...ruthlessly scalped Native Americans and eventually others for bounty. The atrocities committed by the Glanton party are magnified by the presence of the judge, who seems to hold a deep understanding of God and the nature of the universe. This text seems to hold some of the same beliefs as a Gnostic worldview. Gnostic sects are present in several religions with ancient roots. Gnostics believe in a dual God—the False part of God who is found in human nature’s ways, and the True part of God who is beyond human...
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...expresses man’s separation from nature and Nowlan’s blatant disgust towards modern society. The use of poetic devices, symbolism and imagery illustrates the comparison between past societies and modern society, to prove if man has strayed too far from nature. In Alden Nowlan’s “The Bull Moose”, the bull moose arrives at a “pole-fenced pasture” after “lurching through forests of white spruce and cedar” (Nowlan 2-5). The townspeople all around gathered to come and see the majestic beast. The young children made fun of him while “the young men snickered and tried to pour beer/down his throat, while their girlfriends/took their pictures” (18). However, the Bull Moose just stood there and let them continue with their mundane ways: confusing this wise, old moose with their pets “[the] women put to bed with their sons” (28). They ceased fire and continued to taunt him. However, the Bull Moose: “Straightened and lifted his horns So [even] the wardens backed away as they raised their rifles When he roared, people ran to their cars All the young men Leaned on their automobile horns as he toppled” (Nowlan, 30-34). This poem can help us decipher our actions and correct our biased views towards civilization and make people reconsider nature and wild life. By separating ourselves from nature, we may be losing the qualities that make us human to begin with. Nowlan contrasts humanity to nature through the use of literary devices, mainly comparisons and imagery. His method of deliverance...
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...is necessary to get through difficult times throughout my life. Knowledge is the key to understanding Gods word. Having ethics will help me when I am communicating with others whether it is in school, business or my personal life. In a world full of different cultures and races, ethics are an important part of communicating and understanding others. My comparison between Naturalism and Christianity is that Naturalist believes that there is no supernatural, only material and matter. They also believe they control their own destiny and that God has nothing to do with it. The Christian view is that everything we do is influenced by God and that everything we do is influenced by God. Christians also believe there is more to life than matter and materialism. My comparison between Secular Humanist and Christianity is that Secular Humanist believes that God doesn’t exist. My Christian worldview believes that God is the highest entity. Secular Humanist believes that people are basically good, and that they should feel good about themselves regardless of their behavior. My Christian worldview believes that man has a sinful nature and tends to do evil things. The Secular Humanist also believes that a man is a highly evolved animal; sexual gratification is not to be denied as long as it does not hurt anybody. My Christian worldview believes that sex is a gift from God that when we use it as God intended,...
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...world and the world of Narnia. Both contain a God who is good and loving and cares for His people. Both worlds were created, evil and suffering exist amongst them, and each records historical and important events. Perhaps the most obvious likeness these worlds possess is having a God. What is the God of Narnia like? In Narnia God is represented by a powerful lion named Aslan. Aslan, much like the true God, is a creator; he creates Narnia and deems it good....
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...issues with humans and comparing them to discrimination issues with nonhumans (animals). The information begins by talking about all the discrimination issues we have faced and are facing as a country and how we have began to fight for equality. It states “We became familiar with liberation moverments for Spanish-Americans, gay people, and a variety of other minorities” (P. Singer, 1989). Liberation movements changed the way society viewed discrimination and how we equally treat “minorities.” A liberation movement demands an expansion of our moral horizons and an extension or reinterpretation of the basic moral principle of equality. And it’s sad to say, but if we wish to avoid being numbered amongst the oppressors, we must be prepared to re-think even our most fundamental attitudes. As P. Singer states, “I am urging that we extend to other species (animals) the basic principle of equality that most of us recognize should be extended to all members of our own species” (1989). Singer then focus’ on women’s rights and how fighting for women’s rights isn’t sound. He goes on to make the claim “if women’s rights are sound when applied to women, why should the argument not be applied to dogs, cats, and horses?” (P. Singer, 1989). One way which we might reply to this argument is by saying that the case for equality between men and women cannot validly be extended to nonhuman animals. It might be said men and women are similar beings and should have equal rights, while humans and nonhumans...
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...Words, How Animals Think and Feel. Martha Nussbaum is an American Philosopher, who focused on philosophy in the field of moral theories. She is a distinguished Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago. Her interests include the ancient Greek, ethics, political philosophy, Roman philosophy, feminism and animal rights. Her works include various books either as an author or an editor. Carl Safina is a philosopher who explored the inner feelings of the animals in his book Beyond Words. This paper will apply Nussbaum's philosophy to the Carl Safina's discussion that demonstrates that animals have feelings, and describes their cognitive nature. Thus, they are aware of the mistreatment, only that they are powerless to resist the abuses. He elaborates the communication abilities of the elephants, whales, and other animals. We, human beings consider ourselves superior to the others, but by various measures, we are the most “frequently irrational, distortional, delusional, worried.” Many people who oppose the harsh treatment of animals cite Martha Nussbaum’s capabilities theory. His approach advocates for the better treatment of animals and recognition of their rights as cognitive beings. This formed one of the philosophical pillars that are referred in the animal rights protection. Her approach has captured the attention of many philosophers and policy makers who make inferences to her theory in their decisions. She is often featured in a discussion that involves the...
