Epiphanies in James Joyces Dubliners Essay Example

Epiphanies in James Joyces Dubliners Paper Epiphanies in Edibleness Edibleness presents various different stories with unique characters that often share similar experiences or transformations. An epiphany or sudden realization is a common occurrence in these stories. In After the Race , An Encounter and Beeline each main character experiences an epiphany. An Encounter is about a boy who decides to skip school with his friends one day. The boys friends played Cowboys and Indians often and this caused a hunger for adventure in the boys mind. The boy became convinced that exciting things only happen to those who go exploring about so he decided to ditch school one day and go into town. There the boy meets an old man and he is embarrassed of his friend and doesnt want to seem foolish. He appears well educated and like a sharp boy to the reader. The reader almost experiences an epiphany along with the boy because up until now the reader wasnt fully aware of the boys intelligence. The boy realized he didnt even like Mahoney, the friend he was running off with. The Juvenile spirit of him actually annoyed the boy. We will write a custom essay sample on Epiphanies in James Joyces Dubliners specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Epiphanies in James Joyces Dubliners specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Epiphanies in James Joyces Dubliners specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer He didnt need to act cool or play hooky or read comics. He enjoyed earning, acting mature, and being a respectable boy and it took talking to this old man for him to realize that. Beeline relates the story of a woman who is planning to run off with her fiance ©. The story reads as if she has a tough home life especially since her mother died. For the first part of the story she ponders her decision wondering if she is making the right choice. She constantly is putting the promise she made to her mother in consideration. Her mother is her only reason of thinking of staying. She knows that staying involves a lot more work less respect a lot of duty ND taking care of her abusive father. The two people she cared about most in her family are already gone. In a weird sense having her mother gone is what is holding her back. She told her mom that she would make sure her father is being taken care of. She also has a bit of nostalgia for this kind of living. She admired her mother and thinks that if it was good enough for her mother than she should live the same way. Overall she decides the life is too tough and that she should elope with her lover. The reader is lead to believe she has every intention of doing so. She gets on the docks dead to run away but at the very last minute she refuses to go in a sudden realization. This comes to as a shock to the reader and it can only be assumed that she realized she had to fulfill her promise. The epiphany in Beeline was a different because she was stuck on a decision and couldnt make up her mind. So she was searching for this realization whereas the boy in An Encounter wasnt expecting to discover that he wasnt who he was pretending to be. Although she was hoping for the decision to be made the reader can note that it probably wasnt what she was expecting and it didnt come when she expected it to. In After the Race the main character Jimmy is trying to fit in with the elite and rich crowd. He does this by spending money as if he has more than he actually does, gambling, and attending the race. Jimmy goes to a hotel with his friends and then proceeds to go to a yacht. The story frequently refers to Jimmys father and how he worked so hard to get Jimmy and himself to fit into this crowd. Jimmy plays cards on the yacht and falls deep into EOT out doesnt stop. A muleteer AT alcohol Ana Ignorance over rule Nils reasoning. He is aware that he cant afford to be partying like he is but decides that he will worry bout that problem tomorrow. At the end of the story it is announced that its daybreak. Joyce constructed the end of the story in such a way that the reader experiences the epiphany with Jimmy. One might experience frustration as Jimmy gambles away money he doesnt have, but might understand the fools yearn to have fun and put off his worries until tomorrow. At the end of the story when tonights fun has made an abrupt and quick transition into the next mornings troubles Jimmy and the reader realize the drunken mistake. Jimmy is in a very similar situation that the boy in An Encounter was in. The boy wanted to be a troublemaker and have no regard for learning. They both experience a societal calling. Its not socially acceptable interested in ones education or to stay at home with a book rather than drinking and gambling. Both of these characters try to reach this social status until at the end come upon a sudden realization that renders that achievement either impossible or undesirable. Beeline and Jimmy are in almost entirely opposite situations. Beeline is attempting to do what is best for herself. She plans to elope with her loving fiance © leaving behind a troubled home life. At the end of the story, however, she is unable to go through with it making the decision that would least benefit herself. In After the Race Jimmy makes poor decision throughout the story but the reader is led to believe that his epiphany will lead him to lead a more reasonable life in the future. All three characters realize something about themselves. This is a little ironic because one would assume that when an epiphany is realized it might be of some great truth to life. It seems odd yet a little more realistic that these particular Edibleness have reached a point of true self-discovery in these epiphanies.

Deciphering the Genetic Code o essays

Deciphering the Genetic Code o essays Ill be the first to admit it, Im a skeptic of the worst kind; its just my nature, I guess. So, I guess it goes without saying that Im not impressed with all the recent hype about the Human Genome Project. People have gone so far as to hail the HGP as the cure for all of mankinds ails. Even with advance technology that allows scientists to map the genome sequence of a human being, we have failed to find a cure the common cold. And yet, scientists feel confident that the tools needed to treat genes involved in diseases will likely be developed within the next twenty years. My response Ill believe it when I see it. While I do not dispute of importance of this project and its ability to revolutionize biological research and medicine, I chose to look at a similar project that has had a significant impact on agriculture the completion of a plants genetic map. In 1996, a $70 million dollar project was started to map the genetic sequence of a plant. Drawing heavily on research done by the HGP, scientists on three continents worked in collaboration on the project, which was completed this past December. The complete genetic code of Arabidopsis thaliana was published in the December issue of the scientific journal, Nature. Researchers working the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, and Japan selected Arabidopsis thaliana, a member of the mustard family and a cousin to the cauliflower plant, over approximately 250,000 other species because the weed, more commonly known as thale cress, contains all the chromosomes of a more complex plant but is biologically simple. Each plant has 25,000 genes located on 5 genes; these genes contain about 117 million chemical base pairs (corn, on the other hand, has about 3 billion base pairs). In addition to its relative biological simplicity, the plant grows quickly, producing as many as eight generations in a single year. ...

Scale in Space Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Scale in Space - Essay Example While the earth has the biotic diversity with defining interactions, little evidence exists to show possible existence of life in the other planets. This induces uncertainty and prompts need for research amidst theories that people have help about the universe. Efforts by astronomers, into developed knowledge about each planet of the solar system has however developed awareness of each planet’s potential and helped to dispel wrong perspectives that people had developed, and held on, about the planets (Trimble 19). Information exist that demonstrate order in the universe, an arrangement whose existence is known but whose origin and history remains a mystery that only scientific research can unlock. The course has however, and through different approaches, been helpful in developing knowledge on the solar system. Its content that covers much information about the solar system has been informative, and independent research on emerging issues and concerns on existing theories on the solar system has improved my understanding of the system. One of the lessons that I have learnt about the universe is its long-term existence, dating back to more than 38 million years ago. I have also developed insights into forces around the universe that hat has sustained it (Trimble 37). In addition, I have developed great insights from the course with the need to preserve the universe as an important responsibility that human beings have. In understanding the role of the earth in the universe, the course has info rmed me of the need for human beings to be effectively involved in ensuring sustainability of the universe. Even though natural mechanisms exist, initiated and facilitated by different elements of the solar system, which ensures sustainability of the solar system, humans must play an active role in the sustainability through controlling

China Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

China - Assignment Example While taking into account, the â€Å"long-cycle theory†, which stipulates that, a hegemon after being in power for some time is likely to be challenged by an upcoming superpower, thus, China seems to be the perfect challenger. Even though, China intends to become a superpower, it will be difficult for it to achieve this goal since; the world in the past century has embraced the culture of avoiding an all-out war. Moreover, the United States cannot let its place as the number one in the world to be taken since it is aware of the bloodshed, which can be witnessed in the event that such takeover occurs through a great-power war. Yes, when China becomes a superpower, there are many indications that it will threaten the US. These threats will be; political, social, and economic. Firstly, the political threats that China will foster will be the enforcing of authoritarian governments, instead of promoting democracy. China has the reputation of governing its citizens through authoritarian rule. Superpowers maintain their number one position by influencing other nations and governments; therefore, for China to cement its leadership, it will influence various governments to become authoritarian, and this in the process will kill freedom and democracy. Secondly, as a super-power, China would threaten the US through spreading its ideology of communism while denouncing the ideology of capitalism. Thirdly, in recent years, China’s economic influence, particularly with African and Asian countries has been on a steady rise. While considering the above, when China becomes a superpower, it is beyond imagination on how its economic influence will continue to grow. The overwhelming economic growth of China will be a great threat to the US economy. The US strategy towards China should start with the US ensuring that it maintains its position as the world’s superpower. The US ought to show that it is powerful enough, and it is not

Geography in the middle east Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Geography in the middle east - Essay Example upport that Christian Zionists and Jews received from such powers as the United States shows the general aim of their empowerment and motivation towards the liberation. The United States, for example, recognized rights of Soviet Jews to their traditional beliefs and elevated Zionists and Jews to political posts (Class Notes, n.d., Slide 97). Statements that key leaders made, in relation to the events also identifies the need for liberation as reason for the unity and violence as the approach to the liberty. While Soviet restrained Jews movements, Sharansky acknowledged that the Jews Movement was significant to the fall of the Soviet (Class Notes, Slide 100). The key indicator of the role of violence in the liberation is the role of the United States in empowering Al Qaeda for violent attacks on the Soviet and Brzezinski and Clinton admits to America’s role in creation of Al Qaeda (Class Notes, Slide 98, 99). Shultz, however, established the plight of the Soviet Jews to America ’s government to facilitate the nation’s influence on the fight (Class Notes, Slide

Examining The Varied Heritage Of Indian Culture Cultural Studies Essay

Examining The Varied Heritage Of Indian Culture Cultural Studies Essay One thing in which India faces no competition is its varied culture and heritage. The culture of India has been shaped by the long history of India, its unique geography and the absorption of customs, traditions and ideas from some of its neighbors as well as by preserving its ancient heritages, which were formed during the Indus Valley Civilization and evolved further during the Vedic age, rise and decline of Buddhism, Golden age, Muslim conquests and European colonization. Indias great diversity of cultural practices, languages, customs, and traditions are examples of this unique co-mingling over the past five millennia. At all levels India has added great number of languages in to the diverse cultures and traditions. There were 1000 (if you count regional dialects and regional words) languages are spoken by Indians Altogether, but unfortunately now there are 415 living languages in India. The Constitution of India has stipulated the national language Hindi and English to be the two official languages of communication for the Union Government. India is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with some of the most deeply religious societies and cultures. Religion still plays a central and definitive role in the life of most of its people. India is the birth place of Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism Today, Hinduism and Buddhism are the worlds third- and fourth-largest religions respectively, with around 1.4 billion followers India, being a multi-cultural and multi-religious society, celebrates holidays and festivals of various religions. The three national holidays in India, the Independence Day, the Republic Day and the Gandhi Jayanti, are celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm across India. In addition, many states and regions have local festivals depending on prevalent religious and linguistic demographics. Popular religious festivals include the Hindu festivals of Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga puja, Holi, Rakshabandhan and Dussehra. Several harvest festivals, such as Sankranthi, Pongal and Onam, are also fairly popular. Certain festivals in India are celebrated by multiple religions. Notable examples include Diwali which celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and Buddh Purnima which is celebrated by Buddhists and Hindus. Islamic festivals, such Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Ramadan, are celebrated by Muslims across India. Well different religions have unlike practices, rituals and all but in these entire dissimilarities one thing common is the way they greet each. Namaskar or Namaskaram is a common spoken greeting or salutation in the India. Namaskar is considered a slightly more formal version than namastà © but both express deep respect. It is commonly used in India and Nepal by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, sikhs and many continue to use this outside the Indian subcontinent. In Indian and Nepali culture, the word is spoken at the beginning of written or verbal communication. However, the same hands folded gesture is made wordlessly upon departure. In yoga, namastà © is said to mean The light in me honors the light in you, taken literally, it means I bow to you Food is an important part of Indian culture, playing a role in everyday life as well as in festivals. In many families, everyday meals are sit-down affairs consisting of two to three main course dishes, varied accompaniments such as chutneys and pickles, carbohydrate staples such as rice and roti (bread), as well as desserts. Food is not just important for an Indian family by ways of eating, but it is also taken as a sort of socializing, getting together with a family of many. Indian cuisine varies from region to region, Generally, Indian cuisine can be split into four categories: North, South, East, and West Indian. Despite this diversity, some unifying threads emerge. Varied uses of spices are an integral part of food preparation, and are used to enhance the flavor of a dish and create unique flavors and aromas. Cuisine across India has also been influenced by various cultural groups that entered India throughout history, such as the Persians, Mughals, and European powers. Different religions, languages, festivals, cuisine and now different clothing. Traditional Indian clothing for women is the saris and also Ghaghra Cholis (Lehengas). For men, traditional clothes are the Dhoti, pancha veshti or Kurta. Bombay, also known as Mumbai, is one of Indias fashion capitals. In some village parts of India, traditional clothing mostly will be wornBindi is part of the womens make-up. Traditionally, the red bindi (or sindhur) was worn only by the married Hindu women, but now it has become a part of womens fashion As far as Indian art is concerned, music and dance from an integral part of Indian arts. The music of India includes multiples varieties of religious, folk, popular, pop, and classical musicIndian dance and music considered to be just another form of entertainment, traces  its origins back several thousands of years. Music is the language of emotion and is an important part of the Indian culture. Music and dance are  languages   by themselves, capable of expressing subtle thoughts and refined ideas. Few of the Indian dance forms are Baratnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, odissi, Mohiniattam and many more.While naturally evolving with the dynamic forces of history and creative influence of great masters, these traditions have maintained the integrity of their fundamental  heritage.  

The Theory Of Property :: essays research papers

The Theory of Property While Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines property as "something regarded as being possessed by, or at the disposal of, a person or group of persons species or class," (p. 1078) this definition hardly holds the connotations so emphatically discussed by the anthropologist Morgan. To Morgan, "property has been so immense...so diversified its uses so expanding...that it has become...an unmanageable power." (p.561) Why has it become such an unmanageable power? Morgan answers this question with the simple answer that it is due to the linear evolution of the social institution of property from being collectively owned to being individually owned which has planted the seed of its own destruction in modern society. Morgan, in an attempt to study the role property has played in shaping social structures throughout history, has concluded that the influences property has had on reshaping societies and vice versa can teach the historian many things about both the society being studied and the environment in which it strove to survive. To Morgan, the "germ" of the institution of property slowly infected many different societies in many different parts of the world. His teleological approach states that due to the "unity of mankind" various technological innovations, which gave rise to the ever-growing availability of property, allowed social change to occur in many areas of the globe independently. Every area, went through its own version of evolution in which the importance of wealth grew at varying rates. This discovery leads Morgan to believe that while the past was unified in its variation, it is the future which must presently be addressed. For Morgan, in studying the past one can learn much about the future. Not only does Morgan analyze the social emergence of various types of property, but he is also extremely interested in the human tendencies evident in various societies which surfaced as a result of the ever-growing list of ownable objects. As time progressed from the Status of Savagery through Barbarism and into Civilization new wants and needs arose mostly due to new inventions. It is on this relationship between property, technology, and the human desire for more of each which Morgan centers his work, and it is from this study which he hopes future generations will learn how to improve their institutions until they can be improved no more. Morgan structures his essay around three basic "ethnical periods of human progress" (p. 535) and the basic assumption that the more modes of production and subsistence there are the greater the proliferation of individual objects of ownership. As technology advances and discoveries are made, the amount of ownable objects grow as does the need to own.

