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Practical Superstitions: Feng Shui, 2004.
A discussion of Feng Shui as both a belief system and a practical way of life.
2,280 words (approx. 9.1 pages), 5 sources, APA, $ 70.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how superstitions have firmly stood their place in the life of modern man. It points out that, unlike the unexplained signs we have come to associate with superstition, the Chinese have developed an age-old belief system, the Feng Shui, which hinges on tradition and nature. The paper asserts that, although much literature has been published on the subject, scholars are still left baffled by the reliability of this unstructured science. The paper then takes a look at some common beliefs and discusses how such superstitions have a foothold on logic. To conclude, the paper muses whether the gods are really behind this effective belief system of Chinese geomancy, which has turned into a lifestyle practiced by everyone, everywhere.
From the Paper
"Feng Shui is a system of beliefs supported by experts. However, it is important to note that its principles are essentially practical and can be observed by anyone. This means that the knowledge and practice of Feng Shui is not the exclusive prerogative of the Feng Shui master. Feng Shui can be learned and applied by ordinary individuals. In fact, the Chinese consider it as a way of life. It is also viewed as a fusion of art and science which has shaped Chinese palaces, villages, and cemeteries. Moreover, they consider it as an active force in the environment. They believe that aligning our activities with its flow, which is also the flow of the universe or Tao, will cause good fortune in the form of health, prosperity and happiness. Extreme steps need not be taken in order to achieve this harmony. Something as simple as having as an appropriately positioned door or an aquarium filled with goldfish can be enough to improve your fortune. In fact, most Feng Shui principles are anchored in practicality and are thus easy for anyone to follow. This means that the knowledge and practice of Feng Shui is not the exclusive prerogative of the Feng Shui master. Its practicality is among the main factors behind Feng Shui's wide reach beyond China."
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Superstition, 2008.
This paper discusses superstition within the occult tradition or the paranormal.
1,230 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 41.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that the concept of superstition is often commonly understood only in a vague sense as a term that is somehow related to the occult, magic and the paranormal. One of the central aims of this paper is to show that superstitions are often the remnants of knowledge that has been lost or neglected by modern science and forgotten and that they are in many cases not just false beliefs. This approach to the meaning of superstition is one that will allow the reader to understand the term in the context of and in relation to the occult and paranormal traditions in the world. The writer concludes that in the final analysis, the term superstition should be seen as the possible remnant of a larger body of knowledge, which is commonly known as the occult tradition. In this sense, superstition is understood as a watered down version of some greater truth. However, the writer notes that it should also be borne in mind that not all superstitions can be seen in this light and that many are fictitious constructions of fantasy.
From the Paper
"These definitions point to two different ways of looking at superstition. The first and more conventional view sees superstition, as an empty and fanciful set of beliefs that have no foundation in any reality. This is a view that sees superstition as separate from the occult and paranormal traditions of knowledge.
"The second understanding of superstitions is related to the perception of superstitions as linked to other religious views or to the larger occult traditions in religious systems throughout the world. This meaning is more in line with the idea of occult and paranormal traditions. This view would therefore explain superstitions as being based to a greater or lesser extent on knowledge and lost traditions; or at least having its roots in such knowledge rather than seeing it as mere blind faith and empty fancy."
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Superstition and Christianity, 1994.
The relationship between superstitious beliefs and practices and the early Christian church. Includes origins, types and examples (holidays, the number 13, May marriages).
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 8 sources, $ 55.95
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From the Paper
" "Three on a match." "Knock on wood." "April Fool." The use of phrases such as these are such common occurrences today that few would begin to consider them superstitions. Yet each of these, and hundreds of other, benign statements and common practices like New Year's Day, Easter, and Christmas, are traceable to pagan rituals or the response of the early Christian church to them.
It has been claimed that "the true origin of superstition is to be found in early man's effort to explain Nature and his own existence; in the desire to propitiate Fate and invite Fortune; in the wish to avoid evils he could not understand; and in the unavoidable attempt to pry into the future.". Indeed, our inability to explain or comprehend those things which happen around us provide for the perpetuation, rational or not, of..."
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"The Iowa Baseball Confederacy", 2008.
A review of superstitions relating to baseball with particular reference to W.P. Kinsella's novel, "The Iowa Baseball Confederacy".
1,326 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 44.95
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Abstract
The paper describes various superstitions associated with baseball via a discussion of W.P. Kinsella's book, "The Iowa Baseball Confederacy". The paper first summarizes Kinsella's book and then goes on to discuss the many superstitions that abound in the game of baseball and explains how the main theme of the "The Iowa Baseball Confederacy" is about these superstitions.
