Abstract Dr. Martin Luther King was one of the most influential leaders of the twentieth century. His pursuit of justice for African-Americans and humanity was unparalleled. On various occasions, Dr. King was imprisoned for his beliefs and his position on civil disobedience.
This paper examines Dr. King's letter to clergymen from the Birmingham City Jail. It examines why the letter was written and why King was in Birmingham. It also discusses Dr. King's stance on direct action, timing and just and unjust laws. Finally, the paper examines why Dr. King was dismayed by the conduct of some Blacks and the church during the civil rights era.
From the Paper "Dr. King wrote this letter to the clergymen of the city in response to criticism that he had received about his presence in the city. (King) Many of the clergy thought that the protest that King was engaging in was "unwise and untimely" King sought to explain to the clergymen why he felt that he actions were both necessary and unavoidable. (King) He seemed to hope that this letter would aid the men in understanding his actions.
In the letter, King explains that he was invited to Birmingham by an affiliate organization called the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. (King) King explains that as the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference it was his duty to share staff, financial and educational resources with the affiliate organizations. In addition, King had come to the understanding that there were certain injustices being perpetuated upon Blacks in the city. He felt that these injustices needed to be examined and dealt with."
Abstract Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letters from a Birmingham Jail" was a presented to a group of clergymen who criticized his standpoint in the Civil Rights movement. This paper examines how in his statement, King addresses the clergymen's criticism, and highlights the purpose of his movement and his means of social change. It looks at how, with the use of Biblical examples, King points out to the clergymen that, based on their Christian beliefs, the Civil Rights Movement should have full support from the church.
From the Paper "Part of King's strategy to illuminate the clergymen's minds was to use Christian beliefs to prove that his actions were just, and that the Churches' stance was hypocritical. King argued that the men's criticism in reference to his non violent ways of demonstration was unjust. In his argument he asks the clergymen, "Isn't this like condemning Jesus because his unique God-consciousness and never-ceasing devotion to God's will precipitated the evil act of crucifixion?" (King par 25).By mentioning that their actions are like "condemning" Christ for having precipitated his crucifixion; he directly appeals to their emotions as Christian leaders. He knows that a Christian leader would never condemn Christ for the crucifixion. By making this comparison King demonstrates the similar logic behind condemning his movement for the violent acts caused by the opposed side. "
Abstract A look at the role played by clergymen in two 1790's novels: "A Simple Story" by Elizabeth Inchbald and "The Romance of the Forest" by Ann Radcliffe. The author investigates the differences of the role of clergymen in the two novels.
From the Paper "An examination of the differences between clergymen in Elizabeth Inchbald's A Simple Story and Ann Radcliffe's The Romance of the Forest indicates some of the philosophical changes that were taking place throughout Europe and specifically in England by 1791, the year that both books were published. Not only do these novels illustrate a marked difference between Catholic and Protestant clergy, but also acknowledge a growing perception of individualism as a philosophic precept. Inchbald's priests are stern, unyielding, forbidding representations of a paternalistic ideology in which the moral authority is unquestionable. Radcliffe's pastor, on the other hand, is a benevolent, serene shepherd of his flock who leads by example rather than inflexible rule."
Abstract This essay looks at evil and its corrupting forces in literature, citing Milton's "Paradise Lost" and Shakespeare's "Othello". It goes on to discuss the motives of Gandhi and those in the anti-slavery movements, attempting to explain why good will ultimately prevail.
From the paper:
"Both John Milton and Dr. Martin Luther King were clergymen who based their works, writings and speeches on the principles set forth in Christianity.
" While it might seem to be a difficult task to find a villain in real life who is suitable for comparison to Satan - one in whom personal characteristics are so base that they are better seen as completely nonexistent - it is not difficult to find such a creature in literature.
"The character of Lago from Shakespeare's play, Othello, fits this description well. Not only can Lago be compared to Satan in Milton's Paradise Lost, but the character of Othello can be compared to an innocent Adam - a person who is doing perfectly well before the devil moves in and brings hell with him."
