Abstract
This extensive study investigates the role of the Virgin Mary in today's Protestant churches. The writer examines whether there currently exists an identifiable Protestant liturgical theology of Mary. The author further examines the most significant contemporary developments in Protestant Mariology. The author states that since this investigation seeks to uncover how everyday Protestants view Mary's role in their religion, the scope of research extends beyond scholarly texts. The author considers information from mass media resources like magazines, and less traditional media sources, such as websites to be a reflection of the popular view of Mary. According to the author, untraditional sources provide insight into how modern lay Protestants view Mary, if they honor her, or if they believe she should be honored. The paper further examines how church officials approach devotion to Mary, and if they desire pro-Marian changes in Protestantism. The potential controversy surrounding Mary in the Protestant church is also considered. The author hopes that information from a broad variety of practitioners will yield a suggestion about the modern state of Mary in the Protestant church and whether her role should change.

Outline:
Proposal
Introduction
Hypothesis
Literature Review
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Traditionally, at least in recent history, the Virgin Mary has not played a very large role in the various Protestant faiths. In fact, many modern Protestants only recall celebrating Mary during Christmas, and those celebrations were strictly limited to Mary's role in the birth of Christ rather than celebrating Mary's prophecies prior to Jesus' birth or the role that she played as Jesus' day-to-day parent. The Protestant attitude towards Mary contrasts starkly with Catholic and Orthodox attitudes, which celebrate Mary in several different ways. To Catholics, Mary was chosen to be the mother of God's son because she was an example of a devout and loving Jew, so that her spiritual greatness actually preceded the events that are traditionally associated with her. However, to Protestants, prior to the visit from the angel Gabriel, Mary led an unremarkable life, and her sole claim to significance in Christianity is the fact that she was chosen, more or less arbitrarily, by God to be the mother of his son. Furthermore, many Protestants not only refused to share in the Catholic and Orthodox reverence for the Virgin, but have actually reacted vehemently against it, associating respect and reverence for Mary with the some type of idolatry."

Tags:Virgin, Mary, Protestantism, Christianity, devotion, Mariology

Abstract
This paper first analyzes how Michelangelo's lack of attention in his childhood led to elements of homosexuality in his artwork. The paper then analyzes Michelangelo's religious devotion plays out in the painting, "The Last Judgment" (c.1535-1541). The paper uses MLA style footnotes but does not include a works cited page.

From the Paper
"These paternal and maternal struggles Michelangelo faced undoubtedly left him with a feeling of abandonment, self-hate and possibly led to his homosexual tendencies. It has been suggested that through analyzing Michelangelo's letters, poems, and artistic depictions that Michelangelo had a series of homosexual relationships; "A great deal has been written and even more omitted about Michelangelo's homosexuality." Being that Michelangelo's childhood lacked in affection, it appears that he developed a great love and adoration for the sexuality of young men, specifically Franceso de'Bracci (called Cecchino) and Tommaso de'Cavalieri. Michelangelo wrote several poems about and to these two men. For Tommaso, Michelangelo once gave him a Ganymede drawing (c.1533) (fig.3). In the drawing, aside from the actual subject matter itself, there are overt homoerotic elements including oral incorporation as well as the appearance of anal penetration by the eagle to Ganymede. In the case of Cecchino, he appears to have been the sexual companion of Michelangelo and the subject of much adoration by him. When Cecchino died at a very young age, Michelangelo designed a tomb for him. In both cases, it appears that Michelangelo cherished the feeling of being loved and being subjugated to another person, in an almost erotic, sadomasochistic way; "These [elements] help us understand Michelangelo's self-hate, self-torment, relationships and homosexuality." This struggle with homosexuality is also linked to feelings of depression. Historian Christopher Ryan suggests that in his later years, Michelangelo's poems were much more religious than erotic in nature, most likely indicating repentance and feelings of remorse for his homosexual activities. Paul Wolf (M.D.) also concludes that Michelangelo showed many signs and symptoms of depression, manic-depression and even bi-polar illness, and that his paintings on the Sistine Ceiling (1508-1512) mirror his depression. Wolf also explains that manic-depression and creativity have often been linked to go hand in hand. Michelangelo's homosexuality and adoration of the male figure plays out most clearly in the Ignudi (1508-1512) of the Sistine Ceiling and in his unfinished sculpture, Dying Slave (1513)."

Tags:sculpture, paintings, homosexual, maternal

Abstract
The paper shows how despite a similar emphasis on loyalty, the way that this value is celebrated in "Beowulf and "The Tale of the Heike" is very different. The paper explains that the hero Beowulf demonstrates his prowess through individual struggle and excellence while the good warriors of the "The Tale of the Heike" collectively show their greatness through their loyalty to their lord. The paper clarifies further that the negation of the self shown by Beowulf is demonstrated by putting the lives of others before his own to make a better community while the negation of the self in "The Tale of Heike" is shown in unswerving devotion to a lord above all other things and showing ruthlessness in battle towards the enemy that opposes the lord.