Barth vs. Brunner and Natural Theology

The concept of natural theology pertains to the belief that natural gifts are provided from conception and installed mainly on human mind. Furthermore, it states that the revelations are provided on the general prospect of humans, and not merely on special individuals. In this theory, revelations are said to be revealed not only from the Scriptural basis or even from Jesus Christ .As for the theory’s concern, the scholastic tradition of natural theology had provided their simple explanation why the Scripture and Jesus Christ received some sort of special revelation . According to natural theologians, the rationale for the provision of such special revelation is nothing more than an unexplainable event or beyond human reason . As far as the history of theology is concerned, one of the most highlighted debates comes from Karl Barth and Emil Brunner, dating from 1914 .From the concepts and theological principles introduced by Barth and Brunner comes the great and prolonged theolo gical debate, forthcoming from the quarters of â€Å"dialectical theology†, particularly from Barth’s radical rejection of the notions of General Revelation and Natural Religion or Natural Theology, including the â€Å"point of contact† and the rest. By far, this argument has been known as the Barth-Brunner conflict . Due to the strong influence and very much detailed argument brought by Barth, the conflict between the two theologians has greatly affected the stand point of today’s theology.This controversy has dominated the theological discussion of to-day, and has affected literally every problem . In this study, the primary discussion revolves in covering the issues brought by the debates of Barth and Brunner, and the theological concepts embedded in their proposed principles. From the point of view of the study, the first thing to discuss is the concept of natural theology in order to determine the rationale for its rejection. Next, the study centers on the conflicting theologian, Karl Barth and Emil Brunner.Lastly, the study provides the analysis of their argument to explore the primary stand points from both theological perspectives. Discussion The Concept of Natural Theology In general, the Reformers were less enthusiastic about natural theology, in part because they rejected much of the scholastic tradition, in part because it tended to render special revelation, and particularly Scripture, less necessary, and in part because it granted fallen human beings powers of correct reasoning that the Reformers themselves saw as corrupted by sin .According to the traditional scholastic movement, the concept of natural theology only provides its significance by illustrating human sin and their never-ending need to survive – more like an instinctive theological description – however, with little standing ground in justifying how these humanistic needs pursue . It is not the place here to enter into the historical, psychol ogical and theological reasons for the development of this great controversy. The historical reason is the adamant opposition that had to be shown to Nazi ideology and the wrong and dangerous theology of the German Christians.Barth rendered here an immeasurable service to sound theology and the cause of the Church as a whole . A form of natural theology that is worth defending takes its cue from core theological interpretations of the nature of God and the world. The concept of natural theology comprises of three theoretical perspectives that are derived mainly on nature that correlates with the divinity of God. The word ‘natural’ in the expression ‘natural theology’ is meant to mark a contrast between nature and revelation.The concept of Natural theology does not imply natural in the perspective of being a non-complex and unsophisticated belief, but rather, the natural theology is the product of a fairly sophisticated state of western theism and would have been foreign to many great religious thinkers before the Middle Ages. The concept of natural theology was realized during the era wherein theologians tried to logically obtain the answers to divine existence while at the stage of reflecting their religion.At this point of Middle Age, theologians obtain the elements that have been established already beforehand, and those that can provide unaided rationale for those parts that they believed to be unnatural. Hence, they coined and develop the natural theology, which somehow contradicts the existence of natural activities through single-handed or chose ones. As for the theory, it mainly exemplifies that everyone is chosen in their own account of being an image created after God . The concept of natural theology allied with Nazism most especially during the time of Jews massive discrimination.Significantly, the natural theology, even from the early times, pointed its fingers to chosen individuals, such as the Jews, wherein the theology contradicts the fact that these people are chose. The possibility of natural theology has been denied by some theologians and by some philosophers. The theological arguments against natural theology are mostly concerned with the relationship between reason and faith: they urge the uselessness of reason as a means to salvation and of philosophical speculation as a step on the road to heaven .One of the essential criticism that served as ground basis for the concept of natural theology is the fact that these principles are essentially from the philosophical perspectives, which in the end obtained vast arguments and criticisms against natural theology itself. In particular, the theologians of Natural perspective drew heavily on natural philosophy to show how the hand of the Creator could be discerned in the Book of Nature as well as the Book of Scriptures.By contrast, those still wedded to a more traditional order in Church and State tended to be wary of natural theology and the forms of natural philosophy interlinked with it as obscurities from a theology based on Divine revelation . On the other hand, the significance of Natural theology is its ability to provide an analysis of the human situation and the question of God implied in it. One side of the traditional arguments for the existence of God usually does this, in so far as they elucidate the dependent, transitory, and relational nature of finite human existence.But, in developing the other side of these arguments, natural theology tried to derive theological affirmations from the analysis of man’s finitude . The natural theology concentrates mainly on the natural imagery of men as earthly beings being linked to God’s image. As for the theory, it mentions that every human being possesses the right to obtain revelation from God for everyone is from the same image, which is God. Somehow, these two rationales are deemed as the primary arguments that render the argument of the Natural theology.F irst, natural theology should not claim to operate with an account of pure, objective, ahistorical reason . For man’s reasoning cannot be considered absolutely pure from intention for man by his own nature is deprived from complete purity; hence, contradicts the statement of natural theology itself. Second, natural theology should not offer a philosophical metaphysics as a way of mediating between faith and the world . From these concepts, the argument against natural theology settles in. Different theologians, most significantly Karl Barth realizes the wrong ideations brought by the theology.From the perspective of Thomas Aquinas (1225—1274), he claimed that there are certain truths that are attainable by the powers of â€Å"reason properly applied, and others that are beyond the reach of reason, and are known only through revelation†. From Aquinas’ theology, the concept attaining revelation and reason conjoins to further discover the truth and absolute reasoning . The concept of nature in the doctrines of theology can be misleading and contradictory for its very meaning can be a profound statement of obscurity, which can also contribute to the eclipse of God’s imagery .As for the theory of Natural origination, it is a major concept where philosophy of religion interrelates theological aspects. Philosophies of religion scrutinizes what the sheer existence of the universe entails what it forces us to conclude, and likewise what its order entails. Protestantism is usually against the concept of natural theology for they claim that God, whose existence is demonstrated, is not the Christian God. For Protestants, God Himself should not concern in Himself in providing His existence for He in fact exist above all.Whether natural theology is to be dismissed and why is a major area of investigation in Christian theology. Roman Catholic somehow defended the concept of natural theology for they believe that there are essential differen ces between what we can know of God by means of natural theology and what we know of God by revelation. Currently, natural theology tends to act and to be used as a tool that metaphorically provides clergy and students some rigorous proof to demonstrate God’s existence .Emil Brunner In 1914, Brunner published a work entitled Nature and Grace wherein his main argument coincides mainly on the generational theology’s task of reverting back to the concept of natural theology . Brunner, being one of the main characters of natural theological concept, obtained his idea of natural theology from the concept of imago Del or in translation would mean, â€Å"Image of God†. Human nature is constituted in such a way that there is an analog with the being of God .Considering the sinful nature of human beings as installed already in their instinctive characteristic, Brunner stated that the ability of human beings to discern the presence of God is still there by the concept or reasoning that God remains in the natural environment. Within the context of human beings as sinners, still their innate nature are capable of recognizing the presence of God and are still aware of their guilt before God. All these linkage are brought by the concept of natural stand present in man from the time of his creation and image pattern.Hence, as Brunner concluded, this linkage brings forth revelation to every man with no special disposition present, such as sinner or holy, rich or poor, or any other means. Brunner significantly pointed out that God can manifest His revelation to anyone with no consideration on human characteristic since human beings are all created out of his natural image . As per Brunner’s defense on natural theology, greatly point out the significance of the doctrine of the incarnation to revelation: in Christ may be seen the personal self-disclosure of God .From Brunner’s ground basis, it is the story of creation that serves as the fore gr ound of this theological belief. He reasoned that there are considerably three rationales