Abstract This paper is an analysis of the play "Antigone" written by Sophocles and its main themes. It discusses mainly the concept of legitimate authority and how it is portrayed in the play. In the play we see a very strong distinction between the laws of the gods and the laws of Creon, the king of Thebes. The play tells of Antigone and Ismene and their brothers Eteocles and Polyneices. It compares the play to "Letter from Birmingham" which was written by Martin Luther King, Jr. after he had been jailed in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. The letter was a response to a statement made by eight white Alabama clergymen urging the black community to withdraw support from demonstrations taking place in Birmingham.
From the Paper "Letter from Birmingham deals with a situation different from, but the same as, that in which Antigone found herself. The letter was written by Martin Luther King, Jr. after he had been jailed in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. He had broken the law by participating in a demonstration against the treatment of blacks in the community. The letter was a response to a statement made by eight white Alabama clergymen urging the black community to withdraw support from demonstrations taking place in Birmingham. The statement of the clergymen appealed for law and order and common sense to be used in dealing with the racial problems faced by the blacks of Alabama. They believed these matters could be handled in the courts, and that the decisions made by the courts should be obeyed. They deemed the demonstrations, some of which were being lead by outsiders as unwise and untimely."
Tags: Antigone, Sophocles, legitimate, authority, Martin, Luther, King, Jr., Creon, Thebes, United, States, Government
Abstract This paper takes a look at Chaucer's two novels and the contribution that they made to society. The writer claims that they provided a look into the true experiences of medieval society. The paper presents a comparative look at the two novels.
From the Paper "One of the chief contributions that Geoffrey Chaucer made to the historical world through "The Canterbury Tales" is that he gives what is believed to be the most detailed and honest cross-section of medieval society. Historians who study the language and details of "The Canterbury Tales" and "The General Prologue" can see parallels between medieval society and modern society. Some tradesmen are honest while some overcharge for their services. There are nobleman and cowards. There are gruff lower class workers and students who are poor at the time but will have great jobs when they are done with school. There are also clergymen who give their life for the church but also religious folk who are as conniving and immoral as an everyday crook. The friar, who disregards many of St. Augustine's rules for monastic life, is one of the clergymen who fits into the latter category."
Abstract This paper is a historical examination of medieval society and modern society. It discusses 'The General Prologue' and 'The Canterbury Tales' and how they portray these societies. It describes the classes of those times and the positions that people filled in society such as: Friars, nobleman, clergymen and cowards. It details the story of a friar who used his St. Augustian ways for his benefit as well as the church's benefit.
From the Paper "One of the chief contributions that Geoffrey Chaucer made to the historical world through "The Canterbury Tales" is that he gives what is believed to be the most detailed and honest cross-section of medieval society. Historians who study the language and details of "The Canterbury Tales" and "The General Prologue" can see parallels between medieval society and modern society. Some tradesmen are honest while some overcharge for their services. There are nobleman and cowards. There are gruff lower class workers and students who are poor at the time but will have great jobs when they are done with school. There are also clergymen who give their life for the church but also religious folk who are as conniving and immoral as an everyday crook. The friar, who disregards many of St. Augustine's rules for monastic life, is one of the clergymen who fits into the latter category."
Tags: Geoffrey, Chaucer, 'The, Cantebury, Tales', history, medieval, society, ', The, General, Prologue', modern
Abstract The paper shows that in the wake of the much-publicized debacle involving numerous male child molestation cases within the Catholic Church, the vast majority of which were allegedly "covered up" by the leaders of the Catholic Church, Massachusetts passed a new law. It explains that clergy members, as well as paid religious educators and other individuals specified under the law, must report incidents of child abuse, including child sexual abuse. This essay addresses whether the Massachusetts state government and the churches at issue will be able to feasibly manage and enforce the new law.
