Essays on Voltaire

The motto of enlightenment is “Have courage to use your own reason.” Philosopher Immanuel Kant described enlightenment as a path that all of us have access to, but few of us take advantage of. It is defined as “a man’s release from his self-incurred tutelage” (Kant, 1). That is, enlightenment is self-incurred because most of society adopts the dominant feelings of the popular majority. However, Kant presents it is difficult for individuals to reach a level of such enlightenment because they lack the courage to do so. It takes courage to stand out on one’s own faith, ...

Buddhism has developed a range of meaningful rituals and practices, which enable the journey to awareness and enlightenment. When some practices are unique, others occur in various forms of the belief system. Meditation, however, belongs to the key Buddhist practice that has laid the foundation of most central traditions.

BUDDHIST MEDITATION

Buddhist meditation implies a form of mental concentration that focuses primarily on the daily phenomena of consciousness. This central Buddhist practice as distinguished from yoga meditation does not incorporate body contortions and hypnosis, nor does it unveil esoteric knowledge. Buddhist meditation deals exclusively with enlightenment and spiritual freedom. The practice ...

Molière and Voltaire are thought to be the masters of satire due to their outstanding literary artworks. Their stories usually focus on the modern society, which is usually full with flaws. The authors are responsible for making those flaws not only obvious to the readers, who are not always educated, but also showing them in a humorous way. This genre was very popular back then, but it can still be seen in on TVs and in the modern books. However, nowadays, people are free to express their dissatisfaction with the world. Back then, it was often dangerous to ...

The Age of Enlightenment was an era of American history in which the rise of scientific inquiry and the rise of empirical knowledge was leading many Christians, including Puritans, to leave the faith (Smith 446). In response, Jonathan Edwards delivered the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” in 1741, in which the author attempted to convince Puritans not to stray from their belief in Christ despite the Enlightenment-era secularism that was present during that time. However, in many more important ways, Edwards’ own perspective on God in this sermon solidified the Age of Enlightenment’s assertion ...

The Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment are best understood as conflicts between faith and reason. This statement is accurate because this time period began the separation of church and state and opened the floodgates for science to begin to become more important in society in the future. While it took some time for science and religion to completely separate, and it did not happen until much later, the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment were extremely important because they created the conflict in the first place. While this time did not completely separate reason and faith, it began to encourage people ...

In the article “The French Revolution: Ideas and Ideologies” Maurice Cranston (1989) argues that the leaders of the French Revolution were influenced by the ideas of the political philosophers of the French Enlightenment. The French Revolution itself went through several phases during which different forms of monarchy and sovereignty were pursued. There was also a period when the First French Republic was active, but in just 12 years France returned to the form of absolute monarchy. All these transitions were supported with the ideologies of the French philosophers Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire. The argument concerning the imperial phase and ...

<First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name> <Name of Instructor> <Date dd/month/2016> <Title of the Paper> The age of Enlightenment laid the foundation to the advancement to the different branches of science today. During the fifteen and sixteenth century, scholars like Sir Isaac Newton started to question the different beliefs, traditions and practices like medicine, astronomy, biblical studies, and history (A Value - System That Is INTEGRATED By CRITICAL THINKING Values And Perspective Of The Enlightenment Cultural Matrix). The scholar’s curiosity pushed them to critically analyze the various fields and started to develop a more ...

Locke wrote his concepts of the self in a response to Descartes and used similar terminology and addressed many of the same issues. Although there are several disagreements in their work, both can be considered analogous in many ways. One distinct difference between the authorships, is the motivation of Locke in penning An Essay concerning Human Understanding. Both a direct motivation, and the ironically innate thesis of Locke’s work on identity, was to make an argument about the idea of moral culpability. The Renaissance was dwindling and a new era of thinkers in Europe were emerging, and with ...

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Thesis The good indicates one’s understanding of being, in which one halts from evil and incorporates the choices and beliefs that are considered good. It is a predetermined phenomenon in which one individuals try to incorporate good rather than evil in a rationalized manner. It eventually indicates that individuals indulge in the wrong only under the self-denial and unconsciousness towards the extent of good (Partenie and Tom 8). The extent to which one believes in good also accounts for the extent of self-determination which eventually empowers the individual towards new perspectives and laws (Partenie and Tom ...

