Abstract This paper describes the life of Galileo Galilea--his childhood, youth and how this affected his chosen path in life. It analyzes his theories as well as the harsh and life threatening criticism he faced from the Church.
From the Paper Galileo's father was a musician who eventually challenged Aristotelian beliefs about music theory and who proved some of it wrong, so Galileo grew up in a forward-thinking house where beliefs that had been long-held by educated people were being questioned. His father was part of a small group of musicians who revolutionized the way music was written. These changes led to the birth of opera. He saw his father's musical experiments, which contradicted the most basic assumptions regarding music theory. These older beliefs were also tied to church theology. It was believed at the time that the rules of harmony paralleled the motion of the heavenly body. This concept was known as the ?music of the spheres.?
The following paper examines the Bible's use of parables and the way in which they explain complex concepts as well as serving as a deconstruction of what is being symbolized.
1,020 words (approx. 4.1 pages), 3 sources, 2003, $ 36.95
Abstract This essay discusses the use of parables in describing the Kingdom of God. It examines how the parables helped Jesus explain the Kingdom of God to His disciples in terms that they could relate to.
From the paper:
?In the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven, Jesus described the Kingdom of God using parables. He compared it to a mustard seed in the beginning, saying that when it is first planted, it is the smallest of the seeds on Earth. He added that when it grows, it becomes the greatest of all shrubs. Next Jesus spoke of the parable of the leaven, saying that the Kingdom of God is like a leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.?
Abstract This paper discusses "The Canterbury Tales" and the character of the Parson, who is a perfect example and holds every quality a devout church leader is expected to have. His life is contrasted with that of Monk and Friar who are the exact opposites of the Parson as their lives consist of greed, gluttony and lustfulness. The current church leadership, and Mother Teresa are used as modern day examples of goodness and greed.
From the Paper "The First way the Canterbury Tales is relevant to a modern audience is through the powerful characterization of the Parson. He is a perfect example and holds every quality a devout church leader is expected to have. The purpose for his journey to Canterbury is to enhance his own spirituality, the ideal reason for going on this pilgrimage. The Parson is an educated man and, unlike many of the others, he is very honorable. He practices what he preaches and knows that he is an example for others to follow."
Abstract This paper discusses the political and social climate in which Sir Thomas More lived, and how it influenced him to pen his idea on how a perfect society should be in his novel "Utopia". The author also provides a brief biography on More.
From the Paper "More than anything else, the author used Utopia to criticize the society he lived in, and to offer up hope of what could be if everyone lived up to the true Christian ideals. Knowing that communal living was not a true possibility, he nevertheless continued to mention it as an ideal way to live. The More character continued to criticize the idea, but just that fact that it is brought up in such detail gave the reader a hint at Thomas More's influential monastic experience."
Abstract This paper provides an overall history of the Church Santa Maria della Salute and explores its history and significance. It begins with an explanation why the Church was built following the bubonic plague and describes how it is still a source of inspiration to the citizens of Venice. It discuss unique architectural features of the church and provides a brief biography of the architect Baldassare Longhena.
From the Paper "Anyone who has ever been to Venice - and indeed perhaps even anyone who has merely dreamed of going to Venice - will know the huge baroque church of Santa Maria della Salute. It is architecturally one of the most and probably the most important religious building in the city. It's distinctive shape, visible form all over the city, has greeted both visitors and natives since it was erected in the 17th century as an attempt to appease the heavens. This paper examines both the architectural and artistic significance of this building."
Abstract This paper is an analysis of the novel "Love Medicine" by Louise Eldrich. This novel plays on words and the emotions of people. While at one end the characters are concerned with their spirituality as it comes into conflict with their culture, at the other end they contend with the basic instincts of sexuality within their nature. The narrator creates a story of cultural assimilation. This contends that through assimilation the identity of the individual is lost.