that offer support for the theory of Natural theology namely, human reason, and order of the world and beauty of the world . In the argument of Human Reason, considering that God’s existence can be found in His creation, and then it is acceptable to use the idea that God can be most likely found in the highest peak of His creation, which is human reason .The next argument Brunner introduced is the ordering of the world, wherein the prime philosopher concerned is Thomas Aquinas. Considering that the natural pattern in the environment is unquestionably and extremely organized, this phenomena been emphasized to be from God . Brunner did no go as far in denouncing the philosophical approach to God. Nevertheless, Brunner stated that the attempt to derive knowledge of God from creation, which is the theology of natural religion, is ultimately not being helpful in theological doctrine.He even a dmitted that the knowledge of the Creator forms as a component of our existence. However, Brunner concluded that this knowledge component placed to human beings as God’s creation does not follow that human beings know God completely, since such philosophical intelligence does not end in communion with God . Brunner’s theology has been linked very much within an existentialist, dialectical framework and focused mainly on the uniqueness of existential, personal understanding. He even continued with basically anthropological starting point.Lastly, the concept of beauty present in the world has also been emphasized as an argumentative statement in Brunner’s ideologies. According to these theologians, the presence of beauty in surrounding world is the primary depiction of God’s existence through the nature’s beauty . Another focus entailed by Brunner in his beliefs is in faith of having personal encounter between the one who hears the Word, believer, or human being per say, and the God who speaks and draws near in grace, as distinct from an acceptance of abstract propositions of belief.Christianity thus sets forth â€Å"truth as encounter†, Brunner’s primary effect and influence thus far had come through his writings of â€Å"The Mediator and The Divine Imperative† and in Brunner Oldham perceived the chances and events for creating an innovative and urgently required dialogue between evangelical theology and the contemporary human sciences — vital if the churches were to address seriously the current world context . Enveloped in Brunner’s appeal to nature is an idea, which can be traced back to Luther, known as â€Å"the orders of creation. †The generation Nineteenth-century German Liberal Protestantism had utilized this perspective as their basis, and further developed a theology, which permitted the German culture, including a positive assessment of the state, to become of primary signif icance theologically . Brunner had used this idea of the â€Å"point of contact† back in 1927, and it is integral to his understanding of human nature. For Brunner, human nature is constituted in such a way that there is a ready made point of contract for divine revelation. Revelation thus addresses itself to a human nature, which already has sonic Idea of what that revelation is about.For example, take the gospel demand to â€Å"repent of sin,† Brunner argues that this makes little sense, unless human beings already have some idea of what â€Å"sin† is. Karl Barth: Analysis of the Argument During the twentieth century, Karl Barth (1886—1968) initiated the so called spiritual argument or attack in the theoretical concept of natural theology. For this reason, the theologian ties between him and another leading ‘neo-orthodox theologian, Emil Brunner (1889—1966) broke due Barth’s attack on Brunner’s theological concepts .Such actio n is very much important for Barth’s perspective in that it shows the importance of natural theology’s attempt to further provide an illustration of Christianity’s attaining its peak on German civilization; hence, the sole purpose of Barth is to negate the ally status of natural theology to the concept of Nazism . Barth’s criticism is that it goes beyond any rejection of natural theology that is based on claims that it is invalid, unpersuasive, or unnecessary .From Barth’s argument, he exemplified that God has indeed revealed His identity to human beings; hence, it should be natural for humans to be convinced on God’s existence. It is already insignificant to have God’s existence justified in other forms for He already chosen to be revealed in the form of His triune son, which is Jesus Christ . A natural theology that proceeds from a different starting point must inevitably compromise and distract in relation to the primary theologica l task.Even worse, it may threaten to subvert the true nature of the faith by the introduction of foreign and ethically dangerous materials . Barth’s last consideration to reject the principles of natural education lies with the fact that such form of theology is a potential ally to compensate the needs of German ideations against Jews and other racial backgrounds. By far, the theoretical principle of Natural theology hinders the acknowledgement of Jesus Christ. From the perspective of Barth’s argument, natural theology is a human attempt to initiation subversions for human’s necessity for revelation.The theology, by its very purpose and significance, attempts to learn more about God in a manner and under conditions specified by humans’ ways and not by God Himself . In Barth’s view, the concept of natural theology is very much compromised in historical, philosophical and theological significances. The great Scottish theologian Hugh Ross Mackintosh once summarized the questions centering on revelation as follows: â€Å" religious knowledge of God, wherever existing, comes by revelation; otherwise we should be committed to the incredible position that a man can know God without Has willing to be known .† The main idea embedded in Barth’s desire to counter the theology of natural perspective is for the purpose of safeguarding the integrity present in divine revelation against human attempts to Construct their own notions of God. As for Barth’s perspective, he argues that revelations from God do not simply occur to anyone, unless God chose to. It is neither inborn nor chosen to be possessed by me, but it is God’s choice to reveal Himself to an individual. Revelation, indeed, is out of human’s power but solely rely to God’s preference.Although deeply distrustful of all apologetic instincts, Barth appears to make a minor but important concession in his discussion of natural theology. In its proclamation of God’s self-revelation, the Bible does not ignore the details of the cosmos or the physical world as these are known from empirical observation and human experience. In their own way, they attest the divine truth . However, this event does not simply occur or free for man to manipulate. It is not a separate line of enquiry that can simply alter or displace human perspectives from the original faith .On the contrary, its function in Scripture is to incorporate within a single framework all that attaches to human existence in the cosmos. The argument of Barth provides an extended and systematic criticism of natural theology. The main conflict thrown by his argument argues that such theology, â€Å"which comes to humanity from nature†, expresses the humanity’s â€Å"self-preservation and self-affirmation† in the face of God . Barth views the concept of natural theology as a safeguarding perspective to cover human being’s longing to jus tify self against God and for the provision of independent intellectualities.His conflicting idealism against this theology rests on his fundamental belief that it undermines the necessity and uniqueness of God’s self-revelation. From the logical statement introduced by Barth’s argument, if knowledge of God can be achieved independently of God’s self-revelation in Christ, then it follows that humanity can dictate the place, time and means of its knowledge of God . The perspective of Barth against natural theology institutes a close relationship between the theology itself and the subject of human independence against religion and divine supervision.Considering Barth’s familiarity in the concept of natural theology, he confirms and expresses the human desire to find God on our own terms . The central concept on Barth’s argument had been scrutinized by the religious community; hence, considering his argument against natural theology. However, other t heologians have been having this assumption of Barth’s initiating a scientific theology despite of his overcorrection of the Reformed theological position, and that an informed recovery of an older position is overdue.A scientific theology offers such reappropriation and the second of these merits dose attention . It is a simple fact of historical theology chat the Reformed theological tradition has not, on the whole, opposed natural theology. Conclusion The argument of Barth and Brunner with the subject of natural theology has been present from and long influenced the condition of catholic beliefs and perception against the occurrence of God’s existence and the value of human self-justification and intellectual identity.The natural theology mainly states that the existence of God is in the physical form of nature itself, considering its organization, beauty and man’s intelligence, which are derived from God’s imagery. However, Barth refuted this theology and stated that God’s existence is in the form of Jesus Christ. He contradicts the theology due to its self-justification, and tendency to form ally with Nazism. Bibliography Allen, D. and Springstein, E. O. Philosophy for Understanding Theology (Westminster John Knox Press, 2007) p. 19 Clements, K.Faith on the Frontier: A Life of J. H. Oldham (Continuum International Publishing Group, 1999) p. 272 Gonzales, J. L. Essential Theological Terms (Westminster John Knox Press, 2005) p. 118 Grenz, J. Theology for the Community of God (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000) p. 50 Huyssteen, W. V. and Shults, F. L. The Evolution of Rationality (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2006) p. 392 Kenny, P. and Kenny, A. . The God of the Philosophers (Oxford University Press, 1979) p. 2 Kraemer H, Religion and the Christian Faith (James Clarke & Co., 2003) p. 356 McGrath, A. E. An Introduction to Christianity (Blackwell Publishing, 1997) p. 162 McGrath, A. E. Christian Theology: An Introduction (Black well Publishing, 2006) 170 McGrath, A. E. The Science of God: An Introduction to Scientific Theology (Eerdmans Publishing, 2004) p. 84 Porter, et. al. R. The Cambridge History of Science (Cambridge University Press, 2003) p. 270 Scott, P. A Political Theology of Nature (Cambridge University Press, 2003) p. 40 Tilich, P. Systematic Theology (University of Chicago Press, 1963) p. 14 Barth