Brahman, Atman and Maya

What is your understanding about the Relationship between Atman, Brahman, Moksha, Karma, Samsara, and Maya? Brahman is spiritual; pure consciousness, which is the supreme reality, and is indefinable. It is not this, or that, and has no name, and beyond all senses and intellect. It is unborn, and from that nothingness (Nirgunaparabrahman), originates all, and into it all returns. The Atman is the individual living entity, known as a spirit soul. The Brahman and Atman are one in quality, but they differ in quantity. The infinitesimal Atman is overpowered by illusion, which is Maya. The polluted consciousness of the ...

Essay no.1

How the depictions of Christ represent change between the Romanesque and Gothic periods from Gislebertus’ Last Judgment tympanum (south portal, Cathedral of St. Lazare, Autun, France, ca. 1120-1135) and the Virgin and Child with Angels window (ca. 1170, Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France) The Romanesque architecture existed between 800 and 1100 AD, was characterized by round arches and occasionally pointed arches, and was highly influenced by the religious fervor of the Midvale era (Toole, 23). The theme for which the Romanesque arts were decorated in interior of the churches was based on Christianity to depict the power and glory to ...

The European renaissance was a time for people to rediscover philosophies from the Greek and Roman culture. These influences changed aspects to the English literature for the better. During the medieval times, dramas consisted of focusing on religious themes but with the rebirth the renaissance brought tragedies and comedies became the norm for stories and plays. Authors, such as William Shakespeare and Chaucer, began creating works that the held their beliefs on what the world and life were like. This paved the way for many other authors to base their literary works off of what they believed instead of ...

Introduction

Islam, though one of the youngest religions in the world, is one of the fastest growing and the second in terms of adherents. Statistics from the Pew Research Center show that out of the 200 countries under consideration, the religion had 1.6 billion followers which represented 23.2% of the estimated world population of 6.8 billion people as of 2010. The statistics reveal that as of 2050, more than 29% of the world’s population will be made up of Muslims. As such, one in every four people is likely to be a Muslim going by these statistics and this ...

Abstract

Hindu culture is very diverse. There are many different facets to their religious beliefs. Many of the beliefs are so varying, they differ from person to person. The most agreed upon beliefs within Hinduism appear to be the four life objectives, such as the Dharma and Moksa. These objective allow individuals to set goals in order to stay moral and one day attain enlightenment in hopes of escaping Samsara, or physical life. Karma, familiar to many Westerners, is also a belief in Hindu culture. It helps explain an individual’s current situation by examining their past behavior. Furthermore, it ...

Social Class and Education

Social Class and Education

Introduction

There is an increasing population in many regions of the world today. This increase comes with an increased diversification in the major sectors of the world including the political, social, and economic sectors. This diversification in these sectors contributes to the rapid development of social classes in these regions. The social classes are the various groupings in the societies with which particular individuals identify themselves. On the other hand, the increasing globalization and challenges in various political, social and economic segments have promoted the increase in the levels of education in various regions around the ...

Part 1 - Race in Mexico and Peru Native Americans were comprised of indigenous tribes such as Maya, Inca and Aztecs. They inhabited largely Mexico and Peru. Before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, the ancient civilizations lived in peace and harmony and were able to establish local empires that were rich in culture and traditions. With the arrival of Spaniards in 15-16th century, the civilizations were deemed to suffer either from diseases brought externally or by bloody conquests. With the engagement of Europeans, the African slave trade was introduced to the American continent. The population was mixed ...

Question 1:

The Chattri and the Muqarnas

The Chattri is a memorial which was built in appreciation and recognition of the input of the Indian Army in subduing the enemy in the First World War (Chattri.com n.p.). Chattri is a word meaning umbrella in Punjab, Urdu and Hindi. Its umbrella-like design also signifies protection. There is an annual pilgrimage ritual which is done to remember the soldiers.

Muqarnas is a prominent feature of Islamic architecture used in the Muslim world. This style consists of domes, niches and doorways. Their function is primarily decorative although they are solutions to structural problem as well. They give an occasionalist perspective of the ...

