Two Views on Domesticity Essay Example for Free

Two Views on Domesticity Essay In Joan Williams book â€Å"Unbending Gender: Why Family and Work Conflict and What to Do About It†, she defines domesticity as â€Å"a gender system comprising most centrally of both the particular organization of market work and family work that arose around 1780, and the gender norms that justify, sustain, and reproduce that organization. † (1) Throughout the book, Williams seeks to redefine the very meaning of domesticity and how it affects both men and women. The author of the article â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling†, seeks to explain how men and women navigate their emotional minefields and why it affects their respective statuses in society. While Williams and the author of â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling† differ on the reasons why women are seen as being on a lower pedestal than men, they both agree that women do a good job of dealing the hand they are dealt, for the most part. It is obvious that Williams sympathy lies toward the female half of the population. In the introduction, Williams cites several statistics that shows the reader how women are victimized by the â€Å"ideal worker† norm. The author defines an ideal worker as someone who works forty hours a week year round. (2) She goes on to explain how this norm excludes most â€Å"mothers of childbearing age. †(2) One statistic cited states that â€Å" two-thirds (Williams emphasis) [of mothers] are not ideal workers even in the minimal sense of working full time full year. † (2) Another statistic cited states that 93 percent of mothers are excluded from jobs that require â€Å"extensive overtime. † (2) With sobering statistics like these, Williams tries to show that against towering odds, mothers of childbearing age arent able to compete in the market workplace with men. Williams unequivocally states that she wants to â€Å"democratize access to domesticity. † (174) She then goes on to state that â€Å"a restructuring of market work will give to working class women and women of color greater access to the parental care that remains a widespread social ideal. † (174) This is an interesting idea because earlier in the book, Williams ripped apart a womans book because the author made certain life and career choices that didnt seem palatable to Williams for some reason. Deborah Fallows, a successful linguist in her own right, went down to part time hours, then quit altogether, when her son was born. She wrote a book called A Mothers Work, which described the journey that she took from successful career woman to stay-at-home mom. For some reason, Williams doesnt believe Fallows would happily give up her career for her son and husband, a high powered White House aide. Williams states: â€Å"Thus Fallows presents (authors emphasis) her decision to stay home as a choice she made to improve her own emotional state She quit both to avoid negative feelings and to experience positive ones, as leaving gave her more time â€Å"to partake of the pleasures of [Tommys] company. † (19) Williams sees Fallows choice to stay home as a prime example of how domesticity saturates even the upper levels of society. Williams goes so far as to attack Fallows view on child care. On page 32, Williams wonders why Fallows would be against day care in general when her own experience was positive: â€Å"It is hard to see why the low quality of child care for the poor explains Fallows decision to stay home. † It seems as if Williams is having a really hard time trying to figure out why an upper class woman like Fallows would give up everything she was working for in order to stay home with her child. If staying at home with the kids is okay for poor and working class women, why isnt it okay for a woman like Fallows? On the surface, Williams seems to be fighting for women all across the economic spectrum. However, underneath lies a subtle streak of the same sort of classist attitudes that Williams pins on some feminists later on in her book. With Williams raging against the machine of domesticity, one would think that the author would lash out at the male half of the population. Surprisingly, she doesnt do this. Williams feels that men are also the victims of domesticitys ideas of the ideal worker as well as domesticitys view in other areas of society. For example, on page 3, Williams explains how women generally lose out when it comes to financial support after divorce: â€Å"Mothers marry, marginalize, and then divorce in a system that typically defines womens and childrens postdivorce entitlements in terms of their basic â€Å"needs†, while mens entitlements reflect the assumption (derived from domesticity) that they â€Å"own† their ideal-worker wage. † In this case, Williams chooses not to point the finger at an easy target (men). Instead, she blames a system that allows men to keep the vast majority of their earnings while â€Å"40 percent of divorced mothers live in poverty. † (3) Williams even blames domesticity for the lack of parenting prowess on the part of some men. Again, Williams cites some statistics that shows how domesticity changed attitudes on parenting: â€Å"One study estimated that an average American father spends twelve minutes a day in solo child care. Another reported that mothers spend about three times as much time as fathers in face-to-face interaction with their children. † (3) The author then gives a short history lesson on how exactly did domesticity changed the face of parenting for both men and women: child rearing was considered too important to be left to women, and child-rearing manuals addressed fathers. Men were actively involved, in part because market work and family work were not yet geographically separated, so that fathers generally worked closer to home than most do today In a society that viewed women as the â€Å"weaker vessel,† it made no sense to delegate childrens health, well-being, and eternal souls to the exclusive sphere of women. (3) It seems as if Williams is yearning for a simpler time when fathers could take off work for a few moments and read a story to his children. This isnt a perfect scenario. After all, women were seen as inferior second class citizens who werent capable of molding the minds of her children. What Williams is actually wishing for is a time where the ideas of domesticity didnt interfere with the way that fathers tended to their children. While Joan Williams is sounding a battle cry, the author of the article â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling† is blowing a whistle. In the article, the author attempts to explain not only how men and women handle their