vs. Brunner and Natural Theology IntroductionThe concept of natural theology pertains to the belief that natural gifts are provided from conception and installed mainly on human mind. Furthermore, it states that the revelations are provided on the general prospect of humans, and not merely on special individuals. In this theory, revelations are said to be revealed not only from the Scriptural basis or even from Jesus Christ .As for the theory’s concern, the scholastic tradition of natural theology had provided their simple explanation why the Scripture and Jesus Christ received some sort of special revelation . According to natural theologians, the rationale for the provision of such special revelation is nothing more than an unexplainable event or beyond human reason . As far as the history of theology is concerned, one of the most highlighted debates comes from Karl Barth and Emil Brunner, dating from 1914 .From the concepts and theological principles introduced by Barth and Brunner comes the great and prol onged theological debate, forthcoming from the quarters of â€Å"dialectical theology†, particularly from Barth’s radical rejection of the notions of General Revelation and Natural Religion or Natural Theology, including the â€Å"point of contact† and the rest. By far, this argument has been known as the Barth-Brunner conflict . Due to the strong influence and very much detailed argument brought by Barth, the conflict between the two theologians has greatly affected the stand point of today’s theology.This controversy has dominated the theological discussion of to-day, and has affected literally every problem . In this study, the primary discussion revolves in covering the issues brought by the debates of Barth and Brunner, and the theological concepts embedded in their proposed principles. From the point of view of the study, the first thing to discuss is the concept of natural theology in order to determine the rationale for its rejection. Next, the st udy centers on the conflicting theologian, Karl Barth and Emil Brunner.Lastly, the study provides the analysis of their argument to explore the primary stand points from both theological perspectives. Discussion The Concept of Natural Theology In general, the Reformers were less enthusiastic about natural theology, in part because they rejected much of the scholastic tradition, in part because it tended to render special revelation, and particularly Scripture, less necessary, and in part because it granted fallen human beings powers of correct reasoning that the Reformers themselves saw as corrupted by sin .According to the traditional scholastic movement, the concept of natural theology only provides its significance by illustrating human sin and their never-ending need to survive – more like an instinctive theological description – however, with little standing ground in justifying how these humanistic needs pursue . It is not the place here to enter into the histori cal, psychological and theological reasons for the development of this great controversy. The historical reason is the adamant opposition that had to be shown to Nazi ideology and the wrong and dangerous theology of the German Christians.Barth rendered here an immeasurable service to sound theology and the cause of the Church as a whole . A form of natural theology that is worth defending takes its cue from core theological interpretations of the nature of God and the world. The concept of natural theology comprises of three theoretical perspectives that are derived mainly on nature that correlates with the divinity of God. The word ‘natural’ in the expression ‘natural theology’ is meant to mark a contrast between nature and revelation.The concept of Natural theology does not imply natural in the perspective of being a non-complex and unsophisticated belief, but rather, the natural theology is the product of a fairly sophisticated state of western theism an d would have been foreign to many great religious thinkers before the Middle Ages. The concept of natural theology was realized during the era wherein theologians tried to logically obtain the answers to divine existence while at the stage of reflecting their religion.At this point of Middle Age, theologians obtain the elements that have been established already beforehand, and those that can provide unaided rationale for those parts that they believed to be unnatural. Hence, they coined and develop the natural theology, which somehow contradicts the existence of natural activities through single-handed or chose ones. As for the theory, it mainly exemplifies that everyone is chosen in their own account of being an image created after God . The concept of natural theology allied with Nazism most especially during the time of Jews massive discrimination.Significantly, the natural theology, even from the early times, pointed its fingers to chosen individuals, such as the Jews, wherein the theology contradicts the fact that these people are chose. The possibility of natural theology has been denied by some theologians and by some philosophers. The theological arguments against natural theology are mostly concerned with the relationship between reason and faith: they urge the uselessness of reason as a means to salvation and of philosophical speculation as a step on the road to heaven .One of the essential criticism that served as ground basis for the concept of natural theology is the fact that these principles are essentially from the philosophical perspectives, which in the end obtained vast arguments and criticisms against natural theology itself. In particular, the theologians of Natural perspective drew heavily on natural philosophy to show how the hand of the Creator could be discerned in the Book of Nature as well as the Book of Scriptures.By contrast, those still wedded to a more traditional order in Church and State tended to be wary of natural theology a nd the forms of natural philosophy interlinked with it as obscurities from a theology based on Divine revelation . On the other hand, the significance of Natural theology is its ability to provide an analysis of the human situation and the question of God implied in it. One side of the traditional arguments for the existence of God usually does this, in so far as they elucidate the dependent, transitory, and relational nature of finite human existence.But, in developing the other side of these arguments, natural theology tried to derive theological affirmations from the analysis of man’s finitude . The natural theology concentrates mainly on the natural imagery of men as earthly beings being linked to God’s image. As for the theory, it mentions that every human being possesses the right to obtain revelation from God for everyone is from the same image, which is God. Somehow, these two rationales are deemed as the primary arguments that render the argument of the Natura l theology.First, natural theology should not claim to operate with an account of pure, objective, ahistorical reason . For man’s reasoning cannot be considered absolutely pure from intention for man by his own nature is deprived from complete purity; hence, contradicts the statement of natural theology itself. Second, natural theology should not offer a philosophical metaphysics as a way of mediating between faith and the world . From these concepts, the argument against natural theology settles in. Different theologians, most significantly Karl Barth realizes the wrong ideations brought by the theology.From the perspective of Thomas Aquinas (1225—1274), he claimed that there are certain truths that are attainable by the powers of â€Å"reason properly applied, and others that are beyond the reach of reason, and are known only through revelation†. From Aquinas’ theology, the concept attaining revelation and reason conjoins to further discover the truth a nd absolute reasoning . The concept of nature in the doctrines of theology can be misleading and contradictory for its very meaning can be a profound statement of obscurity, which can also contribute to the eclipse of God’s imagery .As for the theory of Natural origination, it is a major concept where philosophy of religion interrelates theological aspects. Philosophies of religion scrutinizes what the sheer existence of the universe entails what it forces us to conclude, and likewise what its order entails. Protestantism is usually against the concept of natural theology for they claim that God, whose existence is demonstrated, is not the Christian God. For Protestants, God Himself should not concern in Himself in providing His existence for He in fact exist above all.Whether natural theology is to be dismissed and why is a major area of investigation in Christian theology. Roman Catholic somehow defended the concept of natural theology for they believe that there are essent ial differences between what we can know of God by means of natural theology and what we know of God by revelation. Currently, natural theology tends to act and to be used as a tool that metaphorically provides clergy and students some rigorous proof to demonstrate God’s existence .Emil Brunner In 1914, Brunner published a work entitled Nature and Grace wherein his main argument coincides mainly on the generational theology’s task of reverting back to the concept of natural theology . Brunner, being one of the main characters of natural theological concept, obtained his idea of natural theology from the concept of imago Del or in translation would mean, â€Å"Image of God†. Human nature is constituted in such a way that there is an analog with the being of God .Considering the sinful nature of human beings as installed already in their instinctive characteristic, Brunner stated that the ability of human beings to discern the presence of God is still there by the concept or reasoning that God remains in the natural environment. Within the context of human beings as sinners, still their innate nature are capable of recognizing the presence of God and are still aware of their guilt before God. All these linkage are brought by the concept of natural stand present in man from the time of his creation and image pattern.Hence, as Brunner concluded, this linkage brings forth revelation to every man with no special disposition present, such as sinner or holy, rich or poor, or any other means. Brunner significantly pointed out that God can manifest His revelation to anyone with no consideration on human characteristic since human beings are all created out of his natural image . As per Brunner’s defense on natural theology, greatly point out the significance of the doctrine of the incarnation to revelation: in Christ may be seen the personal self-disclosure of God .From Brunner’s ground basis, it is the story of creation that serves as the fore ground of this theological belief. He reasoned that there are considerably three