Abstract In this paper, the parallel meanings and definitions of the creation of the Earth are very similar in Hesiod's Theogony and the Book of Genesis. In similar ways, both Earths are created from a dark void, and then transformed through the will of the gods or god to bring forth a material world. This is how these two ancient creationist beliefs are similar, and how they correspond through textual observation.
From the Paper "In this mythological study, the creationist story of Hesiod resembles some of the key aspects of the Book of Genesis within the Holy Bible. By revealing the similar approaches to the 'void' before Earth was created, one can ultimately realize how similar these creationist views are within a textual comparison. In essence, the Theogony of Hesiod closely resembles The Book of Genesis as found within the Holy Bible. Hesiod, in the beginning of his creationist story, reveals that the prominence of a void that existed before Earth came into being. The birth of the various gods that come to represent chaos or the darkness of night are revealed, but the existence of the Earth has not yet been considered. The chaos or void is presented after a period of darkness that must ensue before anything resembling life is brought forth."
Abstract This paper explains that Paul is clearly the author of the Book of Romans and that he, indeed, had connections with the churches in Rome. The author points out that Paul makes it clear that, although the Jews and Gentiles had almost unlimited liberty in Christ, they still were required to live responsibly by taking into account the traditions, customs and feelings of the other group. The paper suggests that evidence within the text indicates that, in Rome, the large Jewish community was composed of various congregations; thereby, Christianity was able to spread rapidly with a centralized authority proscribing it. The author relates that Paul summarizes his message of the gospel and introduces the relationship between the Jews and Gentiles, claiming that "the righteous will live by faith".
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Socio-Historical Background
Literary Context
Theological matters
Application
Meaning of "Unclean" and "Stumbling Block"
From the Paper "Because relations between Christian and non-Christian, Jews and Gentiles were not harmonious, Claudius, the Roman Emperor, expelled all Jews from Rome in 49 A.D. This expulsion was caused by Jews all over Rome disputing the fact of whether or not Jesus was indeed the Messiah. After the Jews departure, the Christian population in Rome became mainly Gentile. This caused a culture shock when the Jews were allowed to return in 54 A.D. as they had to adjust to the dominant Gentile customs in the church . Paul hears of this conflict and rightly decides to address it in his letter in hopes of keeping a positive atmosphere within the church at Rome."
Abstract This paper examines the threat posed by Hezbollah and the methods in which it operates, along with its ideology and that of the region which allows it to operate with such impunity. The paper explores the motivation and goals of Hezbollah, the tactics and strategies of the organization, including previous terrorist attacks. The paper then looks at the Lebanon's reaction to Hezbollah and ways of addressing this threat. The paper also discusses world security. In conclusion, the writer suggests that financial support cuts and other sanctions should be imposed on Lebanon for as long as it continues to endorse Hezbollah and its terrorist actions (whether implicit or explicit) by allowing the organization to operate within its borders. Otherwise, future attacks are inevitable and the security of the United States and it allies will continually be at risk from this organization.
Outline:
History and Motivation of the Organization
Tactics and Techniques of Terrorism
Response of the Government and Counteraction
From the Paper "Hizbollah was formed in 1982 in response to the war in Lebanon regarding political disputes with Israel and the subsequent Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. The founders of the organization wanted to more fully support Islamic fundamentalism as well as remove Israel from the country, and they believed that apathy and a lack of religious devotion to fundamentalist principles were significant problems in Lebanon. Although the stated principle of the conflict were to remove Israel from the area and to establish "Peace for Galilee," some scholars have noted that "it would have been more honest to call the war to safeguard the occupation of the West Bank," asserting that Israel acted in the area not to promote peace but to protect its own territory."
A look at how Kai Nelson and J.P. Moreland answer the question: If there is a higher being, how much control does he/it have over ordinary lives, and how does this affect human choices of morality?
2,419 words (approx. 9.7 pages), 0 sources, 1999, $ 73.95
Abstract A discussion of the existence of God based on arguments on morality and ethics as argued by Kai Nielson and J.P. Moreland. Also a discussion of freedom and free will and the phenomenon of determinism.