emotions, but how women use their emotions to navigate a society that still sees them as second class citizens. One thing that Williams and the author article would agree on is that the female half of the population is usually seen as an afterthought in our society. This point would be where the two authors viewpoints diverge. First, the author of the article argues that women use their emotions as a means to an end. In a society that doesnt value a lot of their contributions, some women have found other ways to survive: lacking other resources, women make a resource out of feeling and offer it to men as a gift in return for the more material resources they lack. For example, in 1980 only 6 percent of women but 50 percent of men earned over $15,000 a year. (GSF 163) From this passage, one can see that the author feels that women readily adapted to the hand they were dealt. The author doesnt even seem to think this is a bad thing. They see this manipulation of their emotional palette more as a means of survival. The author even theorizes as to why women are believed to have been born with what Williams calls an â€Å"ethic of care†: As for many others of lower status, it has been in the womans interest to be the better actor. As the psychologists would say, the techniques of deep acting have unusually high â€Å"secondary† gains. Yet these skills have long been mislabeled â€Å"natural†, a part of womens â€Å"being† rather than something of her own making. (GSF 167) Williams would disagree with part of this authors statement. While the author of the article and Williams both believe that the place of women in society is based on societal beliefs, Williams states in her book that the ideas that domesticity has planted is the sole reason for this. For example, on page 182, William says that â€Å" women need to be selfless only because they live in a system that marginalizes caregivers. † In other words, women have no choice but to be selfless caregivers. In her book, Williams does everything she can to fight the societal belief that all women are born with an ethic of care. The author of â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling†, however, not only thinks that women are born with this innate need to nurture, but that it comes in handy when women become mothers: â€Å" more women at all class levels do unpaid labor of a highly interpersonal sort. They nurture, manage and befriend children. More â€Å"adaptive† and â€Å"cooperative†, they address themselves better to the needs of those who are not yet able to adapt and cooperate much themselves. †(GSF 170) The author of the article uses the example of male and female flight attendants to illustrate how society views men and women in a position of authority. The author reported that when a female flight attendant makes a request of a passenger, the passengers would usually argue with them. When a male flight attendant was called over to help, the request was usually granted with no problem. Williams claims that most people arent able to help this phenomenon: â€Å"Thirty years of second-wave feminism have seen many accomplishments, but dislodging the ideology of domesticity is not one of them. Most people, feminists or not, believe some version of domesticitys descriptions of men and women. † (193) Williams and the author of â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling† would disagree about a lot of things. Williams is a head strong feminist whose goal is to change the core beliefs of society. The author of the article believes that women have used their emotional palettes to adapt to their marginalized role in society and doesnt say whether this survival tactic should be a thing of the past. One thing that is evident in both Williams book and the article is the belief that women throughout history have been resilient in working the hand they are dealt and will continue this tradition as long as society pushes their half to the outermost margins. Works Cited Williams, Joan. Unbending Gender: Why Family and Work Conflict and What to Do About It. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000 â€Å"Gender, Status, and Feeling† (article)

Police Brutality - Racism, Racial Profiling, Prejudice :: racism, prejudice, racial profiling

Over the years, this country has witnessed many cases of police brutality. It has become a controversial topic among communities that have seen police brutality take place in front of their homes. Officers are faced with many threatening situations everyday forcing them to make split second decisions and to expect the worst and hope for the best. Police officers are given the power to take any citizens rights away and even their lives. With that kind of power comes responsibility, that’s one major concern with the amount of discretion officers have is when to use force or when to use lethal force. The use of excessive force may or not be a large predicament but should be viewed by both the police and the community. Police brutality is hypocrisy; as the police are meant to protect society from harm, not cause further damage and stress. Police should be trained properly so they do not resort to violence and abuse of power. Many cases of police brutality and not sanctioned and are undertaken by a group of police as a form of "mob mentality". Police are placed on a pedestal of authority and respect by the rest of society. To maintain this image, rules and codes of ethics within the police force should be maintained at all possible times. If police are using brutality to resolve issues, it doesn't set much of an example of dispute resolution between individuals. Over the past decade police abuse remains one of the most serious human rights violation in the United States. Police officers are trusted and expected to respect society as a whole and enforce the law. There is a time a place for aggressive force if needed, apprehending a suspect, however the environment and situation might influence the mo ment thus resulting in the brutal and barbaric behavior from the cop. The important thing to do is to understand the circumstances when excessive force can be used and times where the use of force has to be abstained. Police officers follow a strict guideline in how to handle encounters from escalating into something much more serious. The use of excessive force, in this case police brutality brings liabilities that cannot be taken lightly with the department and the community. Usually the high crime rates tend to revolve around low-income minority areas and officers tend to assume that minorities living in the areas are guilty. Police brutality that does exist is most likely result of emotional exhaustion.