Outline:
Introduction
Baseball and Superstition
From the Paper
"The book The Iowa Baseball Confederacy continues the time honored tradition of superstition and myth by telling a fantastical tale of an Iowa exhibition baseball game played from July 4 to August 12, 1908 between the team called the Iowa Baseball Confederacy and the Chicago Cubs----a game that lasts for an incredible 2,614 innings. The author, W.P. Kinsella, tells the tale through Gideon Clarke, the protagonist who learns about the legendary game from his unusual father, Matthew. Matthew explains to Gideon that no record of the marathon-like game exists because of a great flood of biblical proportions that wiped out all evidence of the game. The flood took with it the Iowa Baseball Confederacy, all of which were lost in a crack in time. All knowledge of the game becomes actualized in Gideon's brain after his father commits suicide at County Stadium in Milwaukee by purposely putting his head in the path of a mean foul line drive. This leads Gideon to discover the crack in time, sending him back to July 4, 1908, where each team is preparing to play the big inning. The Chicago Cub players in the book use retired numbers from actual team members, and President Theodore Roosevelt appears as one of the cameo players, as he strikes out waving a big stick. Another well-known player, Leonardo da Vinci, also appears in the game proclaiming that he, not Abner Doubleday, invented the game of baseball. He states, "Unfortunately....I lived in a nation of bocce players. It took 300 years for baseball to become popular. By that time, my name was no longer associated with it" . Another player, Black Angel of Death, a cemetery statue, plays right field and is able to catch fly balls with her sculpted wings and no glove. Some of the stars on the Iowa Confederacy team include, Shoo Fly, Husk, Frank Pierce, Henry Pulvermacher, and Arsenic O'Reilly, while on the Cubs team players include Chance, Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and the pitcher Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown Other key characters include an ancient Indian warrior named Drifting Away, whose wife was murdered by White men."
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Chinese New Year, 2008.
A discussion of the origins, traditions and superstitions of the Chinese New Year.
1,386 words (approx. 5.5 pages), 5 sources, APA, $ 46.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the history and current practices of the Chinese New Year. It looks at the origins of the festivities and at the Chinese New Year traditions that have been carried on throughout the ages. It then discusses the superstitions that are associated the lead-up to and celebration of the Chinese New Year. Finally, the paper discusses the significance of each of the fifteen days of the Chinese New Year.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Ancient Chinese New Year
Traditions
Superstitions
The 15 Days of Chinese New Year
Conclusion
From the Paper
"On the actual New Year's Day, hair should not be washed as this will wash away good luck for the New Year. Red is the color chosen for clothing, as it is a bright, happy color which encourages a bright future (as well as serves to fend off Nian). Children and unmarried friends are given "lai see", which are small red envelopes containing money for good fortune (ibid). Other superstitions include the consulting of an Almanac before heading out (in order to find the "best time" for doing so), the prohibiting of scissor and knife use (as this may "cut off" good fortune), avoidance of people in their bedrooms (this is considered bad luck) and external environmental cues. These include the words one first hears on New Year's Day (these are considered to reflect one's fortune) and signals such as songbirds or red-colored birds (these are supposed to be good luck) (ibid)."
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Medieval Attitude Hard to Shake, 2006.
A discussion of the persistence of medieval attitudes towards religion and superstition in Renaissance Europe.
1,757 words (approx. 7.0 pages), 8 sources, MLA, $ 56.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the conflux of medieval ideas and institutions with the resurrection of Greek and Roman philosophy in the period between 1350 to 1600, that is known as the Renaissance. The writer describes how the church of England, while undergoing constant reformation, still dominated all walks of life and continued to mete out violent punishment for sedition and sectarianism. The writer then cites examples from Shakespeare's "Henry V" and "Macbeth" that show the prevalence of superstition in Elizabethan England. The paper concludes that even today, with the highly technological and vast knowledge we possess, remnants can be found of medieval superstitions and ideas about religion.
From the Paper
"However, going back to the old ways, one can see how the attitudes intermingled with what should have been the birth of the new. In the arts, which the Renaissance had practically resurrected, Christian and pagan themes were irreverently blended, causing people of that era to be unable to distinguish what was the "new Christian" way or the "old pagan medieval" way. For example, bas reliefs displayed Adam of the Bible and Hercules of mythology in alternate scenes. Then, pagan heroes like Jason complimented Biblical heroes like Gideon. Alongside each other would be shown Christian portrayals of the Crucifixion, The Nativity and others, along with Jupiter (featured as a monk), Apollo, Venus, Mercury, Diana, Mars, Narcissus and Saturn with Centaurs and other, well-known pagan figures."
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"Beloved" by Toni Morrison, 2006.
This paper reviews and analyzes Toni Morrison's novel "Beloved" while focusing on the author's depiction of African culture through ancient folklore and superstition.