From the Paper " The novel Love Medicine by Louise Eldrich is one that plays on words and the emotions of people. While at on end the characters are concerned with their spirituality as it comes into conflict with their culture. I.e. the conflict between Christianity and Native American Culture at the other end they contend with the basic instincts of sexuality within their nature. Combining the two thoughts the narrator creates a story of cultural assimilation. This contends that through assimilation the identity of the individual is lost."
Abstract This paper examines why Satanism is attractive to teenagers. The author discusses how satanic religious practices offer adolescents total self-indulgence, self power and a complete license to indulge in the forbidden. The paper also discusses how in this era as the society is in a constant flux of change and teenagers feel adrift in face of societal changes they become interested in such things as Satanism.
From the Paper "The personality profile of an adolescent susceptible to cult overtures might include identity confusion or crisis; alienation from family; weak cultural, religious, and community ties; and feelings of powerlessness in a seemingly out-of-control world. Studies have indicated that a surprising number of cult members come from democratic and egalitarian homes and upper socioeconomic levels, rather than over permissive, overindulgent, dysfunctional, and poor families. In fact, reports that many cults focus on the recruitment of gifted and creative adolescents. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to delineate a precise portrait of potential adolescent cult members."
The following essay examines the way in which various religions of the world can be separated by single words, such as Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
945 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 0 sources, 2003, $ 33.95
Abstract This paper examines how the assigning of a name conveys the concept of separate and distinct beliefs. The writer contends that in looking at the tenets, the ethics or moral codes found in all religions - the similarities can be seen if not in actual written instruction, at least in intent.
From the Paper ?While using different formal instructions, all religions provide a vehicle through which the human being tries to achieve the highest possible state of being by aligning his or herself to the strongest power in the universe. The power is referred to as God, Allah, and Yahweh. While Judaism is one of the oldest religions, believed by some scholars to have originated around 1200 B.C., it has the fewest members at this time. It is, however, the basis for both Christianity and Islam - the two of the most widely practiced religions on Earth.?
Abstract The paper looks at how nations identify with others that are similar to them and whose enemies value a society they oppose. The paper describes how terrorism is used to achieve a political agenda. Also discussed is the recent move by President Bush away from isolationist foreign policy as a result of the terrorism of 9/11.
From the Paper "At one level, this question is unanswerable in the same way child abuse and rape are incomprehensible. For people who do not believe that violence is ever acceptable except to defend oneself or other innocent people, it is impossible to fathom what would motivate people to harm innocent bystanders, an element in so much of terrorism. But, clearly ? given the number of terrorist acts that occur in the world ? to other people terrorism is something that simply makes good political sense: Realpolitik carried to logical extremes."
Abstract A study of the effect of religion on the American political system since the Puritan influence that came with the Founding Fathers. It looks at the history of religious political influence starting with Constantinople and moves towards modern day and the conflict between religion and state in America.
From the Paper "When the freethinking, Founding Fathers of this country gathered in the late1700s to create a government for the free people of the United States, their intent was to form a government that would not be based upon the tenets or dogma of any particular religion. The motivation behind this thought was a dual one reflecting personal history as well as contemporary conditions. The early European colonists fled their own homeland and came to America to escape the oppressive European church/state rule. The first ruling government put into place in America, however, was ruled by Puritan dogma, and thus recreated another oppressive church/state government in the new land. It would be necessary to create a government based upon democracy and religious freedom in order to effectively defuse the Puritanical rule fashioned after the regime ruling the homeland."
Abstract The paper shows how the Book of Genesis in the Bible recounts two versions of the story of creation. The author shows that while both accounts involve relating the story of how God created the world and Man, they differ largely in the chronology of events, and in approach. Despite these differences and the inevitable contradictions that result from these differences, both stories actually complement each other due to the different perspectives that are provided of the same event.