Vampire Academy Chapter 8

EIGHT BURNING WITH ANGER, I FOUGHT harder and better that day than I ever had in any of my classes with the novices. So much so that I finally won my first hand-to-hand pairing, annihilating Shane Reyes. We'd always gotten along, and he took it good-naturedly, applauding my performance, as did a few others. â€Å"The comeback's starting,† observed Mason after class. â€Å"So it would seem.† He gently touched my arm. â€Å"How's Lissa?† It didn't surprise me that he knew. Gossip spread so fast around here sometimes, it felt like everyone had a psychic bond. â€Å"Okay. Coping.† I didn't elaborate on how I knew that. Our bond was a secret from the student body. â€Å"Mase, you claim to know about Mia. You think she might have done that?† â€Å"Whoa, hey, I'm not an expert on her or anything. But honestly? No. Mia won't even do dissections in biology. I can't picture her actually catching a fox, let alone, um, killing it.† â€Å"Any friends who might do it for her?† He shook his head. â€Å"Not really. They're not really the types to get their hands dirty either. But who knows?† Lissa was still shaken when I met her for lunch later, her mood made worse when Natalie and her crew wouldn't shut up about the fox. Apparently Natalie had overcome her disgust enough to enjoy the attention the spectacle had brought her. Maybe she wasn't as content with her fringe status as I'd always believed. â€Å"And it was just there,† she explained, waving her hands for emphasis. â€Å"Right in the middle of the bed. There was blood everywhere.† Lissa looked as green as the sweater she wore, and I pulled her away before I even finished my food and immediately launched into a string of obscenities about Natalie's social skills. â€Å"She's nice,† Lissa said automatically. â€Å"You were just telling me the other day how much you liked her.† â€Å"I do like her, but she's just incompetent about certain things.† We stood outside our animal behavior class, and I noticed people giving us curious looks and whispering as they passed. I sighed. â€Å"How are you doing with all this?† A half-smile crossed her face. â€Å"Can't you already feel it?† â€Å"Yeah, but I want to hear it from you.† â€Å"I don't know. I'll be okay. I wish everyone wouldn't keep staring at me like I'm some kind of freak.† My anger exploded again. The fox was bad. People upsetting her made it worse, but at least I could do something about them. â€Å"Who's bothering you?† â€Å"Rose, you can't beat up everyone we have a problem with.† â€Å"Mia?† I guessed. â€Å"And others,† she said evasively. â€Å"Look, it doesn't matter. What I want to know is how this could have? ­that is, I can't stop thinking about that time – â€Å" â€Å"Don't,† I warned. â€Å"Why do you keep pretending that didn't happen? You of all people. You made fun of Natalie for going on and on, but it's not like you've got a good grip on your control switch. You'll normally talk about anything.† â€Å"But not that. We need to forget about it. It was a long time ago. We don't even really know what happened.† She stared at me with those big green eyes, calculating her next argument. â€Å"Hey, Rose.† Our conversation dropped as Jesse strolled up to us. I turned on my best smile. â€Å"Hey.† He nodded cordially to Lissa. â€Å"So hey, I'm going to be in your dorm tonight for a study group. You think? ­maybe? ­Ã¢â‚¬  Momentarily forgetting Lissa, I focused my full attention on Jesse. Suddenly, I so needed to do something wild and bad. Too much had happened today. â€Å"Sure.† He told me when he'd be there, and I told him I'd meet him in one of the common areas with â€Å"further instructions.† Lissa stared at me when he left. â€Å"You're under house arrest. They won't let you hang out and talk to him.† â€Å"I don't really want to ? ®talk' to him. We'll slip away.† She groaned. â€Å"I just don't know about you sometimes.† â€Å"That's because you're the cautious one, and I'm the reckless one.† Once animal behavior started, I pondered the likelihood of Mia being responsible. From the smug look on her psycho-angel face, she certainly seemed to be enjoying the sensation caused by the bloody fox. But that didn't mean she was the culprit, and after observing her over the last couple of weeks, I knew she'd enjoy anything that upset Lissa and me. She didn't need to be the one who had done it. â€Å"Wolves, like many other species, differentiate their packs into alpha males and alpha females whom the others defer to. Alphas are almost always the strongest physically, though many times, confrontations turn out to be more a matter of willpower and personality. When an alpha is challenged and replaced, that wolf may find himself ostracized from the group or even attacked.† I looked up from my daydreams and focused on Ms. Meissner. â€Å"Most challenges are likely to occur during mating season,† she continued. This, naturally, brought snickers from the class. â€Å"In most packs, the alpha pair are the only ones who mate. If the alpha male is an older, seasoned wolf, a younger competitor may think he has a shot. Whether that is true works on a case-by-case basis. The young often don't realize how seriously outclassed they are by the more experienced.† The old-and-young-wolf thing notwithstanding, I thought the rest was pretty relevant. Certainly in the Academy's social structure, I decided bitterly, there seemed to be a lot of alphas and challenges. Mia raised her hand. â€Å"What about foxes? Do they have alphas too?† There was a collective intake of breath from the class, followed by a few nervous giggles. No one could believe Mia had gone there. Ms. Meissner flushed with what I suspected was anger. â€Å"We're discussing wolves today, Miss Rinaldi.