969 words (approx. 3.9 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 34.95
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Abstract
The writer of this paper examines the plot and main characters of Sethe and Beloved in Morrison's novel. This paper details Morrison's unique manner of incorporating mythology and superstition in this particular novel, while also discussing its significance in ancient African culture. Morrison's novel illustrates the horrors of slavery as seen through the eyes of Sethe, a slave struggling to gain her freedom and Beloved, a ghost wracked by the pain of slavery and death. This paper also delves into African views regarding death and the afterlife by focusing on Beloved's spirit which is connected to slavery as a collective whole. The writer contends that Morrison's use of mythical images unites African heritage and culture resulting in a novel that his both authentic and believable.
From the Paper
"In connection with Sethe and her journey, we discover that the promise of freedom is often prettier than the reality of it. Sethe was soon found out by Schoolteacher and rather than go back with him to Sweet Home, Sethe decides that jail time would be a better choice for her and her small baby. Here we see the devastation of slavery portrayed in Sethe's short response to Paul D when she tells him, "Any life but that one. I went to jail instead." Here we discover an interesting aspect about Sethe and he search for freedom--even though the dream did not turn out as she once intended, it was still better than the life she once knew. Beloved explores many different realms, the most predominant being that of the supernatural. Morrison successfully captures how the African culture readily accepted the notion of a ghost or premonition, thus articulating the mythological presence in African culture."
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The Superstitious Perverseness "The Black Cat", 2001.
An analysis of the theme of superstition in Poe's poem "The Black Cat", as well as reincarnation, perversity, and retribution.
1,846 words (approx. 7.4 pages), 4 sources, $ 59.95
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From the Paper
"?The Black Cat? by Edgar Allen Poe is a grotesque short story of a man?s conscience. ?The Black Cat combines several themes that fascinated Poe such as reincarnation, perversity, and retribution. This story also carried an implied theme in the superstitious implications of this man?s downfall. In this story Poe keeps very strongly to the theme of perversity and superstitions to illustrate the strange conditions that led to the crimes of this ?happy man? especially fond of animals? (Poe 103). The theme of superstition is found to be a background motivation to the events and actions performed in the story. Towards the beginning of the story it is first mentioned to us that his wife always tells him ?all black cats [are] witches in disguise? (Poe 103). The narrator also mentions that the name of the cat was Pluto. Pluto in ?Greek and Roman mythology was the god of the dead and the ruler of the underworld? (Womack 5). The use of this name leads the reader to believe that the cat is somehow responsible for the death that is caused by the narrator himself. This is where the reader is first introduced to the fact that the events of this story could be caused by some superstition and not coincidence alone."
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Feng Shui, 2007.
A discussion on the significance of feng shui in business in China.
1,517 words (approx. 6.1 pages), 12 sources, MLA, $ 49.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses religion in Chinese culture and the way that superstition has, in fact, taken the place of religion. The paper discusses the significance of superstition, known as feng shui, in daily life in China. Specifically, the paper focuses on the validity of the Chinese superstition of feng shui in the decision making process used by businessmen in China.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Analysis
Conclusion
From the Paper
"All of these forms of rationality have in common the association between reason and beliefs (superstition) or actions. But the first group of deliberative types of rationality emphasizes having reasons; the second group, of communicative types of rationality, focuses on giving reasons for actions. Obviously these are related: One of the points of having reasons for actions is to be able to justify them, and an agent cannot give reasons for beliefs or actions without having them."
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"The Onondaga Madonna", 2006.
An analysis of the poem "The Onondaga Madonna" by Duncan Campbell Scott.
1,010 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the Duncan Campbell Scott poem "The Onondaga Madonna" about a native Canadian mother and child. Exploring Scott's cultural and historical background, the author explains that the poet served on Canada's Department of Indian Affairs and was well acquainted with the superstitions and myths of Canadian Indians. Yet despite this familiarity, the author maintains that Scott's description of the Indian community is heartless and cruel. The author therefore concludes that one must read between the lines of this short poem, realizing that the woman and the white man describing her can never learn any more about one another than the 'memories of savagery'.
From the Paper
"In looking at the opening lines of this short poem, one is struck by the insulting tone taken toward the Indians. It is meant, of course, to represent the white man's view of "this weird and waning race". And, despite being a woman, the poet marks her face as having a tragic savage lurking therein. Again, it is obvious that this is a bitter description of how the white man sees savagery even in a woman's face."
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The Bubonic Plague and AIDS, 2004.
A comparison of the Bubonic Plague and AIDS.
3,045 words (approx. 12.2 pages), 10 sources, MLA, $ 89.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the history, economics and politics of the Bubonic Plague and AIDS. The paper explores the art and literature that sprung forth from both these epidemics. The paper contends that there are many similarities between the Bubonic Plague and AIDS. The paper elaborates that they both caught the world by surprise and initially no cures were known for either disease. The paper draws further parallels, stating that both diseases spread quickly and superstitions and myth surrounded the causes of both diseases. The paper also claims that bigotry and ignorance prevailed in both cases.
