Contradictions In The Puritan Religion :: essays research papers

Contradictions In The Puritan Religion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Life is full of many contradictions, and the basis of the Puritan religion is no exception. The Puritans believed that they were God's chosen people, as mentioned in the Bible. They saw themselves on a level above the average man, but in reality, their religion was full of inconsistencies. The Puritans believed in something known as the ‘Doctrine of Elect,' hinted at in Romans 8:28-30, 9:6-24, and later at the Synod of Dort.. The doctrine contradicted the more widely held belief of Pelagianism, the belief that man could redeem himself through acts of charity, piety, and by living an unselfish life. It came to be one of the greatest theological discrepancies of all time. Evidently, the Puritan beliefs were almost entirely contradictory.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some of the Puritan beliefs were both simple and believable. Others would seem outrageous today. Puritanism was founded on the principles and beliefs of John Calvin, and one of the major ideals they focused on was the doctrine of predestination. Calvin believed that the grace of God was the ticket into Heaven and that his grace could not be earned. God's grace was bestowed upon a select few regardless of what they did to earn it. This ‘ doctrine' stated that God determines a mans' destiny, whether it be redemption or condemnation, regardless of any worth or merit on the person's part. It could be compared to the failures of Communism in that no matter how hard a person worked, how devout a person was, how often a person went to church, there was no way to get into Heaven unless they were chosen. Aside from the doctrine of elect, the Puritans had other outrageous beliefs including the degradation of one's self, the utter and total dependence on divine grace for salvation, and the wrath of an angry God.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The God worshipped by the Puritans was not a forgiving God, and definitely not a happy God. The Puritans fear him and tried zealously to make themselves worthy in his eyes. They insisted that they, as God's special elect, had the duty to conduct affairs carrying out his will according to the Bible. Though many of their beliefs seemed outrageous, the most heinous of all was the aforementioned ‘Doctrine of Elect.'   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If this ‘Doctrine of Elect' guaranteed the chosen a spot in heaven, then there was no reason for them to behave as pious, God-fearing Puritans. There was no reward after death for those who had been good and were not ‘chosen.' The standard was the same for the special few who made their way onto God's

Acceptance Is Freedom Essay

Freedom is a word that we use so often, but what does it truly mean? Everyone has a different definition of what freedom is. Some believe that freedom is saying whatever you want without consequences or doing what you want without consequences, while others believe that freedom is about equality. However, author Ambrose Flack presents a new and refreshing viewpoint. In his short story, The Strangers That Came to Town, Ambrose Flack is showing that true freedom is about being accepted. Through various situations within the short story, Flack shows how the Duvitch family, a new immigrant family who move to the town, have limits on their freedom because they are not accepted by their new community. When you are not accepted, life can be pretty miserable. You are feeling lonely, judged, and slightly offended, wondering what you did wrong. In the Strangers That Came to Town, this is the case of Mr. Duvitch. Mr. Duvitch is revealed to be a kind, humble, and generous man, but the town does not accept him for a variety of reasons. Syringa Street, the area in which the story is set, is described as a prosperous town, where most hold good jobs. However, in order to make money for his family, Mr. Duvitch works a less than desirable job, and is looked down upon by his peers for his occupation. He is â€Å"classified as an untouchable† (Flack) socially, because he is viewed as lesser and not worthy of the town’s attentions. This isolates him from the town. Additionally, he faces ridicule on the way to work, as â€Å"the Syringa Street young, meeting him on the street, sometimes stopped their noses as they passed him by† (Flack). In all these instances, Mr. Duvitch is deprived of acceptance, and because he is not accepted, he is not free. He cannot be free to have social interactions because he is socially untouchable, and he is not free to live without judgement. The effect of acceptance and freedom can be shown again in this passage of the story: â€Å"Overjoyed to have neighbors in his house, he was so full of himself that I was conscious of an invisible stature in him which made him seem quite as tall as Father.† Because Mr. Duvitch felt accepted in that situation, he was free to be himself and live without judgement. His real personality shines through, and he is truly free in the moment. Mr. Duvitch is impacted  strongly by acceptance and freedom throughout Flack’s short story, and his children and wife are impacted by this theme as well. Within The Strangers That Came to Town, the remainder of the Duvitch family experience situations in which they are not accepted or free. Because Mrs. Duvitch rarely leaves the house, the other women of the neighbourhood immediately judge her, going as far to start rumours that she has a skin disease. Mrs. Duvitch is judged before anyone has so much as said a word to her, and is not accepted. She is impacted by this lack of acceptance because she is not free to feel comfortable living in her town without people spreading false rumours about her personal life. Her children are also judged by other children in school, making them feel unaccepted and isolated. The story says that â€Å"some of their classmates scoffed at the leaf, lard and black bread sandwiches they ate for lunch, huddled in one corner of the recreation room, dressed in their boiled-out ragpickers’ clothes. After school they headed straight for home, never lingering on the playground† (Flack). It is important for children to be able to socialize and express themselves, and the Duvitch children are not free to do so without being ridiculed by the very same children who ridicule their father. They do not feel comfortable enough to play with the others, as any other child is free to feel. Because they are not accepted, they are not free to be themselves and make friends with other children, as other youth do. However, when the Duvitch children are accepted by Tom and Andy’s family, they express themselves openly. They feel free to showcase their talents, which are received greatly by their new guests. When they are accepted, they are free, and thanks to Andy’s father, the whole town now embraces this theme of acceptance and freedom. Andy’s father is a vital character to the theme of acceptance and freedom, because his character is instrumental to all the turning points in the freedom of the Duvitches. In the beginning of the story, he and his family are cordial with the Duvitches, but they do not greet the family or seek their company. At this point in the story, the Duvitches are being judged and ridiculed, and while Andy’s father does not participate in the offending activities, he does not help the Duvitches through this time, leaving them  unaccepted. At the pond, he greets Mr. Duvitch, who is happy to just be acknowledged. He shows acceptance for the Duvitches when he engages in conversation, moving the theme along. He furthers this acceptance when he harshly punishes his own children for wronging the immigrant family. In the end of the short story, Andy’s father helps the rest of the town accept the Duvitch family, and the theme of freedom and acceptance is shown when the Duvitches share their quirks and talents with the town. Because Andy’s father is a respected man, the town accepts the Duvitches because he does. By accepting the Duvitches, he has helped them become free, as shown when the story says that â€Å"People began to turn to the Duvitches in all kinds of trouble† (Flack). The Duvitches become truly free, and their journey to freedom is shown by the steps of Andy’s father’s acceptance. In conclusion, the theme of freedom and acceptance is shown through the characters of Mr. Duvitch, Mrs. Duvitch and the children and Andy’s father. They demonstrate that true freedom is about being accepted, through the scenarios that Ambrose Flack has written for them to endure. In The Strangers That Came to Town, the Duvitches become truly free at the finale of the story. In our own lives, we must ask: what can we do to help others become truly free? SOURCES: Flack, Ambrose. The Strangers That Came to Town. Web.