† Mia didn't seem to mind the subtle chastising, and when the class paired off to work on an assignment, she spent more time looking over at us and giggling. Through the bond, I could feel Lissa growing more and more upset as images of the fox kept flashing through her mind. â€Å"Don't worry,† I told her. â€Å"I've got a way – â€Å" â€Å"Hey, Lissa,† someone interrupted. We both looked up as Ralf Sarcozy stopped by our desks. He wore his trademark stupid grin, and I had a feeling he'd come over here on a dare from his friends. â€Å"So, admit it,† he said. â€Å"You killed the fox. You're trying to convince Kirova you're crazy so that you can get out of here again.† â€Å"Screw you,† I told him in a low voice. â€Å"Are you offering?† â€Å"From what I've heard, there isn't much to screw,† I shot back. â€Å"Wow,† he said mockingly. â€Å"You have changed. Last I remembered, you weren't too picky about who you got naked with.† â€Å"And the last I remember, the only people you ever saw naked were on the Internet.† He cocked his head in an overly dramatic fashion. â€Å"Hey, I just got it: it was you, wasn't it?† He looked at Lissa, the back at me. â€Å"She got you to kill the fox, didn't she? Some weird kind of lesbian voo-ahhh!† Ralf burst into flames. I jumped up and pushed Lissa out of the way – not easy to do, since we were sitting at our desks. We both ended up on the floor as screams – Ralf's in particular-filled the classroom and Ms. Meissner sprinted for the fire extinguisher. And then, just like that, the flames disappeared. Ralf was still screaming and patting himself down, but he didn't have a single singe mark on him. The only indication of what had happened was the lingering smell of smoke in the air. For several seconds, the entire classroom froze. Then, slowly, everyone put the pieces together. Moroi magical specializations were well known, and after scanning the room, I deduced three fire users: Ralf, his friend Jacob, and – Christian Ozera. Since neither Jacob nor Ralf would have set Ralf on fire, it sort of made the culprit obvious. The fact that Christian was laughing hysterically sort of gave it away too. Ms. Meissner changed from red to deep purple. â€Å"Mr. Ozera!† she screamed. â€Å"How dare you – do you have any idea – report to Headmistress Kirova's office now!† Christian, completely unfazed, stood up and slung his backpack over one shoulder. That smirk stayed on his face. â€Å"Sure thing, Ms. Meissner.† He went out of his way to walk past Ralf, who quickly backed away as he passed. The rest of the class stared, open-mouthed. After that, Ms. Meissner attempted to return the class to normal, but it was a lost cause. No one could stop talking about what had happened. It was shocking on a few different levels. First, no one had ever seen that kind of spell: a massive fire that didn't actually burn anything. Second, Christian had used it offensively. He had attacked another person. Moroi never did that. They believed magic was meant to take care of the earth, to help people live better lives. It was never, ever used as a weapon. Magic instructors never taught those kinds of spells; I don't think they even knew any. Finally, craziest of all, Christian had done it. Christian, whom no one ever noticed or gave a damn about. Well, they'd noticed him now. It appeared someone still knew offensive spells after all, and as much as I had enjoyed the look of terror on Ralf's face, it suddenly occurred to me that Christian might really and truly be a psycho. â€Å"Liss,† I said as we walked out of class, â€Å"please tell me you haven't hung out with him again.† The guilt that flickered through the bond told me more than any explanation could. â€Å"Liss!† I grabbed her arm. â€Å"Not that much,† she said uneasily. â€Å"He's really okay – â€Å" â€Å"Okay? Okay?† People in the hall stared at us. I realized I was practically shouting. â€Å"He's out of his mind. He set Ralf on fire. I thought we decided you weren't going to see him anymore.† â€Å"You decided, Rose. Not me.† There was an edge in her voice I hadn't heard in a while. â€Å"What's going on here? Are you guys? ­you know ­Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No!† she insisted. â€Å"I told you that already. God.† She shot me a look of disgust. â€Å"Not everyone thinks – and acts – like you.† I flinched at the words. Then we noticed that Mia was passing by. She hadn't heard the conversation but had caught the tone. A snide smile spread over her face. â€Å"Trouble in paradise?† â€Å"Go find your pacifier, and shut the hell up,† I told her, not waiting to hear her response. Her mouth dropped open, then tightened into a scowl. Lissa and I walked on in silence, and then Lissa burst out laughing. Like that, our fight diffused. â€Å"Rose? ­Ã¢â‚¬  Her tone was softer now. â€Å"Lissa, he's dangerous. I don't like him. Please be careful.† She touched my arm. â€Å"I am. I'm the cautious one, remember? You're the reckless one.† I hoped that was still true. But later, after school, I had my doubts. I was in my room doing homework when I felt a trickle of what could only be called sneakiness coming from Lissa. Losing track of my work, I stared off into space, trying to get a more detailed understanding of what was happening to her. If ever there was a time for me to slip into her mind, it was now, but I didn't know how to control that. Frowning, I tried to think what normally made that connection occur. Usually she was experiencing some strong emotion, an emotion so powerful it tried to blast into my mind. I had to work hard to fight against that; I always sort of kept a mental wall up. Focusing on her now, I tried to remove the wall. I steadied my breathing and cleared my mind. My thoughts didn't matter, only hers did. I needed to open myself to her and let us connect. I'd never done anything like this before; I didn't have the patience for meditation. My need was so strong, however, that I forced myself into an intense, focused relaxation. I needed to know what was going on with her, and after a few more moments, my effort paid off. I was in.

