Abstract This paper briefly summarizes Elisabeth Elliot's book, "Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testimony of Jim Elliot". The paper relates that the most powerful and inspiring aspects of Elisabeth Elliot's work is the way in which she describes her husband's deep passion and commitment to God and His Word. The paper also describes the book as a beautifully written account of obedience, faithfulness, and martyrdom that tells the story of how five young men sacrificed their lives in 1956 while attempting to make contact with a South American tribe then known as the Auca.
From the Paper "After having moved to their new mission station, Elliot and four other missionaries, including pilot Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, Roger Youderian, and Ed McCully, began to try making contact with the Auca. Due to the tribe's violent reputation, the men began by communicating with a loudspeaker from their plane and using a basket to pass down gifts in a kettle such as buttons, cloths, beads, and a photograph of each of them. Then, several months later, the men build a mission base alongside the Curaray River, which was situated just a short distance from the Auca's village. Within a short time they were approached by a small group of Auca Indians, while one of them, a man named Naenkiwi but who they nicknamed George, seemed very friendly. Indeed, they even took Naenkiwi for a ride in their airplane, steering the aircraft over the Auca's village in order to show their willingness to be friendly while Naenkiwi hung his head out of the plane's window and shouted down to the Auca's below. "
Abstract This paper draws a close parallel between the two male protagonists, Adam, and Lucifer in Milton's literary epic "Paradise Lost". While much time is often devoted to the discovery of Lucifer as a tragic hero figure, this essay describes the fundamental similarities in the sins of both Lucifer and Adam. Both characters are subject to an "outcast" status because both have chosen to defy God and both have attempted to become more god-like. Lucifer, obviously, sinned when he attempted to overthrow the Almighty, and Adam sinned in his unwillingness to spend eternity in ignorant bliss.
From the Paper "John Milton's Paradise Lost is an epic poem that recreates the story of Genesis, and explains man through his relationship with God. By demonstrating the nature of the beings that created man, as well as the nature of those who would seek to destroy human kind, Milton has created a treatise on the relationship between man and the Almighty, the fallacies and frailties of our race, and man's destiny on earth as a species created by a higher power. On the surface, Paradise Lost is a narrative that tells the story of Satan's fall from God's grace, and the subsequent fall of man from the Garden of Eden. It chronicles Adam and Eve's seduction at the hands of the devil, their decision to eat of the forbidden fruit, and their exile from paradise as a result of their indiscretion. Essentially, the work tells the story of the two falls from divine favor and relates the second fall ? that of man from the garden ? to the first. This parallel loss of paradise between Lucifer and Adam expose one of the basic tenets of the poem, that both Satan and Adam/Eve are guilty of the same crime - vanity, and it is also suggestive of Milton's opinions regarding the frailties of mankind. In essence this juxtaposition illustrates Milton's belief that men are closer to devils than to gods, no matter how enlightened we become."
Abstract This paper examines the thesis that the government is playing a wild card in its attempt to censor the Internet. It discusses several laws and examines how public libraries who do not censor the Internet can suffer funding losses.
From the Paper "In Antigone, Sophocles wrote, "There is nothing in the world so demoralizing as money." Today's society revolves around money. Without money, no person, organization, corporation, or entity can function. It is well known that in the hands of the government, when push comes to shove, money pushes, money shoves, and, more often than not, money prevails. In other words, if the government wants something done, money is the wild card. The issue of Internet censorship is no different. For years, the United States government has pushed to place censors on the Internet. After having censorship legislation stuck down by the Supreme Court, the government turned its attention to censorship of the Internet in public libraries and public schools. In recent months, the issue of censorship of the Internet in public libraries and public schools has reached a boiling point. When closely studied, it is obvious that the government has chosen to pursue censorship within libraries and public schools because all other censorship avenues have been blocked. Furthermore, it is also obvious that the government is playing their wild card in their attempt to censor, essentially backing libraries into a comer with legislation that denies public libraries and schools significant amounts of governmental funding if Internet censorship guidelines are not followed. Because the issue of Internet censorship centers on the First Amendment, it is important to understand exactly what the freedom of speech guarantees United States citizens. Since its inception, the First Amendment's guarantee of the freedom of speech has plagued all forms of."