Tony Robbins is a world-renowned speaker on behavioral modification. His books, tapes, videos, and seminars have affected the lives of thousands of people. Although Robbins does not hold a college degree, he has incorporated the work of multiple therapists and continues to evolve his theories on self-directions of behaviors. Robbins’ promotions involve psychology dealing with family, self, and organization; he states he helps people “find breakthrough strategies and solutions for overcoming the problems that confront us all.” (Robbins, 2015). He employs the use of neuro-associative conditioning, a technique similar to neuro-linguistic programming. By consciously addressing preferred representational systems and submodalities, an individual ...

When Jacques Louis David created The Oath of the Horatii, in 1784-1785, France was on the verge of the Revolution that would come just a few years later in 1789. David would play a role in it and was its ardent supporter (Tansey and Kleiner, 917). Enlightenment rose as a philosophical ideal that had an impact in art. It suggested that art should have a moral dimension and serve as a lesson to the viewer. At the same ...

Voltaire identifies various flaws in the society that he lived. The scenario in the Voltaire’s world is analogous to the situation in the modern society. In his book, Voltaire highlights the problems in his society. He uses satire to express his discomfort about various issues in his society. The paper highlights how Voltaire’s approach of the use of satire can successfully be employed in building a better future. The paper suggests the plot of the book, which Voltaire would most likely write in today’s world. Essentially, the paper highlights how Voltaire would present these issues ...

In the historical course of world literature, monsters have always made a mark in the stories, epics, and cultures of civilization. The Ancient Greeks envisioned one-eyed giants lumbering about their plains; the Japanese of the 1950s saw enormous lizards that were capable of levelling entire cities; and modern Americans have feared the coming of otherworldly creatures from outer space out to invade the entire planet, or at least, the North American continent. In Western literature, no monster has so encapsulated this phenomenon than that created by Victor Frankenstein, in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, first published ...

Eighteenth century how to become an icon in the history of fashion and influence our life

Embellishment, poise, elegance are some of the adjectives that can be used to describe the trend in art and architecture of 18th century. The age witnessed the most elegant and stylish way of fashion. It can also be called as a fashionable era. 18th Century era is generally known as the Age of Enlightenment. The beginning of this century experienced a significant change in culture, art and architecture. Fashion industry also was on its peak. The fashion centre in this era shifted from Versailles to Paris. The educated Aristocratic class was called bourgeoisie class. They settled down in Paris. The new ...

Part I: Machiavelli, Rousseau and Nietzsche – A Critical Review

The three philosophical treatises, The Prince (Machiavelli), Lawgiver (Rousseau) and Sovereign Individual (Nietzsche) seem to define the role and position of the topmost leader of the society and how various classes of authority devolves from such a leader. The different philosophers seem to define their view of how these leaders must acquire their power, use it and maintain law and order through the delegation of power and authority and controlling these subordinates through systems of responsibility and accountability. However, Machiavelli’s Prince seems to be somewhat different and distinct from Rosseau’s Lawgiver and Nietzsche’s Sovereign Individual. This ...

- Hindu Rights and Rituals: Describe Hindu worship and the role it plays within the Hindu Religion

Puja is a term that directly refers to Hindu worship, which is practiced primarily on an individual basis (“Worship (Hinduism),” 2005). Such is in line with the premise of Hinduism, which emphasizes on the value of personal experience in terms of its worship (Kreeft, n.d.). Deities in Hinduism are worshipped privately, such that it involves the supplication of personal offerings made by worshippers. Gods are typically chosen for worship according to preference, their images displayed at homes and are given incense, water ...

Before understanding Buddha as one of the three jewels, it is first necessary to discuss the term “Three Jewels,” or “three treasures.” The jewel is something that is very precious. It is the Buddhists belief that the three fundamental teachings of Buddhism are very precious like jewels and for being Buddhist, the person has to take refuge of the three jewels. 'For lay follower and monastic alike, the three 'jewels' remain powerful objects for the ritual and devotional expression of their faith. ‘(“The Foundation of Buddhism” in Gethin, p.168) Taking refuge means taking shelter of the three jewels. 'Going ...

The painting “American Progress” by John Gast came to symbolize America’s role on the world stage by the end of the 19th century. The painting has come to symbolize the expansion as well as national destiny. In this painting, one sees the woman “Columbia” moving westward carrying a school book and stringing telegraph wires as she moves westward. This symbolizes the “conquest” of the United States onwards to the Pacific Ocean – one sees the Native Americans bowed as they too move westward to avoid the onslaught of the White man. Columbia is stringing telegraph wires, ...

