Abstract
This paper examines how suffering is part of human existence on earth and how Christians are no exception to the rule. It looks at how when believers suffer, they appear to deny God's love and find it difficult to hold on to faith in the face of physical, emotional or spiritual turmoil. In order to understand this phenomenon in the believer's world it looks at how Gustavo Gutierrez examines suffering from the viewpoint of Job in his book "On Job: God-Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent". It examines how Gutierrez describes in detail the stages that Job goes through in his suffering and how Job is the ultimate example of innocent suffering. Despite being completely righteous and faithful, Job suffered because God had confidence in him.

From the Paper
"When Job receives no help from an apparently silent God, or from his non-suffering friends, he turns to his fellow sufferers, and finds new meaning in his circumstances. The meaning that Job finds is in suffering with others. Although he has previously been kind to the poor and the marginalized, he has not known their circumstances first-hand. His experience however puts him on a new level of understanding with those who suffer alongside him. This realization is born from Job's innocence. When he finds no meaning in temporal retribution, his thoughts turn to the wicked and the reasons for their prosperity. Seeing this as proof that temporal retribution is not applicable to his case, Job finds a better reason for his suffering."

Tags:christians, humans, poor, earth

Abstract
In allowing Satan to take all that Job possesses, but not to physically harm him, God takes from Job everything he holds dear, his family, his wealth, his integrity, his dignity, leaving him wounded to deliberate his faith. This paper explains, however, that Job does not deliberate his faith, only God's intention. Throughout his trials and suffering, Job denies his right to blame God. This is the first temptation. Job passed this test by never blaming God. He verbally admits that God gave him all things, so it's God's right to take these things away.

From the Paper
"In Job's closing monologue he unwaveringly maintains his righteousness, setting himself apart from the enemies of God and their punishment. The dialogue displays the common understanding that the friends maintain: God prospers the righteous and punishes the wicked. Job, apparently showing his superior faith, argues that suffering is hidden in the sovereignty of God; however he still yearns for an explanation."

Tags:bible, bilidad, elihu, eliphaz, zophar

Abstract
In this article, the writer explains that the lesson of "The Book of Job" is not simply that suffering is everywhere and can be inflicted upon anyone, but that quite often in the moral economy of the world, the good are punished and evil is not punished in kind. Still, the writer notes that suffering must be endured because there is nothing else a sufferer can do. The writer points out that this lesson is seen, not simply in the example of Job, a good man deprived of his children, wealth, and health, but in the contemporary examples of Hurricane Katrina, children suffering from cancer, or people who lose their homes in an unexpected whirlwind of a tornado.

From the Paper
"Yes, Job gets back what he has lost. But it would be mistaken to read this as a reward for his fortitude in the face of adversity. Rather, it is evidence of the arbitrary nature of God's justice. God decides to test Job, because Job has many emotional and financial riches, even though Job is not the richest, or the happiest man in the world. The test happens by chance, and the return happens by chance. It might seem as though Job has a good reason to curse God, but although Job wails and regrets his fate he does not turn against the Lord, although at first he cannot understand why his suffering has occurred."
"Job attempts to look back, and wonder if blasphemous thoughts are the reason, if not actions. But he always knows it is useless to curse God, because God is so powerful, as God reminds Job and his friends at the end of the tale, and also, as the translator Stephen Mitchell suggests in his preface, perhaps because Job is so shell-shocked by what has occurred, he does not have the energy to curse God. Instead, Job damns the day he was born, but not his creator."

Tags:God, suffering, good, evil, punished

Abstract
The first mention of God in Ecclesiastes is in 1:13 and sets up the idea that God has given humans something that is "an unhappy business". Qoheleth (the author) knows in his heart that God is ultimately in control of everything but the world as it is cannot be understood by anyone, including the wise. Qoheleth doesn't solve any of the problems regarding what he saw and what this means in regard to the character of God. Yet this very ability to see and make some certain judgements and yet not be able to escape concluding that all is vanity, reflects his view of God, who is at the same time reliable and yet seemingly unpredictable. In summary four propositions are present in Job: 1. God is the cause of Job's suffering. 2. A just God does not cause the innocent like Job to suffer like Job. 3. God is a just God. 4. Job is not guilty of anything that would cause God to punish him in the way God is punishing him. Neither the book of Ecclesiastes or Job gives the answers that the main characters seek.

From the Paper
"From my own personal experience, out of all the books of the Christian Bible, the books of Ecclesiastes and Job have been among the most difficult for christians to come to grips with. This is due largely to the way they present God, and as a reflection of God; God given reality. This makes it all the more vital that the Church and individual believers do understand these books and the view of life and God found in them. These books assist in giving the reader of the Bible a balanced view of God and a balanced view of the way the people of the Old Testament saw God across the centuries. Both serve as a critique of a strict retribution principle and a correction to the other Wisdom Literature."

