Ireland. Parnell made himself a central figure in Iris h Home Rule politics, meaning that his downfall was even more crushing. He was President of the National Land League, aiming to create a united movement for Home Rule. He was also at the centre of a group of  obstructionists amongst the Irish MPs, which as said by A.C Hepburn, â€Å"impeded the business of the House Of Commons in order to publicise the nationalist cause.† His central role is also seen again in Source 6, England 1870-1914 by R. Ensor, but in a hindering manner. The source reads â€Å"The savage feuds caused by his arrogant refusal to resign tore the Home Rule movement apart and rescued Salisbury’s government.† This reinforces that it was in fact Parnell’s fault that the downfall of the Home Rule cause occurred. This arrogance and determination to be a central figure meant that actually after his downfall he could not be replaced by anybody, weakening the Home Rule cause and the Irish party in general. Alternatively, Parnell did also massively help the Irish cause. His relationship with the Prime Minister, William Gladstone, allowed the Irish politicians to finally gain a voice in Parliament, of which they had never had a chance to before. His obstructionism in Parliament â€Å"won attention at Westminster†, as said by A.C Hepburn in Source 4. Source 5 comes from a speech by Gladstone to the House of Commons, where he outlines his respect for the Home Rule plan – â€Å"I cannot say it is otherwise when five-sixths of its lawfully chosen representatives are of one mind in this matter† – which suggests that there are some unlawful aspects of the IPP, yet supports the constitutional path they have chosen to take. Source 6, by R. Ensor, reinforces that the relationship between Parnell and Gladstone, as â€Å"In 1890 Parnell reached a new peak†, as the Home Rule support was growing rapidly and his working relationship and mutual respect was paying off for himself and the Irish. One of the main reasons Parnell had success with the Irish cause was the fact that he managed to create a united Irish movement. His support was split between the constitutionals who wished to go the legal way to win home rule and improve Irish support, but he was also supported by the more radical side of the Irish nationalists, the Fenians. This put him in a difficult position on some decisions as it meant he may lose the support of one side, but overall this unification brought success. For example, having the radicals on side showed that he had a good relationship with them, which suggested that he may be able to help Gladstone control them so that they weren’t as much as threat to the crown. Source 4 states â€Å"and amongst ex-Fenians in Irish-America who had nothing but contempt for constitutional  nationalism† which emphasises his influence, as even though the Fenians didn’t tend to use constitutional methods to try and achieve their aims, they supporte d Parnell and his methods. Source 5 implies that the speaker is not convinced by Parnell, as the source says â€Å"I cherish the hope that this is not merely a lesser evil, but may prove to be good in itself† suggests that the speaker is not confident about their alliance totally. This is surprising as Source 5 comes from William Gladstone, Parnell’s political ally, so you would not expect Gladstone to show a lack of confidence publically. Source 6 agrees that Parnell created a united movement, but also believes that he ruined it as well as creating it – â€Å"the disclosure of Parnell’s personal life brought down his career and his cause† – through his involvement in an affair with Kitty O’Shea. Overall I feel that although Parnell was a huge damage to Home Rule after he split the party and brought a poor reputation on the Irish Parliamentary Party, without Parnell there would have been no strong case for Home Rule, as predecessors lacked his charisma, drive, and support from many areas of society, both British and Irish. If it was not for his defiance and early death, then Parnell may have led Ireland to success with more than just Home Rule.