Abstract This essay offers an analysis of how John Milton, in Book I of "Paradise Lost", introduces the reader to Satan's character through the words he uses in his speeches. The words of Satan are carefully scrutinized for psychological meaning and revelation of personality and character. The paper looks at how Milton sets Satan up as the eternal adversary of the Almighty, showing how his speeches reveal that he is both unrepentant and proud that he has shaken the throne of God, as well as a determined leader of a band of fallen angels ready to wage perpetual war.
From the Paper "Satan is endlessly optimistic. ?Space may produce new Worlds ? ( I. 650), he says. We know that he is talking here of the rumors he has heard that God intends to create Adam and Eve and Eden. Somewhere, deep down inside, Satan knows that he is going to be God's enemy forever. He is planning already to make mischief in Eden, even before it is created. Not for long will God be allowed to enjoy the creatures "equal to the sons of Heaven" that he plans to create. Satan's understanding of eternity is that whatever new worlds may emerge in the future, he and his legions will be there to use trickery to defeat the good intentions of God and turn them to evil. In the next breath, however, Satan's thinking is so perverted that it allows him to say that: "this infernal pit shall never hold/Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor th" Abyss/Long under darkness cover? (I.657). He has just described a "first eruption" and hinted of campaigns "thither, or elsewhere" (I.656). He really doesn?t get it. God is God, and they are going to be there in that fiery pit forever."
Abstract This paper examines how Abul-Waleed Muhammad Ibn Rushd (1126-1198 C.E), also known as Averroes, is regarded by many as one of the foremost Islamic philosophers and a pivotal figure in the history of Andalusian philosophy. He is also deemed an important figure in the history of Western philosophy. It looks at how an important contribution to Islamic culture and philosophy was his defense of Greek philosophy in the Islamic world as well as his emphasis on the philosophy of Aristotle. Ibn Rushd is credited with the introduction of "rationalism" into Islamic philosophy and believed that the central motivation for the search for truth lay in the search for an awareness of the ?oneness of God the Almighty?. His contribution to Islamic and world knowledge lay in his insistence that philosophy and religious thought should be integrated in an attempt to understand the truth of existence.
From the Paper "Abul-Waleed Muhammad Ibn Rushd was born in Cordova, Spain in 520 A.H. or 1128 C.E. He came from a well?known judicial family and both his father and grandfather were judges. His family was also well-known for their scholarship. He studied religious law, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy. Ibn Rushd was appointed as judge in Seville at the age of forty-four. He wrote commentaries on the works of Aristotle, including the Metaphysics. After serving as a judge in Cordova he was called to Marrakech to work as a physician for the Caliph there. On his return to Cordova he was appointed as Chief Judge. Ibn Rushd was interested in philosophy and logic and was intent on integrating philosophy and religion in many of his works."
Abstract When used by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the term 'discipleship' is used to describe the commitments and sacrifices required to truly realize a relationship with the Almighty and the part these factors play in an individual's life. This paper provides a review of Bonhoeffer's book, "Cost of Discipleship," and an analysis of three selected chapters, followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.
From the Paper "In this regard, Bonhoeffer firmly believed that it was not enough for people to seek justice, truth, honesty and goodness for their own sake and patiently to suffer for them; rather, people must do so in loyal obedience to Him who is the source and spring of all goodness, justice and truth and on whom they should felt absolutely dependent. "Bonhoeffer was firmly and rightly convinced that it is not only a Christian right but a Christian duty towards God to oppose tyranny, that is, a government which is no longer based on natural law and the law of God" (Leibholz in Bonhoeffer, 1959, p. 30)."
Abstract This paper discusses and compares the poems, "Traveling Through the Dark" by William Stafford and "God, a Poem" by James Fenton. The paper examines how these poets approach the existential question of whether there is meaning to the accidents of life and death. The paper contends that these two poems are appreciated because in some deeply emotive way they touch on a common human experience of alienation and the struggle to find meaning in the world.