rationales that offer support for the theory of Natural theology namely, human reason, and order of the world and beauty of the world . In the argument of Human Reason, considering that God’s existence can be found in His creation, and then it is acceptable to use the idea that God can be most likely found in the highest peak of His creation, which is human reason .The next argument Brunner introduced is the ordering of the world, wherein the prime philosopher concerned is Thomas Aquinas. Considering that the natural pattern in the environment is unquestionably and extremely organized, this phenomena been emphasized to be from God . Brunner did no go as far in denouncing the philosophical approach to God. Nevertheless, Brunner stated that the attempt to derive knowledge of God from creation, which is the theology of natural religion, is ultimately not being helpful in theological doctri ne.He even admitted that the knowledge of the Creator forms as a component of our existence. However, Brunner concluded that this knowledge component placed to human beings as God’s creation does not follow that human beings know God completely, since such philosophical intelligence does not end in communion with God . Brunner’s theology has been linked very much within an existentialist, dialectical framework and focused mainly on the uniqueness of existential, personal understanding. He even continued with basically anthropological starting point.Lastly, the concept of beauty present in the world has also been emphasized as an argumentative statement in Brunner’s ideologies. According to these theologians, the presence of beauty in surrounding world is the primary depiction of God’s existence through the nature’s beauty . Another focus entailed by Brunner in his beliefs is in faith of having personal encounter between the one who hears the Word, believer, or human being per say, and the God who speaks and draws near in grace, as distinct from an acceptance of abstract propositions of belief.Christianity thus sets forth â€Å"truth as encounter†, Brunner’s primary effect and influence thus far had come through his writings of â€Å"The Mediator and The Divine Imperative† and in Brunner Oldham perceived the chances and events for creating an innovative and urgently required dialogue between evangelical theology and the contemporary human sciences — vital if the churches were to address seriously the current world context . Enveloped in Brunner’s appeal to nature is an idea, which can be traced back to Luther, known as â€Å"the orders of creation. †The generation Nineteenth-century German Liberal Protestantism had utilized this perspective as their basis, and further developed a theology, which permitted the German culture, including a positive assessment of the state, to become of pr imary significance theologically . Brunner had used this idea of the â€Å"point of contact† back in 1927, and it is integral to his understanding of human nature. For Brunner, human nature is constituted in such a way that there is a ready made point of contract for divine revelation. Revelation thus addresses itself to a human nature, which already has sonic Idea of what that revelation is about.For example, take the gospel demand to â€Å"repent of sin,† Brunner argues that this makes little sense, unless human beings already have some idea of what â€Å"sin† is. Karl Barth: Analysis of the Argument During the twentieth century, Karl Barth (1886—1968) initiated the so called spiritual argument or attack in the theoretical concept of natural theology. For this reason, the theologian ties between him and another leading ‘neo-orthodox theologian, Emil Brunner (1889—1966) broke due Barth’s attack on Brunner’s theological concepts .Such action is very much important for Barth’s perspective in that it shows the importance of natural theology’s attempt to further provide an illustration of Christianity’s attaining its peak on German civilization; hence, the sole purpose of Barth is to negate the ally status of natural theology to the concept of Nazism . Barth’s criticism is that it goes beyond any rejection of natural theology that is based on claims that it is invalid, unpersuasive, or unnecessary .From Barth’s argument, he exemplified that God has indeed revealed His identity to human beings; hence, it should be natural for humans to be convinced on God’s existence. It is already insignificant to have God’s existence justified in other forms for He already chosen to be revealed in the form of His triune son, which is Jesus Christ . A natural theology that proceeds from a different starting point must inevitably compromise and distract in relation to the primar y theological task.Even worse, it may threaten to subvert the true nature of the faith by the introduction of foreign and ethically dangerous materials . Barth’s last consideration to reject the principles of natural education lies with the fact that such form of theology is a potential ally to compensate the needs of German ideations against Jews and other racial backgrounds. By far, the theoretical principle of Natural theology hinders the acknowledgement of Jesus Christ. From the perspective of Barth’s argument, natural theology is a human attempt to initiation subversions for human’s necessity for revelation.The theology, by its very purpose and significance, attempts to learn more about God in a manner and under conditions specified by humans’ ways and not by God Himself . In Barth’s view, the concept of natural theology is very much compromised in historical, philosophical and theological significances. The great Scottish theologian Hugh Ross Mackintosh once summarized the questions centering on revelation as follows: â€Å" religious knowledge of God, wherever existing, comes by revelation; otherwise we should be committed to the incredible position that a man can know God without Has willing to be known .†The main idea embedded in Barth’s desire to counter the theology of natural perspective is for the purpose of safeguarding the integrity present in divine revelation against human attempts to Construct their own notions of God. As for Barth’s perspective, he argues that revelations from God do not simply occur to anyone, unless God chose to. It is neither inborn nor chosen to be possessed by me, but it is God’s choice to reveal Himself to an individual. Revelation, indeed, is out of human’s power but solely rely to God’s preference.Although deeply distrustful of all apologetic instincts, Barth appears to make a minor but important concession in his discussion of natural theol ogy. In its proclamation of God’s self-revelation, the Bible does not ignore the details of the cosmos or the physical world as these are known from empirical observation and human experience. In their own way, they attest the divine truth . However, this event does not simply occur or free for man to manipulate. It is not a separate line of enquiry that can simply alter or displace human perspectives from the original faith .On the contrary, its function in Scripture is to incorporate within a single framework all that attaches to human existence in the cosmos. The argument of Barth provides an extended and systematic criticism of natural theology. The main conflict thrown by his argument argues that such theology, â€Å"which comes to humanity from nature†, expresses the humanity’s â€Å"self-preservation and self-affirmation† in the face of God . Barth views the concept of natural theology as a safeguarding perspective to cover human being’s lon ging to justify self against God and for the provision of independent intellectualities.His conflicting idealism against this theology rests on his fundamental belief that it undermines the necessity and uniqueness of God’s self-revelation. From the logical statement introduced by Barth’s argument, if knowledge of God can be achieved independently of God’s self-revelation in Christ, then it follows that humanity can dictate the place, time and means of its knowledge of God. The perspective of Barth against natural theology institutes a close relationship between the theology itself and the subject of human independence against religion and divine supervision.Considering Barth’s familiarity in the concept of natural theology, he confirms and expresses the human desire to find God on our own terms . The central concept on Barth’s argument had been scrutinized by the religious community; hence, considering his argument against natural theology. Howeve r, other theologians have been having this assumption of Barth’s initiating a scientific theology despite of his overcorrection of the Reformed theological position, and that an informed recovery of an older position is overdue.A scientific theology offers such reappropriation and the second of these merits dose attention . It is a simple fact of historical theology chat the Reformed theological tradition has not, on the whole, opposed natural theology. Conclusion The argument of Barth and Brunner with the subject of natural theology has been present from and long influenced the condition of catholic beliefs and perception against the occurrence of God’s existence and the value of human self-justification and intellectual identity.The natural theology mainly states that the existence of God is in the physical form of nature itself, considering its organization, beauty and man’s intelligence, which are derived from God’s imagery. However, Barth refuted thi s theology and stated that God’s existence is in the form of Jesus Christ. He contradicts the theology due to its self-justification, and tendency to form ally with Nazism.BibliographyAllen, D. and Springstein, E. O. Philosophy for Understanding Theology (Westminster John Knox Press, 2007) p. 19.Clements, K. Faith on the Frontier: A Life of J. H. Oldham (Continuum International Publishing Group, 1999) p. 272.Gonzales, J. L. Essential Theological Terms (Westminster John Knox Press, 2005) p. 118.Grenz, J. Theology for the Community of God (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000) p. 50.Huyssteen, W. V. and Shults, F. L. The Evolution of Rationality (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2006) p. 392.Kenny, P. and Kenny, A. . The God of the Philosophers (Oxford University Press, 1979) p. 2.Kraemer H, Religion and the Christian Faith (James Clarke & Co., 2003) p. 356.McGrath, A. E. An Introduction to Christianity (Blackwell Publishing, 1997) p. 162.McGrath, A. E. Christian Theology: An Introducti on (Blackwell Publishing, 2006) 170.McGrath, A. E. The Science of God: An Introduction to Scientific Theology (Eerdmans Publishing, 2004) p. 84.Porter, et. al. R. The Cambridge History of Science (Cambridge University Press, 2003) p. 270.Scott, P. A Political Theology of Nature (Cambridge University Press, 2003) p. 40.Tilich, P. Systematic Theology (University of Chicago Press, 1963) p. 14.

