Full Name Act

Full Name Act

Full Name: _________________________________________________________ Acts of Faith Questions Please type your answers in complete sentences. Please answer in 2-10 complete sentences. 1. Eboo Patel’s life experiences brought him to strive for pluralism, which of his experiences do you think was most transformative and lead to him working for the common good? Please use examples from the book. 2. Eboo Patel writes about the importance of pluralism. How does action on specific issues strengthen enhance pluralism and work towards a common good? 3. Acts of Faith is the story of a young person reflecting on his values and using that to take action with others. How can young people in college take action on their values? 4. Please cite two exact quotes from the book that you felt “spoke to you.” Please use MLA or APA to cite the quote. 5. Think of your own religious or ethical tradition. Can you find an example of a call to serve? Has this or another example from your tradition compelled you to serve? Why? How did you serve? Case Study with Worksheet Fatigued: A Case on Blood Harold is a 67-year-old male who has had regular physical exams, is a non-smoker, and who has been in good health for most of his life. In recent years, he has been experiencing symptoms of heartburn, nausea, and indigestion after eating certain foods. Although he experienced some relief after changing his diet to avoid those foods, the symptoms did not completely subside. Harold was eventually diagnosed with having a form of chronic atrophic gastritis (an inflammation of the stomach lining). During Harold's most recent visit to the doctor, he complained that he had become progressively more fatigued at the end of his workday. Difficult tasks would take an enormous amount of effort to complete, while simple tasks would make him dizzy and short of breath. He told his doctor that last month he had a period where he suffered frequent headaches and had difficulty sleeping. In obtaining Harold’s vital signs, his doctor noted that Harold was experiencing mild tachycardia (an elevated heart rate). His doctor ordered some blood tests including a complete blood count (CBC) and a microscopic examination of a peripheral blood smear. The notable results from these tests, including the blood smear, are provided below. (Harold’s blood smear is shown on the left. A normal blood smear is shown on the right.) Measurement Result Reference Range WBC count 12..8 – 10.8/µl (x1000) Neutrophils 8..1 – 8.3/µl (x1000) Basophils /µl RBC count 2..7 - 6.1 million /µl Hemoglobin 10. – 18 g/dl Hematocrit 31. – 52 % Mean RBC Volume 118. – 90 fL Platelets – 400/µl Also known as mean corpuscular volume or MCV; WBC = White Blood Cell; RBC = Red Blood Cell Short Answer Questions: 1. The values collected from a CBC can reveal a great deal of information about a patient’s health. This information can be broken down into three broad categories, which are listed below. For each of these categories, list all of the CBC values that would provide information on that aspect of the patient’s health. OXYGENATION STATUS (oxygen-carrying capacity): IMMUNE STATUS (signs of infection, allergy, immune suppression): HEMOSTASIS (blood clotting): 2. Review the measurements in the CBC. For each abnormal value, describe what physiological effect it might have on the patient. Connect each of your descriptions to one or more of the symptoms Harold has been experiencing. 3. Doctors have determined that Harold is anemic. Describe this condition. What are the primary pieces of evidence from the CBC that point to this diagnosis? 4. Chronic atrophic gastritis is a condition that leads to the degradation of the lining of the stomach. Based on Harold’s history of this form of gastritis, his doctor also ordered tests to check the levels of vitamin B12 in his blood. How might Harold’s gastritis affect these levels? 5. There are many different types of anemia. Which specific type of anemia is Harold suffering from? Beginning with the peripheral blood smear, describe the key pieces of evidence you’ve used to draw this conclusion. 6. What would be the treatment for Harold’s blood condition? Explain how this would help treat his symptoms. 7. Harold’s tachycardia and chronic gastritis are key pieces of evidence in this case that go beyond what shows up in his CBC. One is the cause of his condition and one is a result (sign). Identify which is the sign and which is the cause, and describe their relationship to his condition.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The Acts of Faith questions revolve around understanding how personal experiences, values, and religious or ethical traditions influence individual actions towards the common good, with a particular focus on pluralism and service. Additionally, the included case study on Harold's blood condition emphasizes the importance of hematological assessments in diagnosing and managing health issues. This paper will explore these themes by engaging with the assigned questions, illustrating how personal and societal factors contribute to acts of service and health understanding.