The covenants between God and man Essay - 3015 Words

The covenants between God and man constitute one of the principal keys to the interpretation of the Old Testament, denoting the dividing lines between the different dispensations and indicating the several changes of procedure in God’s dealings with the earth. There are arguably eight covenants made by God referred to in Scripture. Much could be written concerning these different covenants, but we will only deal with the covenants in Genesis. At various times God condescended to enter into a compact with man, and failure to observe the terms and scope of these compacts leads to the utmost confusion. These covenants are an important pact between Gods relation with man. The Adamic covenant was not the first covenant in the history of God’s†¦show more content†¦William Strong could affirm both knowledge and consent of a far-reaching character: â€Å"Adam did know the terms of the Covenant by which he stood and did consent unto them for himself and his posterierty.† There were five stipulations in this agreement. One, to populate the earth (Genesis 1:28). Two, to subjugate the earth. Three, to exercise dominion over animals. Four, to tend and enjoy the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). And lastly, in the direct command to Adam, â€Å"And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you are free to eat; but as for the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat of it; for as soon as you eat of it, you shall die.’† (Genesis 2:16-17) In this statement to Adam about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil there is promise of punishment for disobedience. That punishment being death, most fully recognized to mean death in an extensive sense, a physical, spiritual death and separation from God. In the promise of punishment for disobedience there is an implicit promise of blessing for obedience. This blessing would consist of not receiving death, and the implication is that the blessing would be the opposite of â€Å"death.† It would involve physical life that would not end and spiritual life in terms of a relationship with God that would go on forever. The presence of â€Å"the tree of life in the middle of the garden,†Show MoreRelatedMeaning And Types Of Old Testament Covenants1618 Words   |  7 Pagesand types of Old Testament Covenants and describe The Creation Covenants as seen in the Old Testament. The Creation Covenants will be discussed and their common interpretations will be examined so they w ill be more easily explained. The Creation Covenants include the Adamic and Noahic Covenants. 1. What is a Covenant? God created humanity as an expression of His loving, relational character. In His wisdom, and because He is the Creator and sustainer of love, God created man with the free will to chooseRead MoreCovenants And The Roles Of Profit, Priest, And King1507 Words   |  7 Pages Covenants and the Roles of Profit, Priest, and King in Organizational Management There are 6 major covenants in the Bible, Adam and Eve, pre-flood Noah, post-flood Noah, Abrahamic, Moses, and Jesus, with multiple themes of salvation, Messiah, and grace. Each are promises between God and His people and have four common elements; a benefactor; God, a beneficiary; man, terms and conditions, and a token or symbol. Significance and Meaning of a Covenant To provide a better appreciation of theRead MoreThe Old Testament: The Five Covenants Essay1550 Words   |  7 Pagesword ‘covenant’ is, in the Old Testament, it is the Hebrew word ‘berith’ and is used many times in different texts. Some scholars my say that the word covenants is hard to find a true meaning. You will hear the word covenant throughout the Old Testament. I think sometimes when we hear the word covenant only one or two covenants come to mind. There are many covenants throughout the Bible. I will attempt to define and explain five covenants. These five covenants are: Noahic Covenant, AbrahamicRead MoreEssay on Covenant Throughout The Old and New Testaments1319 Words   |  6 Pagesprimarily verbal contracts between two participants. Those contracts took on many forms and different customs were associated with each. These contracts also called covenants and have many different uses and meanings throughout the bible. Some commitments made in these covenants had been accompanied by self-maledictory oaths or curses that would have been implemented if the covenants were violated (New International Version 25). There are numerous ways to translate the word covenant, a nd many differentRead More1. Overview Of The Theology Of The Pentateuch.. Theology1422 Words   |  6 PagesPentateuch. Theology is the study of God, and further the Theology of the Pentateuch is defined as what is the Pentateuch teaching us about God today. The Pentateuch is another name for the Torah, which consists of the first five books of the Biblical canon. Studying the theological vision contained within the Pentateuch is crucial to scholars since it is this vision that shapes the principal form of this work. Further, the foundation for the theology of God is set forth in the rest of the BibleRead MoreGod s Fourth Speech With Noah1328 Words   |  6 Pagesperiod. God blesses the humans and commissions them to take domination over all creatures. This passage is of great importance to not just the Genesis story but also the Old Testament as a whole. I will further depict central meanings throughout the passage, as well as investigate literary aspects in order to grasp a greater understanding of this chapter. Covenants are the promise and obligation between two or more people. At the beginning of this chapter in the Genesis, the Covenant between God andRead MoreThe Act Of Marriage Has Lost913 Words   |  4 Pagesunselfish covenant relationship has been lost from the minds of those in society and has been replaced with this selfish ideal. The result of this selfish ideal that has replaced covenant relationship results in the catastrophic dissolution of the family and the surge in failed marriages. The effect then is fear, which in turn precipitates in a loss of interest in marriage and committed unselfish relationships. So now, society has to be retrained on what marriage actually is, and what God designedRead MoreThe Testament Of The Old Testament God Essay1207 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout the Old Testament God continually manifests himself to humanity. When He is speaking to the prophets, leaders, or the nation of Israel, He presents opportunities for obedience in the form of cov enants. Faithfulness is also needed to secure an association with God. Obedience is probably the most difficult aspect of mankind’s relationship with God. These covenants are the essential promises and pacts between God and humanity. I will