Reflection Paper Essays

Reflection Paper Essays Reflection Paper Essay Reflection Paper Essay Reflection Paper Name: Institution: Reflection Paper Introduction This topic is important because it will help me know more about my behavior. I may not always be aware of how I am behaving towards others, and this can affect my relationship with other people. My purpose for writing the paper is to have a greater awareness of myself and in so doing, know more about how this affects my relationship with other people in different capacities such as personal and professional life. By writing the paper, I will be able to know more about the positive and negative aspects of my behavior. I wish to enhance the positive attributes and improve on the shortcomings and other weaknesses of my behavior. I will start by conducting self-awareness based on the Enneagram. This will involve determining my style and knowing more about my behavior when working with other people. I will demonstrate action learning by identifying the practical steps I will take to enhance my behavior. I will conclude the paper by giving a brief summary, and by noting how the self-awaren ess exercise will affect my behavior. Self-Assessment The Enneagram identifies several styles, and I have identified two of which I can most relate. I am a number two based on the Enneagram. I like helping others and I care for them to the point of over giving. I appreciate and support other people. I am a number 7 because I tend to see possibilities where most people see none. I come up with many ideas and I am imaginative. I am playful, easily distracted, and easily bored, to the extent that I cannot do the same thing for a long time. We are often assigned different projects in class, where we have to work together in groups. In most cases, people have equal participation in the project. I always tend to have different ways of looking at the situation we are facing. I will often come up with five or more ideas of completing the project, while most people will have a single idea, or at most, two ideas. This is usually beneficial for the group because it ensures that our project is unique compared to other groups. My group likes my imagination and creative thinking. Moreover, I am always looking for the positive side of a situation, especially when we have a challenging project to complete. The fact that I am imaginative and easily distracted sometimes works against me. This is because I am not patient enough to let the members consider the feasibility of the project before coming up with a different idea. Since I am easily bored, I am not able to work on long projects. This can be frustrating to the other group members, and it has sometimes led to conflicts in the group. This often means that I am the most important person in the group when we are starting the project, but I tend to be the least favorable by the time the group is completing the project. I would like to change this behavior to ensure that I have a better relationship with the people I work with in future. Action Learning During the next 6-8 months, I will work towards ensuring that I understand and appreciate myself better. I will work towards enhancing my self-confidence, and having a firm belief and conviction in the things that I believe are true and right. I will create a situation, similar to the projects that we work in at school, and I will try to complete the project. I will identify a small business that is near the school, and I will try to formulate a plan of coming up with long term strategies, which will include identifying ways that the business can expand. This will take a lot of time, and it will require much dedication on my part. I will make sure that the project is long-term. Since I will do the project alone, I will set a period by which time I will have completed the project. This will mean working with one possible solution. By the end of the project, I hope I will have solved the problem of being easily distracted and bored when handling a task. Conclusion The purpose of the paper was to learn more about my behavior and interactions with others. I have identified the styles that suit my personality best. I have identified my areas of strengths and weaknesses. I have identified how I am able to benefit people, and the measures I can take to improve my relationships and interactions with other people. Because of this evaluation, I am now in a better position to understand people’s feelings and attitudes regarding my behavior. I will be able to rectify my behavior whenever I realize that I have become a distraction to the others. I will look for ways of ensuring that I continue contributing to the group whenever I sense boredom, especially when handling long projects.