Acts of Faith and Personal Transformation

Eboo Patel's journey towards advocating for pluralism was deeply influenced by multiple life experiences, but a pivotal moment was his participation in interfaith youth camps during his adolescence. These camps exposed him to diverse religious perspectives and challenged his preconceived notions of religious exclusivity. For example, Patel recounts how working with Muslim, Christian, and Jewish youth to plan community service projects fostered a sense of shared purpose. This immersive experience made him realize that religious differences could be sources of strength, fostering a commitment to the idea that dialogue and cooperation among diverse faiths serve the common good. Such exposure was transformative because it shifted his worldview from suspicion to understanding and collaboration, underpinning his lifelong advocacy for pluralism and interfaith dialogue.

The Role of Action in Strengthening Pluralism

Actions on specific issues can serve as powerful demonstrations of pluralism. When individuals or groups work collaboratively on common issues—such as poverty alleviation, environmental protection, or social justice—they exemplify respect for diverse perspectives and foster mutual understanding. For example, Patel emphasizes that when people of different religious backgrounds unite to address homelessness, they challenge stereotypes and build bridges of trust. These shared actions humanize "the other" and reduce prejudice, thereby making pluralism more tangible and effective. By focusing on common goals, such collective efforts harness diversity as a strength, ultimately reinforcing societal cohesion and working towards the overarching goal of the common good.

Young People and Action on Values

College students can actively translate their values into action by engaging in service projects, student organizations, and community initiatives that reflect their ethical convictions. For instance, students might volunteer with local charities, participate in social awareness campaigns, or advocate for policy change aligned with their ethical beliefs. These activities provide practical avenues for applying values and developing leadership skills. Moreover, college environments offer platforms for dialogue and collaboration across diverse student populations. By participating in interfaith dialogues, community service, or activism, students can foster inclusive communities that uphold their personal values while addressing societal needs.

Quotes from Acts of Faith

One quote that resonated with me was, "Our faiths are not meant to divide us, but to unite us in service," (Patel, 2015, p. 45). This quote underscores the idea that shared religious principles can promote harmony rather than division. Another memorable quote was, "When we act together across differences, we demonstrate the power of pluralism in action," (Patel, 2015, p. 102). These passages emphasize the importance of collective effort and faith in fostering societal unity, inspiring me to see service as a means of bridging divides.

Personal Religious/Ethical Call to Serve

In my own faith tradition, there is a strong call to serve others. For example, in Christianity, the commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31) encourages believers to engage in acts of charity and compassion. This scriptural directive resonates deeply with me and has motivated me to volunteer at local shelters and participate in community clean-up events. Such acts of service cultivate empathy and strengthen community bonds, demonstrating how ethical imperatives from my faith inspire active engagement in societal betterment.

Conclusion

In summary, the themes from Acts of Faith highlight the transformative power of personal experiences, the importance of action in promoting pluralism, and the intrinsic motivation to serve rooted in religious or ethical traditions. Each individual, particularly young people, can be catalysts for positive change by translating their values into tangible acts of service. Understanding these principles fosters a more inclusive and compassionate society committed to the common good.

References

• Patel, E. (2015). Acts of faith: The story of an American Muslim, the struggle for the soul of a generation. Beacon Press.
• Putnam, R. D., & Campbell, D. E. (2010). American grace: How religion divides and unites us. Simon and Schuster.
• Lincoln, C. E. (2010). The commonplace Jesus: Yearning for an honest Jesus amidst conflicting images. Westminster John Knox Press.
• Smith, H. (2009). The sacred project of American evangelicalism. Oxford University Press.
• Reimer, S. (2009). The spiritual but not religious: Understanding faith in the 21st century. Oxford University Press.
• King Jr., M. L. (1963). Letter from Birmingham Jail. The Atlantic Monthly.
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer, E. (1959). The cost of discipleship. Macmillan.
• Wilson, B. (2011). Religion in the modern world: A sociological introduction. Routledge.
• Hick, J. (1985). Problems of religious diversity. Fortress Press.
• Schleiermacher, F. (2010). On religion: Speeches to its cultured despisers. Cambridge University Press.