Part one

John Locke who is a British Philosopher and Baron de Motesquieu a French philosopher had similar ideas and thoughts on the formation of the government. However, each of them defines unique path, which lead to the same conclusion.

John Locke is mainly famous as the father of liberalism following his exclusive thoughts on natural rights as well as liberties. According to him, all people are equal and independent. He argues that all individuals have the right to protect their life, possessions, as well as liberty from theft, as well as destruction. Following the incidences of conflict that will always arise in a ...

I think, Siddhartha Gautama’s quest to find enlightenment is not a question of noble action or sacred call, but, it is the understanding of one’s convictions. Siddhartha Gautama left everything he had for the sake of humanity and for the betterment of humanity. The great one left his family in good hands and with great wealth. Leaving one’s family might be considered bad in today’s culture, but, the great one sacrificed his family and his preaching lead to the happiness of many families for thousands of years.

The Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths were the immediate teachings given ...

Question 1

It is true that many religious traditions frequently make “truth- claims” about after life beliefs, nature of universe reality, and moral structure of human condition. Therefore, this essay focuses on three traditions, which have conflicting differences in truths that they claim. These religious traditions include Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism. The essay discusses how people in these traditions understand these truths, the differences among these three traditions in this respect, and the similarities that exist alongside these differences. Starting with Christianity religious tradition, it is worth to not that it is among the largest world religions. Christians believe ...

12 Years a Slave

The concepts of freedom and democracy in America have developed significantly since the colonial periods. The foundation of these concepts lay in the enlightenment period when the colonists sought independence from the Crown. However, soon after the enlightenment period and independence only white people benefited in terms of freedom and independence. African American citizens continued to live with limited freedom and did not enjoy the benefits of democracy such as voting. Although America was independent, the thought of freedom and majority rule did not mean much to African Americans who were subjected to serve their ...

The Bhagavad Gita and One Thousand and One Nights are two of the most important works of Eastern literature and philosophy; not only do they tell fascinating stories full of intrigue and entertainment, they also provide a degree of enlightenment and insight that is completely unlike anything seen in Western literature. Both stories handle the idea of storytelling and character, as well as plot structure, in extremely innovative ways, showcasing the ways in which unorthodox ways to tell stories can help to convey large ideas of faith, virtue and the universe. While the Bhagavad Gita relies centrally on one conversation ...

1. Nietzsche in his work distinctly differentiated slave and master morality. During his time, and for conservative thinkers of today, there are traits that are considered noble and positive. These traits including meekness, humility, pity and other characteristics that might be universally defined as kind are to him, weak. This kind of thinking is what he refers to as slave morality because it is not assertive and people who think that way are not strong enough to become masters of their own world. He condemns the philosophy which embraces these characteristics. To him, a master morality is one that is opposite ...

Senju Kannon’s The Thousand Armed Bodhisattva of Compassion is a seminal work in the history of Japanese art but is also an important milestone for Buddhist thought and religion. The work is colourful and emanates a certain sense of peace and calm which demonstrates the prevalent revival in Japanese art of the late 19th century. The Bodhisattva is also a crucial figure for Buddhism which also attempts to create an oasis of calm and peace but at the same time delves into the deep questions of existentialism which is part and parcel of the whole religious concept. Actually the word bodhisattva ...

The word Buddha means a person who has attained a state of perfect enlightenment. It is used in reference to Siddhartha, the Indian mystic founder of Buddhism who began preaching after achieving supreme enlightenment at 35.

- When the Buddha experienced enlightenment, he discovered the Four Noble Truths. Name and briefly explain the Four Noble Truths. - Life means suffering; the suffering is brought about by the fact neither that nor the human nature nor is the world we live perfect. Therefore, human beings have to endure day to day challenges such as sickness, sadness or pain. - The ...

Buddhism has been widely preached and practiced in most parts of the world, commonly present at countries of Far-East Asia. Currently, it has been listed as fourth largest religion of the world, with about 376 million followers. The history of religion has its roots to 500BC, when Siddhartha Gautama was born to a king in Northern India and then awarded with enlightenment (Robinson 2011). The four noble teachings are amongst the initial discourses of Buddha, upon which he based his further teachings as well. He said that “I teach suffering, its origin, cessation and path. That's all I ...