From the Paper "Another factor that demonstrated the complementary nature of each account of the creation is the greater elaboration of God's relationship with his creation. Whereas God's aloofness is further displayed in there being no account of God interacting with His creations, in the second account God lays down some ground rules to Man such as "You may eat indeed of all the trees in the garden. Nevertheless of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you are not to eat, for on the day you eat of it you shall most surely die." (Ch. 2; Verse 16-17; P. 6) Also, in the first account there is only one perspective given, that of God. However in the second account an additional perspective is provided, that of Man: "Now both of them were naked, the man and his wife, but they felt no shame in front of each other." (Ch. 2; Verse 25; P. 7)"
Abstract This paper begins with a discussion of the origins of the term "homosexual". It continues with an outline of beliefs about homosexuals through the ages, and the development of theories of homosexuality through modern times.
From the Paper "Although homosexual practices might have begun in the early centuries, the word "sodomy" was first used by a Catholic missionary, now a saint, Father Peter Damien around 1050. By sodomy, he meant masturbation and anal intercourse between men, a sin he condemned as the most perverse of sexual sins in his long letter to the Pope, entitled ?the Book of Gomorrah.? He emphasized that God designed sex exclusively for procreation and that the enjoyment of the sexual act outside this divine purpose was unnatural and therefore summarily grievously and wickedly sinful."
Abstract This paper analyzes the book "So Long a Letter" by Mariama Ba. It presents a brief summary of the story and then discusses how the style used by the author hinders her presentation of the question of male/female relationships within the family structure.
From the Paper "Mariama Ba in her novel, ?So Long A Letter,? gives the audience a glimpse into the Islamic world. The book is written as a letter from the main character, Ramatoulaye, to her childhood friend, Aissatou. It is both a missive and lamentation of Ramatoulaye's life, more than half a century of years. She has reached a cross-road, and as one might retrace his route on a map if lost, she retraces her feelings and experiences that have brought her this far on her journey (Ba 1996). Her husband of twenty-odd years has died. However, it has only been a short time since he sent word to her that he had taken a new wife, a mere girl, a friend of their daughter?s. Ramatoulaye's indignation of the marriage turns to sympathy for the young widow. Through the journal, the audience learns of her feelings and experiences as a single mother coping with first abandonment and then widowhood (Johnson 1999)."
Tags: abandonment, widowhood, family, diary, journal, culture, values, identity, communication
From the Paper "The books of the Old Testament and those of the New have been closely studied for authorship and other historical evidence. The four gospels differ in many details regarding the life of Christ, including differences in details over his birth and death. The different writers selected and arranged material according to their different intentions. This creates some problems given that the story as a whole is not consistent. Matthew, Mark, and Luke have the same basic point of view and share more material than with the version of John. The first three are considered the Synoptic Gospels and are associated with the teachings of Christ as given in Galilee through his lifetime. The version of John is more associated with earlier teachings in Judea. The first three tell of the miracles accomplished by Christ, while John is more interested in the..."
Abstract Islam is the world's single largest religion. It also may be the most misunderstood, since Islam is not about "fundamental terrorists" claiming to kill and maim and destroy in the name of Islam. Islam may be many things to many people, but the fact remains that, based on its origins in the Seventh Century A.D., it is a faith that practices peace, devotion, and obedience. For purposes of explaining, comparing, and then making a case for the regulations and attitudes of Islam, this report is divided into three sections: 1) what Islam is (and is not), 2) an overview of Islam and feminism and 3) a defense of the
religious beliefs of Islam and how they affect modern women.
From the Paper "Islam is the world's single largest religion. It also may be the most misunderstood, since Islam is not about "fundamental terrorists" claiming to kill and maim and destroy in the name of Islam. Islam may be many things to many people, but the fact remains that, based on its origins in the Seventh Century A.D., it is a faith that practices peace, devotion, and obedience.
"Today there are between 850 million and one billion followers of Muhammad, forming the bulk of the populations of Northern Africa and Western Asia, stretching all the way through India and Pakistan into Malaysia, the East Indies, and the Philippines." (Hitti, p. 412) As communities and neighborhoods of those who believe in the Islamic faith spring up in the West, these people are reminded that ?the fact that we are in ..."