Tags:purpose, qoheleth, satan, suffering, vanity

Abstract
This paper reviews and discusses the Book of Job. According to the paper, as Job's despair deepens, his friends drop away turning away from him in his time of need. The paper reports that this causes Job to question not only his faith but the goodness of God. The paper goes on to say that Job's failing spiritual faith is exacerbated by his friends' lack of love or understanding for the essence of human suffering.

From the Paper
"However, Job also teaches us practical lessons about interpersonal relationships, trust, and friendship. These are the lessons that moved me to tears when I read Stephen Mitchell's translation of the Biblical book of Job. Job's predicament and his friend's reaction to it triggered memories of broken friendships that I am in some ways still recovering from. Job teaches us that faith in friendship is as significant as faith in God. Friendship is not just strengthened by faith--it is defined by it. Without faith, a friendship is void. Friends who only care about having fun and good times can be called acquaintances but not true friends."

Tags:character, faith, belief, friends, trust, emotional, despair, suffering

Abstract
A study of two killings of young warriors form the crux of the military drama in the battle between the Trojans and Latins. These killings in Homer's 'The Iliad' and Virgil's 'The Aeneid', despite their similarities, are viewed in entirely different ways from a literary perspective. The Aeneid is in many ways a re-tread of Homer's Iliad, and Turnus' killing of Pallas is reminiscent of Homer's Patroklos being cut down in his prime by Hector. In keeping with this comparison, before his death, Pallas begins the battle of Book Ten by helping Aeneas, leading on the battle, and enabling Aeneas to gain a great advantage in the war. This comparison between the two works of literature is also indirectly reinforced when the Latin soldier Liger refers to the great warriors of the Greeks with disdain when taunting the Trojans.

From the Paper
"At the beginning of Book Ten of the Aeneid, Jupiter washes his hands of interfering in the affairs of men. "What each man does will shape his trial and fortune." (X.160) This could very well provide an epitaph for the entire chapter. In this chapter, two killings of young warriors form the crux of the military drama in the battle between the Trojans and Latins. But these killings despite their similarities are viewed in entirely different ways from a literary perspective. What does this statement mean? According to the point of view of the ancient Romans, all killing was hardly considered bad or brutal. Warfare and military prowess was a way of life. But not all murders were created equal. This can be seen in a comparison of Aeneas' killing of Lausus (X, 703-832; 943-1141) with Turnus' killing of Pallas (X, 501-702)."

Tags:Aeneid, Iliad, Jupiter, military, warriors, men, Romans, murder, crux

Abstract
This essay identifies and analyzes the most important elements of the Roman identity portrayed in the Aeneid. The paper discusses the history of the Aeneid, as written by Virgil, as well as the history of the times in which it was written. The paper then discusses the story that Virgil presents of the legendary ancestor of Rome, Aeneas.

From the Paper
"Roman Identity and the Aeneid This essay identifies and analyzes the most important elements of the Roman identity portrayed in the Aeneid. Virgil wrote the Aeneid in the last quarter of the first century BC. It was just after the Roman Republic had collapsed and the Roman Empire began. It tells the story of the legendary ancestor of Rome, Aeneas and his travels to Italy. It is Aeneas who embodies the spirit of "Roman identity". He is show as a hero who is very devoted to his country and goes off on the journey for the better of his people."

Tags:virgil, aeneid, romanidentity

Abstract
This paper briefly reviews the choices made by a character in Virgil's Aeneid - specifically, the Trojan king Priam. The writer discusses that as becomes apparent, Priam makes two choices - the first to not kill Sinon, the second to interpret the death of Laocoon as a warning from the gods that the Trojan horse should be permitted inside Troy - that lead to the sacking of his city and to his own demise.

From the Paper
"All human affairs are, of course, about choice. Virgil's 'Aeneid', the classic telling of the founding of Rome by the Trojan prince Aeneas, is a great human drama that revolves, in large measure, around the choices human beings make - either by themselves or with the prodding of the Gods. This paper, in perhaps an unconventional departure, will focus upon the choices made by Priam in the final hours of his kingdom. Specifically, this paper will focus upon two choices made by the Trojan king that sealed his fate - and the fate of his city."

Tags:virgil, aeneid, choices

Abstract
A paper that traces the significance and comparative structure of the work of Homer and Virgil as presented in the epics "Aeneid" and the "Illiad".

Tags:aeneid, illiad, epics

Abstract
The paper discusses the concept of honor in Homer's "The Iliad" and Virgil's "The Aeneid."

From the Paper
""The Iliad" and "The Aeneid" are undoubtedly two of the greatest epics ever written. They form part of the foundation from which the entire western classical tradition was erected and are considered to be among the world's canonical masterpieces. Both epics are focused on the exploits of a man who is half-god and half-mortal, in "The Iliad" the Greek hero Achilles is the focal point of the narrative; in "The Aeneid" the Roman hero Aeneas is the principal actor."

Tags:honor, iliad, aeneid, achilles, aeneas, homer, virgil