Jack Snyder talks of realism, liberalism and idealism in the context of United States of America. The effects these two theories have on foreign policies are enormous as is evident from the policies undertaken by the United States of America. The theoretical debate between idealism and realism is also a matter of discussion. In his essay, the author discusses the intricacies and complexities of the theories of international relations in view of the contemporary state of affairs in world politics. In reference to another essay by him, one can get to know of the democracies and wars and the effects ...

Watteau's The Storm and Delacroix's The Sea of Galilee. Which of these paintings represents more of a Romantic work and which one more of a Neo-Classical work? How the differences between the paintings reflect differences in the Neo-Classical and Romantic styles?

Both depicting a storm, Watteau’s The Storm and Delacroix’s The Sea of Galilee may share a common subject but also display significant differences that are based not only on the different approach each artist had, but also on the specific style they chose to follow. Watteau’s work dates from the second half of the 18th century, while ...

Essay Question #1

Examine the growth of worldwide trade from 1500 to 1800. Discuss the rise and implications of a global trading system.

Essay Question #1:

Worldwide trade grew exponentially between 1500 to 1800. Before 1492, many new world foods that are now staples of western diets had been completely isolated in the Americas. Explorers bringing back crops such as tobacco, cocoa, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. dramatically changed and mostly improved diets. Secure trade with India and other parts of Asia allowed for a reliable supply of spices and tea, also improving people’s quality of life. Of course, not everyone’s quality of life was improved ...

Modernity is closely linked to democratic models and ambitions. It reconfigures the connection of individuals to other persons as well as to their society through promotion of individualism. Enlightenment is among the turning points in the European’s history periodization. Human reason is an important tool in modernizing institutions and beliefs issue (Issue 18 v1 pp 315). The Isles of Britain had grown confidence in information on the basis of sensation. Britain received a head start on enlightenment due to the fact that they relied on contact with the world for information. Through this, they focused on intellectual thought. Achievement ...

Personal transformation refers to a dynamic and uniquely individualized practice of increasing consciousness where individuals turn out to be critically knowledgeable of old, as well as new self-views, thereby choosing to integrate these opinions to a new self-definition (Campebell, 2004). Although these views might take the form of Transpersonal Psychology, Taoism, Contemplative Psychology or Confucianism, they are capable of distinctively conceiving the temperament of human existence thus transforming the individual differently (Campebell, 2004). As a result, this essay explores personal transformation through the various perspectives of Transpersonal Psychology, Taoism, Contemplative Psychology and Confucianism.

1) Transpersonal Psychology

Transpersonal psychology widens the theories of traditional psychology concerning ...

INTRODUCTION

In January 2015, two armed terrorists attacked the office of a popular French weekly magazine named “Charlie Hebdo” in Paris, France. Twelve people, including the chief editor at the time, were shot by assault rifles. Two weeks later, an Islamic terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaeda based in Yemen, took responsibility for the attack which, along with an attack that took place in 2011, were acts of revenge for the public dissemination of a satirical cartoon that targeted Muslims and poked fun at the prophet Muhammad. Such acts of violence aimed at Charlie Hebdo, especially the most one, are viewed by many ...

1. Monteverdi and other musician were treated as performers to the wealthy families at that time. For the case of Monteverdi, he used to perform for the members of Gonzaga family who lived in Mantua area. The families were opera mania, so they had to hire performers for them.

2. Historians recognize Monteverdi as a composer who performed the first work of mastermind in the timeline of opera. Coincidentally, L’Orfeo, performed around February 1607, was Monteverdi’s first piece of work, which shows the dawn of the Baroque Period in Music. The piece of work offers an affluent mixture ...

Early modernity was demonstrated by a number of discoveries in the scientific field which eventually gave way to the Industrial Revolution. This meant that the discovery of electricity and batteries as well as the cotton mill and the looms were to give rise to industrial development on a mass scale. However this still meant that those who migrated from the countryside to find new jobs in the cities suffered from relatively poor housing and inhumane working conditions.