From the Paper "James Fenton's poem should be the first to be considered, if for no other reason than that it would be difficult to take seriously following Stafford's piece. It would be a mistake to assume that the foolery of this piece represents a lack of talent or imagination on the part of the poet. Fenton is widely considered one of the greatest poets of his generation, said to have an "assurance of tone and technique [which] immediately distinguished his work... the sheer excellence of his poetry." (Gioia) So if there is a certain lackadaisical feel to this piece, a sense that it was thrown together by talented grade-school atheists who have only recently learned about rhyme and rhythm, there must be some intentional reason behind this sense. On second thought, the poem seems less childlike, and more reminiscent of the writing of the self-trained poets that abound in common culture, those who dedicate their free time to writing ditties about the Lord and Saviour, or the value of married life."
Abstract In "Faith, Reason and the Plague in Seventeenth-Century Tuscany", Carlo M. Cipolla traces the relentless progress of the plague in Tuscany, then a highly developed region of Western Europe. As fear eventually lapsed into hysteria when confronted with death and widespread illness, the plague no doubt brought abrupt changes to religion and one's faith in the Almighty. The paper shows that, consequently, the idealized selfless image of the faithful and religious suffered during and after the plague. With economic and social tensions collapsing before one's very eyes with the advent of the disease, it was not uncommon for one to ponder how could God allow such an affliction to persist. Was the plague an evil made necessary by inescapable evolution, or perhaps a tragic accident at variance with the normal advance of events? The paper explores answers to this question, and others.
From the Paper "Like the "Black Death" plague of the 14th century, the plague in the 17th century invoked a number of people to question their own faith and trust in a higher being. It must be stressed, however, that while confidence in the institutional churches may have waned due to the a self-centered, greedy image painted of the clergy, faith in Christ/God did not evaporate as one might expect. Rather, the imminence of death, brought closer than every by plague, made the need for salvation more pressing. One consequence was the spread of mysticism and lay piety. Mystics believed that God lived in every individual and that His presence was felt in proportion to one's ability to suppress intrinsic material and sensual inclinations and subject one's will to that of God."
Abstract The paper examines the book of Daniel, and explains how the Lord's power is exhibited as He gives awesome insight into the future, protects His followers in fatal situations, and illustrates the end of time. The paper discusses the basic storyline and describes the various miracles and events witnessed and lived through by Daniel and his friends. The paper concludes that the book of Daniel offers insight to questions of omnipotence and the final judgment. The author adds that in his /her opinion, it is easier to believe in a higher being than existing on earth questioning life and its purpose.
From the Paper "The definition for all-powerful is possessing unlimited authority or power. Other words used to define all-powerful include: omnipotent, invincible, supreme, and almighty. The Lord of the Jewish and Christian faith uses these words in reference to their God. The Hebrew Bible contains writings of a prophet during the Babylonian exile. "The God of Daniel is the omnipotent Lord who controls history, setting up and removing earthly rulers and empires, but also rescuing his people from the power of those kings and teaching them the limits of their sovereignty. (Davies 565)" In the book of Daniel, the Lord's power is exhibited as he gives awesome insight into the future (via visions/interpretations), protects his followers in fatal situations, and illustrates the end of time."
A look at how Christians throughout Europe responded to natural disasters and the ways in which they contributed to certain widespread notions of eschatology.
Abstract This paper argues that Christians, during the late medieval period and the proto-modern period before the advent of the Enlightenment, responded to disasters by seeking out scapegoats and attributing them to something they had done to incur the wrath of God. The paper points out that the determination to find scapegoats for pestilence or crop failure invariably led to the witch hunts that extended over a period encompassing roughly seven centuries, from about the thirteenth century until well into the nineteenth century. To better understand this phenomenon, the paper examines the eschatological assumptions of the age. The paper concludes that Christian eschatology had the effect, for many centuries, of convincing large numbers of Europeans that the return of the Almighty was near and that righteous Christians would fortify their souls by rooting out those who were heretical, unfaithful, and responsible for unnatural natural disasters.