From the Paper
"The fourth law was "to avoid the foul stench which the bodies of the dead give off they have provided and ordered that any ditch in which a dead body is to be buried must be dug under ground to a depth of 2 1/2 braccia by the measure of the city of Pistoia" ("Plague and Public Health in Renaissance Europe"). The fifth law "provided and ordered that no person of whatever condition or status or authority shall dare or presume to return or to carry to the city of Pistoia any dead body in or out of a casket or in any manner"("Plague and Public Health in Renaissance Europe"). There were 25 ordinances passed to protect the citizens from the spread of the plague. Unlike in some areas, where bigotry and superstition was the rule, most of the laws were based on common sense. The laws did prevent the spread of the Plague into Pistoia, which is a miracle considering the fate of Florence."
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"The Exorcist", 2002.
A look into horror movies with a focus on the film, "The Exorcist".
1,490 words (approx. 6.0 pages), 4 sources, $ 49.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the genre of horror movies with focus on the movie "The Exorcist". The author provides detailed analysis o the film, its events and characters and explains how and why this film falls into the category of horror genre films arousing images and superstitions and reflecting thoughts from our psyches and our personal and social world.
From the Paper
"Horror is genre that can be defined under certain character types and story elements. The horror movies can be supernatural, biological or psychological. It can take place almost anywhere. The horror film becomes a reflection of the fears of the audience who cannot face the reality or fears that they have in their life. In the horror films they see a method to face their fears. It is a function by which reality is transformed into fantasy and faced with bravado. The horror genre projects images of our superstitions as the points of focus: our own psyches, science and technology, pain, death, the dead and all forms of hostile forces which may at any moment intrude upon our patched up social and personal worlds. Thus, they are most feared and most appreciated. The Exorcist was one such movie."
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Latin America prior to the 20th Century, 2005.
This paper reviews books and articles on Latin America society prior to the 20th century especially the influence of the Catholic Church.
3,945 words (approx. 15.8 pages), 9 sources, MLA, $ 107.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, through the literature review, it is obvious that the Catholic Church wielded enormous influence over culture, society, politics and the economy of Latin America and, to a great extent, still does. The author points out that the oppression of women and the fate of the peasants were controlled by the Church who used Catholic superstitions and rituals to control the people. The paper relates that the Church controlled a great deal of the wealth in Latin America, that most clergy lived in affluent conditions in comparison to the members of their churches in other areas and that the church controlled much of the politics with some clergy even serving as politicians. Several long quotes.
From the Paper
"The influence of the Catholic Church over the Republican troops was important. In spite of the brutal battles, in the thirty month war, the evidence of Catholic influence can be seen in Colonel Manuel Rodrigues de Macedo know affectionately as "Fuliao" by his soldiers. "Fuliao was known for his uncouth language but also for having his men pray before and after the fray." However, as in other Latin American countries where the Catholic Church, the disparity of wealth between the peasants and landowners was immense."
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Menstruation and Shamanism, 2006.
Critique of a paper by Marilym Nagy entitled "Menstruation and Shamanism".
690 words (approx. 2.8 pages), 1 source, APA, $ 23.95
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Abstract
This is a critique of a paper by Marilym Nagy entitled "Menstruation and Shamanism". It is a paper dealing with the psychological reactions of women to menstruation, and how it is treated in primitive cultures, according to superstitions about its origins.
From the Paper
"The article by Marilyn Nagy a Jungian analyst is about menstruation and what it means to women. Although the title is Menstruation and Shamanism this title topic is treated only briefly..."
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Christianity after Demythologization, 2003.
An examination into what Christianity has to offer the world when the supernatural stories surrounding Jesus have been demythologized.
1,162 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 40.95
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Abstract
This essay argues that most Christians fervently believe in Christ based on superstitions and mythological presuppositions rather than on a rational reaction to his lessons. The paper examines the resistance to demythologizing Christ's more supernatural attributes and asks why the supernatural stories built upon Christ centuries after his death should carry more weight than the words and ideas he actually espoused.
From the Paper
""What is left in Christianity if you demythologize it?" The fact that this question has to be asked is part of the problem; so much of Christianity is based on the importance of its supernatural elements. To many believers it is more important that Jesus died and was resurrected as a way of expiating our own sins than that he tried to teach humans to love one another and treat one another with respect. The focus for most Christians seems to reside in the promise of salvation, forgiveness of their sins, and everlasting life after death. Sometimes this focus is to the detriment of the actual teachings of the historical, non-mythologized Jesus. Christianity has much to offer beyond its mythology; many believe the world would probably be a better place to live in if most Christians looked at Jesus as teacher to model their lives on rather than as a pathway to eternal life."
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