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...that were inextricably tied to intense emotion, the Stoics believed themselves to approach the wisdom of the sage and achieve a life more in accordance with nature (Esler). Letters of consolation further exemplify the Stoics’ dedication to the rejection of impassioned emotion. When writing to Titius in the wake of his sons deaths, rather than expressing a sense of understanding for the man’s loss, Cicero implores Titius to cease his mourning as engaging in such behavior would undermine the virtue of moderation as well as question his status as a man (Wilcox). Cicero does not do so to bluntly dominate Titius in a time of weakness. Cicero’s actions, instead, display his commitment to a genuine belief in emotional restraint and that intense...
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...Comparison of Two Religions: Hinduism and Buddhism Strayer University Professor Carla Thompson April 28, 2014 Comparison of Two Religions: Buddhism and Hinduism Buddhism Buddhism was founded around 500 BCE by Prince Siddhartha Gautama. Gautama Buddha who was born about 2,500 years ago questioned his sheltered luxurious life in a palace. Leaving the palace he found four sights, a sick man, an old man, a dead man and a monk. Seeing this he realized that even a prince could not escape the issues of illness, suffering and death. So a monk told him to relinquish all his power and become a wandering holy man and seek the answers of why must people suffer and what was the cause of the suffering” (United Religions Initiative, 2002). For many years of doing many religious practices, including praying, meditating and fasting, he finally understood the basic truths of life. He realized this all by sitting under a popular-figtree in India for many days in meditation and this is when he was enlighten which is actually known as nirvana and this is when he was given the title of the Buddha which is the meaning of the Enlightened One. Buddha spread his teachings from India as far as Asia, becoming the dominate religion in many countries” (Fisher, 2014).It is thought that the Buddha lived many lives before his birth as Gautama, and that he continues to live through his teachings and his relics. Buddhism is the religion and philosophy which developed out of the teachings of...
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...1- Throughout chapter three, Sophie talks about the facts that you exist. The idea that this fact depends on other facts, such as the fact that your parents existed? (24) Facts depend on other facts, which makes them contingent. With this being said then every fact would depend on several other facts that must be present. (for example, “The fact that I am male depends on certain other facts, such as my genetic makeup, and so on.”) On the other hand some facts are necessarily and not contingently. This is based on the idea of the Principle of Sufficient Reason that states that every truth is either necessary or contingent, but the principle it follows is neither. The idea is that God is the only being that necessarily exists. (26) Sophie stated it the best by saying “A necessary truth couldn’t conceivably be false. It is, in that sense, self-evident.” (27) There must be a reason for the truth of every fact. It is either based on the idea of the facts it lies upon itself or based on some other true facts. Oscar did not buy into any of this. He felt as though everything seemed to good to be true. How can all these facts just depend on each other but do not explain anything? David added that either God exists or the universe is inexplicable (28), which Oscar then agreed upon. However if the universe is not inexplicable, then God exists. Therefore, is the universe explicable? David made a good point by saying, “The belief in God is irrational, but now it looks as if the...
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...understand the human condition for all societies and cultures across the planet. Truly understanding the nature of these truths is critical to eliminating pain, discomfort, and stress in your life. He has said that it is because we fail to understand the Four Noble Truths that we have run on so long in this cycle of birth and death. This indicates how important the Four Noble Truths are to the understanding of the Buddha’s teachings and to the realization of the goal of His teachings. So here in the Four Noble Truths which are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering, we have the foundation of the teachings of the Buddha for understanding and practice. the central concept that lies behind the Four Noble Truths. It indicates the importance of the relationship between cause and effect. The idea of cause and effect is at the heart of the Buddha’s teachings and is at the heart of the Four Noble Truths. Now in what sense? Specifically there is a starting point, the problem of suffering. This problem arises from causes. Finally just as there is suffering and the causes of suffering, so too there is an end of suffering and a cause for the end of suffering. In this case it is a negative process. In other words, when the causes of suffering are removed then suffering ends. ONE- The Four Noble Truths begin with the recognition of suffering. We, as human beings, are subject...