Overview of the Chinese Yangshao Culture

Overview of the Chinese Yangshao Culture The Yangshao culture is the term for an ancient civilization that existed in what is now central China (Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi provinces primarily) between the years 5000 and 3000 B.C.E. It was first discovered in 1921 the name â€Å"Yangshao† is taken from the name of the village where it was first discovered but since its initial discovery, thousands of sites have been uncovered. The most important site, Banpo, was found in 1953. Facets of the Yangshao Culture Agriculture was of paramount importance to the Yangshao people, and they produced many crops, although millet was particularly common. They also grew vegetables (mostly root vegetables) and raised livestock including chicken, pigs, and cows. These animals were mostly not generally raised for slaughter, though, as meat was eaten only on special occasions. Understanding of animal husbandry is thought to have increased significantly during this time. Although the Yangshao people had a primitive understanding of agriculture, they also fed themselves in part via hunting, gathering, and fishing. They accomplished this through the use of precisely-crafted stone tools including arrows, knives, and axes. They also used stone tools such as chisels in their farming work. In addition to stone, the Yangshao also cared intricate bone tools. The Yangshao lived together in houses huts, really built in pits with wooden frames holding up mud-plastered walls and thatched millet roofs. These houses were clustered in groups of five, and clusters of houses were arranged around a village’s central square. The perimeter of the village was a furrow, outside which were a communal kiln and cemetery. The kiln was used for the creation of pottery, and it is this pottery that has truly impressed archaeologists. The Yangshao were capable of making a significant variety of pottery shapes, including urns, basins, tripod containers, bottles of various shapes, and jars, many of which came with decorative covers or accessories shaped like animals. They were even capable of making complex, purely ornamental designs, like boat shapes. Yangshao pottery was also often painted with intricate designs, often in earth tones. Unlike more recent pottery cultures, it appears the Yangshao never developed pottery wheels. One of the most famous pieces, for example, is an exquisite basin painted with a fishlike design and a human face, originally used as a burial object and perhaps indicative of a Yangshao belief in animal totems. Yangshao children seem to have been often buried in painted pottery jars. In terms of clothing, the Yangshao people wore mostly hemp, which they wove themselves into simple shapes like loincloths and cloaks. They did also occasionally make silk and it’s possible some Yangshao villages even cultivated silkworms, but silk clothing was rare and mostly the province of the rich. Banpo Civilization Site The Banpo site, first discovered in 1953, is considered typical of the Yangshao culture. It consisted of a village area of about 12 acres, surrounded by a ditch (which may once have been a moat) nearly 20 feet wide. As described above, the houses were mud and wood huts with thatched roofs, and the dead were buried in a communal cemetery. Although it’s not clear to what extent, if at all, the Yangshao people had any sort of written language, Banpo pottery does contain a number of symbols (22 have been found so far) that are found repeatedly on different pieces of pottery. They tend to appear alone, and so almost certainly do not constitute true written language, they may be something akin to makers’ signatures, clan markings, or the marks of owners. There is some debate as to whether the Banpo site  and the Yangshao culture as a whole were matriarchal or patriarchal. The Chinese archaeologists initially investigating it reported it had been a matriarchal society, but newer research suggests that may not be the case, or that it might have been a society in the process of transferring from matriarchy to patriarchy.

Manage Personal Work Priorities and Professional Development Essay

Manage Personal Work Priorities and Professional Development - Essay Example As such it is an important unit for most managers, particularly as managers serve as role models and have a significant influence on the work culture and patterns of behaviour. Elements of Competency Unit code: BSBWOR501A: Unit title: Manage Personal Work Priorities and Professional Development Element Performance Criteria 1. Establish personal work goals 1.1 Serve as a positive role model in the workplace through personal work planning and organisation 1.2 Ensure personal work goals, plans and activities reflect the organisation's plans, and own responsibilities and accountabilities 1.3 Measure and maintain personal performance in varying work conditions, work contexts and contingencies 2. Set and meet own work priorities 2.1 Take initiative to prioritise and facilitate competing demands to achieve personal, team and organisational goals and objectives 2.2 Use technology efficiently and effectively to manage work priorities and commitments 2.3 Maintain appropriate work-life balance, and ensure stress is effectively managed and health is attended to 3. Develop and maintain professional competence 3.1 Assess personal knowledge and skills against competency standards to determine development needs, priorities and plans 3.2 Seek feedback from employees, clients and colleagues and use this feedback to identify and develop ways to improve competence 3.3 Identify, evaluate, select and use development opportunities suitable to personal learning style/s to develop competence 3.4 Undertake participation in networks to enhance personal knowledge, skills and work relationships 3.5 Identify and develop new skills to achieve and maintain a competitive edge Skills and Knowledge Required skills communication skills to receive, analyse and report on feedback literacy skills to interpret written and verbal information about workplace requirements organisational skills to set and achieve priorities. Required knowledge principles and techniques involved in the management and orga nisation of: performance measurement personal behaviour, self-awareness and personality traits identification personal development plan personal goal setting time management management development opportunities and options for self organisation's policies, plans and procedures types of learning style/s and how they relate to the individual types of work methods and practices that can improve personal performance. Range statement The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. Own responsibilities and accountabilities may include: expectations of workplace performance as expres sed in a performance plan outputs as expressed in position descriptions or duty statements statement of conduct outlining an individual's responsibilities/actions/performance Technology may include: computerised systems and software, databases, project management and word processing electronic diary personal digital assistant (PDA) Competency standards

What is magic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

What is magic - Essay Example magic; about the perils of inviting magic into your life; about the magic that can be found in the mundane world, and the distant, fearful, changeless magic of Elfland (Dunsany xii). Indeed magic took varying form during the course of the novel and assumed different meanings. In the beginning of the novel, magic meant the folly of the people of Elk when they demanded that magic should rule them. The Lord of Elk cannot help but raise concern about the folly of this demand for magic to rule them yet he cannot refuse the demand because it was coursed through its parliament. What was more interesting was the manner on how the magic will be acquired. That is, â€Å"To wed the King of Elfland’s daughter. . . She was a princess of the magic line. The gods has sent their shadows to her christening, and the fairies would have gone, but that they were frightened to see on their dew fields the long dark moving shadows of the gods, so they stayed hidden in the crowds of pale pink anemones, and thence blessed Lirazel†(Dunsany 2). They acted with hubris that it was as if the Kingdom of Elfland was under their command to demand marriage of a princess just to serve their whim of being ruled by magic. The lord of Elk did not hide his disgust with the folly of his people saying that; "My people demand a magic lord to rule over them. They have chosen foolishly,. . . and only the Dark Ones that show not their faces know all that this will bring: but we, who see not, follow the ancient custom and do what our people in their parliament say. It may be some spirit of wisdom they have not known may save them even yet† (Dunsany 3). Naturally, Alveric, the son of the Lord of Erl was helpless but yield to it for it was a demand of the parliament and from then on, magic became a part of the everyday life of the city to the point that they have magic more than what they can handle. When magic became just too much for the kingdom, magic is no longer an amusement but a source of