Listen to and Learn Spanish on the Internet

Listen to and Learn Spanish on the Internet Many people want to hear what native-speaker Spanish sounds like, but dont have access to native speakers or even Spanish-language radio or TV. Chances are that if youre reading this article, you have all the tools you need need to start listening. An abundance of Spanish-language webcasts, podcasts, and other programming is available for free on the Internet. The system requirements for listing to Internet audio vary with the site, but chances are that if your computer was built within the past three or four years, you already have the hardware you need. Most sites that provide audio content also have links to the software you need. Most audio content can be played using one of three audio players that are readily available for free: Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, and Apple QuickTime. The three are available for both recent versions of the Windows and Macintosh operating systems; the RealPlayer is also available for Linux. Some sites also have downloadable audio in MP3 or other formats that you can listen to on portable players. A high-speed Internet connection is helpful, although a good dial-up connection will sometimes be sufficient if you arent Web surfing at the same time. Listening Online in Spanish Spanish-language programming can be found for almost any interest, and a complete list would be far too long to list here. Following, however, are some of the sites that have been recommended by readers of this site: Batanga: You wont find any classical music here (unless you count classic rock), but youll find just about every other style of music.BBC Mundo: True, the BBC is well-known British news service. However, youll find quality programming in Spanish here.Deutsche Welle: This German network offers streaming programming in nearly all the European language and then some. At the time of this writing, however, its Spanish-language programming is not available to U.S. listeners.Ke Buena: Popular music from Acapulco, Mexico.La100: Rock from Argentina.Notes in Spanish: Tips about Spain, news, conversation and all the cool words they never teach you in class.M80 Radio: Classic rock from Madrid.Mitre: Variety of programming from Argentina.RAC105: International rock and pop from Spain. The home page is in Catalan, but if youre adept at reading Spanish you can probably comprehend most of it.Metro951: Self-described as the most popular radio, from Argentina.Radio Bilingà ¼e: Public radio-type progra mming from the United States. Radio Isla: Talk shows and more, from Puerto Rico.Radio Jai: Catering to Argentinas Jewish community with a mix of programming.Radio Progreso: Music, news and a bit of propaganda from Cuba.RTVE: This network from Spain provides a choice of six channels streamed over the Internet.Terra Radios: Talk, music and sports are featured on stations from Guatemala.Yahoo Music: About a dozen music stations feature Spanish music of various genres including rock, rap, reggaeton, pop, tejano, and jazz.