From the Paper
"Both "Beowulf" and "The Tale of the Heike" relate military narratives of bloody, bitter conflicts in war-torn societies where human civilization is fragile and savage threats are common. Men and women must band together, just to survive. The heroic individuals that triumph in these early sagas of early Scandinavian and feudal Japan define the values of their early societies by the ethics and character they show during trying times. "Beowulf's" triumphs are physical, like his triumph over Grendel, as well as spiritual, and the warriors of "The Tale of the Heike," even when defeated win moral victories over their enemies because of the superior loyalty they show to their lord and to the emperor."

Tags:lord, self-negation, warriors, struggle

Abstract
This paper describes the origins and features of the many versions of the Christian bible, including the King James Version, the Living Bible, the New American Standard Bible, and the New International Version. The paper also touches on less popular versions, but errs on the side of defending the well-known variations. The author opines strongly that Christians are the ones who know the teachings of Christ; the unsaved world knows not the truth, and cannot be expected to understand what it means to seek the truth since they are ignorant to the truth. In conclusion, the paper suggests that the questionable biblical translations are the ones that look worldly or are not word-literal enough to understand the truths of God's word, but reminds Christians of their responsibility to educate the flock, and not condemn. This paper contains an illustrative figure.

Outline:
Introduction
King James Version vs. Other Translations
Translations Explained
Conclusion

From the Paper
"When God moves in ones heart the desire and yearning for His word changes. We grow a desire to want to know Him more. With this in mind, all we need to understand God more is to seek and get various translations that guide in understanding in order to get the whole picture. It is a common oversight to read scripture out of context. In the absence of guidance, it is possible to read without comprehension and not catch the meaning behind the words. Parallel bibles are helpful for deeper study given that you may look at several translations at one time to grasp the entire concept of what the verse means."

Tags:King, James, fundamentalist

Abstract
This paper reviews the film 'Road to Perdition', meaning eternal damnation. The author asks how the title of the film relates to the characters and themes, and wonders whether it is a portent of things to come in the movie. Set in the late 1920s in Chicago, the film is about Michael Sullivan, whose wife and younger son were murdered by the biological child of the man who raised him after his own parents were killed. That man, John Rooney, was a gangster, and his mafia connections embolden his son, Conner. Yet, as the paper points out, the match-up between Conner and Michael is balanced, because Michael is more clever and cunning than the mafioso. The paper focuses its analysis on the theme of revenge as it relates to both men.

From the Paper
"This slaying of his family gives Michael Sullivan strong ambition to seek revenge against Conner Rooney for the acts he has committed. The second convention of a revenge tragedy is also already apparent to the viewer. That convention is that the protagonist has justification (to the viewer's satisfaction) for seeking revenge. Sullivan quickly finds out that if he is to do so, he will be opposing the might of the mafia as well as the man that raised him...John Rooney. This raises a strong moral dilemma in the movie as by killing Conner Rooney, he is betraying his emotional father John Rooney. Will he seek revenge and slay the murder of his family while in the process breaking the relationship with the man that raised him and risking his own life? Or will he move on with his life still living under the protection of the mafia? Michael decides to go all the way and avenge his family's death, as he doesn't want his son following in his footsteps of organized crime."

Tags:mafia, Chicago, 1920s, revenge, family, murder, organized, crime, gangster

Abstract
This paper looks at Flannery O'Connor's style of writing and particularly focuses on her religious stances and appeal in some of her short stories. The author includes many quotes from O'Connor's works.

From the Paper
"Flannery O'Connor, a spiritual and devout Roman Catholic, portrayed God, religion, Jesus Christ, and evil in various aspects in some of her most famous short stories. O'Connor took a very broad approach to spiritual ideas that dealt with moral, psychological, and social issues in her writings. Many readers of O'Connor's writings often become perplexed with the characterizations of O'Connor's characters in her stories; however, when a reader discovers O'Connor's life and biographical history, they may view pieces of her life wrapped up into her short stories. Three of O'Connor's short stories that particularly deal with her religious devotions are "The Turkey," "Revelation," and "A Good Man is Hard to Find." Each of these stories focus on different spiritual concepts, but all can be traced to the biographical history of O'Connor's short life. In addition, O'Connor's style is verified in James Grimshaw's book titled The Flannery O'Connor Companion when he explains, "Of the various approaches employed to explain O'Connor's fiction, the one which has drawn the most attention and offered the most convenient "answers" has been the religious system? (4). Therefore, when detailing O'Connor's writing style from a religious standpoint, there are several distinct reasons and concepts that are apparent in her writings that imply her strong religious beliefs."