present evidence from each of the Four Canons (PentateuchRead MoreThe Bible And The New Testament1507 Words   |  7 PagesGenesis to Revelation The Bible is one book that has one grand author. It was written by humans over a period of approximately 2000 years. It is comprised of 66 different books, all with one main theme, that everlasting life comes through one’s faith in God and by obeying God’s rules. This theme is the central part of all 66 books, from Genesis to Revelation. (Sostre 2015) The Bible is divided into two main sections; the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament begins with Genesis and theRead MoreJudaism and Christianity1462 Words   |  6 Pagesaround the idea of the nature of human relationships with God, which in case of Judaism are based on the Law of Torah, and in Christianity stem from the belief in Jesus Christ and its cornerstone – the doctrine of Trinity. Beyond a doubt, the best illustration to the character of religious beliefs in Judaism, is â€Å"The Covenant at Sinai†, which despite being a part of Holy Scriptures in Christianity, draws a clear boundary between two religions. Not only it plays a crucial role in defining

Review Of Fall All About Color - 1403 Words

Fall is all about color. This is the time when Mother Nature brings out her paint pallet and colors the landscape with warm beautiful colors of reds, browns, maroons, yellow and purple. Fall is the time to put away summer colors and summer decorations and transform the home into a warm welcoming space. Decorating for fall means decorating with warm colors, dried flowers and wreaths, scents of autumn, cinnamon and spice and candles. Here is how to take your home from summer into fall without breaking your budget. Go through each room and remove anything that speaks of summer. Take down the pictures at the beach; put away the sand candle and the shells. Remove the pillows with the cute little fish and sea horses. Pack them away until next year. Next scour the house, the closets, attic, and the pantry for anything fall colored. Glass ware , bowls, fabric, candles, frames, mirrors, pillows, throws, throw rugs, pictures, any thing in brown, orange ,yellow, green, red, maroon and purple . With a sharp pair of garden shears go out to the garden or yard and look for dried material. Weeds are only plants growing in an unwanted place, so if they are dried and look good, cut them down and bring them inside. Grasses, foxtails, tree branches, herbs, and dried flowers can all be used. Also gather different varieties of colors and shapes of leaves. Make a fall wreath for the front door from the materials gathered from the yard. Using a straw base, either recycled or from the dollarShow MoreRelatedNegative Depictions Of Black Culture For Being Welfare Queen873 Words   |  4 Pagesare some of the stereotypes that I knew long before I moved to the United States. When I also came, I noticed how real these depictions were. I got constantly reminded when I switched on the TV about how many African –Americans were under arrest. From there, I concluded my so called ‘final analyses’ about the black community. Even though I am black, I always ‘otheredâ €™ black American because of their negative culture. I saw myself as culturally different and I got mad when someone mistook me for African-AmericanRead MoreImproving Ux And Measuring Performance With Emerging Conversion Rates1653 Words   |  7 Pagesapplication Usability of mobile application brings forth when assessing apps to identify how to improve UX and measuring performance with emerging conversion rates. Usability hygiene impacts the complete customer experience at every level and stage, removing all roadblocks and hazards to use an app and to provide an online and offline handy experience. 1. Clean Icon Design The design you choose for your app icon is the very first thing anyone would come across and it is very fundamental and key to attractRead MoreElementary Students Learn About Their Community s Government And Leaders Essay1124 Words   |  5 PagesStudents will learn about their community’s government and leaders. 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(whetherRead MoreInformation Was Based Around Communication897 Words   |  4 Pagesstaff to get their feedback. â€Å"Effective communication is always about understanding the other person, not about winning an argument or forcing your opinions on others† (Robinson, L., Segal, J., Ph.D., Smith, M., M.A. (2015, June). Finally, the feedback that was gathered helped to develop the tools needed to assist in moving forward and within a short period of time, the department began seeing real results. Utilizing Real Colors â„ ¢ helped each employee better understand each temperament and haveRead MoreHair Fall Essay1495 Words   |  6 PagesHair fall.. I have dreaded these two words all my life because I really love my hair. But of late, I am experiencing a lot of hair fall. It has become so severe that I have to keep my hair in a bun all the time when I am at home, otherwise I will find my hair in whichever room I will go to. I sometimes wonder if I am an actual human being or some kind of hair shedding creature!  Jokes apart, I feel that the main reason behind my hair fall issue is my own carelessness. I rarely oil them, whichRead MoreAnalysis Of Vincent Van Gogh And The Oxbow850 Words   |  4 PagesGogh; The Oxbow, by Thomas Cole, comparing it to the â€Å"Spirit Rising, by Christophe Vacher†. In my research / readings of my chosen Artist, I found a lot of information about them that I will descibe individually. Based on the biography, It has been stated that Vincent â€Å"was a most well known post-impressionism Artist, for whom color was the chief symbol of expression, he was highly emotional, lacked self-confidence and struggled with his identity and with direction.† (Templeton Reid) In the late 1800’s

The Importance of Literature for Christians - 2056 Words