This meant that although there were scientific advances in several areas, the worth of humans and dignity was still very low on the agenda ...

1) In her essay "The Five Sexes," Fausto-Sternling (1993) argues that there are multiple intersexes that exist between male and female. As opposed to the Western idea of having only two sexes, there are different groups inbetween; hermaphroditic and intersexual people exist and must be acknowledged. In the case of Levi Suydam, an intersexual man who wished to vote in 1843; since he was considered a woman, he was initially barred from voting, since women could not vote at that time.

Fausto-Sternling's primary argument is that there are many biological instances of the intersexual body that exist ...

This paper will argue that despite habit, custom, and the existence of God, one does not know in fact if the future will be a resemblance of the past. Basing on the works of famous philosophers Immanuel Kant and David Hume, we’ll come to the conclusion that no one can foresee one’s future even on the basis of strict knowledge of the past and even having habits and customs that presumably have to lead to some definite outcome. The two thinkers argued about those things, and using their ideas we’ll substantiate the thesis under consideration.

Hume was ...

Introduction

Benevolent despot refers to an authoritarian rule which is characterized by kindness and generosity. It also refers to enlightened absolutism which is a situation when rulers are influenced by enlightenment. Enlightened monarchs tended to allow religious toleration, freedom of speech and the press and right to hold private property. Most of them fostered arts, sciences and education.

Fredrick II, The Great had ideas of the French enlightenment in his youth and maintained the ideas throughout his life. Fredrick declined to endorse the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713. This was an idea which was very common with the enlightened monarchs and absolutists ...

Argument

The writer is writing on the theme of religious revival within the colonies. The writer then chooses to follow the inquiry ‘With enlightenment sweeping across Europe and America, how did the colonists feel about this new form of worship and religion?’ this line of inquiry is consistent with the theme selected. The argument the writer wants to present is that the new wave of enlightenment sweeping across Europe and America changed the traditional form of worship that the colonialists had presented and favored. From the line of inquiry, the writer wants to know how the colonialists felt about these ...

What is a Human Being? What Am I?

There are facts of humanity that can be seen with our eyes, by using body scanners, and by using microscopes. We are complex. We are orderly, and if you break us down to our separate molecular weights, one can even break us down into how many different atoms we are a collection of. The molecular geneticist’s point of view is even more fascinating, and explains just how complex and ordered human life is. Through coding of DNA, it becomes clear that each individual human being is, in fact, very extraordinarily unique. The question “What is a human being,” suggests that ...

Hinduism, which remains the oldest surviving religion known to man was also the religion practiced by the royal family of Siddhartha Gautama, which confers that the Hindu philosophy of Samsara is the truest and most profound for its spiritual effect on the people of India. Although the Buddha is a wise man who has contributed greatly to humanity with a simplification of the concepts and ideals of the Hindu philosophy; the Buddhist philosophy comes from the ancient teachings of the Hindu religion and texts. One must consider Buddhism as the less complex and elementary version of the Hindu religion, which has ...

Dividing cultures into the eastern (oriental) and western captures not only their geographical location, but also description of methods and ways of knowing the world, values, basic lifestyle, socio-economic and political structures. In contemporary culture by western there is meants European, American and Australian culture, under the eastern - the culture of the countries of Central, South-East Asia, Middle East, North Africa. West is diverse, while East is even more varied; however, these two "opposite" types of culture can have common inherent features. The western and eastern cultures differ in development dynamics. Sociodynamics of the Western culture is ...

Abstract

Reality is a powerful source of inspiration for writers in the 20th century. For Raymond Carver the American reality of the working class served as the main source of inspiration for his short stories that fall into the dirty – realism literary style. A technique that is representative for this current and that Carver subtly masters in his short stories is the insertion of objects into the narration, attributing them the value of reflecting the reality through familiar descriptions of the working class American society’s lifestyle. In Carver’s narration the objects tell stories, unite people in the same universe ...

Book Review: “Pointers to Insight” by Soko Morinaga Roshi

It was some time in 100 AD that Mahayana Buddhism of India began to enter China through the merchants that travelled the sea through the Silk Road towards the land of India (Andreasen 5). Three mainstreams began to take form (i.e., Ch’an Buddhism, Cheng-yen Buddhism, and Pure Land Buddhism), as it emphasized how human beings had had the ability to free themselves through meditation. By 500 AD, Ch’an Buddhism reached the shores of Japan, where it was called Zen Buddhism—using the word Zen to mean meditation (Andreasen 6). Thus, Buddhism in Japan became well developed by ...