Tags:find, good, hard, man, religion, revelation, turkey

Abstract
This paper examines George Herbert's poetry, written during the 17th century which is reflective of the strong biblical and liturgical themes that were ever present in much Renaissance art and literature during this time. It looks at how he dedicated his poetic abilities and verse to God as early as 1610, when he sent two sonnets to his mother claiming his power the result of divine intervention. He claimed that his love of God was a more worthy subject for verse than the love of a woman. It discusses how Herbert was well known during his time for his humility and charity and how his work reveals undeniable undertones of despair and inner mental struggle or conflict. It analyzes how this inner conflict is present in his poems "The Altar" "Love III" "Denial" and "Sin I" and how his poems illustrate this mercurial behavior both in tone and in structure.

From the Paper
"All of the work created by Herbert reflects in some way an inner conflict or mental torture that the poet must have been feeling throughout his life. Perhaps this was due in part, as mentioned previous to the death of his father early in life. A sense of loss and loneliness, of despair despite much love and affection (which he must have received from his large family and mother) is apparent in most of these poems. Themes liturgical and repentant in nature are also prevalent throughout his work. Not one of Herbert's poems fails to mention God, spiritual devotion and the weakness of man."

Tags:renaissance, god, love, inner, conflict

Abstract
The paper asserts that despite being a dedicated and concerned President, Lincoln managed to spend some quality time with his family, and possessed a deep love for his sons. The paper describes Lincoln's sorrow after the death of his young son and his strong marriage. The paper shows how Lincoln was a very devoted father and husband despite being President of the United States.

From the Paper
"In the summer of 1860, Jeriah Bonham, a newspaper editor from Springfield, Illinois, paid a visit to President Abraham Lincoln, staying at the Illinois State Capital building on some important business matters. Mr. Bonham relates that during this visit, he witnessed Tad and Willie, two of Lincoln's young sons, playing games on the floor of the Governor's office. Tad was apparently having some problems with spinning a top properly, so his father bent down and helped him with the toy. After this, Lincoln told Mr. Bonham that he was "having a little season of relaxation with my boys which I cannot always enjoy as so many callers occupy my time" (Randall, 126)."

Tags:sons, marriage, wife

Abstract
This paper examines the novel "Things Fall Apart", written by the critically acclaimed author Chinua Achebe, about the change that the Ibo tribe goes through upon the arrival of the European missionaries, told through the main character of the novel, Okonkwo. It looks at how when it was first published, some reviewers criticised Achebe for devoting too much space to descriptions of traditional Ibo customs. It debates whether Achebe was justified in choosing to emphasize such descriptions and examines reasons for why he was justified giving many examples to support that claim.

From the Paper
"However, the main reason for Achebe's focus on their culture concerns the theme of the novel: change. In order for someone to notice change, it is necessary first to get an insight into the thing that has changed as it was before, and this is exactly Achebe's purpose, and many examples can be given. One such example is religion. Throughout the novel, the reader forms an intimate understanding of the role given to the other world of magic, mystery and superstition, as well as the witch doctors. We see this in chapter 2, where evil spirits supposedly came out at night, and where Umuofia is feared by its neighbors because of its power in war and magic, and because of the shrine given to its "medicine", the agadinwayi (old woman). Furthermore, we learn about the Oracle, Agbala, and how her word was obeyed for fear of the wrath of the gods."

Tags:africa, christianity, ikemefuna, nwoye, okonkwo

Abstract
In this article, the writer outlines the controversial topic of aerial spraying or fumigation in Colombia as it pertains to efforts to destroy the country's illicit drug trade. To really understand the issue, however, the writer discusses the lengthy history of narcotics in Colombia, the history of the American war on drugs and the types of drugs that appear most prevalent in Colombia. From there, time is devoted to looking at the issue of aerial spraying, why it seemed like a good idea when first conceived, and precisely what impact it has had upon Colombia. In the final analysis, the writer maintains that aerial spraying seems superficially to be an effective means of thwarting the drug trafficking problem in Colombia, but it may simply be a needless distraction diverting resources and expertise away from worthwhile alternatives.

From the Paper
"The history of the war on drugs is a long and important one, but it is necessary first to place it within the context of the even longer history of Colombia as a major international distributor of illicit narcotics. To begin with, marijuana cultivation in Colombia first emerged during the initial decade of the twentieth century. By as early as the 1930s, some cultivation was taking place among the Costeno black population on Barranquilla and urban criminals located in this territory were routinely smoking marijuana. Additionally, during the course of the Second World War, hemp cultivation muscled its way to the forefront courtesy the growing demand for large-scale fiber production as one part of the much larger war effort. Finally, by the latter part of the 1960s and by the early 1970s, marijuana production in Colombia became a fairly huge and lucrative industry in response to a growing demand for such a good in the United States."

Tags:fumigation, aerial, spraying, marijuana, cocaine, narcotics