Literature plays a vital role in nearly every aspect of life. The importance of literature to the Christian worldview is immeasurable. Commonly defined as written works that have superior or artistic merit, literature has been a part of our world since creation. In the first book of the Bible we are introduced to the story of Creation. â€Å"In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. The Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.† God spoke the creation of the world into being. Palmer states â€Å"God begins His story by describing the creative power of words over chaos.† As†¦show more content†¦For example, in Paradise Lost, John Milton describes the fall of man : â€Å"Of man’s first Disobedience, of the Fruit, of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal test Brought Death i nto the World, and all our woe, With the loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat.† This epic is Milton’s version of the Creation and Fall of mankind, not the accurate record we receive from the Bible. Other writers have also taken scripture and made novels and series’ out of them. For example, The Left Behind Series, written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, focuses on the rapture of the church, rise of the anti-Christ and the return of Christ written in the Revelation of John. This fictional series takes the final book of the Bible and allows the reader to imagine themselves in the last days. The reader feels the emotion of God rapturing His church and leaving all those unsaved souls behind. The emotions and visualization keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Like Milton’s epic, Paradise Lost, Left Behind is the writer’s perception of how events occur. Literature has the advantage of being thought-p rovoking, educational, and entertaining. One of the most thought-provoking and entertaining writers that ever lived was William Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s work was mostly based on fictional characters with biblical principles underlying. Shakespeare’s work is filled with a world of characters that are both fallen andShow MoreRelatedBeowulf And The Germanic Heroic Code Of Values, Traditions, And Customs1522 Words   |  7 Pagesthroughout the lifetime of the culture. A major part of culture is literature; the literature of the time reflects upon daily life and society during the time that the story was composed. Beowulf, an epic poem, is one of the most important and only works of Anglo-Saxon literature. Much like a fable, the epic poem of Beowulf had lessons that taught the people within this society how to behave. This essay will outline how the importance of Christianity and the Germanic Heroic Code in Beowulf are revealedRead MoreChristianity During The Roman E mpire1526 Words   |  7 Pagesprominent than others, one of the most popular being Christianity. Christianity developed during the time of the Roman Empire. It began as a minority religion and grew into something much more than that. Christianity’s importance to the empire increased over time. At first, Christian values seemed different than those of pagan Roman civilization and Romans were not sure how to react to this growing minority religion. The difference between the two religions became clearer as Christianity became moreRead MoreThe Bible and Understanding Scripture800 Words   |  4 PagesBible is God’s word to His people. Christians are taught to read and study the Bible daily. A new person in the body of Christ would understand reading and studying just as one reads a regular book or study material. Often Christians are not taught how to read and study, instead they internalize reading and studying as memorization of the Bible because most Christians can remember the word of God without a complete understanding of scripture. When Christians are taught the history of the Bible andRead MoreChristianity And The Christian Church1473 Words   |  6 Pagesreligion shaped entirely around Jesus’ personal philosophies and ideologies that has forever shaped the course of human history. In order to appreciate the importance of Christianity, first an understanding of the religion itself must be reached. The Christian church teaches that there is one God who created everything. Although Christians believe there is a singular God, he is split into three parts: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. The content of the religions beliefs and historyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Sir Gawain And The Green Knight804 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many elements that are used to classify medieval literature. Beside the obvious association to the medieval time period, the writings contain unique aspects that create the iconic medieval tale. Characters within medieval romances are larger-than-life, courageous, and noble. The people of the Middle Ages openly received each of these traits, because of the importance they put on acts of nobility and chivalry. The themes of medieval stories were based on beliefs or ideas, expressed by theRead MoreThe Anglo Saxon Era Of Ri ch History And Reflected Literature1486 Words   |  6 PagesThe Anglo Saxon Era of Rich History and Reflected Literature The Anglo Saxon Period began in 449 and ended in 1066 AD. This was a time of Viking conquering other nations, patriotism, and Pagan to Christian religious conversion. 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The literature of Mesopotamia and Western Europe is a prime example of this. Beowulf, an Anglo-Germanic tale and The Epic of Gilgamesh, of the Sumerians, demonstrate perfectly, the ability of civilizations to convey the values and customs of their society thr ough their literature. The setting for Beowulf is ScandinaviaRead MoreA Short Note On The Edict Of Milan873 Words   |  4 Pagesfor the East by Licinius, granting all people the freedom of any religion they wanted to worship. Also, it assured Christians of legal rights, including the right to organize churches. Not only granting them freedom of religion and legal rights, but giving back the property that was confiscated (brittanica.com). The Edict of Milan was a significant event because it gave Christians rights and made Christianity a set religion. Not only did the Edict of Milan make Christianity a set religion, it

Impermanence, Selflessness, and Dissatisfaction Essay Example For Students

Impermanence, Selflessness, and Dissatisfaction Essay Impermanence, Selflessness, and DissatisfactionBuddhism is neither a religion nor a philosophy, but rather a way oflife. This does not imply that Buddhism is nothing more than an ethical code:it is a way of moral, spiritual and intellectual training leading to completefreedom of the mind. (DeSilva, 1991:p 5). Of the many Buddhist sects, ZenBuddhism places particular emphasis on living the right life, and does notrevolve around rite and ritual. Buddhism outlines the three characteristics ofexistence, which aids one in achieving enlightenment. Impermanence,selflessness, and dissatisfaction are concepts that are easily understood on anintellectual level, but to apply these concepts in ones life is challenging. Impermanence is concerned with the thought that nothing remains static, andchange is to be expected. Selflessness holds that there is no immortal soul orexternal Self that exists in each individual; (Fadiman Frager,1994:p 545)selflessness is closely connected with impermanence. Dissatisfaction is alarger concept entir ely- it involves the acknowledgment that suffering exists. The world is founded on suffering, (DeSilva, 1991:p 21) and once anythingbecomes a problem there is bound to be suffering, unsatisfactoriness, orconflict- conflict