From the Paper "Between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries, it is estimated that one million people in Europe were executed for witchcraft. Additionally, those witchcraft trials which have survived the passage of time appear to have frequently been conducted by ecclesiastical (Christian) courts. In the earliest trials, the institution of the Church took the lead role; by the end of the aforementioned period, it appears as though the Church was rarely, if ever, involved. In any case, whatever the amount of blame one wishes to affix to the European Christian Church, it would be inaccurate to suggest that only religious factors - however important - determined the actions of Europeans when confronted with a meteorological crisis they could not understand."
Abstract This paper discusses the gods Odin, Thor and Loki, and the parts that they played in Norse mythology. The writer explains how Odin, the most important figure and the creator in the Norse pantheon, became known as the Almighty or All-Father, and the wisest of all the gods. Thor, the god of thunder, and his magic hammer and goats, are also described. The writer explains how Loki, originally from a different race, acquired godhood by becoming Odin's blood brother, and eventually caused the downfall of the Aesir gods through his malicious acts. Ragnarokk, the day of reckoning for the gods, is also described.
Outline:
Introduction
Aesir Gods
Thor - The God of Thunder
Loki - The God of the Jotun Race
Ragnarokk - Destiny of the Gods
Conclusion
From the Paper "In Asgard the land of the gods Thor was good natured, kind and had a beautiful wife named Sif who ripened seeds after Thor's thunder showers. They also had two sons Magni and Modi who were almost as strong as their father. Thor was the strongest of all the gods and also the protector of the gods and also the people on Midgard, he ruled over all the wars on Midgard and chose who would be the winner in each war. He protected the gods and humans by smashing jotuns and trolls with his magic hammer. He also had an iron mitt to protect his hand and a magic belt that made him twice as strong."
Abstract The paper explains that the issues around the practice of infotainment is about the decline of news value and the increase of soft or entertaining news as popularized in contemporary news media for commercial gains. The reporting of Michael Jackson's child abuse and the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinski scandal are used as examples of infotainment. The paper proposes that a panel of four professionals, who have great knowledge with the issue of infotainment in the media, such as Bill Moyers and Farai Chideya, be created in order to discuss the issue of the media transforming news into entertainment, rather than reporting on important information.
From the Paper "Infotainment is right in front of the public's faces. Michael Jackson is on trial again for child abuse charges. The fact that the war in the Middle East is becoming more and more violent by the day, and the main focus of the news is on Jackson's case, proves to the public that something needs to be done. American soldiers are being killed and the majority of the media are trying to get the best picture of Jackson leaving a courthouse."
Tags: journalist, panel discussion, trivial scandal, almighty dollar
Discusses the theory of evolution and the doctrine of creationism from an orthodox Christian standpoint, arguing that creationism is not only plausible but is the truth.
Abstract This paper discusses the theory of evolution, which has been taught at American schools since the middle of the last century, as part of a shift away from believing that God created all things and toward the belief that everything came from nothing and that it was by chance and accident that we have evolved to the point we are at today. The author explains that opposition to the doctrine of creationism is steeped in theories about the evolution of species, yet there is little physical evidence to create links between such species. Using scientifically backed data and facts that support the Bible in its description of a creation event made by God, the author aims to prove that God did create everything and we are not here by chance.
From the Paper "Further positive proof that there was an actual creation event and not a big bang as evolutionists suppose comes to us from Einstein and his general theory of relativity. While this sounds very intimidating, we should keep in mind that to fully understand the general theory of relativity requires an intimate knowledge of mathematics that only a few people in the world have. For this paper, all we need to know is that all testable predictions of general relativity have been proven correct and that the equations of general relativity imply that the universe is not stationary and that it must be expanding or contracting. Basically, we garner from Einstein that depending on how densely packed the universe is with matter; it is either collapsing or expanding."