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...Eastern and Western Philosophers Comparison Aurelia Williams University of Phoenix Axia College 03/12/2011 Eastern and Western philosophical views are greatly different. The philosophy of eastern philosophers tends to deal more with religion whereas western philosophy does not. I will compare the views of western philosopher John Dewey and eastern philosopher Siddhartha Gautama. Born in 1859, John Dewey observed many trials such as World War I and World War II, emancipation, slavery, the Civil War, and women fight for the right to vote. His words were an integral part of the history of the United States (Moore & Bruder, 2008 p. 223). Dewey was an instrumentalism pragmatist because he believed that the actions and thoughts of humans were instruments used in problem solving. He has the thought that nature is experience and that everyone experiences things differently. Dewey believed that each person could take the exact same object and perceive its use as something completely different. For example, one person may see a banana as just a piece of fruit but another person may see it as a weapon. It can be a source of lively hood and to another it can be a burden. Dewey was no idealist; he believed that the perception of any object differed from person to person however these perceptions did not define the object. His argument of usage and importance of items...
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...expresses man’s separation from nature and Nowlan’s blatant disgust towards modern society. The use of poetic devices, symbolism and imagery illustrates the comparison between past societies and modern society, to prove if man has strayed too far from nature. In Alden Nowlan’s “The Bull Moose”, the bull moose arrives at a “pole-fenced pasture” after “lurching through forests of white spruce and cedar” (Nowlan 2-5). The townspeople all around gathered to come and see the majestic beast. The young children made fun of him while “the young men snickered and tried to pour beer/down his throat, while their girlfriends/took their pictures” (18). However, the Bull Moose just stood there and let them continue with their mundane ways: confusing this wise, old moose with their pets “[the] women put to bed with their sons” (28). They ceased fire and continued to taunt him. However, the Bull Moose: “Straightened and lifted his horns So [even] the wardens backed away as they raised their rifles When he roared, people ran to their cars All the young men Leaned on their automobile horns as he toppled” (Nowlan, 30-34). This poem can help us decipher our actions and correct our biased views towards civilization and make people reconsider nature and wild life. By separating ourselves from nature, we may be losing the qualities that make us human to begin with. Nowlan contrasts humanity to nature through the use of literary devices, mainly comparisons and imagery. His method of deliverance...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Pain and Suffering: A Catalyst for Faith Submitted to Dr. Donald Clark, in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the completion of this course. SEMI 500-B25 LUO Introduction to Seminary Studies by Randy Boyd September 28, 2014 Contents Introduction 1 Part 1. How Can Pain and Suffering be Necessary? 2 Chapter 1. Where pain comes from. 2 Chapter 2. Why pain and suffering are necessary. 3 Part 2. How Can We Respond to Pain and Suffering? 4 Chapter 3. Walking Through Pain and Suffering. 5 Chapter 4. Avoiding Pain and Suffering 6 Part 3. How Can Pain and Suffering Build Faith? 7 Chapter 5. Satan Uses Pain and Suffering to Create Doubt. 8 Chapter 6. God Uses Pain and Suffering to Build Faith. 8 Conclusion ...
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...Death and the Soul—Epicureanism and Stoicism Introduction What happens at death and the idea of the afterlife put human logic and science to a test. However, ancient philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle, Zeno, and Epicurus, use the science of thought in order to understand complex ideas of the nonexistent. As David Lund, put it philosophy can suspend the facts of death in order to help search for life after death (Lund, 6). The ambiguity that science sees can be approach and open-minded thinkers. Life’s mysteries are evaluated by philosophers as results and the phenomenon of death on the physical plain is clear where science is not. The question as to whether or not life is simply a finite experience that disappears and fades to dust, or something more than this, falls into the disciplines of both philosophy and religion. In addition to death itself, the aspect of the soul is likewise a topic of considerable dispute and discussion within these two areas of study. The debate over whether or not human beings are purely physical in nature or something more is inherent within this ongoing discussion. Epicureanism and Stoicism will be explored to this end to better illustrate the varying theoretical and philosophical perspectives that are in place regarding both death and the element of the soul. In doing so, the acts of creativity that are relevant to this, for example, art, architecture, history, literature, music, and religion, will also be explored to better illustrate the...
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...More specifically, if we are all destined to grow old and die, human beings began to seek an answer the question: what is the point of life? Buddhism is based on the idea that life is infused with suffering due to personal and materialistic desire, and as such, we should strive to eliminate such emotional desires in order to free ourselves from this self-developed suffering. Although simple in words, to actually practice such a doctrine is extremely difficult and almost impossible for many. Furthermore, Buddhism also developed within the context of reincarnation. In Medieval Japan, Buddhist monks sought out after teachings based on the idea of being reborn after death. Essentially, they believed that to put an end to our human suffering would be the equivalent to putting an end to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, which is impossible. The personal trials, tribulations, sufferings, and accomplishments in a lifetime never last and it is within this context that the idea of impermanence developed in the Heian period and mentally dominated the minds of writers of the time. In a society that highly emphasized superficial beauty, growing old was a terrible prospect, dreaded and abhorred very subtly. But it was not...
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