between our desires and the state of reality. Dissatisfaction is the most difficult characteristic of existence to apply toones life, as it involves not only the acceptance of this state, but alsooutlines one on how to treat and cure this state. The notion that the world is an ever-changing environment on all levelsof existence is not a radical idea. In fact, those that have not yet acceptedchange as a natural state of nature is denying the reality of life. A being andthe empirical world are both constantly changing. They come into being and passaway. All is in a whirl, nothing escapes this inexorable unceasing change, andbecause of this transient nature nothing is really pleasant. There is happiness,but very momentary, it vanishes like a flake of snow, and brings aboutunsatisfactoriness (DeSilva, 1991:p 29). Both pleasant and unpleasantconditions come and go, it is then the responsibility of the individual to dealwith each situation in the right way. Understanding that there is nouniversal truth, that thoughts and ideas evolve- leaves one open to improve andgrow- a goal of Buddhism. The concept of impermanence is significant from apsychological standpoint, as it encourages individuals to deal with situationswith more flexib ility, as well as understanding. Impermanence allows one topossess a firm grip upon reality, knowing that there is an ever-changinglandscape, encouraging one not to take things for granted. Related to impermanence, is the concept of selflessness. Selflessnessinvolves the knowledge that there is no immortal soul or eternal Self thatexists in each individual (Fadiman Frager, 1994:p 545). The so-calledindividual is a collection of attributes, all of which are impermanent andconstantly changing. According to the Buddha, the person is made up of fivebasic factors- body, perception, sensation, consciousness, and mental activities. (Fadiman Frager, 1994:p 545) Selflessness enables the individual to focusupon the external with the understanding that I is not of significant priority. In taking the importance away from the individual, it permits one to becomeconcerned with issues not related directly to the self. The fact that the worldis constantly changing, and that one does not possess an immortal soul; allowsthe stage to be set for dissatisfaction, as it encompasses a number ofprinciples. Dissatisfaction exists, it is not a foreign notion. To this singleproblem we give different names: economic, social, political, psychological, andeven religious problems. Do they not all emanate from that one single problem,namely unsatisfactoriness? If there is no unsatisfactoriness, why need westrive to solve them? Does not solving a problem imply reducing theunsatisfactoriness? (DeSilva, 1991: p 48) Dissatisfaction is in essencesuffering, the fundamental problem of life. Suffering appears in two forms;psychological and physical- which falls into three categories. .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 , .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 .postImageUrl , .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 , .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202:hover , .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202:visited , .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202:active { border:0!important; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202:active , .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202 .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8c8a28935da756617830a0ca0dff6202:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Genetically Modified Organisms EssayOrdinary suffering includes; birth, death, sickness, old age, unpleasantconditions, grief, etc. It is typical to experience these sufferings throughoutthe duration of ones life. The second type of suffering is suffering producedby change, followed by suffering as conditioned states. Suffering asconditioned states occurs when an individual is attached to; matter, sensations,perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. The Buddha points out thatpeople suffer change every moment ant this change brings aboutunsatisfactoriness; for whatever is impermanent is unsatisfactory- there is nolasting bliss. (DeSilva, 1991:p 73) Following the un derstanding of thecharacteristics of existence, in particular, that of dissatisfaction andsuffering- the Four Noble Truths await. These truths in no way contradict theaforementioned characteristics, but rather, explain how they can be dealt within a constructive manner. It is not difficult to grasp the concepts of impermanence, selflessness,or dissatisfaction- carrying the meaning of these words into ones daily life,conversely, is a task. Impermanence is perhaps the easiest concept of the threeto accept, as our world seems to change more rapidly than ever, and one becomesaccustomed to this. It would only be logical for this to apply to anindividuals spiritual being as well. One must be prepared to acknowledge thathow they perceive their external condition is constantly evolving. From apersonal point of view, it is my belief that Buddhism is quite grounded andsound as a guide for living ones life. It in no way inhibits your nature, butrather instills a degree of gentleness and thoughtfulness into ones life, itresults in examination of ones behavior. From my limited perspective,selflessness is somewhat difficult to accept, as I believe that each person isunique, and possesses some form of immortality- a soul for example. The factthat we are composed o f mortal, constantly changing components does not provethat individuals are wholly mortal. An individual is composed of a great dealmore than body, perception, sensation, consciousness, and thought. It is mybelief that there are facets of an individual that cannot be so easily explained. One cannot argue that suffering and dissatisfaction are non-existent. Byacknowledging these facts of life, an individual is in the fortunate position ofhaving the ability to end the suffering conditions, whether they bepsychological or physical. Consequently, the Buddhist characteristics of existence are useful tothe average individual. These concepts can aid the individual in healthyanalysis of their behavior and motivations, as well as offer methods that enableone to actively change aspects of their life that they may be dissatisfied with. BIBLIOGRAPHYDeSilva, J.The Spectrum of Buddhism: The Writings of Piyadassi. Buddhist Missionary Society: New York, 1991. Fadiman, J. Personality and Personal Growth. HarperCollins CollegeFrager, R.Publishers: United States, 1994. Suzuki, D.T.Manual of Zen Buddhism. Rider: London, New York, 1956. Web Siteshttp://www.ncf.carelton.ca/freenet/rootdiism/introduction/truths/NobleTruth--1.htmlhttp://www.inet.co.th/cyberclub/over_buddhism.htmlPhilosophy