From the Paper "Fifth, clergy are exempted from the reporting requirements if knowledge of a child abuse incident is solely obtained during a confession or other confidential communication. This exemption for "confidential communications" will also prove problematic. The law gives little guidance as to what is considered a confidential communication. We can quite easily imagine a scenario in which almost every communication or action within a church setting is deemed by the church clergy as "confidential", and therefore, exempt from the reporting law."
Abstract This paper discusses Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter written in response to a public statement composed by eight Alabama clergyman that questioned and denounced the recent human rights demonstrations by Negro citizens. It discusses how his writing, blended with logic and theory and with passion and force, rebuts the clergymen's statement, informs the public and motivates the white moderates to act.
From the Paper "The letter begins with an introduction to Martin Luther King, Jr., to his task, and to his motivation. The first several paragraphs contain most of Kings ethos appeals, though he does scatter others throughout the letter. Ethos appeals help King establish his character and credibility, upon which he builds his argument. Such a foundation is essential for any effective argument. For example, King refers to his primary audience - the clergymen - as Afellow clergymen@ and Amen of genuine good will@ to establish a relationship of respect. Then, to bolster his own character, King mentions some of his credentials while he explains his presence in Birmingham - he is president of the Southern Leadership Conference, he works with over eighty-five affiliated organizations throughout the south, etc."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the styles and themes fround in Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and Nelson Mandela's ?I am Prepared to Die.? Some of the topics discussed include prejudice, white supremacist attitudes, the use of non-violence to achieve your goals and that freedom will not be given unless it is demanded by those who are oppressed. The paper points out that although the messages are similar, they were written for different reasons. King's was written to explain his mission and his message, to the white clergy to chastise them for their neglect and condemnation of his actions, while Mandela's was written to defend the charges brought against him before a court of law and to explain his actions. According to the paper, these two men have become symbolic with the fight for freedom and equal rights.
From the Paper "Although, the message is the same in each work, they are written to different audiences and from different reference of perspective. King's letter is written to his fellow clergymen, directing his remarks to the white clerical population, Christian and Jewish communities. It was written to explain his mission and his message, as well as a chastisement for not only their neglect, but for their condemnation of King's actions. Mandela's work was addressed to the court as a legal defense case. It was written to defend the charges brought against him before a court of law and to explain his actions. King's work is cited with biblical references, such as, ?just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town."
Abstract This paper explains that King uses emotion, appeals to authority, and a sense of goodwill to establish a certain atmosphere within the first three paragraphs of his letter to help him win over his audience. The author points out that by the first paragraph with ?My dear fellow clergymen", King appeals to the authority or reputation of his audience because the use of the word "dear" first allows his audience to be clear that his intentions are not negative. The paper relates that King uses terms such as "dear", "good will", "genuine", "sincere", "patient", and "reasonable" to convey a sense of goodwill and friendliness.
From the Paper "Still another strategy King uses is emotional appeal. In paragraph one, we see King's reference to his position as ?confined here in the Birmingham city jail.? (King, 1963, paragraph 1). King does not accuse anyone of blame for his position, but appeals to their emotions through his statement of the obvious. King continues with this strategy through his description of the criticisms he receives on a regular basis for his work. Again, he does not blame anyone for that, but gently reminds his audience that he is frequently criticized."
Abstract William Law was one of the non-jurors, English and Scottish clergymen who refused to break their oath of allegiance to James II and take the oath to William III after the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Though he was influenced by many mystics, from the pseudo-Dionysius in the fifth century to Madame Guyon in the seventeenth, beginning in the 1730s Law became increasingly enraptured by the mystic, Jacob Boehme (1575-1624). Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, Henry Venn, William Wilberforce each described reading the book as a major turning-point in his life and Law's influence has continued down through the ages including his popularity with Evangelicals and Charismatics in the current age.