From the Paper "Why is human cloning viewed as a bad (unethical) thing?? The only thing that is holding the possibilities back is the fact that some people, actually a lot of people, do not approve of cloning in the least bit. It is stated that "one (a clone) will lose the sense of human possibility in freely creating one's own future" (28), constantly haunted by their earlier twin. Also argued by the Nation Bioethics Advisory Committee is the fact that cloned children have a high chance of low self esteem, wondering their value because they were cloned instead of conceived. On page 21 in the book, it states some of main benefits. The biggest benefit is the fact that people can be cloned, and the embryos can be frozen and gestated for organ harvesting. This would be a huge advance in science, as many people in need of organ transplants will not get them and will die. With organ harvesting, there could be an unlimited supply of "spare parts" to increase the length of life. There is a possible legislation of using cloning as the first step to cure Parkinson's disease.
How the separation of church and state, science, the organization of modern society, and the "futuristic" outlook of people today have led to the de-religionization of Americans.
1,720 words (approx. 6.9 pages), 5 sources, 2000, $ 55.95
From the Paper "No doubt there has been downward trend in religious following in the United States; in the last ten years alone the estimated percentage of the adult population that identifies themselves as any one of major religions has dropped by the following percents: Catholicism has dropped 6.3 %, Baptism 6.5 %, Methodism .2 %, Lutheranism 1.3 %, and Presbyterianism .3%. The only major United States religions that have not suffered a loss in affiliation are Judaism and Latter-day Saints (Mormonism).These figures do not only indicate changes in faith in the last ten years, but are representative of a continuos cycle of disbelief. "
From the Paper " The term of a Schone Madonna means a beautiful Madonna; which I think gave justice to the lovely sculpture from Salzburg, Austria. Like many Schone Madonnas she had the common S-curve figure and her stance. The Madonna's stance made her seem as if she was in the midst of rocking her baby ? The Christ Child to sleep. Though her body parts were heavily hid through the long draping garments; her position made it that she was standing with one leg straight while the other leg bent at the knee. "
From the Paper "When you hear about a place or worship what is the first thing that comes to your mind? A church with a cross on the steeple? A booming organ with music that makes you feel as if you walked in ? The Phantom of The Opera? musical? A balcony with young children singing in a choir? Enormous door that represent both the Old Testament and The New Testament with images of holy people from Noah and The Ark, Abraham and Sarah, The Jesse Tree, King David, Jonah and The Virgin? In my case, that was what I thought about. I viewed all the churches and cathedrals in their splendor and beauty. I was fascinated by the architectual style that each magnificent religious building possessed. Two of the churches that seemed to have their own personality were The Church of St. Thomas and Saint Peter's Church. "
Tags: art, catholic, church, churches, city, greek, judaism, ny, of, peter, roman, russian, st, thomas
Examines Michael Coe's book "The Maya" which pulls together the available data from many different fields of study to produce a comprehensive survey that sheds new light on the beginnings and eventual decline of the ancient Mayan civilization.
2,160 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 3 sources, 1999, $ 67.95
From the Paper "By using new and updated material from the archaeological field, combined with the recent studies done in the field of linguistics, Coe has been able to create a plausible 'history' of the Maya people, while at the same time creating a new model that portrays a very complex social and economic system not believed to have existed in earlier research. Coe's revised edition also dispels the notion that the complex centers were primarily used for religious or priestly functions. Coe instead sees these centers as also being the hub for politics, trade, and social functions. Added to this history are the artistic forms expressed in the Maya Murals, burial sites, architecture, ceramics, clothing and dated monumnts, all of which gives insight as well as documentation to the lives and movements of the humans that inhabited the many areas of Mesoamerica as early as eleven to fourteen thousand years ago. By tracing the various art forms displayed on these archaeological items along with the decipherable hieroglyphic writings, Coe has been able to offer a realistic progression of the Maya civilization through its Pre-Classic, Classic, and Post-Classic eras. Included in this progression is the outside influences of different languages and styles of artistic expression, whether these influences came through the process of trade, exchange, or war. But before Coe examines these three stages of Maya development, he first explores the possible human lifestyle prior to these stages, thus setting the stage for the development of the obvious and intricate architecture that is found in Mesoamerica today."
