Abstract
This paper considers whether the play "Doctor Faustus" would be considered blasphemous in Elizabethan English. The paper finds that Doctor Faustus reflects a conventional, Calvinistic approach to English theology which is innocuous, if it is sincere. However, the paper points out that with Marlowe, this is quite questionable.

Tags:marlowe, faustus, blasphemy

Abstract
This paper explains that John Donne, in his poem "The Canonization", argues against societal restrictions, which would denounce his romantic relationship without taking into account the ways in which that relationship reflects the better parts of human's ability for commitment and compassion. Next, stanza by stanza, the author relates the powerful imagery and symbols, witty jabs at other poets and Elizabethan English society and playfully blasphemous attitude toward religion through which Donne projects his ideas. The paper concludes that Donne reveals his desire for permanency by expressing the "canonizing" of his love as a piece of literature and by according himself and his love the status of saints. The paper includes footnotes.

From the Paper
"Although Donne was ordained as a priest and therefore was presumably quite religious, many of his poetic works demonstrate his questioning of society's deemed superiority of religious love over romantic love. His love poetry often contains naturalistic, vivid bodily and sexual imagery that subverts traditional Petrarchan metaphors for love. In "Elegie VIII", Donne compares drops of dew on a rose to drops of sweat on his lover's breast. He also utilizes the rather grotesque image of a flea sucking and mingling both his and his beloved's blood, used as a metaphor to justify her losing her virginity to him in "The Flea." Donne never shies away from describing or alluding to the sexual aspect of his romantic relationships in his poetry. He makes it clear that the love he is speaking of is not dreamy, unrequited love but reciprocal, passionate and physical. The opinion of the public referred to in "The Canonization" condemns two unmarried lovers. Therefore their passion is in direct opposition to the Church's prescriptions. This is what makes the conceit of lovers as saints in "The Canonization" so interesting. Through his use of sexual and religious imagery and emblems in "The Canonization," Donne suggests that romantic love and religious love are more similar than different, as both represent a desire for unity and spiritual fulfillment."

Tags:allusion, sexual imagery, religious saints invocation

Abstract
This literary essay details Herman Melville's use of blasphemy and blasphemous images in the novel "Moby Dick". The paper further discusses how it leads to Ahab's eventual downfall.

From the Paper
"Many struggle to ever find religion in their life or understand its meaning and purpose on a personal level. In a time of crisis for those spiritual ones that do find religion, faith in a higher power can be questioned, leaving a person lost in existential deliberations or possibly cursing the heavens in anger. This topic of religious abandonment and the consequential sacrilegious actions that may follow has been explored in several works of literature. In Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick, Captain Ahab's blasphemies, which include his extreme vengeance for Moby Dick, his relationship with the dark Fedallah, and his numerous impious actions toward God, result in his ultimate downfall."

Tags:moby, dick, blasphemy, herman, melville, ahab, evil, sacrilegious, novel

Abstract
This paper looks at the two elderly female characters in two of O'Connor's short stories. The paper discusses each character and the way that they perceive themselves as good Christian women. It then shows how both behave under stress, becoming arrogant, racist, blasphemous and hypocritical.

From the Paper
"Flannery O'Connor writes short stories filled with horror, comedy, and religion. However, her religious themes sometimes go unnoticed. O'Connor was a devout Catholic living in the South and she was often disturbed about the world around her. She saw the hypocrisy in those who claimed to be Christian and good. Moreover, O'Connor was worried about the downfall of man due to this hypocrisy she witnessed. O'Connor channeled these feelings into her own work. Her stories are satirical and humorous, but the deeper meaning, if found, is serious. For example, O'Connor's short stories, "A Good Man is Hard to Find," and "Everything That Rises Must Converge," are not simply stories about a family getting murdered or an old lady getting beat to death. Rather, the stories portray two old ladies, both claiming to be good Christians, who come to face the horrible reality that they are hypocrites."

Tags:racism, values, self-perception, superiority

Abstract
This paper discusses Ernest J. Gaines' book, "A Lesson Before Dying", and its theme that religion is important to society because faith gives people hope and perseverance. The paper summarizes and analyzes the book in order to illustrate how Gaines walks the reader through a process of spiritual evolution that lends hope to the hopeless.

From the Paper
"The antithesis to Grant Wiggins in the novel is the Reverend Ambrose, a man who was never formally educated or ordained. His belief in religion appears to be absolute. He is a local church figure who preaches every Sunday at the small local church that Jefferson and Grant's aunt attends. He recognizes that religion, although intangible, is often the most cherished possession his people have. Like Grant, Reverend Ambrose goes to see Jefferson. He brings the words of the gospel and Jesus Christ into the small cramped jail cell with him, yet he fails to reach Jefferson in any significant way."

Tags:respected, blasphemous, truth, solace, religion, spiritual, evolution