Abstract
This paper shows how Smith, in his book, reflects on the continuing importance of religion. Smith organizes his reflections against three distinct human ages, the traditional, modern, and the post-modern. Smith rails that many people in the post-modern age are neglecting religion with disastrous consequences.

From the Paper
"Smith borrows heavily from Plato's allegory of the cave when he discusses how the postmodern age views religion. The culprit in Smith's account is science, which keeps us from seeing what is outside the cave -- the traditional concept of the Divine. Science or scientism forms the floor of this cave, since science has presented itself as the only form of truth. The left wall of the tunnel is higher education, which has departed from its religious roots. The roof of the tunnel is the media, which highlights and distorts religious conflict between the church and state. The right wall is the law, which Smith argues has constantly ruled in favor of alienating religion from society. Courts have made it illegal to teach creationism theories in public schools. Courts have also made it difficult for people to freely practice their religion. For Smith, this is tantamount to ruling in favor of atheism."

Tags:plato, belief, faith

Abstract
This is a persuasive paper that cites several of David Hume?s major theories about the non-existence of a god and refutes them, demonstrating that Hume is inaccurate and that God does indeed exist.

From the Paper
"This paper shall examine and counter David Hume's argument that God does not exist. The philosopher, Hume, did not think highly of religion and once referred to all organized religions as "the play-some whimsies of monkeys in human shape." (Hume: 362) Hume actively worked to counter the existing predispositions of major organized religions during his period. Hume suggested in his treatise "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religions" that the answer to the dilemma of whether or not God exists can be broken into a series of proofs on the qualities of evil. Hume suggests that the reason that God absolutely cannot exists is because there are qualities within the world that can only be defined as being evil. According to Hume, the very presence of evil serves to negate the presence of God. This can best be explained in a series of stages."

Tags:athiest, philosopher, religion

Abstract
In this essay, the writer analyzes Fred Chappell's poem "Second Wind". The writer points out that the information in the first verse establishes the setting as being the grandmother's home on the day her husband is being buried. The poem also establishes the grandmother's frame of mind, where she is observing the day as if disconnected from it. The writer notes that this shows that she is at a point of disbelief, where everything has just changed with her husband's death. The writer maintains that this makes the grandmother feel disconnected and makes her aware of everything. The writer discusses the woman's feelings as demonstrated in the poem. The writer points out that in the final lines, the woman finds herself alone just as she imagined she would. The writer concludes that it is in this alone state, that she finds her own meaning, understanding, and ability to cope.

From the Paper
"The tone becomes more depressing in the next verse as she describes herself alone in the bedroom. She describes lying down, closing her eyes, and sitting up. The thing that makes her sit up again is the idea that she will "come down weak and crazed and sickly, waiting for my time." In the next verse, she same subject continues as she wonders if she will ever be able to close her eyes again. This section of the poem is showing how overwhelming her thoughts are when she stops to think about them. As long as she is concentrating on something, her sad thoughts remain at a distance. But in the quietness of her room, sadness floods her and overwhelms her. This makes two important points. Firstly, it explains why the house is a flurry of activity. People are busying themselves with tasks to stop them from feeling the sadness. This is emphasized in this verse, where the poet describes how Aunt Tildy will start playing the piano and singing soon. At this point, it is seen that these types of actions are not being done because people are not sad. Instead, they are being done so that people get some relief from their sad thoughts. The problem for the poet is that her sadness is so great that nothing can distract her from it. This is the second important point made in this verse. In one way, she seeks relief like everyone else does. But she is not able to find an escape because her feelings are too great."

Tags:disbelief, death, verse, poet

Abstract
This paper examines the trial of Socrates. He was accused of corrupting youth and encouraging disbelief in the gods. He was convicted and sentenced to death. This paper argues that he may have been guilty of the second charge but was innocent of the former accusation. .

Abstract
The films by director Spike Lee are not trivial, mindless films that require suspension of disbelief. His films provide the viewer with an insightful social commentary on contemporary race relations. This paper is an analysis of Spike Lee's directorial style. Lee's directorial style, stylistic tendencies, stories, and work as a whole are explored in this paper by comparing his films "Do the Right Thing" and "Malcolm X".

Tags:spike, lee, films

Abstract
This paper puts forward the argument that female genital mutilation is no more a human rights violation than male circumcision, and therefore, both should be abolished. It discusses how, although genital mutilations are usually referred to as a cultural practice, there is increasing evidence that this innocent and benign label actually evades, dismisses, and covers up the horrific effects these mutilations have upon a child's psyche and soma and, moreover, present a very real danger to the child's health. It shows how people or cultures that engage in such practices view them as an essential right of passage and, often, an important requirement for a marriage partner, while those who do not practice genital circumcision view the practice with disbelief, horrified that any human would willingly permit such a thing to be performed on his or her child. It also looks at the origins of some these religious practices.