The romantic era has a significant place in literary history. Running its course from 1780 to 1850, novelists and poets alike flocked to this genre as a form of expression. It was a bold and daring way to define one’s self. Conflicting with the current trend of enlightenment, it went beyond the single-minded philosophy enlightenment had adopted, allowing novelists and poets to transcend everything they and their readers believed writing and reading to be. Human nature was unvarying, and free in its emotion. The church had long since attempted to block this humanity from the world, but romanticism attempted to join ...

Fasting is a tried and tested method for spiritual enlightenment. It is a practice that goes all the way back into ancient history and a revered part of most religious traditions. Fasting for health reasons is a new phenomenon that has had mixed research results. This paper seeks to analyze and evaluate scientific evidence for the merits of fasting for health reasons. Are there any benefits to the body when one fast for days or weeks? The paper proceeds with a systematic analysis of research on fasting and health. The paper argues that like most forms of body healing methods that have their roots ...

History 1745, US History to 1865

Summer Session, 2015

Introduction

Thomas Paine wrote “Common Sense” in the first month of 1776, and by the end of the year, it had sold 150,000 copies throughout America, constituting itself as the country’s first “best seller”. In this pamphlet, he put forth all the arguments that had been built up by the time, regarding the Colonies’ right to independence, and the evils of absolutist monarchy. The ideas of Natural Laws, and the roles and limitations of the Government, which are expressed in this document, were in wide circulation in the educated circles at the time, and even ...

Jane Doe

n/a n/a

Introduction

Religion has been a widely held practice by the human species for as far back as most historians can trace. The need for human life to have meaning and purpose is evident from the significance placed in religion throughout the world. Whether the religion is monotheistic or polytheistic, the dedication of the believers guides and directs them through the most important aspects of their lives. The Catholic religion is a monotheistic religion, which is designed with one God in mind as the only God. Straying from the worship of the one God in Catholicism is considered a sin. Whereas, ...

In the 19th century, sociologist theorists begun to formulate various theories on religion, most of them emerging towards the common agreement that religion with its cults, liturgical rituals or sacred practices was entrenched in the past and would soon decrease in importance (Norris & Inglehart, 2003). Emile Durkheim, the sociological founder of functionalist theory, linked religion to a social role of creating cohesion among society, departing from its spiritual connection with God and supernatural (Turner, 2011). Although his theory on the functionality of religion was shaped in the 19th century, it finds echoes in the way the Generation X and Generation ...

First, it should be mentioned that Buddha is not a name of a particular person, who was responsible for establishing one of the most influential Eastern religions. It is a term to describe an enlightened person, whose way of life can be describe with the help of the translation of the term “Buddha”. It is translated as the “awakened one” and is being applied to anyone, who can be considered an enlightened person according to the statements of Buddhist religion. Nevertheless, the historical image of the first appearance of Buddha is unclear and remains the subject of various historical disputes. In addition, ...

Primitive people believed in various sorts of deities to help them in their daily tasks; the ancient Hittites, Egyptians, Greeks, and the Babylonians worshipped many gods and goddesses to help them win wars, good harvest, as well as to ensure the safety of the whole empire. Because these societies lack the modern knowledge regarding scientific beliefs, religion played a very important role in shaping the society. Even today, interesting artifacts gathered from recent excavations were discovered by archaeologists of the modern times. These reliefs from the past told scholars about the power and influence of the priests (in Hittite, kings ...

The contemporary world is rigged with a vast array of social challenges that affect our daily lives. These challenges include depression, eating disorders, substance use, personality disorders as well as anxiety disorders. In light of these challenges, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy commonly referred to as CBT was conceived in a bid to curb these challenges. This essay thus seeks to provide a succinct and in-depth analysis of the central western concept of CBT and its relation to nonwestern cultures. Foremost, Cognitive behavioral therapy is a blend of behavioral as well as cognitive therapy. Changing an individual`s emotions directly is undoubtedly a difficult task. ...