Prison Writings Essay

Prison Writings Essay Prison Writings Essay Charlie Fabian Prof. Hubble Eng B50/10:30 September 6, 2013 Learning Can Be Frightening Learning something new can be a scary experience. One of the toughest things I have ever accomplished was learning how to surf. Because of sharks, I had a fear to get in the water, but I believed this new skill would help me get over the fear of the ocean. It would also help me impress my friends and not make them believe i'm a coward. It was eight thirty in a hot summer morning and I called Alfonso, a tall, clumsy, and skinny friend of mine. I told him if we were still headed to the beach and replied, â€Å"yeah man, just let me get ready and ill head to your house.† The day before, my friends and I were talking about going to the beach and hanging out. They also mentioned surfing, which in my mind I was not going to try. My friend came, I could hear his old rusty car from my room. I walked ungainly to his car, I was still somewhat tired. I glanced at the back seat and saw my two other friends (Alexandra and Enrique). I also saw the surf boards tied on the rooftop of his car, my heart start beating rapidly, at that moment I knew we were actually going to surf. We greeted each other and we were off. As we arrived to Huntington beach, I could smell the the saltness and freshness of the ocean. It was a bright sunny day as we expected. My friend Alfonso was untangling the surfboards from his roof, and my other friends were taking a view of the beach from a far. I walked towards Alfonso and asked him if he really wanted to surf, he said, â€Å"Heck yeah man! I haven't surfed in the longest!† I helped him get the boards off and in my mind I was thinking that maybe I should have stayed home. We got the jammed seats out of the trunk and headed calmly to the shore. It was still early in the morning and we were all hungry, so we headed toward a small food shack, it looked like it was an abandoned house, but it was near our spot. The food smelled amazing (don't judge a book by it's cover I thought) but it didn 't get the thought of surfing out of my mind. As I was playing with my shrimp and poking them with my fork, my friend Enrique, also a skinny and clumsy friend, blurted out, â€Å"Do you think the waves will be at our favor today?† I didn't even know what he meant by that. My friend Alfonso replied, â€Å"I think so, every time I come the waves are pretty high.† My tummy gave me a strange feeling, I didn't know why this was so hard for me. Sharks were my first concern, however, I also heard of rip currents, currents that pull people away from shore. We finished eating and walked leisurely to the beach. We finally arrived to the beach and my two friends didn't bother to waste time and went to grab their boards, however my friend Alexandra (a beautiful, funny, and athletic girl) stayed with me. I told her I did not want to surf and told her my problem. She told me, â€Å"don't be afraid, you got to face your fear some day.† She grabbed her board and ran off. I sat their thinking, digging my feet in the sand, â€Å"Damn shes hot.† I laughed a little bit because first of all I didn't even know how to surf, moreoverI told my friends I did so I wouldn't be the only one who didn't know how to surf and ruin it for them. I sat there, observing my friends cruising, jaunting the waves. I saw them stumble and get wiped out by the waves, looked as if they

Free Essays on Inquesition

INQUISITION In 1320 the inquisition added witchcraft to its list of heresies. Many styles of torture had been invented so as to inflict the most horrific pain on the poor victim without killing them. The worst of these were turned upon those accused of witchcraft. With pope innocent v111 issuance of his papal bull against witches in 1484, the torture of people accused of being a witch reached fanatical proportions. The worst tortures occured in Germany and France. Millions of innocent people were tortured and murdered during the inquisition. The inquisitors followed procedures set forth by the dominican monks of pope innocent v111. At first the poor accused were told to confess. They were then stripped naked, shaved, pricked with needles for insensitive spots and then examined for marks of the devil. Before the torture started, the victim was told what was about to happen and in many cases this forced the accused to commit to whatever the inquisitors wanted. It was noted that a person who refused to talk even under torture was being aided by the devil. While the poor victim was being tortured a clerk recorded what was said. In many cases the clerk recorded things that were not even said. Each subsequent round of torture was much worse than the one before. The torturer was paid out of seized funds belonging to the victim. If the victim had no money then the relatives were made to pay. While the poor victims screamed with pain the childish tortures carried on like idiots. They sprayed there instruments with so called holy water, wore amulets, herbs and crossed themselves. The exact method of torture varied from place to place. The rack was well used in France. Some victims were horsewhipped. A sharp iron fork was used to mangle breasts. Red hot pincers were used to tear off flesh. Red hot irons were inserted up vaginas and rectums. A device named the turcas was used to tear out fingernails. After the nails were ripped out ... Free Essays on Inquesition Free Essays on Inquesition INQUISITION In 1320 the inquisition added witchcraft to its list of heresies. Many styles of torture had been invented so as to inflict the most horrific pain on the poor victim without killing them. The worst of these were turned upon those accused of witchcraft. With pope innocent v111 issuance of his papal bull against witches in 1484, the torture of people accused of being a witch reached fanatical proportions. The worst tortures occured in Germany and France. Millions of innocent people were tortured and murdered during the inquisition. The inquisitors followed procedures set forth by the dominican monks of pope innocent v111. At first the poor accused were told to confess. They were then stripped naked, shaved, pricked with needles for insensitive spots and then examined for marks of the devil. Before the torture started, the victim was told what was about to happen and in many cases this forced the accused to commit to whatever the inquisitors wanted. It was noted that a person who refused to talk even under torture was being aided by the devil. While the poor victim was being tortured a clerk recorded what was said. In many cases the clerk recorded things that were not even said. Each subsequent round of torture was much worse than the one before. The torturer was paid out of seized funds belonging to the victim. If the victim had no money then the relatives were made to pay. While the poor victims screamed with pain the childish tortures carried on like idiots. They sprayed there instruments with so called holy water, wore amulets, herbs and crossed themselves. The exact method of torture varied from place to place. The rack was well used in France. Some victims were horsewhipped. A sharp iron fork was used to mangle breasts. Red hot pincers were used to tear off flesh. Red hot irons were inserted up vaginas and rectums. A device named the turcas was used to tear out fingernails. After the nails were ripped out ...