From the Paper "Formerly Saul of Tarsus, a well-educated Pharisaic Jew who persecuted the early Christian churches, which he considered blasphemous, Paul the Apostle converted to Christianity after direct divine intervention. Having seen and heard the arisen Jesus, Paul rejected his former views to become among the most significant proselytizers of the early Christian church. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, created several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Greece. Paul's letters, canonical writings of the New Testament, demonstrate his commitment to permanently influencing the communities so that the new converts would adopt practices that Paul considered correct. Of course, Paul's need to exert influence against competing Christian practices demonstrates that early Christian practice was neither well defined nor monolithic. Paul's writings substantively influenced these early Christian communities, and his theology, which preaches Christ crucified, facilitated the growth of Christianity as a religion. Paul is best understood, therefore, as a missionary who advanced Christians? understanding of the significance of Jesus, and not as the founder of a new "Paulist" version of Christianity."
Abstract A look at Campbell's concept that one can find clues about the human psyche from human created mythology that forms the core of the many different religious traditions found both historically and today in the twentieth century.
From the Paper "As present-day humans we can trace the physical growth of the human species by examining "man the hunter", "man the toolmaker", 'man the city builder, and so on. These are the most often used explanations to trace the path of the human species, but according to Campbell, these aspects are only one-half of the human life cycle. The other half and more important part of the development of the human species lies in the human psyche. It is within the human psyche that the spiritual growth and the spiritual experience of life resides and functions. The clues to this part of the development of the human species can be found in the human created mythology that forms the core of the many different religious traditions found both historically and today in the twentieth century. "
From the Paper "....I have found through other's mistakes, abstinence is the only form of ?safe sex.? Religion is one of the main reasons why adolescents choose abstinence. God created everyone as a sexual being. Through my beliefs, I have chosen not to have sex before marriage. Suddenly, virgin geek is giving way to virgin chic. The fear of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, are not the only reason for saving sex for the marriage bed. Despite the religion and social reasons to not have sex, the consequences alone are reason enough to choose abstinence. People who are sexually active say they have ?safe sex,? they always use protection. Choosing abstinence is the safest and most respected decision anyone can make..... "
A look at the Maya creation story which can be found in the "Popol Vuh", and acts as a window into the religious, secular, psychological, and environmental life of the Maya people.
1,690 words (approx. 6.8 pages), 4 sources, 2000, $ 54.95
From the Paper "Universal to virtually every human culture is the "Creation Myth or Story." A myth or story created by humans in an attempt to explain the creation, purpose, and existence of life. For the Maya, this creation story can be found in the Popol Vuh. Not only does the Popol Vuh recount the Maya creation story, but it also is a window into the religious, secular, psychological, and environmental life of the Maya people. This view can be applied to both the individual and the society and it also encompasses the cosmic world, the earth, and the underworld..... "
From the Paper "...Religion can be examined from any number of academic disciplines with each discipline exercising its own terminology, methodology, and subsequent theories. In the world of anthropology, religion is viewed within a socio-cultural framework. Religion is seen as connected to, the driving force behind, and the reflection of culture. Because religion is seen in these terms, it becomes almost inseparable from the human culture in which it exists. Both religion and culture are seen as an institutionalized system of attitudes, beliefs, and practices all of which are human created, recreated, and ultimately adjusted in order to enable a society to communicate, form economic and political frameworks, gender roles, marriage rules, social roles, concepts of the natural environment, and the basic beliefs of where, when, and how things are to-be done. Each culture has its own way of looking at the world and its own way of communicating this worldview within its own boundaries, boundaries it has created for itself..."
Abstract Compares the Mesopotamian flood stories of Gilgamesh and Atrahasis to the Biblical account of the flood found in Genesis. By comparing these three texts, the paper demonstrates that although they share similar events, the Biblical account establishes an entirely different rationale for the occurrence of the flood, and uses the story to define characteristics of the Israelite God that are not present in the earlier Mesopotamian texts.
From the Paper "The Biblical flood story contained in Genesis and the Mesopotamian flood stories of Gilgamesh and Atrahasis contain similar themes, language, events, and details that would lead one to believe that the text produced later chronologically, the Biblical account, draws on the earlier Mesopotamian accounts, or the Biblical narrative and the Mesopotamian stories both draw on a document produced at an even earlier date. The differences in the details of these stories, however, make the interpretation of them significantly different for the societies from which they are drawn."