From the Paper "William Law was born in 1686, the son of a grocer and died in1761. Not much is known of his early life but even at the age of about eighteen whilst attending Cambridge he showed a very determined approach to life, making a list of rules for his self-conduct. The rules revolved around doing Gods? will and not wasting one second of precious time in any unfruitful activity. Perhaps the last rule sums their tenor up: "To spend some time in giving an account of the day" how have I spent the day? what sin have I committed? What temptations have I withstood? Have I performed all my duties?"
Abstract This paper describes the struggle to be the one to wield power in a small Anglican diocese. Trollope's purpose is to show the human foibles and politics of the Church of England and how the emphasis of the Church has drifted from God, faith, and the religious guidance of the Church's congregation to politics and the power of the clergy. It explains how "Barchester Towers" does not deal with a power struggle for religious ideals. Rather, it depicts an ecclesiastical power struggle and the vain thirst for personal power among Barchester's churchmen.
From the Paper "Anthony Trollope's Barchester Towers is concerned with social change in 19th century England. Trollope's purpose is to show the human foibles and politics of the Church of England and how the emphasis of the Church has drifted from God, faith, and the religious guidance of the Church's congregation to politics and the power of the clergy. In short, Barchester Towers does not deal with a power struggle for religious ideals. Rather, it depicts an ecclesiastical power struggle and the vain thirst for personal power among Barchester's churchmen. In this battle, several influential men of consequence endeavor to "rule the roast" (18) and to become Barchester's cock of the walk (142). Ironically, the bishop's willful wife Mrs. Proudie thwarts their ambitions. One situation in the novel that Trollope uses to illustrate the clergy's aspirations and their neglect of religious principles is the battle between Mrs. Proudie and her adversaries, Chaplain Slope and the Bishop of Barchester."
Abstract This paper discusses the split in the American Baptist Church based on the different views on slavery of those in the North and in the South, and how clergymen used or abused the pulpit to voice their opinion either for or against the abolishment of slavery.
From the Paper "Antislavery Baptists, or as they were commonly known 'emancipating Baptists, and The Baptist General Committee of Virginia acknowledged that "hereditary slavery was 'contrary to the word of God and recommended the use of every legal measure, to extirpate this horrid evil from the land." Some Baptist ministers attempted to inscribe the theology of the equality of all souls into church policy, issuing declarations against slaveholding and creating emancipation plans. Baptist churches had groups of their ministers form protests and 'issued declarations against slavery.' John Leland, an articulate minister, submitted a resolution to the General Committee:
Resolved, That slavery, is a violent deprivation of the rights of
nature, and inconsistent with a republican government; and therefore recommend it to our Brethren to make use of every legal measure, to extirpate the horrid evil from the land, and pray Almighty God, that our Honorable Legislature may have it in their power, to proclaim the general Jubilee, consistent with the principles of good policy."
An analysis of the findings in the case of "Michael Hegarty and Joseph Hoff v. the Township of Old Bridge Ethics Board, Division of Local Government Services and Department of Community Affairs".
Abstract This paper discusses the case of "Michael Hegarty and Joseph Hoff v. the Township of Old Bridge Ethics Board, Division of Local Government Services and Department of Community Affairs". It discusses the history of the make-up of the boards, the background of the case and the ruling which found that the Local Ethics Board had violated the petitioners' rights to due process.
From the Paper "Hoff argued that the proceedings against him were unconstitutional. He made this claim based on the fact that the Ethics Board was created with an ordinance that requires three of its members to be clergymen, thus not allowing for the separation of church and state as so required by the first amendment. He further stated that not enough members were present to vote on the issue in the first place. The Ethics Board countered, stating that neither the Township of Old Bridge nor any independent local authority may permit the hiring of a former member of that authority for compensation. Three quarters of the Ethics Board were present for the meeting, which the board felt to be adequate. The Ethics Board also pointed out that only the New Jersey Superior Court has jurisdiction to resolve this issue, not an ALJ or the Local Finance Board."