Answers to Cases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Answers to Cases - Essay Example The toxic plume caused massive kill of birds and fish. Moreover, it contaminated the drinking water of almost 2.5 million people. Acid mine drainage is another negative consequence of gold extraction. This can affect the environment for a long term period if the governments and communities do not take any kind of initiative. Stakeholder Theory Approach This case study is focused on negative impact of gold mining on the environment. A business firm can address to several opinion of different stakeholders linked with a particular issue through a stakeholder approach. There are two stakeholder categories namely market and non-market stakeholders. This part of the report will discuss about the contribution of these two types of stakeholders. Market Shareholders In this particular case; shareholders, employees and customers can be considered as the market stakeholders. Employees and the customers are considered as the key stakeholders of an organization. The workers of gold mining company know that using huge earth moving machines and dangerous explosive materials can crate risk to their health. This environmental conflict can force the employees to raise their voice against the gold mining process. On the other hand, shareholders always try to buy the share of these companies as gold is considered as one of the expensive metals. Customers also try to consume gold as the demand of this metal will continuously increase in future. Non-Market Shareholders Government, communities and several non-governmental organizations are considered as the non market stakeholders. It is important for the government to develop several environmental policies and laws for the gold mining organizations to reduce the level of environment pollution. Huge explosive materials and Cyanide heap-leaching is causing death of mankind and animals (Lottermoser, 2010, p.27). Ultimately, the ecological balance and safety of community is getting affected due to these gold mining activities. Community is another important stakeholder. Several villages and communities near the gold mines are getting affected. The villagers do not understand danger of the several collected hazardous liquid metals. More than 1000 individuals became ill due to the deadly effect of these metals. The nongovernmental organizations are also considered as the non market stakeholders. The gold mining organizations are trying to utilize several deadly mining materials to extract more number of gold metals. Several business support group are helping these organizations to secure the profit margin and financial stability. These activities are ultimately affecting the environment and health of several human beings and non-human animals. However, government is trying to initiate several awareness campaigns in order to the environmental conflict with the help of several NGOs. Stakeholder Map Several gold mining organizations are using Cyanide heap-leaching and heavy earth mover to maximize their gold mining. Cy anide is a deadly poison. The waste water and materials are generally spilled into the river. It causes death of several birds and fish. On the other hand, process of metal extraction seriously pollutes the air. It can cause several human diseases. The following stakeholder map will help to determine the position of all the stakeholders, such as employees,

Chapter questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Chapter questions - Essay Example Future challenges that demand continued and strengthened collaboration include the dynamic nature of health condition that identifies emergence of new complications, need for unity among players in the global health issues, and the factors â€Å"that have encouraged the development of public-private partnerships for health† (Skolnik 359, 360). The public-private partnership refers to a framework in which parties from both public and private sectors collaborate in efforts to ensure more effective health care. The partnership might be valuable because of its pooled interest and resources that can meet different needs that could not be met by the parties if they were to work independently within their sectors’ interest and resources. The private sector, for example, has resources but are not willing to venture into care initiatives with low returns an interest that exist in the public sector. The partnership pools the sector’s interests and resources (Skolnik 350). Addressing the problems requires cooperative action because the problems affect wider regions and across international borders and only collaborative efforts across all the affected regions can tackle the problem comprehensively (Skolnik