From the Paper
"According to James DeMeo in his article "The Geography of Genital Mutilations," the time frame and location of origins of female genital mutilations are most likely identical to that of male genital mutilations, "given their similar distributions, similar cross-cultural aspects, and similar psychological motifs," the use of each of which being "mandated and widely expanded by groups where dominance of the sexual live of children by adults, and females by males, was most extreme." With the decline of the harem system during the last 100 years, the use of eunuchs has died out, however, female infibulations and other forms female genital mutilations remain part of the certain cultures "in accordance with the arranged marriage system and other vestiges of a powerful and hysterical virginity taboo." "

Tags:right, of, passage, health, children, culture, religion

Abstract
This essay discusses the principle character, Oedipa of Thomas Pynchon's monograph, "The Crying Lot of 49". The author examines how to seek truth and to draw a line between what is real and what is pseudo demands not only rationality but also the power to keep one's senses intact. The writer shows how searching for the answers to the perplexing and intellectually challenging questions result in our increased knowledge of the world and its practices but also what augments is our disbelief regarding the meaning and the values that we hold dear.

From the Paper
"Oedipa Mass is undoubtedly the female heroine of the novel, The Crying Lot of 49 by Thomas Pynchon. The entire plot of the masterpiece by Pynchon revolves around the self-discoveries of the protagonist (Pynchon). When his ex-lover Pierce leaves an obscene amount of wealth with Oedipa as the sole executor of his will, the female principle character embarks on a journey where she comes across the two stark opposites; the fantasy world and the real world (Pynchon). Trying desperately to distinguish between the two, Oedipa sets on an odyssey, making futile attempts to solve a worldwide conspiracy in the South of California (Pynchon). In order to piece together the mystery and the truth behind her boyfriend's will she waste her valuable mechanical energy (Pynchon)."

Tags:Thomas, Pynchon, character, crying, lot, 49, mass, pierce

Abstract
An analysis of the plot and characters of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The author shows how the success of the play depends on the audience's ability to suspend disbelief and believe in magic.

From the Paper
"The play is not a play that would have been written in 2002, because it is partly a comedy of manners. For instance, Hermia's and Lysander's crisis is unimaginable in this day and age. No leader, even one who had complete powers, would agree to put the daughter of a friend to death or send her to a convent if she did not marry the husband her father had chosen for her. This is an example of negotiating (2/2/02), but one that dates the play. Nevertheless, eloping was a much greater act of defiance during Shakespeare's time than it is now."

Tags:Hermia, Titania, Lysander, Oberon, fairy

Abstract
Advertising has long been associated with unreasonable claims, in fact, we have come to expect them. Advertisements quite often imply qualities about the products and people within the context of the ad that are simply impossible. Over the long-term, our culture has grown to accept advertisements as a fiction into which we are drawn for 30 seconds. During that time, the viewer suspends disbelief because of the formula at play and simply accepts the fiction that surrounds the product. In the realm of diet advertising, however, such fictions have turned out to be potentially dangerous or even deadly. Diet product and diet advertising has long made irrational claims about enormous changes in the body over impossibly short periods of time. Research shows that the level of false advertising in commercials for diets and diet products is staggeringly high. The FTC found that 55 percent of weight-loss ads make claims that lack proof or very likely are false (Eggerton, 2002). In fact, this problem has been ongoing since one of the first false-advertising in diet commercials claims was made; in 1993, the Federal Trade Commission charged that five of the nation's largest commercial diet-program companies have misled consumers by making unsubstantiated weight-loss claims and by using deceptive testimonials ("FTC Accuses Five Diet Programs of Deceptive Advertising", 1993; Cordes, 1993). It is proposed that research will demonstrate that the effect of false advertising (and thus false expectations) about diets and diet products has resulted in a greater health crisis in relation to weight than ever before.

Abstract
Advertising has long been associated with unreasonable claims, in fact, we have come to expect them. Advertisements quite often imply qualities about the products and people within the context of the ad that are simply impossible. Over the long-term, our culture has grown to accept advertisements as a fiction into which we are drawn for 30 seconds. During that time, the viewer suspends disbelief because of the formula at play and simply accepts the fiction that surrounds the product. In the realm of diet advertising, however, such fictions have turned out to be potentially dangerous or even deadly. Diet product and diet advertising has long made irrational claims about enormous changes in the body over impossibly short periods of time. Research shows that the level of false advertising in commercials for diets and diet products is staggeringly high. The FTC found that 55 percent of weight-loss ads make claims that lack proof or very likely are false (Eggerton, 2002). In fact, this problem has been ongoing since one of the first false-advertising in diet commercials claims was made; in 1993, the Federal Trade Commission charged that five of the nation's largest commercial diet-program companies have misled consumers by making unsubstantiated weight-loss claims and by using deceptive testimonials ("FTC Accuses Five Diet Programs of Deceptive Advertising", 1993; Cordes, 1993). It is proposed that research will demonstrate that the effect of false advertising (and thus false expectations) about diets and diet products has resulted in a greater health crisis in relation to weight than ever before.